Former Liverpool defender Matip confirms retirement after Anfield exit

Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from professional football.

Matip, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, has been without a club since leaving Anfield at the end of last season and has since decided to call time on his 15-year career.

The 33-year-old started out at Schalke, making 258 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit and helping them lift the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup in 2011.

Matip was among the first signings made by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, joining in the same window as Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Loris Karius.

He helped the Reds return to the Champions League in Klopp’s first full campaign in charge, making 29 Premier League appearances and keeping nine clean sheets.

However, his spell with the Reds was marred by repetitive injuries, sustaining 16 different issues across his eight-year spell on Merseyside.

The former Cameroon international’s final appearance for Liverpool came in a 4-3 win over Fulham in December 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the same game.

Matip made 201 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and winning six major honours, which included the Reds’ sixth Champions League triumph.

Congratulations on an excellent career, Joel

All the best in your retirement pic.twitter.com/y93YeBR8do

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 12, 2024