Ciro Immobile announces his retirement
Ciro Immobile bids farewell to professional football. At 36, the Italian striker has announced his decision to bring his professional career to an end, a decision confirmed by Paris FC, the final chapter of a journey that began 17 years ago.
His career is inextricably linked to Serie A, where Immobile built much of his legacy. After making his first appearances for Juventus, he went on to play for Genoa and, most notably, Torino, where he truly made his mark in the 2013/14 season, scoring 22 goals and claiming the Capocannoniere title for the first time.
Following spells abroad with Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla and a return to Torino, Immobile began his long chapter with Lazio in 2016.
Eight years in the Biancocelesti shirt cemented his status as one of Italian football's great goalscorers: 207 goals in 340 appearances, more than any other player in Lazio's history, along with one Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups.
It was during those years that Immobile won three more Capocannoniere titles, becoming the first Italian player to finish as Serie A's top scorer four times. In 2019/20, he had the best season of his career: 36 league goals, equalling the record for a Serie A season in the single-round-robin era, and winning the European Golden Boot.
Those impressive statistics were built on qualities that became his trademark over the years. Above all, Immobile was a dynamic striker, able to move across the attacking line and constantly play on the shoulder of the defence. Runs in behind, an instinct for goal, intelligent movement and quick finishes: the search for space and the back of the net remained the defining features of his game, season after season.
After his long spell at Lazio, his final chapters took him to Beşiktaş, Bologna and, finally, Paris FC. His time with the national team was equally significant: 57 appearances and 17 goals for Italy, with Euro 2021 glory the undisputed highlight.
The goals, records and individual and team honours will remain. But above all, so will the mark he left on so many Serie A seasons, almost always with the same objective in sight: finding the back of the net.
Thank you for all these years, Ciro. All the best for the future!