Fernando llorente, world champion with Spain in South Africa 2010has confirmed his retirement from football at the age of 38 after a career of 18 seasons as a professional developed at Athletic Club, where he trained, Juventus, Sevilla, Swansea, Tottenham, Napoli, Udinese and Eibar.
“Since I was very little I dreamed of becoming a footballer. And who was going to tell me that I would be able to enjoy and live everything that football has given me”, begins the note released by Llorente through his social networks in Spanish, Italian and English along with a four-minute video with some of his goals.
The former player highlights that these two decades have been “a long road in which with work, sacrifice, humility and passion” and that he has been able to “enjoy playing in great teams in which I have always proudly given the best of myself”. .
“I wanted to thank everyone for the opportunities provided and the fans who always support me for the love received during all these years” continues the man from La Rioja who considers himself “fortunate to have been able to enjoy all the moments that football” has made him live and for all the great people, friends that along the way” he has “been able to meet”. “Thank you,” he concludes.
Llorente was trained in the lower categories of Athletic from the age of 11 and after making his debut with the team in January 2005, he played nine seasons with the Bilbao team.
He played 333 games and scored 112 goals before starring in a controversial departure from Bilbao after not accepting Athletic’s renewal offer to sign with Juventus at the end of his contract on June 30, 2013.
With the Turin club he won five titles in two seasons -two leagues, one Cup and two Italian Super Cups- and in 2015 he signed for Sevilla with whom he won the 2016 Europa League.
De Nervión made the leap to the Premier to play for Welsh Swansea (2016-2017) and Tottenham Hotspur (2017-2019). At the end of that campaign he returned to Italy with Napoli, winning the Cup, and after a year and a half in San Paolo he played the second round of 2020-2021 at Udinese.
Llorente’s last professional experience was last season with Eibar in the Second Division. With the armored team he played 22 games -the last one on June 5, 2022 in Ipurua in the promotion playoff against Girona- and scored two goals.
With the Spanish team played 24 games and scored 7 goals forming part of the team that won the World Cup in South Africa 2012 and Euro 2012.