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Legendary defender decided to end his professional football career. The former Italian national team player was without a club after leaving Barcelona in the summer and on Monday announced his decision to stop playing and plans to become a coach.
"After many years that I dedicated to this sport, I decided to leave football. After many victories and defeats that helped shape my character, I need a new stimulus and new goals, which I could pursue with the same passion that has always been with me," said the 34-year-old Italian.
D. Albertini began his career at Milan - he represented the team for a total of 13 consecutive seasons, winning the Italian championship five times, the Italian Cup three times, triumphing in the Champions League once and winning the UEFA Super Cup twice.
In 2002, the player moved to Spain and played for Madrid's Atletico, but after a year he returned to his homeland to play for Roma's Lazio, with whom he won the Italian Cup. In the summer of 2004, the defender moved to Bergamo's Atalanta, but in January of the following year he was lured by the future Spanish champion Barcelona.
Although he left that club as well, D. Albertini rejected an offer in the summer to represent Livorno, led by his former teammate Roberto Donadoni, 79-time Italian national team player promises to stay in football: "After a career like mine, I believe it is inevitable that I will learn and try to become a coach."
