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Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has officially announced his retirement from professional football.
The center-back concluded his time with the Reds after an impressive eight-year tenure, during which he made 201 appearances and helped the club secure several major trophies.
Matip joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Schalke 04 in 2016 and became an integral part of Jürgen Klopp’s squad. He played a significant role in the team’s resurgence to Champions League football and was pivotal in their successful campaign in 2019, notably providing an assist for Divock Origi in the final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.
During his time at Liverpool, Matip contributed to the club’s victories in the UEFA Super Cup and participated in nine Premier League matches during the 2019-20 season, a campaign that saw Liverpool end a 30-year wait to reclaim the English championship.
However, a long-term injury impacted his 2020-21 season. He rebounded remarkably the following year, as Liverpool pursued an ambitious quadruple, playing in 43 matches—the highest number in a single season for him. He was present in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals at Wembley, where the team emerged victorious, and they also finished as runners-up in the league and Champions League.
Matip remained a key player during the 2022-23 season and into the early part of the 2023-24 season. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in December, which kept him from further appearances for the club.
He bid farewell to the Liverpool faithful at Anfield on the final day of last season, prior to the end of his contract, and has now confirmed the end of his playing career.
Before joining Liverpool, Matip spent seven years at Schalke, where he rose through the youth ranks and won the German Cup in 2011.
On the international stage, he earned 27 caps for Cameroon, scoring once and representing his country in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
Everyone at Liverpool FC extends their best wishes to Joel and his family for the future.
