Liverpool hero Joel Matip has reportedly decided to retire from football after leaving the Reds in the summer. The 33-year-old is claimed to have turned down opportunities to join clubs in Germany, telling scouts that he is no longer playing.
Matip left Liverpool at the end of last season, ending a spell in which he became a Premier League and Champions League winner. His final six months at Anfield were ravaged by an ACL injury and his last appearance was on December 3 last year.
But there was an expectation that a fully fit Matip would return to top-tier football. It is reported that he moved back to Gelsenkirchen, where he had previously played for Schalke, after leaving Liverpool.
German publication Ruhr Nachrichten claim that Matip quietly hung up his boots over the summer, though. The centre-back is reported to have turned down the opportunity to join German clubs ahead of the 2024-25 season.
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Matip is said to have told a scout working for one of the interested teams that he had retired and had little interest in speaking to their sporting director about a transfer. According to BILD, Schalke have not given up hope of signing their ex-star.
Schalke are struggling in the second tier of German football and are reportedly desperate for Matip to help them out. However, no deal has been agreed.
It comes as amateur club SSV Buer announced on Instagram that Matip offered to coach one of their under-age teams. His young son signed for the club and the former Cameroon international is said to have lended a helping hand with coaching sessions.
“From the REDS to the ROTHOSEN: Joel Matip trains our SSV kindergarten!” SSV Buer wrote.
“No april fool on the 3rd October! The 2019 Champions League winner assisted as co-coach Benjamin Reclik (from the D4 coaching team).
“Joel (33) returned to his home Gelsenkirchen in the summer after eight very successful years at FC Liverpool. His wife and he were looking for a nearby football club for their little son – the choice (logically) fell on SSV Buer. Joel also immediately offered to help with the training.”
Matip, who made 201 appearances for Liverpool, said after his summer exit: “It has been eight wonderful years here in Liverpool.
“I was allowed to be part of an exciting history with a great coach and an astonishing team in an extraordinary club. We have achieved great titles and have the best fans in the world.”
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