Serie A - Figo calls time on glittering career

Eurosport - Sat, 30 May 17:10:00 2009

Internazionale midfielder Luis Figo will bring his brilliant career to a close in the Serie A champions' season-ending home game against Atalanta on Sunday.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Serie A Inter Figo - 0

The 36-year-old has won four league titles since joining Inter from Real Madrid in 2005, although he has not been a regular starter in the last two seasons, in part because of injuries.

There had been reports that Figo might accept one last lucrative deal to play in the Far East but he has instead opted to wind things up this weekend at the San Siro.

"It pleases me that my last Sunday as a footballer will be a Sunday of festival for the fourth consecutive Serie A title for me and all of us at Inter," the former Portugal captain said.

He started his career with Sporting, winning the Portuguese Cup in 1995, before his remarkable attacking talents prompted Barcelona to snap him up later that year.

He won two league titles and the European Cup Winners' Cup with the Catalan club before his controversial move to bitter rivals Real Madrid in 2000 made him the first of the big-money 'Galacticos' signings.

He helped the Madrid giants win two league titles and the 2002 Champions League.

The player thanked Inter and his "friends" from Sporting, Barcelona, Real and the Portugal team, for which he made 127 appearances and scored 32 goals between 1991 and 2006.

He also apologised if his recent form had not been up to scratch.

"Winning has always been the only real objective of my career," he said. "The only way to win I have known is sacrifice and work, which they taught me when I was a lad at Sporting.

"That's why today I also want to say sorry if in some matches or in some periods I haven't managed to give my all because of injuries or other reasons. I was the first person to be displeased."

Figo's individual honours include the 2000 Ballon d'Or as European Footballer of the Year and 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. from all the football fans in this planet you my friend­ are the best....good luck and all the best in­ life......

    From jose, on Sun 31 May 11:28AM

  2. FIGO you are a true legend and true representation of a­ worthy flag bearer of the football. I wish you well as­ you pull the plug on your illustrious career. You will­ always be remembered, loved and missed in this game and­ I also pray you make it back in a managerial capacity­ some time soon.
    Good luck and congratulations.

    From LARRY M, on Sat 30 May 8:50PM

  3. GOOD PLAYER...Figo done good for his country too but he­ is a lagarto Sportinguista and that I can not­ tolerate...BENFICA FOR LIVE

    From VICTOR V, on Sat 30 May 5:53PM

  4. One of the greatest players the world has ever seen,­ and probably the most hard working. Football­ desperately needs more players like Figo, not @#$% like­ Drogba and Ronaldo who fall over if you shout at them. ­ Figo will be missed.

    From colourblindfan, on Sat 30 May 5:39PM

  5. I think Luis Figo should donate some money to­ sexyjijiji, as she apparently has just one 'sexy­ hip'. I'm a bit worried about the 'blond­ hairs', too. Maybe he could help her get these­ removed.

    From Benjamin, on Sat 30 May 5:31PM

  6. well done luis figo...

    From harim, on Sat 30 May 5:22PM

  7. Eusebio you are up there with him in the best portugal­ team of all time, you are of the golden genaration­

    thank you for the football ,figo

    i remenber one­ time in a barca v real game in the camp new, barca fans­ was thowing plastic bottles and even a pigs head at you­ when you was taking a corner you stopped and took the­ corner and you still hit the woodwork

    true class

    From , on Sat 30 May 5:19PM

  8. At his peak, this guy was a joy to watch and worth ten­ of the one-trick show-pony Louganis Boy at old­ trafford.

    From cameron w, on Sat 30 May 5:18PM

  9. Luis you are one of the GOLDEN FEW ......

    From Kim, on Sat 30 May 5:07PM

  10. Well done Figo. Pleased decided to call it a day­ instead of going to play mickey mouse football. ­ Enjoyed watching you.

    From louiseamyerin, on Sat 30 May 4:45PM

  11. l bid farewell to Figo. u have been an excellent player­ through out your career. We admired you here down in­ Zimbabwe.

    From Rangarirayi, on Sat 30 May 4:36PM

  12. thanx for the memories and good luck tomorrow on the­ game. all the the best to u

    From JORGE, on Sat 30 May 4:34PM

  13. thanx for the memories and good luck

    From JORGE, on Sat 30 May 4:31PM

  14. Figo is a true legend in football and retires on a high­ point,he will truly be missed in this sport

    From tulsadavidson, on Sat 30 May 4:23PM

  15. Luis Figo is far the most gentleman of all footballers.­ He came from a great organization (Sporting of Lisbon)­ and he made proud his countryman wherever he played.­ FIGO is up there with the greats of Pele, Eusebio and­ others that made the sport proud. And off course, I am­ not thinking of Maradona. CONGRATULATIONS MR. FIGO AND­ THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! Um abraço de um conterraneo­ from Canada, Joel Da Naia

    From joeldanaia, on Sat 30 May 3:53PM

  16. Figo is indeed a true legend and will certainly be­ missed. Probably, he can be a soccer manager in future.

    From Terre, on Sat 30 May 3:29PM

  17. well done figo you were briliant my only complaint is­ you never played for man u

    From Jimmyrice man u are champs again, on Sat 30 May 2:49PM

  18. Its sad to see a modern great retire, he did entertain­ well and will be missed.

    From kamran, on Sat 30 May 1:47PM
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