Raphael Varane retires from football at 31: Decoding his achievements
Raphael Varane, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of just 31. The decision comes after a knee injury he sustained during his debut match for Italian Serie A club Como against Sampdoria in August. Despite this setback, Varane plans to continue his association with Como in a non-playing capacity. Here we present his career details.
Varane's career in numbers
Varane's journey began at French club Lens. He made 24 appearances, scoring twice. His decade-long stint with the Spanish giants saw him make 360 appearances. He scored 17 goals for the club. In 2021, he joined Manchester United, making 95 appearances despite injury struggles. He scored two goals. He joined Como in 2024 summer and made just one appearance.
Varane's international career and retirement
On the international front, Varane debuted for France in 2013 and earned 93 caps. He scored 5 goals. He was part of the team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Nations League in 2021. He also played a crucial role in leading France to another World Cup final in 2022, before retiring. Reflecting on his career, Varane stated, "I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it's the moment to stop."
Varane's reflections and concerns about football injuries
Varane expressed satisfaction with his career, stating he has "won more than I could have even dreamed of." He also voiced concerns about the physical toll of football. In April, he revealed that heading the ball had "damaged his body" and shared an incident from a 2014 France World Cup game where he played on despite a concussion. He has since advocated for better protection and awareness regarding such issues in the sport.
Accolades in Varane's career
Varane won 18 pieces of silverware with Spanish club Real Madrid. La Liga: 2011-12, 2016-17, 2019-20 Copa del Rey: 2013-14 Supercopa de Espana: 2012, 2017, 2020 UEFA Champions League: 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017 FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 Varane won 2 pieces of silverware with English club Manchester United. FA Cup: 2023-24; runner-up: 2022-23 EFL Cup: 2022-23
