César Azpilicueta to retire at the end of the season | OneFootball

César Azpilicueta has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the current season.

The experienced 36-year-old defender shared an emotional message on his social media accounts, confirming that 'the time has come to start a new chapter' in his life after more than two decades in professional football.

"Dear football, today I want to share with you that this season will be my last as a professional footballer. After so many years living my dream, I feel the time has come to start a new chapter in my life," said the Spanish defender.

"Football has given me so much: it taught me values such as teamwork, sacrifice, humility and respect. It also gave me the chance to discover new countries, new cultures and new languages. My heart is full of gratitude and memories that I will carry with me into whatever comes next."

Azpilicueta will bring to an end a long and successful career in European football in Sevilla's final match of the current season away to Celta de Vigo.

The Spain international began his football journey in Pamplona with Osasuna before he moved to Marseille in 2010. Azpilicueta then forged a highly successful spell in the Premier League with Chelsea.

Eleven seasons later, he returned to his home country, spending two seasons at Atlético de Madrid. After that short spell, the Spaniard decided to sign for Sevilla, which will therefore be the final club of his long career.

His career includes 16 trophies, among them a UEFA Champions League, two Europa League titles and two Premier League titles – as well as international success, having won the Nations League and two youth European Championships with Spain.