Former Arsenal striker retires | OneFootball

Carlos Vela has called time on his 19-year career, closing the book on a journey that took him from North London promise to superstardom in the United States.

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Carlos Vela has confirmed his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to a career marked by early promise, flair, and unfulfilled potential in north London. Now 36, the former Arsenal, Real Sociedad, and LAFC forward announced his decision on Tuesday, writing, “Throughout my career, I have experienced some very special moments, but the time has come to officially retire from professional football. It has been an honour and a privilege to share my career with all of you.”

Signed by Arsène Wenger in 2005 after winning the Golden Boot at the U17 World Cup with Mexico, Vela was not eligible to play immediately due to work permit issues. His Arsenal debut was deferred by a series of loans in Spain, including stints at Salamanca and Osasuna, where he began to build a reputation for finesse and intelligent movement.

It wasn’t until 2008 that Vela made his full Arsenal debut, announcing himself with a hat-trick against Sheffield United in the League Cup, an evening that remains a cult memory for many Arsenal supporters. Despite that promise, he never fully settled in north London. In a 2020 interview, he reflected candidly: “I was not ready for that, everything was too fast, and I was very young.” He would go on to make 62 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 11 goals and recording eight assists.

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In 2012, Vela left permanently for Real Sociedad, where he enjoyed a much more stable and fruitful chapter, becoming one of La Liga’s most technically gifted forwards. Over seven years in San Sebastián, he scored 73 goals, with 43 assists, and redefined himself as a playmaker with a keen eye for the spectacular.

His final professional act came in the United States, where he joined Los Angeles FC in 2018. There, Vela became both talisman and icon, captaining the club and breaking the MLS single-season goalscoring record with 34 goals in 2019. He departs as LAFC’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and appearances. “He has been the heartbeat, the captain, and the face of LAFC,” said John Thorrington, the club’s co-president and general manager.

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For Mexico, Vela earned 72 caps and was part of the squads that lifted the 2009 and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cups, though his international career was frequently punctuated by disputes with the national federation.

Though he never fulfilled the expectations set in his teenage years at Arsenal, Vela retires with a legacy defined not by silverware or longevity at one club, but by the purity of his technique and the elegance of his left foot. His career serves as a testament to football’s idiosyncrasies, how talent alone never guarantees greatness, but can still leave behind moments of unshakeable joy.