Ricky van Wolfswinkel stuns! Ex-Sporting: enough, it's time! (video) | OneFootball

Ricky van Wolfswinkel announced this Wednesday that he will hang up his boots. The 37-year-old Twente striker, whose contract with the club expires at the end of this season, confirmed that he will retire from the pitch in a video shared on the Dutch club’s social media.

“After 18 years at the highest level, there comes a moment when you think: ‘That’s enough, it’s time.’ What started as a dream became a life. A life full of discipline, sacrifice, unforgettable highs and obstacles that made me stronger. I gave everything I had, in every moment, always with a smile,” he began in the video.

The Dutch international remains in the memory of Sporting fans after his spell at Alvalade between 2011 and 2013. Signed from Utrecht for €5 million, Wolfswinkel played 84 matches in the green and white shirt and scored 45 goals. He was later sold to Norwich for €10 million.

As a professional, he also played for Saint-Étienne, Betis, Vitesse and Basel. In terms of titles, the Dutchman ends his career with two trophies on his résumé: a Dutch Cup and a Swiss Cup. Over the course of his career, he made 638 appearances and scored 228 goals.

Finally, Wolfswinkel confirmed that he will remain involved in football. “I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, my family, my wife and children, and everyone who supported me. This sport made me the person I am, not as a player, but as a human being. Now, it is time for a new chapter, off the pitch. I am not saying goodbye to the sport; I am saying goodbye as a professional athlete. Thank you for everything,” he concluded in his message.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.