Mazzola’s emotional farewell: Unión goals meant everything to me | OneFootball

The former Unión striker surprised everyone by announcing his retirement at 36. In an intimate conversation with Radio Gol, he detailed the reasons for his farewell, his new chapter as a basketball player at Sol de Mayo de Viedma, and the unforgettable memory of his goals in the Santafesino Classic.

At 36 and in peak physical condition, Nicolás Mazzola decided to hang up his boots. The striker, who was once a key player at Unión, returned to his hometown of Viedma to close his football career wearing the Sol de Mayo jersey, and now he’s preparing for an unusual challenge: making his debut in the local basketball league.

The reasons for retiring: “It was an accumulation of little things”

Mazzola explained that the decision wasn’t sudden, but something he had been “mulling over” for some time with his family. “My idea was always to come back home, play for a year or two, and leave football on my own terms—not have football leave me when I can no longer walk,” he said.

Despite feeling physically great, the wear and tear from traveling, training camps, and time away from his wife and children sped up the end. “There were weeks when I was only home for three days. That was starting to become a burden,” he confessed about the professional routine.

The leap to the “orange”: His other passion

His arrival at Sol de Mayo’s basketball team is no coincidence. Mazzola practiced both sports until he was 14, when he had to choose football in hopes of making a living from sports. The reunion: “Last year I signed up for an amateur tournament and I was surprised, the body has memory,” he said.

The professional challenge: After being invited to preseason by friends at the club, he decided to formally join the team that competes in the Asociación de Básquet del Valle Inferior. “Now I’m looking forward to my debut, they’re being incredibly patient with me regarding the game systems,” he added with a laugh.

Unión: A special place in his heart

Looking back on his career, the striker didn’t hesitate to place Unión on a pedestal. For him, the goals he scored wearing the red and black jersey are the most important of his career because of what they meant to the club and the fans.

“The affection from Unión’s fans is super passionate. Scoring in a Classic and in the Sudamericana brought me much closer to them,” recalled Mazzola, who also highlighted his relationship with Leonardo Madelón: “Having Leo at the club today gives me peace of mind; he’s a coach who made a mark on me and who always moves forward.”

The new “civilian” life

Today, Nicolás is adapting to a different routine, taking care of tasks he used to delegate to his wife due to the demands of football. “Now I get up, take the kids to school, do the shopping… I’m learning to manage the schedule of a normal person,” he admitted. He also remains connected to football by organizing amateur tournaments in his city.

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