Marco van Ginkel, former Mourinho Chelsea midfielder, retires at 33 after injury-hit career | OneFootball

Marco van Ginkel, the former Chelsea midfielder who played under José Mourinho and once faced Benfica, has retired at 33 after a 16-year career marked by trophies and hampered by injuries.

The Netherlands international began at Vitesse and earned a dream move to Chelsea in 2013/14. He also featured for Boavista in the second half of last season.

"For me, it had been dragging on for some time," he said to ESPN.

He admitted he had feared for his future as a professional, reflecting on years disrupted by setbacks.

Speaking about Mourinho, he added: "He is a special man, very fanatical. Direct. He does not know how to lose. But he could also be very calm among the players and, from time to time, he could lose his temper".

Source: Glorioso 1904