Portugal legend Pepe has provided “a hug of gratitude” to his family and friends in a 33-minute video saying his retirement after 878 membership and worldwide appearances.
The 41-year-old mentioned he had “actually believed” Portugal would win this summer time’s Uefa Euro 2024, the place he grew to become the oldest participant to participate within the finals, and admitted to “tears of helplessness” when the 2016 champions had been knocked out by France on penalties within the quarter-finals.
Victory in Portuguese competitors the Taca de Portugal proved Pepe’s ultimate membership recreation of a profession which included three Uefa Champions League titles throughout his time at Actual Madrid between 2007 and 2017.
Pepe stats
Pepe started his profession with Portuguese facet Maritimo in 2002, transferring to Porto in 2004. “On my first go to, once I went to the FC Porto workplace, the chairman opened the curtain for me, raised the blinds and mentioned ‘that will likely be your house,’” remembered Pepe.
“[The chairman added] ‘Welcome, I hope you’ll be very completely happy at FC Porto. Your happiness will likely be ours’. I bear in mind these phrases, the video games I performed on the Estadio do Dragão. It was a membership that put me within the highlight of European soccer.”
After three spectacular seasons with Porto, Madrid signed Pepe for round £26.7m. He went on to win that hat-trick of Champions League trophies and three Liga titles amongst his honours with probably the most profitable membership in Europe earlier than spending a season in Turkey with Besiktas.
He spent the ultimate 5 years of his taking part in days with Porto, ending on 34 trophies throughout his profession, together with 5 Portuguese titles.
Portugal: Pepe caps
Born and raised in Brazil, Pepe grew to become a Portuguese citizen in August 2007 and was capped by Portugal for the primary time later that month.
Solely Cristiano Ronaldo, on 212 caps, and Joao Moutinho, with 146, have made extra appearances for the Selecao than the 141 collected by Pepe.
The centre-back thanked his agent Jorge Mendes and representatives, in addition to calling his mom “important in my journey by letting me fly in direction of my dream, which was to be knowledgeable footballer”.
“My spouse was at dwelling in my absence [and I thank] my kids for believing in me, for being a basic help in my life, for supporting me once I left dwelling to play,” added Pepe.
Porto midfielder Marko Grujic referred to as Pepe “an awesome character within the dressing room” and “a real captain”. “In fact we are going to miss a participant like him,” added Grujic, through Ojogo.
“This membership has to stay with what it has. The older gamers, like me, will attempt to assist the children and do as Pepe did.”
