Wojciech Szczesny has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34. The former Juventus, Arsenal, and Roma player shared the news through a heartfelt message on his social media profiles, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned nearly two decades.
Szczesny’s journey began in 2006 when he left his hometown of Warsaw to join Arsenal’s youth academy. Throughout his career, he achieved significant success, winning three Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia trophies, two Italian Super Cups, two FA Cups, and one Community Shield across his stints with Arsenal, Roma, and Juventus.
In his farewell message, Szczesny reflected on his unexpected journey, stating, “I left Warsaw, my hometown, in June 2006 to join Arsenal with a dream: to make a living from football. I didn’t know it would be the start of a lifelong journey.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunities he had, playing for some of the world’s biggest clubs and representing Poland 84 times at the international level.
The goalkeeper acknowledged the profound impact football had on his life, saying, “I not only lived off football, but football became my whole life.” He spoke of playing alongside some of the best players in history and forming lifelong friendships.
Szczesny also addressed the physical and emotional aspects of his decision, noting that while his body still feels ready for challenges, his heart is no longer in it. He expressed his desire to focus on his family, including his wife Marina and their two children, Liam and Noelia.
The Polish international thanked fans for their support and criticism, describing them as “the most beautiful and romantic part of football.” He concluded his message with a forward-looking statement: “Now, every story has an end, but in life, every end is a new beginning. Only time will tell what this new path will bring me. But if the last 18 years have taught me anything, it’s that nothing is impossible and, believe me, I will dream big!”
View this post on Instagram
