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Liverpool cult hero announces retirement as 24-year career comes to emotional end

oscar maung-haley
·2-min read
Ragnar Klavan proved an important and valuable squad player during his two seasons with Liverpool
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Former Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan has announced his retirement.

The defender, who was a cult hero on Merseyside, made 53 appearances for the Reds, having signed for Liverpool back in 2016 from Augsburg. The Estonian helped Liverpool return to the Champions League during Jurgen Klopp's first full-season in charge at Anfield, and was part of the Reds side who reached the final the following season, which they lost to Real Madrid in Kyiv.

During the 2017/18 season, he also netted a memorable stoppage-time winner against Burnley in the Premier League on New Year's Day, meeting fellow defender Dejan Lovren's header across goal to give the Reds a 2-1 win over the Clarets at Turf Moor.

Taking to Instagram to announce his retirement, Klavan wrote: "Today, I’ll say goodbye to my first love. It’s time to put an end to the journey I began at the age of 15 and will conclude a 24-year career as a professional footballer. I want to thank you - dear football fans - for being with me throughout this time!”

He continued: "To summarise 24 years in few words is much harder than living through them. I would like to thank my parents, who gave their all to raise me as decent person first and then as an athlete. I would like to thank my sisters, all my good friends, and teammates of the times.

"A special thank you goes to my wife Lili, whose support has been invaluable throughout of it all. There have been so many great moments, unforgettable moments...but also tough timers when you've been my rock. Thank you my beloved children, Romer, Ronan and Luna."

Klavan, who intends to run for the Presidency of the Estonian Football Association following his retirement, then added: "My journey as a footballer has been full of significant milestones and remarkable people. Reaching the European Championship playoffs with the Estonian national team and the entire iconic year of 2011. One the club level, of course, winning the Dutch league title and reaching the Champions League final with Liverpool. Undoubtedly, I've been very fortunate to work with many of the world's best managers."

And finished up his retirement statement by calling his time at Liverpool 'the cherry on top of his career'. "At 13, my dream was to reach the top-tier of English football and the Premier League. Yes - it took 17 years, but I achieved it (!), and as a cherry on top, of course, playing for Liverpool. Now I no longer can keep up with the youngsters on the field, but I can still DREAM BIG."

Liverpool.com says: "It's heartening to see just how much playing for Liverpool meant to Klavan, who remains a cult hero on Merseyside. And maybe he'll have time to catch a couple of games at Anfield now following his retirement too."