Bojan Krkic announces retirement from football

Bojan Krkic is calling it a day. He made the official announcement this Thursday in the Auditori 1899 at the club where it all began for him, FC Barcelona. Without a team since February and his final season at Vissel Kobe in Japan, he said "I am now 32, and after learning and experiencing so much, I wish to announce the end of my career as a professional footballer."

"Life is about stages" he continued. "One has to be honest and realistic to oneself." He thanked his family and friends for all of their support, and also thanked President Laporta, with whom he signed his first professional contract. "You will always be a special man to me" he said. "We have had a very special connection."

Laporta himself had said earlier that "Krkic's name is part of Barça history. Beyond your words, we recall that player from Linyola who broke all the youth records and gave the fans so much hope. Little Bojan was a unique player, a fighter."

Bojan says that he will continue training because he wants to play his last game for the Catalan national team, which should be happening in late June. He wishes to continue in football, and is going to start training for his coaching badge. 

423 youth and 41 senior goals

Bojan is believed to be the highest scoring youth footballer in Barça history, with an extraordinary 423 goals to his name.

He made his first team debut in 2007/08 under Frank Rijkaard and went on to make 48 appearances and to score 12 goals in his first season. At 17 years and 51 days, he was the youngest ever Barça goalscorer in  la Liga until Ansu Fati came along. But Bojan remains the youngest player to reach 100 appearances for the Barça first team.

After 163 games in total and 43 goals, Bojan Krkic played for Roma and AC Milan (Italy), Ajax (Holland), Stoke City (England), Mainz (Germany), Alavés (Spain) and Montreal (Canada/MLS) before going to Japan.

14 titles

3 Spanish Ligas (2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11)
2 Champions Leagues (2008/09, 2010/11)
1 Club World Cup (2010)
1 European Super Cup (2009/2010)
1 Copa del Rey (2008/09)
3 Spanish Super Cups (2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11)
1 Eredivisie (2013/14)
1 Dutch Super Cup (2014)
1 Canadian Cup (2018/19)