Pedro Rodriguez: Pedro Rodriguez ended his football career. The former FC Barcelona and Chelsea winger has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39. World Cup, Euro and Champions League, success after success on the highest stage of football, this star’s colorful career has come down. He has not been at a club since leaving Lazio at the end of last season.
‘Now is the right time’
Pedro announced his retirement by posting a video on social media. Along with a collage of career highlights, he writes, “Now is the right time to start a new chapter in life.” The former Spain star expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported him on the way to fulfilling his dreams and the joy that football has given him.
Rise in Barcelona
At the age of 17, Pedro joined Barcelona’s youth team from Tenerife. Step by step, he passed the club’s academy and made it to the Barcelona B team. He made his debut for the senior team in the 2007-08 season. Pedro signed his first professional contract with Barcelona in 2009. He quickly became an important member of the star-studded Barca team.
Unique record in one season
In the 2009–10 season, Pedro achieved a feat that marked his place in Barcelona history. He scored in all six official competitions for the club that season. Pedro became the first footballer to score in six competitions in one season, scoring in La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Memorable goal at Wembley
One of the highlights of Pedro’s career came in the 2011 Champions League final. He scored his first goal for Barcelona in the final against Manchester United at Wembley. In the end, Barca won the match with a margin of 3-1 and took home the Champions League trophy. That night in Europe’s top club competition remains one of the most memorable chapters in Pedro’s career.
Italian football from Chelsea
In 2015, Pedro left Barcelona and joined English Premier League club Chelsea. The Spanish winger continued his streak of success there as well. He later played for Roma and Lazio in Italian football. The last chapter of his club career ended at Lazio. After leaving the club at the end of last season, he finally bid farewell to football.
World Cup-Euro winner Pedro
Pedro had a successful career in club football as well as for the Spanish national team. He was a member of Spain’s World Cup winning team in South Africa in 2010. Two years later, he also won the 2012 European Championship. Pedro hangs up his boots at the age of 39, having won three of football’s biggest trophies – the World Cup, the Euros and the Champions League.