Former Spain midfielder Cazorla retires at 41

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Former Arsenal and Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla retired from football at the age of 41 on Thursday after more than two decades in the game.

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The diminutive Asturian helped his local team Oviedo reach La Liga in 2025 and played his final season with them in the Spanish top flight.

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“Now that everything is ending, when the boots are being hung up, and the noise is turning into silence, everything fits together, because the ending wasn’t just anywhere — I was at home,” said Cazorla in a video on X.

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After developing in Oviedo’s youth ranks, Cazorla headed to Villarreal, later joining Arsenal in 2012 after spells at Recreativo and Malaga.

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Cazorla won two FA Cups with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015, during a six-year spell in London.

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The creative midfielder lifted the European Championship with Spain in 2008 and 2012, but missed their 2010 World Cup triumph through injury, a constant problem for him during his career.

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Cazorla returned to Villarreal and then signed for Qatari side Al Sadd, before returning to Oviedo in the second division in 2023.

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“Cazorla decided to come back earning the minimum salary allowed by the league and donated all his image rights to the club,” said Oviedo in a statement Thursday.

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“In return, he only asked that 10 percent of the sales of his jersey be entirely dedicated to Real Oviedo’s youth academy, to contribute to the growth of future generations.”

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Oviedo said they would like him to stay in any role or capacity that he chooses and “that makes him happy”.

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AFP

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