Liverpool cult hero Lucas Leiva has announced his retirement from football during an emotional press conference.
The Brazilian has been forced to hang up his boots due to a heart condition. Announcing his gut-wrenching decision in a press conference held by his current club, Gremio, he broke down in tears and said: “It’s been a difficult period. I think this is the first time I’ve cried over this case.
“But I can only thank you. I’m ending where I’d like, not the way I’d like. I’m sure a new cycle will begin. I had a lot of hope that it could reverse, but it was not the case. My health comes first.”
Leiva secured a dream return to his first club in Brazil last summer. Club president Alberto Guerra said of the midfielder: “I had prepared a beautiful speech, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to say it all.
“I wanted to congratulate you [Leiva] on a successful career. I’m very happy that you’re going to go on with a normal life. I want to say on behalf of all the Gremistas that few have represented us like you. That’s why so many people are moved by this moment. You are a great leader in the locker room that we all learned to respect.”
Leiva represented Liverpool for ten years after initially arriving from Gremio back in 2007. He made 346 appearances for the Reds and won the the League Cup in 2012. Whilst he was not part of an era which brought much success for Liverpool, he was highly-regarded by Reds fans and played over 300 games for the club.
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His spell with on Merseyside came to an end in 2017 with a move to Italian giants Lazio. He enjoyed a wonderful impact in Rome after being named the club's player of the season over his first two campaigns.
The midfielder returned to Gremio last year and made 17 appearances as the side won promotion back to the top-flight of Brazilian football.
However, he was then forced out of training after a heart issue was detected back in December. A club statement shared by Leiva at the time read: "The Medical Department of Gremio reports that the athlete Lucas Leiva presented, in the routine examinations of the pre-season, a picture of change in heart rhythm being, consequently, removed from physical activities until the completion of complementary tests and treatment of the condition."
Following the news of his retirement, his former club Liverpool paid a special message to him on social media. A tweet from the club's official account read: "We're all with you, @LucasLeiva87. Congratulations on a brilliant career and we wish you the very best in your next chapter," accompanied by a red heart emoji.
Away from Gremio, Lazio and Liverpool, Leiva also made 22 appearances for the Brazilian national side - his last cap coming in 2013.
