- Former Italy captain announced his farewell to football at the age of 39
- Chiellini was one of the founding members of FIFPRO’s revamped Global Player Council (GPC)
- “We footballers can also participate in the decision-making process and make our voice heard much more,” Chiellini told FIFPRO last year
Italian football legend Giorgio Chiellini has announced his retirement at the age of 39. The EURO 2020 winner described his career as "the most beautiful and intense journey of my life" in a social media post on Tuesday.
As well as enjoying a trophy-laden career which included nine Serie A titles with Juventus, Chiellini dedicated part of his successful career to fighting for footballers' rights.
In September 2022, the former Azzurri captain was one of the founding members of FIFPRO’s revamped Global Player Council (GPC), a platform for men’s and women’s players to discuss and influence issues in their industry and put them at the heart of international football decision-making.
"Being a member of the Global Player Council gives us an opportunity to make ourselves heard, to make ourselves known, to assert our ideas and position," said Chiellini.
"If I can help footballers worldwide with my words, with what I've done, maybe even with the knowledge I have, then it's really an honour to represent my colleagues and to be part of this council."
For Chiellini, the GPC is an ideal space to "share ideas, problems and strategies with those who represent us". In short, the council is "the best way to start making our voice heard by the football authorities".
He said: "There is still a lot to do, but I believe that by doing it in the right way, at the right time, we footballers can also participate in the decision-making process and make our voice heard much more."
Chiellini’s activism also included fighting racism and discrimination in sport from his place as a footballer.
"As footballers, we have this great popularity and with that comes plenty of influence over young people. This brings with it a responsibility to do more to help future generations and make the world a better place to live in," he told FIFPRO in March 2022.
In May this year, he took part in discussions in USA about the current match schedule, workload, online abuse and more alongside fellow GPC member Ali Riley and players from Los Angeles FC and Angel FC.
A formidable career
Chiellini began his senior professional career at Livorno, where he played for three seasons, before spending one season at Fiorentina and arriving in 2005 at his beloved Juventus.
He spent 17 seasons in Turin and made it to the Italian national team, where he made 117 international appearances and scored eight goals.
In 2022 he made the move to USA with Los Angeles FC, picking up an MLS Cup.
- Champion of 9 Italian Leagues
- Champion of EURO 2020
- Champion of 5 Italian Cups
- Champion of 5 Italian Super Cups
- Champion of 1 Italian Serie B
- Champion of 1 Italian Serie C1
- Champion of 1 MLS Cup
