Ivan Rakitić, the Croatian midfielder celebrated for his stellar career with Sevilla and Barcelona, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37. Rakitić confirmed his decision through an emotional video shared on his Instagram account, expressing gratitude to all the teams he represented, with special emphasis on his time with Sevilla.

Rakitić's professional journey began with FC Basel in Switzerland, his birthplace. In 2011, he joined Sevilla, where he clinched the Europa League title in 2014 and had the honor of serving as captain. After six successful years with FC Barcelona (2014-2020), where he secured a treble in 2015, which included scoring in the Champions League final, and four La Liga titles, Rakitić returned to Sevilla. There, he added another Europa League title to his name in 2023. He concluded his playing career with HNK Hajduk Split, his sole Croatian team.

In his farewell message, Rakitić conveyed deep appreciation for his experiences at Sevilla, saying, "You gave me so much more. You gave me a home. I had the honor of being captain, of lifting my first European title". He also highlighted that it was in Seville where he met his wife and built his family. Reflecting on his Barcelona tenure, Rakitić described it as "a dream I didn't even dare to imagine," acknowledging the privilege of playing alongside the best, winning trophies, and creating unforgettable memories at Camp Nou.

Throughout his career, Ivan Rakitić earned numerous accolades, including a Swiss Cup, a German Cup, two UEFA Europa League titles, one UEFA Champions League title, a FIFA Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, four La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey trophies, two Spanish Super Cups, and two Catalan Super Cups. He also represented the Croatian national team for over two decades, reaching the World Cup final in 2018.

Following his retirement, Rakitić is set to begin a new chapter as the assistant sporting director at Hajduk Split, collaborating with Goran Vucevic.