Zlatan Ibrahimovic announces he will retire from football: 'I say goodbye to football but not to you.'
It was an emotional evening at San Siro, where Milan ended the season with a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona in the last game of the season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was injured, so he was not involved in the game. However, he was given a hero's farewell by the San Siro crowd, club directors and his teammates after the final whistle.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the 41-year-old was moved to tears even before kick-off, but emotions continued after the match when Ibra was awarded by Paolo Maldini.
He gave a speech, struggling to fight back the tears and, somehow surprisingly, announced his retirement from football. Many fans in the stands and some of his teammates, including Sandro Tonali, broke down in tears.
"So many memories and emotions inside this stadium," said Ibra.
"The first time I arrived you gave me happiness, the second time, you gave me love. I want to thank my family and those close to me for their patience. I want to thank my second family. The players, the coach and his staff for the responsibility they gave me. I want to thank the directors for the opportunity they gave me.
"Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you, fans. You welcomed me with open arms and I will be a Milanista my entire life. It's time to say goodbye to football, but not to you. It's too difficult, there are too many emotions. I'll see you around if you are lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to Milan for a second spell in January 2020. Overall, he has scored 93 goals in 163 appearances with the Rossoneri winning two Serie A titles. The first one in 2010-11 and the second one in 2021-22.
Last season, Real Madrid went on to win the UEFA Champions League for a record 15th time. As we inch closer to this season's final, we take a look at the Champions League winners list since 1956.
The Champions League was earlier called the European Cup, and it started in 1955, and the first winner was Real Madrid. For the next 5 years, Real Madrid did not let anyone get close to the trophy.
Since then, 23 teams have won the glory, with Manchester City being the most recent one. As we get close to another UEFA Champions League final, we take a look at the Champions League winners list since 1965.
Real Madrid with their 15th UCL title in 2023-24 season.
The Champions League winners list since 1955/56 is:
1956 - Real Madrid 1957 - Real Madrid 1958 - Real Madrid 1959 - Real Madrid 1960 - Real Madrid 1961 - Benfica 1962 - Benfica 1963 - AC Milan 1964 - Inter Milan 1965 - Inter Milan 1966 - Real Madrid 1967 - Celtic 1968 - Manchester United 1969- AC Milan 1970- Feyenoord 1971 - Ajax 1972 - Ajax 1973 - Ajax 1974 - Bayern 1975 - Bayern 1976 - Bayern 1977 - Liverpool 1978 - Liverpool 1979 - Nottingham Forest 1980 - Nottingham Forest 1981 - Liverpool 1982 - Aston Villa 1983 - Hamburger SV| 1984 - Liverpool 1985 - Juventus FC 1986 - Steaua București 1987 - FC Porto 1988 - PSV 1989 - AC Milan 1990 - AC Milan 1991 - Red Star Belgrade 1992 - Barcelona 1993 - Olympique de Marseille 1994 - AC Milan 1995 - Ajax 1996 - Juventus FC 1997 - Borussia Dortmund 1998 - Real Madrid 1999 - Manchester United 2000 - Real Madrid 2001 - Bayern 2002 - Real Madrid 2003 - AC Milan 2004 - Porto 2005 - Liverpool 2006 - Barcelona 2007 - AC Milan 2008 - Manchester United 2009 - Barcelona 2010 - Inter Milan 2011 - Barcelona 2012 - Chelsea FC 2013 - Bayern Munich 2014 - Real Madrid 2015 - Barcelona 2016 - Real Madrid 2017 - Real Madrid 2018 - Real Madrid 2019 - Liverpool 2020 - Bayern Munich 2021 - Chelsea FC 2022 - Real Madrid 2023 - Manchester City 2024 - Real Madrid
Let's have a look at the teams with the most trophies since 1955/56:
Real Madrid x 15 AC Milan x 7 Bayern x 6 Liverpool FC x 6 FC Barcelona x 5 Ajax x 4 Inter x 3 Manchester United x 3 Juventus x 2 Benfica x 2 Nottingham Forest x 2 Porto x 2 Chelsea x 3 Celtic x 1 Hamburger SV x 1 Steaua București x 1 Olympique de Marseille x 1 Borussia Dortmund x 1 Feyenoord x 1 Aston Villa x 1 PSV x 1 Red Star Belgrade x 1 Manchester City x 1
Proper fitness and training are a must for every sportsperson today. Here are the top 6 male fittest players in the world including footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
Proper fitness and training are a must for every sportsperson today. No matter which field of sports you are associated with, a nutrition-rich diet, exercising, and taking extreme care of physical health are an absolute mandate.
World-renowned athletes also inspire the younger generation to emphasize their physical health and lead a disciplined life. On this note, let's take a look at the top 6 male fittest players in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time and a huge inspiration to billions. Apart from his football skills, the entire world knows Ronaldo for his chisled and well-featured physique.
The Portuguese captain had the physical capabilities of a 20-year-old when he joined Juventus in 2018.
He had 7% body fat and a muscle mass of 50%. He weighs around 79 kg. The pivotal reason behind these extreme physical abilities is his dedication to fitness and his physical health.
No wonder his performances advanced at this level throughout the past years.
Ronaldo focuses on his sleep and nutrition as he eats five times a day and sleeps 8 hours as well. The 39-year-old has an extreme fitness routine. He enjoys his cardio, pilates and strength exercises.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is undoubtedly the athlete who revolutionized the concept of fitness in India. He is one of the fittest athletes in India at the moment. The former Indian test skipper influenced, and still influences his teammates, the younger generation, and his fans to follow the path of a proper fitness regime.
There has been a massive improvement in his performance since he started eating clean and followed a definite path of athleticism.
Kohli weighs around 74.5-75 kg and has been maintaining that weight for the last few years. He is one of the fastest runners in cricket and focuses on nutrition and strength training to stay fit.
Mohamed Salah
The current Liverpool winger did not look like this when he left England in 2015 to join Italian Club Fiorentina and then Roma. However, since then, Egyptian footballers have become some of the fittest players in the world.
He has a very low body fat percentage and maintains a disciplined life, making a lot of sacrifices to remain in shape.
Salah generally has mixed variants of food to have all kinds of nutrition and then focuses on his training to stay fit. He normally trains twice a day if he is skipping his football practice. "My nutritionist says that because I don't have any fat on my body, I can eat what I want. I also don't drink, so it's fine," Salah told CNN in 2020. Discover the world of football with https://1xbitpakistan.com/
LeBron James
The 6 feet 8 inches tall LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. The 113-kilo weight basketballer is undoubtedly the oldest NBA player currently.
James, throughout his career, has remained fit and lean. However, in 2014, he gained some weight but then lost many kilos with his diet and training. "I am very consistent with training my body, rehabbing my body, eating, having my body be very clean throughout this journey because I've always wanted to have a long career, or as long as I could be in this space," James told Tim Ferriss in an interview in 2018.
Moreover, he sleeps more than 8 hours a day and sometimes 9 or 10 to recover well.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most influential figures in modern football. The 42-year-old, even after calling it a day, follows a strict regime to remain in his fittest form. According to GQItalia, his food items are carefully weighed on a scale.
No matter how small a quantity the food is, everything needs to be measured to the exact gram. Also, junk food is a strict no for him. His workout routine, along with a strict diet, are the reasons behind his fitness and strength
Rich Froning
This list would remain incomplete without Rich Froning, the greatest CrossFit athlete of all time. He is the first and only athlete to clinch the title of "Fittest Man on Earth" 4 times consecutively from 2011. He is immensely powerful and can deadlift 545 pounds. Also, he can snatch 300 pounds, and do 75 chin-ups after deadlifting 545 pounds. His interest in strength and CrossFit games began during his fire department training days.
Sergio Conceicao will reportedly leave AC Milan at the end of the season
Conceicao, who was appointed in December 2024, is expected to be let go by AC Milan at the end of the season, with the possibility of being sacked in the upcoming weeks.
AC Milan have reportedly finalized the decision to part ways with current manager Sergio Conceicao following the end of the ongoing season.
According to multiple reports from Italy, the Portuguese manager can also be shown the door if the Rossoneris fail to earn victories against in their upcoming two matches against Lecce and Como, which are scheduled to take place before the international break in March.
Despite winning the Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan in January, while beating the eternal rivals Inter Milan in the final, Conceicao failed to lead Milan to the coveted success in Serie A this season.
Conceicao to bow out of Milan at the season's end
Conceicao won Supercoppa with Milan only after 17 days of taking charge. (Image Credit | FotMob)
According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, Conceicao's tenure at AC Milan "will be over at the end of the season". With another looming threat over the 50-year-old, he could lose his job as early as this month, if Milan suffers defeats against Lecce and Como before the international break.
#ACMilan have decided not to confirm Sergio #Conceicao. His story at #Milan will be over at the end of the season, even if he could be sacked with the immediate effect if he loses against Lecce and Como before the international break. #transfers
Corriere della Sera, another well-known Italian media outlet, reported that Milan may consider dismissing head coach Conceicao before the summer clause takes effect. This would allow both parties to part ways 'early' if the team's performance does not improve in the coming week.
The pressure is now mounting on Sergio Conceicao as AC Milan is currently positioned ninth on the Serie A leaderboard, having accumulated 41 points across 27 games.
Conceicao (right) replaced Fonseca (left) as the AC Milan head coach in December.
During the summer, Conceicao was already a top candidate for the head coach position at Milan. However, the club ultimately chose Paulo Fonseca for the role. After a few months of disappointing results, Fonseca was dismissed, and his compatriot Conceicao took over as the new head coach.
The former FC Porto manager took charge of AC Milan on 30 December 2024. Under his managerial radar, the Rossoneris have played 17 matches, achieving 8 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses so far.
Conceicao's tussle with Arrigo Sacchi
Arrigo Sacchi (Image Credit | Sempre Milan)
Sergio Conceicao's stay at Milan has been distressing due to the continuous speculations from different discussions. Recently, the Portuguese manager has been heavily criticized by the legendary former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, who "feels that it is ‘complicated’ for Conceicao to salvage his job in San Siro".
In his La Gazzetta dello Sport column, Sacchi conveyed his belief that it is "complicated" for Conceicao to save his job at San Siro. He also believes that the main issue is the lack of unity among the squad, which he sees as more significant than the team's results or the absence of goals on the pitch.
Sergio Conceiçao has not brought the benefits that all the supporters were expecting. Milan is in ninth place. This is not a position for a club that has written the history of football. We need to stop and seriously reflect with humility.
In response, Conceicao did not hold back his frustration over Sacchi's recent criticism, noting Sacchi's earlier praise contrasted with his current daily attacks in the media.
Two months ago, he said I was an important coach, now he criticizes me every day. I sent him a message, but he didn’t reply…
In another controversial incident, Conceicao's relationship with the Milan officials has seemingly deteriorated. The manager faced a backlash when his spokesperson claimed he felt unsupported by the club's management and criticized the team's structure.
However, Conceicao publicly denied these statements, affirming the club's support and his regular communication with the directors.
🎙️ O porta-voz de Sérgio Conceição tinha afirmaso que o técnico se sente sozinho e sem apoio da diretoria, criticando a estrutura do Milan e o comprometimento do elenco. Mas o treinador negou tudo, dizendo que o clube está com ele e que mantém contato diário com a diretoria.… pic.twitter.com/u4RfHKVGK8
— Andersinho Marques (@Andersinho_ITA) March 7, 2025
The upcoming weeks will be very crucial for Sergio Conceicao, as he will leave no stone unturned to end his tenure at Milan on a high, bringing Rossoneris close to the qualification zone for the continental competitions.
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Knockout phase play-off Round Up: Real Madrid, PSG, PSV go through
Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, PSG, PSV and Real Madrid qualified for the Round of 16 from the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Knockout phase play-offs.
Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Club Brugge, Feyenoord, PSG, PSV and Real Madrid qualified for the Round of 16 from the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Knockout phase play-offs.
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Knockout phase play-offs Round-Up
Milan 1-1 Feyenoord (agg: 1-2)
Italian football giants and one of the most successful teams in UEFA Champions League history AC Milan were knocked out of this season's tournament after Dutch club Feyenoord defeated them by 1-2 on aggregate.
Feyenoord were leading by 1-0 after the first leg and then they ensured a 1-1 draw to progress to the round of 16 for the first time in their history.
Santiago Giménez scored early for Milan but against a 10-men Milan side Julián Carranza came off the bench to seal an equaliser with a stunning header.
Benfica 3-3 Monaco (agg: 4-3)
Orkun Kökçü scored a late winner for Benfica to progress to the next round after beating Monaco by 4-3 on aggregate.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu gave Benfica the early edge only to see Takumi Minamino and Eliesse Ben Seghir put Monaco back on level terms.
Vangelis Pavlidis then gave Benfica the lead but George Ilenikhena levelled things again. Kokcu then sealed the winner for Benfica with a later goal.
Atalanta 1-3 Club Brugge (agg: 2-5)
Chemsdine Talbi's brace and Ferran Jutglà's stunning long-range goal took Club Brugge to the round of 16 with ease.
Ademola Lookman scored the lone goal for Atalanta. However, he also saw one penalty saved by Simon Mignolet as well.
Bayern Munich 1-1 Celtic (agg: 3-2)
Bayern Munich narrowly passed the Celtic test with a late goal from Alphonso Davies. Nicolas Kuhn scored the goal for Celtic in the one-hour mark and when they were nearly close to taking Bayern Munich to extra time, Davies took the German Champions home.
B. Dortmund 0-0 Sporting CP (agg: 3-0)
Despite a goalless draw at their home, Borussia Dortmund went past their Portuguese visitors with ease, after a solid 3-0 lead from the first leg.
In the second leg, Rui Silva was the hero for the Portuguese team who made multiple saves to deny the Dortmund players.
Paris 7-0 Brest (agg: 10-0)
PSG thrashed their Ligue 1 opponent Brest via a 7-0 victory in the second leg to manage a 10-0 win on aggregate.
PSG became the first team to have seven different scorers in a single match. Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Désiré Doué, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Ramos and Senny Mayulu scored for the French giants.
PSV 3-1 Juventus, aet (agg: 4-3)
🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | PSV 3-1 Juventus | Ryan Flamingo
RYAN FLAMINGO MAKES IT THREE FOR PSV IN THE 98TH MINUTE OF OVERTIME !!!!!!!!!!!!! 4-3 ON AGGREGATE !!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/n9Y0TXCmmo
PSV stunned the Italian giants to qualify for the round of 16. This is their first Champions League knockout win since 2007.
Ryan Flamingo scored an extra-time goal to nullify Timothy Weah's stunning goal.
Ivan Perisic and Ismael Saibari scored the other two goals for the Dutch club.
Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (agg: 6-3)
Real Madrid proved why they are the 15 times Champions League winner as they eased past a struggling Manchester City to reach the Round of 16.
Kylian Mbappe scored a stunning hat-trick to take the defending champions to the next round in front of their home crowd. Nico González scored a late consolation goal for City.
UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Matchday 7 round up: Barcelona and Real win big, Bayern and City face defeats
UEFA Champions League matchday 7: Barcelona and Real Madrid secure big wins, Bayern was shocked by Feyenoord and Manchester City failed to pull off a crucial victory against PSG.
Match week 7 of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 season delivered a mix of thrilling comebacks, dominant victories, and shocking defeats. Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid boasted their strength with decisive victories, while Manchester City and Bayern failed to pull off victories.
The shocking defeats of the Premier League giant and Bundesliga Heavyweight tightened the race for the top eight direct qualification and Knock-out playoffs. Here is a roundup of the key matches and standout performances from the week.
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