Sports
Tears as Jesús Navas Bids Emotional Farewell to Football Career
- Jesús Navas bids emotional farewell to football career at Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
- The 39-year-old retires due to a chronic hip injury after a decorated career with Sevilla and Spain.
- Tributes and chants flood the stadium as Navas calls time on his illustrious playing days.
Spanish football legend Jesús Navas tearfully marked the end of his illustrious playing career on Monday with an emotional farewell at Sevilla’s packed Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the ceremony featured songs, chants, and heartfelt tributes from fans and teammates.
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The 39-year-old winger, who holds the distinction of being Sevilla and the Spanish national team’s most decorated player, will officially retire when his contract expires on December 31.
His decision comes after struggling with a persistent and painful hip injury that has hindered his performance in recent seasons.
“I live to give joy to my Sevilla and the Spanish fans and if it hadn’t been for my hip I would have continued, that’s for sure. That’s why it was very difficult for me to say that this is the end of the season,” Navas told the crowd of around 45,000 fans who packed the stadium for the tribute, pausing at times to fight back tears.
“I have been suffering from hip difficulties for several years, but in the last few weeks the condition has worsened,” he added as he stood below a huge placard that read “Navas legend”.
Jesús Navas, who rose through Sevilla’s youth ranks, made 705 appearances for the club over an 18-season span, in addition to his four years at Manchester City, where he played 183 games between 2013 and 2017.
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During his emotional farewell, Navas was presented with a framed jersey bearing his name and the number 705, joined on stage by his wife, two sons, and parents, as the crowd cheered and chanted his name.
Navas’ trophy collection includes 15 major titles, including a record four with Spain—the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012, the 2023 UEFA Nations League, and Euro 2024—as well as eight with Sevilla.
At the ceremony, Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri praised Navas as “a role model in every respect,” while former Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos described him as “the greatest legend the club has ever had.”
Navas played his final La Liga match on December 22, coming on as a substitute for Sevilla in their 4-2 loss to Real Madrid.
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