LAFC defender and Italian legend Giorgio Chiellini is still mulling over a decision on his playing career after his team’s 2-1 defeat in MLS Cup.
The Juventus icon made the move to Major League Soccer in July 2022 to play a key role in the Black and Gold securing their first MLS Cup later that year. However, despite a valiant effort late on at Lower.com Field, his team were unable to mount a comeback against Columbus Crew.
With over 800 appearances for club and country and his contract expiring at the end of the year, the 39-year-old admitted that is just might be the right time for him to hang up his boots.
“It could be my last game,” a disappointed Chiellini said after MLS Cup.
In 2023, he made 20 league appearances (17 starts) scoring one goal and adding two assists, helping solidify the LAFC defense that conceded just 39 goals (tied for fourth-best in MLS) alongside Jesus Murillo.
However, he added that he was proud to help the league grow and has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Western Conference side in roughly one-and-a-half seasons played.
“I’m happy to be a part of this league,” he said. “I hope that I could remain close to this league. I arrived last year with a lot of dreams and hopes. But I never could dream what [I’ve lived] in these 18 months. It’s something that has come into my heart, into my blood.”
There have been rumors flying about claiming that Chiellini is eyeing a return to Serie A and his former club Juventus, where he could take on a coaching role with the Italian giants. But for now, he’s still taking the time to make the best decision for him and his family while making sure that he’s ready to call it quits on a careers thats spanned over two decades.
“I still have doubt,” he said. “I have to understand what I have to follow – if it’s my head, if it’s my heart, if it’s my leg. And many different calls arrived in the last weeks.”
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