Wed Sep 25 23:53:51 UTC 2024: ## Real Madrid Legend Raphaël Varane Retires from Professional Football
**Madrid, Spain** – Real Madrid has paid tribute to legendary defender Raphaël Varane, who has announced his retirement from professional football. The club expressed its gratitude and admiration for the player who “became part of our club’s history.”
Varane, who signed for Real Madrid at just 18 years old in 2011, played a pivotal role in the club’s golden era, winning four European Cups (three consecutively between 2014 and 2018). Over his ten seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, he amassed an impressive 18 trophies in 360 appearances, including four Champions League titles, four Club World Cups, and three European Super Cups.
Beyond his Real Madrid achievements, Varane also enjoyed international success, lifting the 2018 World Cup with France and winning the 2021 Nations League. He further added an English League Cup and an FA Cup to his trophy cabinet during his time with Manchester United.
Individually, Varane was recognized for his excellence, being included in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 in 2018 and featuring in the IFFHS Team of the Year, the UEFA Team of the Year, and the 2017-2018 Champions League squad of the year.
Real Madrid has hailed Varane as one of the greatest center-backs in the club’s history, highlighting his unwavering commitment to the club’s values. The club has wished the retired defender and his family all the best in this new chapter of his life.
First Piper 