 "Raphael Varane retires: Celebrate his career and heed his warning on heading in football")
France’s World Cup-winning defender Raphael Varane stunned the football world by retiring from football at the age of 31 on Wednesday. Varane who had earlier claimed that his body was “damaged,” retired after the latest injury setback, a knee injury at his new club Como.
He left Manchester United earlier this year after his contract ended to join Serie A side Como but his new journey only lasted for 20 minutes as he got injured on his debut. Instead of continuing to play, Varane decided to retire.
Varane made 93 appearances for France from 2013-22, playing a key role in their victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as their runners-up finish four years later in Qatar. He retired from international football in 2023.
“I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it’s the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley,” Varane wrote in a post on Instagram, referencing United’s FA Cup win in May. “I have no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of, but beyond the accolades and trophies, I am proud that no matter what, I have stuck to my principles of being sincere and have tried to leave everywhere better than I found it.”
Varane added that he would remain at Como in a non-playing role.
“A new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon,” Varane said.
Varane’s glittering career
He began his club career at Ligue 1 side Lens, before joining Real Madrid in 2011, where he played 360 times and won three La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies in a trophy-laden spell.
Varane joined United in 2021, making 95 appearances in all competitions for the English side and helping them win the League Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024.
Unfortunately, the football world has lost one of the best defenders but Varane’s early retirement also provides an opportunity for the industry to introspect about what they could do better to improve the longevity of players.
The schedule congestion has already forced players to threaten strike in Europe, but Varane a few months back had complained about something equally important. While his farewell message did not mention his struggle with concussions, in April this year, the former France defender had highlighted that heading the ball in football matches and injuries related to it had damaged his body.
“Personally, I don’t know if I’ll live to be 100, but I do know that I’ve damaged my body. The dangers of headers need to be taught on all amateur football pitches and to young people,” he told L’Equipe.
‘Symptoms are quite invisible’
He even revealed how he put himself at risk by playing in a match against Germany in the 2014 World Cup after suffering an injury on the head in a last-16 match against Nigeria.
“I finished the [Nigeria] match but I was in ‘autopilot’ mode,” he said. “The staff wondered if I was fit [to play Germany]. I was weakened, but ultimately I played and rather well.
“What we’ll never know is what would have happened if I had taken another knock to the head.
“As footballers used to playing at the highest level, we are accustomed to pain, we are a bit like soldiers, tough guys, symbols of physical strength, but these [concussions] are symptoms which are quite invisible.”
Varane also added he wouldn’t want his son to head the ball in football matches.
“My seven-year-old son plays football and I advise him not to head the ball. For me, that’s essential,” Varane. “Even if it doesn’t cause any immediate trauma, we know that in the long term, repeated shocks can have harmful effects.”
Now that Varane has retired, it’s important not only to celebrate his illustrious career but also to reflect on the warning he left behind about heading in football.
With agency inputs
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