Dimitar Barbatov has formally announced his retirement from Active football. The player who has played for Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham, decided to retire as he is yet to play professional football since last year.
Since leaving Kerala Blasters last year, the Bulgarian striker has been without a club, justifying his reason to retire.
In the long retirement statement, which includes footage of some of his goals, he posted on Instagram, he said...
"I did it my way! On this special day today, if you don't know why to check the story, I decide to share this with you, which I was preparing to post a while ago, but didn't... I don't know why... I know some of you already thought that I retired, and now maybe you are like WTF Berbs we know that you don't play, but I did try to find something (a club) last year. It didn't happen. So, someone told me I need to say something, and seeing that people were asking me, especially back home, I need to give a farewell message! So, here it is! "My last game was more than one year ago, so I think its the right time now to stop and it's long overdue!"
"Although when I think about it, its never The End, because I will stay in the game in one way or another, the time has come to say that after almost 20 years playing football I am stopping with my professional ACTIVE football career! I will miss it! I will f***ing miss it! Everything! The games, training, the goals, preparations, the pressure, my teammates... the roar of the fans when I scored another banger. "I was blessed and worked hard to have the opportunity to play with one of the best ever and against some of the best ever! And coming from a small country this makes it even more special for me! I had my highs and of course, some lows in my career won my fair share of trophies, score some goals along the way as well! I played the way I wanna play, and I scored the goals I wanted to score! Thank you to all the people who helped me develop, and became the player I always wanted to be!"
The former Fulham forward had something to say to his former team-mates also...
"Thank you to all my former teams my teammates and my coaches and staff! It was a pleasure! "I know at times I was not easy to work with, but I always gave my everything for the teams I played for! I hope you all have enjoyed my game and everything I gave to entertain you on the pitch! Damn it, I will miss all of this, people because I love football so much... But I am sure you will miss me as well. Thank you!"