Ivan Rakitić (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Croatian legend Ivan Rakitić has officially ended his playing career at 37 and will now serve as assistant sports director at Hajduk Split, transitioning from the pitch to club management.
Ivan Rakitić, one of Croatia’s most celebrated footballers of the modern era, has officially retired from professional football at the age of 37.
New Hajduk Split head coach Gonzalo Garcia confirmed the decision, revealing that the former Barcelona and Sevilla star is trading in his boots for a suit as he transitions to a backroom role. Rakitić will now serve as assistant sports director at the Croatian first division club.
“Ivan Rakitić has retired, he is no longer a footballer,” Garcia told reporters. “He’s facing a difficult period of adjustment — it’s never easy to move from the pitch to the office. Now he faces the ‘darker’ side of football, where suits and phone calls replace training sessions. But he played an important part in my arrival at Hajduk, and I’m thankful for that.”
Rakitić’s glittering playing career spanned over two decades and included stints at Schalke, Sevilla, and Barcelona, where he won the Champions League in 2015. He was also a key member of the Croatian national team, earning 106 caps and helping lead his country to the 2018 World Cup final.
While Hajduk fans had hoped to see him play in the famous white shirt, Rakitić's decision signals a commitment to shaping the club's future from behind the scenes. He now begins a new chapter — one that will test his leadership and football knowledge off the pitch.