Ivan Rakitić officially ended his rich playing career at the age of 38. He announced his retirement decision with an emotional video on social networks, thanking football for everything it has brought him in life. The last club he played in was Hajduk Split, where he played 39 games, scored two goals, and registered five assists. His professionalism and mentoring of young players are particularly noteworthy.

During his career, Rakitić was a key member of the Croatian national team, with which he won silver at the 2018 World Championship in Russia. On the club level, he achieved impressive successes: he won the Champions League with Barcelona, the Europa League twice with Sevilla, four Spanish La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey titles, two Spanish Super Cups, the Club World Cup, the Swiss Cup, and the German Cup. He performed for Basel, Schalke, Sevilla, Barcelona, and Hajduk, and in total, he played more than 700 official matches at the highest level.

After the end of his playing career, Rakitić remains in football – he joins the sports sector of Hajduk as an associate of sports director Goran Vučević, where he will participate in the creation of club policy and help with the realization of transfers. His farewell was emotionally accompanied by many former teammates, including Luka Modrić, who highlighted Rakitić’s greatness and contribution to Croatian football.