Professional football player retirements

Professional footballers Teófilo Gutiérrez and Giuliano have announced their retirements from the sport.

Colombian striker Teófilo Gutiérrez, currently with Atlético Junior, plans to retire in December following a 19-year career. He has scheduled a farewell ceremony for December 19 at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla, which he described as his ‘last dance’. His career includes stints at clubs such as River Plate and Sporting Lisbon, as well as 52 caps for the Colombian national team.

Brazilian midfielder Giuliano Victor de Paula has also officially announced his retirement at age 36. Reflecting on a twenty-year career that included 789 official matches, 163 goals, and 124 assists, he stated, “Football was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Giuliano’s extensive career included playing for major clubs such as Internacional, Grêmio, Corinthians, Santos, and Athletico-PR, where he played his final professional season in 2025. His international experience spanned Dnipro in Ukraine, Zenit in Russia, Fenerbahçe in Turkey, and Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He was a key figure in Internacional’s 2010 Copa Libertadores victory and earned 14 caps for the Brazilian national team. He intends to transition into the business sector, focusing on career management and sports entrepreneurship to support athletes.