Marouane Fellaini set to retire from football after Shandong Taishan stint
Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini is set to retire from football after a successful stint in the Chinese Super League with Shandong Taishan.
The 35-year-old midfielder left Old Trafford in 2019 to join the Chinese side, making 139 appearances for the club. The CSL season is set to come to an end on Saturday and Fellaini is now set to hang up his boots.
Shandong Taishan head coach Choi Kang-hee revealed the midfielder’s decision at a press conference on Friday ahead of that final game at home to Henan FC.
Fellaini’s career
Fellaini became Everton’s club record signing when he joined the Toffees as a 20-year-old in a £15million deal from Standard Liege in 2008. After five fine seasons at Goodison Park, he joined United on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2013, becoming the first signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era as he followed David Moyes from Merseyside to Manchester.
While often maligned at United, he helped the club win the FA Cup in 2016, also part of Jose Mourinho’s side that won the EFL Cup and Europa League the following year. He made 177 appearances for the club, scoring 22 goals.
Farewell ceremony
Shandong will hold a farewell ceremony for Fellaini after Saturday’s match. ‘In the past years, Fellaini has ignited our home atmosphere with goals and victories time and time again,’ a club statement read. ‘In this final battle, let us salute him and see him off with applause and cheers. A superstar when he came, a legend when he left.’
Following the conclusion of the league campaign, Shandong will play in the Chinese FA Cup final on 25 November where Fellaini will have the chance to add another winners’ medal to his collection.
Conclusion
Marouane Fellaini has been an influential figure in both English and Chinese football for over a decade. His career has been full of success and he will be remembered fondly by fans of all clubs he has played for. His retirement will be marked with a farewell ceremony on Saturday and he will have one last chance to add a winners’ medal to his collection when Shandong play in the Chinese FA Cup final later this month.
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