Sergio Aguero: Man City legend announces his retirement from football due to heart condition

Manchester City’s all-time record goalscorer Sergio Aguero has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33.

The Argentinian, who left City last summer, made the announcement on Wednesday morning at an official press briefing held at the Nou Camp where he was joined by Barcelona cub president Joan Laporta. Pep Guardiola and City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain were also in attendance.

“I have decided to stop playing professional football. It's a very difficult moment. But the decision I have made, I have taken for my health, that’s the main reason I’ve made this decision,” an emotional Aguero told a small crowd at Barcelona’s stadium.

“I was in good hands of the medical staff that have done their best and they have told me that the best thing would be to stop playing. Ten days ago I made that decision, but I want to tell everyone that I did everything possible to have some hope, but there wasn’t very much.

“I’m very proud of the career I’ve had, I’m very happy. I always dreamed of playing football since I was five years old when I first touched a ball.”

Aguero was recently diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat, after experiencing breathing difficulties during a 1-1 draw with Deportivo Alaves in October.

Following that, Barcelona said the striker would be unavailable for three months as he recuperated, however, it has now been announced Aguero will call time on his playing days due to the complication.

A bona fide City legend

City have witnessed some incredible players in a light blue jersey over recent years, but Aguero is up there as perhaps the greatest of all. He remains the club’s all-time top scorer and netted 260 goals in 390 games during a decade at the Etihad.

In that period, Aguero won five league titles, the FA Cup on two occasions, and collected six League Cup winners’ medals. On a personal level, Aguero was twice voted as City’s Player of the Season, won the 2014/15 Golden Boot and was selected in the PFA Team of the Year twice.

The former Atletico Madrid man is also fourth on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers with 184 strikes, and he netted 12 hat-tricks, more than anyone in the division’s history.

But Aguero will always hold a special place in the hearts of City fans for that incredible final day of the 2011/12 season, where his injury-time goal against Queens Park Rangers secured Roberto Mancini’s men the title, courtesy of a 3-2 victory.

Following the announcement on Wednesday, City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said via the club’s website: “The facts speak for themselves - Sergio is quite simply the most ruthless striker in the history of the Premier League. It is extraordinary that his statistics, more reflective of two careers, are in fact those of a player whose time in the game was cut short.

“His impact lives not only in the club that we are today, but in the club that we will be for many years to come. He has earned the adoration of the City family, and the respect of the football family the World over.”

City had also previously announced they plan to build a statue in recognition of Aguero’s impact at the club, along with those already honouring David Silva and Vincent Kompany.