Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The player, who will turn 41 in April, is in his 20th campaign with the club and has confirmed that he is preparing to say goodbye to the game and the club he loves.

“This will be my last year as a player, in five months I will definitely hang up my boots,” declared the stopper on Thursday.

The former Italian international had already been close to retiring two years ago, but Vice-President Adriano Galliani convinced him to extend his contract with the Via Turati outfit.

In his long career with Milan, Costacurta has won seven Scudetti and four Champions League titles in 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003. He has also won one Coppa Italia and five Italian Super Cups.

In the AEK Athens game on November 21, he became the oldest man ever to play in the Champions League, breaking the record previously set by Belgian goalkeeper Danny Verlinden.

Costacurta was capped 59 times by the Nazionale between 1991 and 1998, appearing in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups – although he was forced to miss the Pasadena Final because of injury.

Paolo Maldini, the only other player remaining from the glorious Milan squad guided by Arrigo Sacchi at the end of the ‘80s, has also stated that he might retire in June.

It's more than time, isn't it Billy?

Thank you everything.

good,

wish you all the best in future

title of this thread should be changed...costacurta is retiring...he is far from quitting

best of luck to you...thanks for all the great times!

Thankyou Billy, IMO this is best for both player and club.

Time to start looking for a suitable replacement(under 30 ) Mr Gallianni

Another legend retiring but it's time to do so. THANK YOU

I hope he will be in our coaching staff

for sure!!

Thank you Billy!

Our legend!
Thank you!

Sad, but inevitable. I'm glad I had the good fortune to see him play in his prime (World Cup 1994).

Another of the legends is going.

All HAIL BILLY.. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING

You have done well, Billy. Thanx for everything. You made history and we will remember that.

Yeah

Benarrivo --- Baresi --- Billy --- Don Paolo

That was something

Yes .. That defence is the BEST ever .. Maldini, Baresi, and Costacurta .. Along with Tassotti .. Unbreakable !!!

I cant believe the day has come that Maldini and Costacurta are done

What? Maldini is NOT done!!!

Frankly I think it's about time...This should've happened earlier so the team could molt and grow for the future. Haning on to legends is good for sentimental reasons but as far as looking forward it's counter productive...Good luck to him though and hopefully he'll stay on as like a defensive advisor.

Yeah .. As much as it would be difficult for the whole club to let go of one of it's prized jewels .. Maldini has to retiere; but I do hope deep inside that he would reconsider for one more season (just read somewhere he might) .. Letting go of Costacurta is one thing, but Captain Paolo is another .. Our Captain will retiere with a trophy; one way or another

Live forever Billy