ROME, 30 December 2003 — Former World Player of the Year Roberto Baggio says he plans to retire at the end of the current season.
“That’s my idea right now and unless there’s some incredible U-turn I don’t believe I’m going to change my mind,” Baggio, 36, told television program Teletutto yesterday.
The former Italy striker, known as ‘The Divine Ponytail’ due to his hairstyle, has had a career blighted by injury. He has had a number of knee operations and a back problem has limited his appearances for his Serie A side Brescia this season.
“They’ve plagued me and given me a rough ride over the years,” he said. “These days, at my age, it gets rougher and rougher.”
Asked what he hoped to do after hanging up his boots, Baggio said: “It’s too soon to say. I’ve still got to get used to the idea of not being out there on the pitch, running.”
The hugely popular Baggio started as a professional in 1982 at third division side Vicenza and made his Serie A debut with Fiorentina three years later before embarking on a career at Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan and Brescia.
He won the UEFA Cup with Juventus in 1993 and was named both FIFA’s World Player of the Year and UEFA’s European Footballer of the Year that year before going on to win two Serie A titles, with Juve in 1995 and AC Milan in 1996.
He made his international debut against the Netherlands in 1988 and won 55 caps for Italy, scoring 27 goals.
