<p>Uruguayan defender Diego Godin retired from football on Sunday following Velez Sarsfield's 1-0 loss to Huracan in the last Argentine league game of the season, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 20-year playing career.</p>.<p>The former Atletico Madrid captain made 627 professional appearances, scored 38 goals and won 10 titles, including two Europa League trophies and three UEFA Super Cups with Atletico Madrid.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/manchester-united-agree-to-sign-denmarks-hojlund-from-atalanta-1242082.html">Manchester United agree to sign Denmark's Hojlund from Atalanta</a></strong></p>.<p>"I wanted to make the decision this way, being healthy, it may seem surprising, but I had been considering it for a while," the 37-year-old Godin told Argentine TV.</p>.<p>"Now there are other priorities. My family is in Uruguay and I recently became a dad, I want to rest and enjoy other things, and I wanted to try to leave with a good image on the pitch."</p>.<p>Uruguay's Nacional considered signing Godin, a source close to the player told Reuters, but the centre-back made his final decision to step away from the pitch after his daughter's birth last month.</p>.<p>Godin started his career in 2003 with Uruguayan side CA Cerro. He went on to play for Nacional in 2006 before his move to Spain's Villarreal a season later.</p>.<p>The defender then joined Atletico in 2010, where he made a name for himself as he captained the team during nine seasons.</p>.<p>Godin arrived at Velez in mid-2022 following a successful European run that also included spells at Inter Milan and Cagliari, and after spending six months at Brazil's Atletico Mineiro.</p>.<p>He was capped 161 times by Uruguay and featured in four World Cup editions as part of a golden generation that won the 2011 Copa America and finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup. </p>
<p>Uruguayan defender Diego Godin retired from football on Sunday following Velez Sarsfield's 1-0 loss to Huracan in the last Argentine league game of the season, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 20-year playing career.</p>.<p>The former Atletico Madrid captain made 627 professional appearances, scored 38 goals and won 10 titles, including two Europa League trophies and three UEFA Super Cups with Atletico Madrid.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/manchester-united-agree-to-sign-denmarks-hojlund-from-atalanta-1242082.html">Manchester United agree to sign Denmark's Hojlund from Atalanta</a></strong></p>.<p>"I wanted to make the decision this way, being healthy, it may seem surprising, but I had been considering it for a while," the 37-year-old Godin told Argentine TV.</p>.<p>"Now there are other priorities. My family is in Uruguay and I recently became a dad, I want to rest and enjoy other things, and I wanted to try to leave with a good image on the pitch."</p>.<p>Uruguay's Nacional considered signing Godin, a source close to the player told Reuters, but the centre-back made his final decision to step away from the pitch after his daughter's birth last month.</p>.<p>Godin started his career in 2003 with Uruguayan side CA Cerro. He went on to play for Nacional in 2006 before his move to Spain's Villarreal a season later.</p>.<p>The defender then joined Atletico in 2010, where he made a name for himself as he captained the team during nine seasons.</p>.<p>Godin arrived at Velez in mid-2022 following a successful European run that also included spells at Inter Milan and Cagliari, and after spending six months at Brazil's Atletico Mineiro.</p>.<p>He was capped 161 times by Uruguay and featured in four World Cup editions as part of a golden generation that won the 2011 Copa America and finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup. </p>