Sacha Kljestan stops playing football

OTHER At 37, Sacha Kljestan announced his retirement as a professional footballer today. The American played for Anderlecht between 2010 and 2015. With purple-white, the midfielder won three national titles and four Supercups.


"If you know me, you know this is an emotional and difficult day. I love the game so much. But now I am finally ready for the next chapter in my life," Kljestan wrote on Twitter. "Football, thank you for taking me everywhere in this world."

Kljestan describes how he lived his dream for 17 years. "As a teenager, I used to rush home from school to watch the second half of Champions League matches. Years later, I myself played three seasons in a row in the Champions League," he refers to his Anderlecht period.

177 games, 25 goals

Kljestan came to Anderlecht in the summer of 2010 as a 25-year-old international from Chivas USA. He quickly secured a starting place and although not always unchallenged, he would largely retain it for four seasons. The American was a runner who provided balance in the purple and white midfield. The always good-humoured Kljestan with the fine moustache also regularly picked up his goal. In total, he scored 25 for Anderlecht. 

In the 2014-2015 season, Kljestan lost his starting place. In the winter, purple-white let him return to the United States, where he signed for New York Red Bulls. For three years there, he was of great value. This was followed by two more years at Orlando and three at Los Angeles FC. 

As an international, Kljestan was there at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (where he also scored twice) and subsequently played 52 times for the US A-team (six goals).