Sevilla Legend Navas bids tearful farewell to Football
Spanish football icon Jesús Navas, 39, tearfully bid farewell to his illustrious career on Monday in a heartfelt ceremony at Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
Navas, Sevilla’s most-decorated player, will officially retire when his contract expires on December 31 due to a chronic hip injury that has plagued him in recent years. Addressing 45,000 fans, he said, “If it weren’t for my hip, I would have continued. This decision was very difficult.”
The winger, who rose through Sevilla’s youth system, made 705 appearances for the club over 18 seasons, in addition to 183 games for Manchester City during a four-year spell.
Navas won 15 major trophies, including the 2010 World Cup, two Euros, and the 2023 Nations League with Spain, as well as eight titles with Sevilla.
At the ceremony, he received a framed jersey commemorating his record appearances, joined by his family on stage under a banner reading “Navas Legend.”
Tributes poured in, with Spain’s Rodri calling him “a role model in every respect” and Sergio Ramos declaring him “the greatest legend Sevilla has ever had.”
Navas played his final La Liga game on December 22, coming on as a substitute in Sevilla’s 4-2 defeat to Real Madrid.