Joaquin Sánchez Rodríguez decided to end his career after 24 years of professional football. The experienced right wing turns 42 in July, but even so, he had the option of extending his contract with Betis. He decided, however, that enough was enough.##NAJAVA_MECA_7190488##With five seasons in Valencia, two in Malaga and two in Fiorentina, Joaquin spent most of his career at Betis. He arrived in Seville as a 19-year-old from El Puerto de Santa María, not far from Cadiz, and he is retiring from playing before his 42nd birthday (July 21). He has been the captain of the green and white team for many years, with whom he won two Copa del Rey trophies and played the group stage of the Champions League in the 2005/2006 season. In the remaining nine matches until the end of the season, he will try to help his teammates to once again place themselves among the best European teams.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Betis are currently in fifth place in the Primera Division, three points behind Real Sociedad in the coveted fourth place. In the current season, Joaquin made 23 appearances (15 in the championship, seven in the Europa League and one in Copa del Rey), scored one and assisted one goal.Since last season, it is evident that his years have caught up with him, so he mostly comes in from the bench, but if he could collect at least one minute in each of the remaining nine matches, Joaquin would become the record holder for the number of appearances in the Spanish championship. The famous goalkeeper Andoni Zubizareta currently has the most games in Primera – 622, seven more than Betis’ hero.In addition to the trophies with the club from Sevilla, Joaquin also has Copa del Rey won with Valencia, while he played in the final of the Italian Cup with Fiorentina. He collected 51 matches for the Spanish national team, but before the generation with Xavi and Iniesta ruled Europe and the world. He received his first invitation to the national team as a 20-year-old from Jose Antonio Camacho, and participated in two World Cups and one EURO.Joaquin has announced he will retire from football at the end of this season at the age of 41. Never forget when the Copa del Rey trophy was guest of honour at his wedding 💚 Legend 👏 pic.twitter.com/JTYyrIyfcf— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 19, 2023 Although he had notable performances in the purple jersey of Fiorentina (cup final, two fourth places), in 2015 Joaquin chose to return home, to Betis and by winning another Copa del Rey (last season) became the first green and white player with two cups during stay in the club.”An icon, a myth, an inimitable footballer who will say goodbye to his playing career at the end of his career,” the announcement on Betis’ website states.At the same time, the Sevilla club posted a video on social networks with the message: Art is eternal, thank you Captain!1⃣7⃣💚El arte es eterno.Gracias por tanto, capitán. pic.twitter.com/LMKfyj3doR— Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) April 19, 2023
