Real Betis defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has revealed that he will retire from professional football after this season. The 35-year-old, who has also played for Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan, will end his career following next weekend’s game against Real Madrid.
Journey with Real Betis
Sokratis joined Betis last autumn after Luiz Felipe’s sudden exit and a season-ending injury to Marc Bartra. Since then, he has made 14 appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s squad. With German Pezzella unavailable for Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad, Sokratis is expected to be part of the line-up for his final home game this season. He shared the news of his retirement on Instagram, as reported by Diario AS.
Emotional Farewell
In his Instagram post, Sokratis reflected on his time with Betis, describing the move as a significant challenge that involved changing his country, league, and home. He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he received from the Betis family, stating that the city and team quickly became close to his heart. However, being away from his family has led to his decision to retire. He expressed his happiness to end his career playing for Betis in La Liga.
Sokratis thanked his teammates, the coaching staff, and the management for their support and belief in him. He also appreciated the fans for their unwavering support through both victories and defeats. With two matches remaining, Sokratis is determined to give his best in his final games and urged fans to support the team.
Impact on Betis’ Defense
Sokratis’ retirement adds to the defensive challenges Betis will face next season. Juan Miranda is expected to leave as a free agent, Abner Vinicius is likely to move to Lyon, and German Pezzella has been linked with a return to Argentina. Pellegrini will need to strengthen the team’s defense during the summer transfer window to address these departures.
