![David Villa announces retirement [Vissel Kobe]](https://jleague.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/jleague/images/15881.width-1200.format-webp-lossless.webp?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=A2KABJRYYPDKYLEYVWPN%2F20240420%2Fsgp1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240420T124108Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=4417bb7ace417070fa98c961efccdcf94fb3bfd27a9a560313d2aaa27cde8d69)
Vissel Kobe have announced on November 13 that David Villa will retire at the end of the current season.
The Spanish striker made his professional debut at Sporting Gijón in 2001 and went on to play for Real Zaragoza, Valencia CF, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, before moving to New York City FC in 2014 and finally joining Vissel Kobe this season.
In addition to winning the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona, Villa won the Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA Word Cup, and was the top scorer of both competitions. He is also the all-time record goal scorer of the Spanish national team with 59 goals. In the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, he claimed 12 goals in 26 appearances (as of Round 31).
A retirement ceremony will be held after the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 34 match against Jubilo Iwata, on December 7.
