Georgia captain Kaladze announces retirement
Monday, December 12, 2011
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"Nothing lasts forever," said Genoa CFC defender Kakha Kaladze after taking the "very hard decision" to call an end to his international playing career with Georgia at the age of 33.
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Genoa CFC defender Kakha Kaladze has called time on his playing career with the Georgia national team. The 33-year-old former AC Milan centre-back, who made his international debut in 1996, explained on Sunday that the time had come to step back after captaining his country 50 times in 84 appearances.
Kaladze spent ten happy seasons at Milan after signing from FC Dynamo Kyiv in 2000. The one-time FC Dinamo Tbilisi defender lifted all three domestic trophies with the Rossoneri, was a 2003 and 2007 UEFA Champions League winner and also helped the Diavolo clinch the 2007 UEFA Super Cup. The four-time Georgian player of the year is now in his second campaign with Genoa.
Georgia finished fifth in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F with ten points from as many matches. They have been pooled alongside Spain, France, Belarus and Finland in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group I.
