Former FC Barcelona and Manchester City legendary goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has retired from his playing career today. The 41-year-old goalie last played for Spanish top-division side Real Betis last season.
The veteran legend announced the end of his playing career through a video on his social media handles, thanking all the clubs he played in and the Chile national football team.
Claudio Bravo’s Career
Claudio Bravo’s Club Football Career
The Chile national football team legend has played professional football since 2003, spanning his glorious career for over two decades. He started his journey from Chile’s top division (Primera División de Chile) club CSD Colo Colo, where he played his first official game in a Copa Libertadores game.
Following his heroics, La Liga side Real Sociedad signed him in 2006, and since then he never had a setback in his playing time. He played the most games for Real Sociedad, featuring in 237 games, and managing 76 clean sheets.
Seeing his apt reflexes and brilliance in one-on-one situations, FC Barcelona lured him for a hefty transfer fee of 15 million Euros in 2014. It was with the Spanish giants, where he spent the best days as a goalkeeper, though mostly as a second-choice. In 75 games for Barca, he kept 43 clean sheets.
After two successful years at FC Barcelona, he was traded to Manchester City, where his impressive run, again as a second-choice continued. There, he played in 61 games, managing 20 clean sheets.
After spending four seasons in England, the 1,84m goalie returned to Spain, this time to play for Real Betis in 2020. He spent his final years as a player in Betis, initially as a first-choice but later becoming a second-option, before finally retiring today. Here he played in 74 games, facing 81 goals and keeping 23 clean sheets.
Claudio Bravo’s International Football Career
Claudio Bravo is one of the greatest footballers to play for Chile. He has represented his nation on 150 occasions, since his debut against Paraguay in 2004, for a Copa America game. Interestingly, his final game for Chile was also a Copa America game, which ended in a loss against eventual winners Argentina this year.Â
Of the 150 games, Bravo started in 149 games and came as a substitute in one. He played in 63 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, 49 International friendlies, 27 Copa America games, 8 World Cup, and 3 Confederations Cup games. Bravo has kept a clean sheet in 58 of all these games combined.
Claudio Bravo’s Playing Career Honours
Claudio Bravo won a Campeonato Nacional with Colo Colo, before clinching the Segunda Division with Real Sociedad in 2009-10. He also won the Copa del Rey with Real Betis.
Bravo’s best days were during his tints with FC Barcelona and Manchester City. He won the La Liga and Copa del Rey twice with FC Barcelona and also clinched the coveted Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World once each with them. With City, he won the Premier League once, and the EFL Cup and Community Shield twice each.
With Chile, he won the prestigious Copa America twice in 205 and 2016 respectively. He was also judged the best goalie in those two tournaments and the FIFA Confederation Cup, in 2017.