Rafael Marquez Lugo (pictured) announced his retirement from football on April 27, 2015. (Photo: Mexsport)
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Mexico international Rafael Marquez Lugo announced Monday that he has officially retired from football due to lingering issues with a left-knee injury.
The 33-year-old spent his 14-year career entirely in Mexico, including the last three with Guadalajara.
"As you all know, I'm simply here to formalize my retirement, leaving the field,” Marquez Lugo said from Chivas’ Verde Valle training facility. “It has not been easy. It was a strong injury that I suffered and after a year of trying to recover from various surgeries it did not stop being a bother, unfortunately.”
Marquez Lugo competed for eight different clubs in the Mexican top-flight: Pumas (2000-02); Jaguares de Chiapas (2003); Morelia (2004-07, 2010-12), Pachuca (2007); UAG (2008); Club America (2008); Atlante (2009-10) and Guadalajara (2012-14).
"I want to thank the institutions that gave me work, to all the teams that took me into their ranks, that led me to forge a career,” Marquez Lugo added. “They gave me the best moments of my life, except for the birth of my daughter.”
With Mexico, the forward scored one goal in 16 matches, playing in two CONCACAF Gold Cups (2005, 2013), a Copa America (2011) and a FIFA Confederations Cup (2005). He also appeared in the 2004 Olympic Football Tournament and netted one goal in three 2009 FIFA Club World Cup games with Atlante.
