Former Man City and Barca goalkeeper Bravo retires

By Sports Desk August 28, 2024

Claudio Bravo has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 41-year-old goalkeeper began his career at Colo-Colo, before going on to feature for Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Manchester City and Real Betis.

The Chilean represented his national side 150 times after making his debut in 2004, winning two Copa America crowns, in 2015 and 2016.

“It is the moment to close a very important cycle in my life,” Bravo said on his social media accounts.

“I think I have made the right decision, a decision I thought long about.”

After beginning his career in Chile, Bravo moved to La Real in 2006, where he spent eight seasons, helping the club get promoted back to LaLiga in 2010.

He moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2014, and was their number one during successive victorious La Liga campaigns in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Bravo moved to Manchester City in 2016, but a poor start led to him being dropped by manager Pep Guardiola for Willy Caballero later that season, though he still picked up a Premier League medal and two EFL Cup wins before leaving after his contract expired in 2020.

He returned to Spain with Betis for the latter part of his career, winning the Copa del Rey in 2022, and represented Chile at this year's Copa America.

Related items

  • Simeone rues Atleti's profligacy in Espanyol draw Simeone rues Atleti's profligacy in Espanyol draw

    Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone bemoaned his side's wastefulness in front of goal after they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Espanyol.

    Simeone's side had 25 shots and mustered 2.71 expected goals on Wednesday, yet could not get over the line against one of LaLiga's promoted teams.

    Visiting goalkeeper Joan Garcia made seven saves to ensure Espanyol took what may prove to be a valuable point in their bid to stay up this season.

    Simeone said his side were undone by a "lack of precision" in front of goal.

    "It worries me, as always, but I can't stop appreciating the good game the team played. When you have five clear goalscoring opportunities like the ones we had?" Simeone told Movistar.

    "Well, they didn't go in, but the opportunities we created were the result of our play, not by chance. We expected to win, but they defended well and we were not convincing. If you don't score, it's very difficult.

    "The team played very well, they made a very strong start to the first half. Then we dropped off a bit, that's why we made the changes. In the second half, we didn't have so many chances to score, but we played well."

    Simeone made three changes at half-time to freshen things up, with Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente and Pablo Barrios coming on, although eyebrows were raised when struggling striker Alexander Sorloth, a big-money addition from Villarreal, was replaced by defender Reinildo.

    "We never changed the system, we continued with a 5-3-2 to balance the team, which was starting to split," Simeone explained.

    "The opponent could also hurt us and we balanced the middle with Llorente and Barrios."

  • EFL Cup: AFC Wimbledon rewarded with Newcastle tie after stunning Ipswich EFL Cup: AFC Wimbledon rewarded with Newcastle tie after stunning Ipswich

    League Two AFC Wimbledon shocked Premier League side Ipswich Town on penalties to reach the third round of the EFL Cup.

    Conor Chaplin had equalised for Ipswich late in normal time to make it 2-2 but Dons goalkeeper Owen Goodman was the hero in the shootout, saving from Jack Taylor and Omari Hutchinson.

    Wimbledon's reward will be a third-round tie at home to Newcastle United, who beat Nottingham Forest on penalties after drawing 1-1 at the City Ground.

    Southampton booked their place in the third round after eventually coming through a 5-3 thriller away at Cardiff City.

    Injury-time goals from James Bree and Cameron Archer got the job done for the Saints, who were pegged back three times by Cardiff earlier on.

    There were wins for Wolves, who beat Burnley 2-0 at home, and Brentford, who won 1-0 away at Colchester.

    West Ham defeated fellow Premier League side Bournemouth 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Jarrod Bowen and will now play holders Liverpool in the next round.

    Last season's finalists Chelsea will host Barrow in the next round, while there are also home ties for both Manchester City and Manchester United, who will play Watford and Barnsley respectively. 

    Arsenal face League One Bolton at home, while their North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Coventry. 

    EFL Cup third-round draw in full:

    Liverpool v West Ham

    Manchester City v Watford

    Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers

    Manchester United v Barnsley

    Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa

    Coventry City v Tottenham

    Walsall v Leicester City

    Brentford v Leyton Orient

    Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

    Preston North End v Fulham

    Everton v Southampton

    Queens Park Rangers v Crystal Palace

    Stoke City v Fleetwood Town

    Brighton v Wolves

    AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle United

    Chelsea v Barrow

  • Atletico Madrid 0-0 Espanyol: Simeone's men held at home Atletico Madrid 0-0 Espanyol: Simeone's men held at home

    Atletico Madrid had 25 attempts at goal but could not find the breakthrough as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Espanyol in LaLiga on Wednesday.

    Espanyol are the only team yet to score in LaLiga and they showed no signs of breaking their duck in a one-sided contest at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano.

    Yet despite mustering 2.71 expected goals (xG), Atleti were unable to blow the door down.

    New signings Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth came close to opening the scoring in the first half, while Rodrigo Riquelme had two goals chalked off for offside, the first after a lengthy VAR check and the second in added time.

    Espanyol's rearguard held firm as goalkeeper Joan Garcia made seven saves to deny Diego Simeone's side all three points.

    Data Debrief: Sorloth misfiring

    Sorloth enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Villarreal last season, but the Norway international has so far struggled to replicate that form for Atletico.

    In fact, he has now had his longest run of shots in LaLiga without finding the net (six), with four of those coming in this contest.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.