Former Brazil, Atletico Madrid and Inter defender Joao Miranda has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38.
Miranda won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, Europa League and European Super Cup with Atletico, as well as reaching the Champions League final.
After four seasons with the Spanish side, Miranda moved to Inter in June 2015 and spent four years at San Siro without winning any major honours.
The centre-back then spent a short period with Jiangsu Suning prior to returning to Brazil with former side Sao Paulo, where he concluded his playing career.
He won 58 caps for Brazil at international level and was a member of their Confederations Cup and Copa America-winning squads in 2009 and 2019 respectively.
Miranada, who started his playing career with Coritiba in 2004 and also spent a year in France with Sochaux, confirmed his retirement on Twitter on Wednesday.
"The moment has arrived," he said. "To everyone who cheered for me, my most special thanks. Thanks a lot, football!"
Miranda, who headed the winning goal for Atletico against Real Madrid in the 2012-13 Copa del Rey final, added in an interview with Marca: "I'm proud of my career.
"I'm missing only a Champions League. That's the most beautiful thing I could have given an Atletico fan, but I think I've done everything to win and I think it was a nice story.
"But even that year we achieved something very big, which was to win LaLiga and a week later it was like a prize to be playing in the Champions League final.
"I think it was a top year and it was a shame that Real Madrid was up against us, who had been resting for two weeks and played a very good final.
"If it came to be against a team with the same wear and tear as us, surely we could have won."
Celtic urge fans to stop using pyrotechnics after another UEFA fine
Celtic have repeated their request for supporters to stop using pyrotechnics after being hit with another fine from UEFA.
The club said they had been fined 23,400 euros (about £20,260) after fans lit fireworks in the stands ahead of their Champions League group opener against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
A spokesperson for Celtic said: “Clearly, we are concerned that, despite repeated requests and safety warnings, a small minority continue to use pyrotechnics at Celtic’s matches.
“The use of pyrotechnics represents a serious risk to the safety of our supporters.
“Celtic has been hit with another significant sanction by UEFA due to this behaviour. Again, the club requests that this conduct stops.”
News of the fine came hours before their first home game of the competition against Lazio.
Suriname's Robinhood, Dom Rep's Atletico Pantoja vie for second Group B semis berth
Suriname side Robinhood will be looking to seal their spot in the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Club semifinals when they take on Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic in what is expected to be an intriguing Groub B showdown at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, o Thursday.
Robinhood currently sit in second position on six points, just one point behind leaders Harbour View of Jamaica, while Atletico Pantoja remain alive in the hunt for a semifinal berth, in fourth place on three points.
Robinhood can guarantee their semifinal place with a draw and could even capture group honours with a win, provided Harbour View drop points in their fixture against Cibao FC, also of the Dominican Republic.
However, an Atletico Pantoja win by a two-goal margin, would be enough to send them through to the Caribbean Cup semifinals ahead of Robinhood.
Needless to say, the night should provide plenty of great drama with so much at stake.
Robinhood have been buoyed by striker Shaquille Cairo, who has four goals in the tournament, making him the joint top-scorer along with Shaniel Thomas of Cavalier.
Cairo has been as consistent as they come, scoring in all three of Robinhood’s games and has gotten help from Tuur Don, who has two assists. Jamilhio Rigters also has contributed after scoring in their last outing, a 3-2 loss to Harbour View.
Atletico Pantoja have played to three straight 1-1 draws in the group, so they will need to break that streak with a full three points if they are to advance.
Jhon Mosquera has played a vital role as playmaker with two assists, while Ronaldo Vasquez has been one of the most active players in attack with 10 shots and 84 completed passes, along with two ball recoveries.
Ja's Harbour View takes aim at Dom Rep's Cibao FC with Group B honours in sight
Jamaica's Harbour View will be looking to complete their mission of a first-place finish in Group B of the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, when they visit Cibao FC of the Dominican Republic at the Estadio Cibao in Santiago de los Caballeros, on Thursday.
Harbour View sit atop the group with seven points and have already clinched their spot in the semifinals, but they will need a victory at Cibao to assure themselves of group honours.
The East Kingston-based club has been excellent in the competition, opening with a 1-0 win against fellow Jamaican side Dunbeholden, before a 1-1 draw against Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic, and an exciting 3-2 win versus Suriname’s Robinhood.
Cibao opened with a point in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Pantoja but have suffered back-to-back defeats since then. However, the opportunity is there to end on a high note.
Facundo Guichon has shown that he can find the back of the net, having scored against Dunbeholden, while Jean Lopez has an assist and leads the team in ball recoveries (8) and passes (186).
Harbour View will counter with the dynamic duo of Omar Thompson and Shaquiel Bradford. Thompson has scored in two successive games, while Bradford bagged a second half brace to spearhead Harbour View’s comeback win versus Robinhood.
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