La Derecha Diario Erik Lamela announced his retirement and will join Almeyda's coaching staff at Sevilla.
The former River player retired from professional football after his time at AEK Athens and plans to start a new chapter as an assistant
In a surprising turn of events, Erik Lamela has officially announced the end of his career as a professional footballer. The attacking midfielder, who last season played for AEK Athens, made the decision to terminate his contract with the Greek clubto hang up his boots and begin a new chapter in football, but from the technical side.
The former player will join Matías Almeyda's coaching staff at Sevilla in the coming days, a team that will compete only in domestic competitions this season. Almeyda and Lamela share a bond that dates back to River, where they were teammates, and which was strengthened in the past year, when the coach managed him in Greece.
From River to Europe, a career marked by talent
Lamela made his debut for River's first team in the 2009 Torneo Clausura at just 17 years old. Over the next two seasons, he established himself as one of the great prospects of Argentine football, although he did not win any titles with the club. His departure occurred in a difficult context, as after Millonario's relegation in 2011, he was sold to Roma for 12 million dollars, a record figure at the time.
In Italy, the attacking midfielder excelled for two seasons, scoring 21 goals in 67 matches, which caught the attention of Tottenham. His arrival in the Premier League in 2013 marked the longest chapter of his career: eight seasons, 257 matches, 37 goals, and two awards for the best goal of the year in England.
A goal for the ages
In 2021, Lamela wrote his name in football history by scoring a spectacular rabona goal against Arsenal, which earned him the FIFA Puskás Award. Curiously, he achieved an honor that Lionel Messi, despite his three nominations, was never able to win.
Final years and farewell in Greece
After his time with Spurs, "Coco" joined Sevilla in 2021. There, he experienced one of the most emotional moments of his career by winning the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League, in which Gonzalo Montiel sealed the title with the decisive penalty against Roma. In 2023, he joined AEK Athens, where he ended his playing career with 6 goals in 31 matches and the affection of the fans.
Now, Lamela will embark on a new adventure at Sevilla, but from the bench, accompanying Almeyda in a project that aims to strengthen the team in Spanish football. With his experience in the world's top leagues and his talent, his contribution promises to be valuable in his brand-new role as assistant coach.
More posts: