At just 22 years old, Lars Dendoncker, brother of Leander Dendoncker (of Aston Villa), announced that he is retiring from professional football for medical reasons. He expressed his decision in a lengthy message on his social media accounts this Thursday.
It’s a sad news for Brighton in the midst of pre-season in the United States: Lars Dendoncker, the young Belgian central defender aged only 22 and brother of Leander Dendoncker (of Aston Villa), is facing a major setback. Due to medical issues, he unfortunately announces an early end to his football career. Although Lars has not yet had the opportunity to make his debut with Brighton’s first team in the Premier League, he had plenty of time ahead of him to establish himself in the world of professional football.
“Hello everyone. Where to begin…? As a child, I had only one dream: to become a professional footballer. But my professional career and dream will come to an end very early. Due to my heart problem, I have decided to stop playing for the sake of my own health. It was and will be the most difficult decision of my life. But there is no turning back, and I must look forward. It will take time to process,” he wrote in his social media post.
“I have learned a lot over the years and had to sacrifice a lot. So, it really hurts. Eleven years at the Club Bruges academy where I made many friends. Two great years with Brighton and a loan move to St. Johnstone where I made my professional debut. I want to thank all the players and staff I have worked with,” the former player continued in his post, undoubtedly making the best decision by prioritizing his health over his sports career.
