Borussia Dortmund youngster Dario Scuderi has decided to retire from football aged 21 as he does not want to run the risk of suffering another serious injury.
Three years ago Scuderi suffered one of the worst leg breaks in football history in a UEFA Youth League game against Legia Warsaw and it looked like his career was over before it really got going.
Scuderi's surgeon, Professor Michael Strobel, described it as the worst injury you could possibly imagine and the Italian was told he would never play football again.
"It [was] the worst injury you could possibly imagine," Mr Strobel said at the time.
Advert
"Pretty much everything tore: the ligaments, all the muscle and tendons."
After a long arduous road to recovery which included NINE surgeries and nearly 700 days on the sidelines, Scuderi finally got to experience the feeling of being a footballer again and be back out on the pitch in Dortmund colours again back in August 2018.
But unfortunately despite his miraculous recovery, Scuderi has had to give up his dream of being a professional footballer - though he will still maintain an involvement with BVB.
"It was not an easy decision, playing football was always my big dream and I gave everything for it. I fought and also had offers to keep playing, Scuderi reflected on his decision to Ruhr Nachrichten.
Advert
"Borussia Dortmund is my family and I'm looking forward to doing something new."
While out of action, Dortmund paid the entire cost for him to study a sports management course and an alternative role is already in the pipeline for him now that he has hung up his boots.
His determination and fight to come back against all the odds is incredibly inspirational and we wish him all the best as he enters a new chapter in his life.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, BVB, Borussia Dortmund, Germany, Italy, Bundesliga
