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Former Manchester United Midfielder Anderson Retires Aged 31

Former Manchester United Midfielder Anderson Retires Aged 31

The midfielder had been playing for Turkish side Adana Demirspor but their president announced that he had retired from playing.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson has retired from playing, aged just 31, according to Adana Demirspor's president Murat Sancak.

The Brazilian, who was a cult hero at Old Trafford, signed for the Red Devils in the summer of 2007 and played 181 times for the Premier League side, before leaving in 2015.

Since the move away from England he's played for Internacional and Coritiba in Brazil before moving to Turkey to play for Adana Demirspor in 2018.

He only played one season there and on Friday it was the club's president Murat Sancak that confirmed the surprise news about the former Porto player.

According to Turkish site Fanatik, Sancak revealed that Anderson would remain with the club, with the president saying, "Anderson will continue to work at our club. I think it will be especially effective in our foreign relations."

Anderson arrived at Old Trafford for €30 million with a good reputation after the 19-year-old had impressed in two seasons with Porto.

He slotted straight into Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield and made 24 appearances in the league in the season as United won the league title.

They followed up domestic success with a Champions League win, beating Chelsea in the final in Moscow. Anderson played for less than a minute, coming on for Wes Brown in injury time of extra time, but he scored his penalty to help the team win.

Injuries and a lack of consistency at Old Trafford stopped him from ever fulfilling all of his potential but he still won four league titles, a League Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup on top of that European success.

Individually in his career the former Gremio player won the Golden Boot at the 2005 FIFA under 17 World Cup and was named as Golden Boy in 2008.

Anderson celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo. Image: PA Images
Anderson celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo. Image: PA Images

He won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008 with Brazil and the Coppa America with the national team in 2007, although he only appeared in 90 minutes during the Group Stages.

The midfielder certainly never reached the heights he may have done but he retires as a cult hero at Old Trafford.

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Topics: Football News, Chelsea, Manchester United, Turkey, Premier League, porto, Champions League, Brazil