Liverpool legend retires aged 42 as baffled fans 'thought he was done long ago'

Pepe Reina, the Liverpool legend, has announced his retirement from the sport at 42-years-old on Tuesday morning after a season with Serie A outfit Como

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Sport

Will Schofield Senior Sports Reporter

13:25, 20 May 2025Updated 13:29, 20 May 2025

Pepe Reina of Como 1907 celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on May 10, 2025 in Como, Italy.

Pepe Reina has announced his retirement from the sport(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Pepe Reina has announced his retirement from football - to the shock of Reds fans.

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Reds fans couldn't believe that Reina, 42, was still playing professional football. The Spanish shot-stopper, who made 394 appearances for the Anfield club, had been playing for Italian Serie A side Como.

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Reina had already confirmed he would walk away from the beautiful game after Como's clash with Inter Milan on Friday: "A very beautiful career is coming to an end, a very full life," Reina told Movistar+.

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"I feel very fortunate for what I’ve experienced. It’s been many years… I didn’t expect it, but I think the time has come and I feel like bringing it to a close here."

However, Reds fans were stunned - with many believing he's already hung up his boots many years ago.

Pepe Reina is a hero on Merseyside(Image: PA)

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"Really? I assumed he was done long ago. Good job Pepe for your long career," one fan responded. While a second said: "Didn't realise he was still playing. Great keeper!"

"Tweets from, I would have suspected, around about 2016," a third joked. As a fifth commented: "Insane he’s only just now retiring. In my mind he’s been retired for about 10 years!"

And another added: "Finding out Pepe Reina was still playing professional football in 2025..."

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Pepe Reina is still operating in Europe with Villarreal

Pepe Reina had been playing on the continent(Image: No credit)

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: The Liverpool football team prior to the UEFA Champions League semi-final, first leg match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on April 25, 2007. Chelsea won 1-0. Left to right, back row: Pepe Reina, Craig Bellamy, Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso; front row: Alvaro Arbeloa, John Arne Riise, Steven Gerrard, Boudewijn Zenden and Javier Mascherano. (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Pepe Reina (top left) was a key player for Rafael Benitez at Liverpool(Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Reina spent almost a decade at Liverpool after signing from Villarreal in the summer of 2005, following the Reds Champions League triumph against AC Milan. He soon dislodged Jerzy Dudek from the position of first choice goalkeeper.

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He would lift the FA Cup in his first season with the club, as he became the hero of the penalty shootout victory over West Ham in the 'Gerrard final' in 2006.

He would win the Premier League Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in three consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2008.

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Reina maintained his spot as Rafael Benitez was succeeded in the dugout by Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish – where he collected a League Cup winner’s medal in 2012 in another penalty shootout win, over Cardiff City – and, initially, Brendan Rodgers.

However, he would be ousted when Rodgers signed Simon Mignolet - leading to a loan spell with Napoli.

Reina left Anfield in 2014, and he has gone on to represent Napoli, AC Milan, Aston Villa, Lazio, Villarreal and Como.