Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has retired from football – after getting sent off in his final ever match.
The 42-year-old announced earlier this week that he was hanging up his boots and gloves for good, with Friday night’s Serie A clash between Como and Inter Milan to be his farewell game.
But the match turned into a nightmare for Reina who was shown a red card on the stroke of half-time following a VAR check.
The Como keeper was judged to have bought down striker Mehdi Taremi as he rushed out of his box and attempted to clear the ball.
An emotional Reina remonstrated with referee Davide Massa before leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from both sets of fans and being consoled by manager and former teammate Cesc Fabregas.
Get personalised updates on Liverpool every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Inter would go on to win 2-0 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia but missed out on the Italian league title to a Scott McTominay inspired Napoli team.
‘It wasn’t the ending I expected but having you there was my most beautiful gift!!’ Reina later posted on his Instagram story along with a picture of his family and friends on the pitch.
‘Starting a different path and let’s go for it.’
One of the best keepers of his generation, Reina began his career at Barcelona before joining Villarreal and then Liverpool in 2005, beginning an eight-year spell at Anfield.
He would make 394 appearances for the Reds, winning the FA Cup and League Cup and reaching the final of the 2007 Champions League.
After winning more trophies with Napoli and Bayern Munich, he would go onto play for AC Milan, Lazio, Aston Villa and Villarreal again before joining Como last summer, making a remarkable 954 club appearances in total across 25 years.
Capped 36 times by Spain, Reina was also part of his country’s golden generation who won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
‘To you my friend!! Thank you with all my heart for everything I’ve experienced as a partner and coach!!’ Fabregas wrote on Instagram.
‘You’re going to be a reference for a lot of us coaches already! I love you so much.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.