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Former Inter Milan defender Zinho Vanheusden has announced his retirement from the game with a heart-breaking post on Instagram.
The 26-year-old has been forced to hang up his boots after an injury-laden career. Just a matter of weeks ago he suffered his third anterior cruciate ligament tear while playing for Marbella.
Vanheusden joined Inter at the age of 16 as one of the hottest prospects on the continent after progressing through Standard Liege's academy.
He went on to make his debut and only appearance for Belgium in 2020 but never turned out for the Serie A giants' first team, largely due to injury problems.
Instead, Vanheusden went out on loan back to Standard Liege, as well as enjoying spells at Genoa and AZ Alkmaar.
In a bid to get his career back on track he then joined third-tier Spanish side Marbella on a permanent deal in the summer, but made just seven appearances before suffering his latest major injury.
Former Inter Milan and Belgium defender Vinho Vanheusden has announced his retirement from the game
The 26-year-old has called time on his career after suffering his third anterior cruciate ligament tear
The centre-half announced his decision to hang up his boots with a touching post on Instagram reading: 'Today I am making a decision I never thought I would have to make at this age. After 22 years of soccer — from my fourth year until now — my life as a professional soccer player is coming to an end.
'Football made me who I am today. It gave me a life I never dared to dream of as a child. From supporting my favourite club for years as a child with my dad at Sclessin, to then playing a hundred games for it myself, to scoring for the Ultras and even getting the honour of being a captain here. It didn’t stop there… I got the opportunity to make my national debut and to play in Serie A. All things that seemed unreal when I started.
'Besides all that beautiful, the last few years were tough. Much heavier than I ever seemed. Injuries, operations, injections, medication… I gave everything to go back, but it got harder every time.
'I was constantly searching for my level, overplayed through pain too often and lived after every workout or game uncertain about how my body would react the next day. I kept fighting to be the player I wanted to be, but every time a new fight came. In my heart I will always want to be a footballer, but my body has been saying enough for a while now.
'And that’s why — out of respect for myself, for my health and for my responsibility as a father — I am making this decision. As surreal as it feels writing this. But I want to be able to walk in my life without pain, play with my son and enjoy life with my family… I don’t know what it will be like to get up without football, but I’m going to find out now.'
