Farewell on Poljud: A Final Chapter
And that was it. The tears shed at Poljud during his final match in the Croatian Football League were a real announcement of what has now been confirmed. Ivan Rakitić, the legendary Croatian footballer and former Barcelona star, who also won World Cup silver with the Vatreni in Russia in 2018—a story previously reported by Hrvatski vjesnik—has retired from football. He has hung up his boots at the age of 38.
A New Chapter in Split
However, he will remain living in Split. Rakitić will be part of the team led by Hajduk’s new sporting director Goran Vučević, a former Hajduk player who also once made it to Barcelona, but left a greater mark in sports management. Rakitić will now be his “right hand” in an attempt to build a club capable not only of winning the Croatian championship but also of making a stronger impact in European competitions.
National Hero Beyond the Pitch
Regardless of how successful he may be in this new role, Rakitić remains one of Croatia’s brightest sports stars. The Croatian public always viewed him with great affection because, despite immense pressure from his country of birth, Switzerland, to play for them, he chose Croatia. He was not swayed even when he received threats, had his house windows smashed, or when people told his parents to “get lost and go to Croatia.”
Quiet Strength and Loyalty
Calm and dignified, he remained firm in his decision and, through his matches for the Vatreni, being a true maestro on the pitch, he gave us so many moments of joy and glory that he deserves to be respected as a Croatian institution and someone we are proud of.
Life on the Adriatic
Rakitić and his family have bought a house on the island of Šolta near Split. They clearly love the city, and Ivan has recently used his time to show his family the natural beauty of Croatia. According to posts shared on social media, he took them to the Krka waterfalls, Dubrovnik, and various other locations.
A Message from the Heart
His wife Raquel also shares his admiration for Croatia and, on the occasion of his football retirement, she sent him a touching message, from which we highlight the following:
“You have always radiated love, gentleness, respect and humility, and that’s why you have had an impeccable career—because you are a great man, on the pitch and off it. I am overjoyed that I’ve been by your side through all these years that have brought us so much joy. Now it’s time to enjoy a new chapter of life together—and I will be here, by your side, for as long as God allows,” she wrote.
From Sevilla to a Life Together
Let us recall, they have been together since 2011 when Ivan arrived in Sevilla. He once said it took him seven months before they started dating. In the beginning, Ivan once said, they communicated like Tarzan and Jane—through gestures. They married in 2013, and two years later they had a large church wedding. They have two daughters, Althea and Adara.
A Symbol for the Croatian Diaspora
For the Croatian community, Rakitić’s example carries deep meaning. He journeyed from being the child of Croatian emigrants, born in a foreign land, to achieving success on the international stage, playing under the Croatian flag, and now living in Croatia itself with his family. It has now become a full, beautiful Croatian story—one that travelled in the reverse, but right, direction: from the diaspora to the homeland.
