Sergio Rodriguez’s retirement: Chacho’s touching farewell letter

Sergio Rodriguez announced his retirement from his competitive career on 19 June 2024. A living legend of European basketball, for three years an idol of Olimpia Milano’s public, he was recently pointed out by Nicolò Melli as one of the senators who relaunched the image of the red and white club in Europe.

This is the statement written by ‘Chacho’ himself: ‘The day has come. After 20 years as a basketball player, I would like to share with all of you a decision that will change my life. The time has come to end my sporting career.

I feel that this season, in which we won the ACB League title, the Cup and the Supercup, is the perfect time to say goodbye. I have always dreamed of retiring physically fit and winning my last game. And now life has given me this gift.

Closing my career at Real Madrid is a dream, and even more so when I have won five titles in the last two seasons, including the historic Euroleague in Kaunas. I thank President Florentino Pérez and Juan Carlos Sánchez, director of the basketball department, for allowing me to return to the club where I feel at home in the summer of 2022. Thank you, of course, for everything and for all the Real Madrid fans. At WiZink, and everywhere we have travelled, you have accompanied me unconditionally.

Today is the day to say that I have been very fortunate for all the experiences I have had over the years. There have undoubtedly been difficult moments, but I have always worked hard to develop my passion for basketball with an immense respect for the sport and for those who have been there for me.

I have been able to realise my dreams as a child and I have been able to experience emotions that I imagined at the time and that seemed unattainable. And the truth is that I enjoyed myself and had fun from the first minute on the pitch.

I made my debut with Club Estudiantes, which gave me confidence when I was only 17 years old. I played in the greatest club in the world, Real Madrid, winning every title possible, and I fulfilled my great desire to play in the NBA for five seasons. I also had two very important life experiences for me: both in Russia with CSKA and in Italy with Olimpia Milano. In all these places I always felt the trust of their managers, coaches, teammates, staff….

I also had the privilege of representing my country with the Spanish national team and winning seven medals, including a silver and bronze at the Olympic Games, a World Cup and a Eurobasket. They were unforgettable moments.

But none of this would have been possible without Ana. Today I would especially like to thank my wife for giving me the support I needed to raise a wonderful family while devoting most of my time to basketball.

Without her constant inspiration, her ability to have clear goals and her tenacity, my professional career would have been very different. Together we travelled the world. Together we have grown and strengthened ourselves in an incredible journey that now takes us to a new destination in the company of our four children. To them: Carmela, Greta, Sergio and Roberta, thank you because you are the main reason for trying to be better and to do things well. My wish is that you find a passion similar to the one I found in basketball. To my parents for their unwavering and constant support. They have been the fundamental pillars of my personal and sporting growth. By always being there, they allowed me to fly and develop. It was not easy for them to let me leave home at the age of fourteen, but they did it with great empathy and affection.

Thanks to my brother Javi. For always being there, quietly, accepting things, understanding that my life required a lot of attention from my parents. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him, especially when we were away from each other. But I want him to know that he has been a great support for me whenever I have needed it. Now we will have more time to share life. I have never met a better person. Thank you.

Today I don’t want to forget José Ortiz and Arturo Ortega, my agents. Thank you for all these years of attention and help in choosing the right moments and decisions for each circumstance. To Joaquín Juan, my physiotherapist and, above all, my friend for more than fifteen years. Thank you for helping me understand what it meant to be a professional athlete and how I had to work for it. To Paco Zapata and Adidas for their trust and for being the sports brand that has accompanied me since I was 17.

The day arrived. I gave everything I had and enjoyed the sport I love as I could never have imagined.

Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this incredible 20-year journey”.