Chennaiyin FC midfielder Andrea Orlandi has been forced to announce his retirement from professional football after being diagnosed with a heart disease. The 34-year-old Spaniard enjoyed an impressive career spanning for 15 long years and represented a host of top clubs from around the world.

Beginning his career with top-flight Spanish club Alaves, Orlandi quickly moved up the ranks, representing the Barcelona ‘B’ outfit for two years before making the switch to the English Premier League. The midfielder enjoyed a productive seven-year-long spell in England, turning out for the likes of Swansea City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Before turning to the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL), the playmaker had short stays in Cyprus and Italy where he turned out for clubs like Anorthosis Famagusta, APOEL Nicosia and later, Novara Calcio. Chennaiyin signed him for the 2018-19 Hero ISL campaign in early August as a direct replacement for Rene Mihelic.

He made his debut for the Chennai-based side as a substitute in the 3-4 loss to NorthEast United FC in mid-October. Over the course of the season, the midfielder turned out nine times for the two-time Hero ISL champions, clocking up more than 480 minutes.

The club, on Friday, bid farewell to Orlandi through its social media handles.

"I felt like this was coming after I had the medical but until it was made official I still had that glimmer of hope. Sadly it is not safe for me to play on. I was devastated when the doctor broke the news. However, I am coming to terms with it quite quickly and am so thankful to all the medical staff who have helped me," he was quoted as saying by the Brighton website.

"I could have had an operation to try and carry on playing, but at 34 it would have been risky and stupid to do so. I have to think about my future more than football now. The truth is I could have died during my career, so I must look at the bright side, that I am still here with my wife and kids and that I enjoyed many years playing the game I love," he added.

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Chennaiyin FC 2018-2019