Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico’s veteran goalkeeper, thanked his coach, Javier Aguirre, for allowing him to bid farewell to the team by playing a few minutes in Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic at the Ciudad de México Stadium, better known as Estadio Azteca.
“All I feel is gratitude for the support from the fans, my teammates, and, of course, the coach for letting me experience this final moment,” said the six-time World Cup veteran.
The fans bid farewell to Ochoa with a heartfelt ovation
Guillermo Ochoa, who helped the Mexican national team win the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, entered the game against the Czech Republic in the 78th minute to a thunderous ovation that lasted several minutes.
The goalkeeper, who played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups without seeing any action, was a starter in the 2014 tournament.
In 2018 and 2022, a stellar performance against Brazil propelled him to stardom; this tournament marked his sixth appearance.
“So many years flash through my mind—my first game here, in this goal.”
“Winning trophies on this field with América, so many memorable moments with the national team during World Cup qualifiers and the World Cup itself, and the fans’ affection,” he said.
The goalkeeper, who received the captain’s armband from Edson Álvarez, was lifted up by his teammates at the end of the match amid applause from the fans (Filed under: Guillermo Ochoa thanks Javier Aguirre).
Ochoa is already a legend of Mexican soccer
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Thank your family with an unforgettable farewell
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“Thanks to my family, I was able to make it to this final stretch; there were many moments of perseverance and sacrifice.”
“And without their encouragement, it wouldn’t have been possible, because there were many moments of loneliness. I share this with them, and it’s all because I’m leaving with my head held high,” he said.
At the end of the match, FIFA’s official site on ‘X’ posted a photo of Guillermo Ochoa in recognition of his performance.
“I’m leaving with nothing because I gave it my all for the national team,” the goalkeeper concluded.
He had already announced a few days ago that he would retire from soccer once the World Cup was over (Filed under: Guillermo Ochoa thanks Javier Aguirre).
With information from EFE
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