Giacomo Bonaventura called time on his playing career on Thursday, and he has admitted that he enjoyed his time at AC Milan the most.
Bonaventura officially retired from professional football yesterday at the age of 36, having had a final stint with Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab. He came to Milan in 2014 from Atalanta and quickly rose to being a star, making 184 appearances and scoring 35 goals for the club.
His major achievement with the Rossoneri was winning the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana, and he was a fan-favourite by the time he said an emotional goodbye in 2020. He headed to Fiorentina where he spent four years, then going to the Middle East.
The day after announcing his retirement on social media, Bonaventura gave a lengthy interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanPress) explaining the reasons behind his decision and looking back on his career.
Why did you choose to retire, and why now?
“I’d already made up my mind a while ago, but I didn’t feel the need to say it. I knew I’d stopped, but I started getting calls from friends, my agent, and some clubs: I thought it was right to let everyone know.
“You know it when you no longer feel the fire inside. That’s the moment. There’s no point in continuing to play, dragging yourself out and no longer having fun. When I started to feel all this, I made the decision. I felt good on the pitch right up until the end.
“In fact, I think I could play another year or two. At the same time, though, I don’t want to lower my level, perhaps play for a team I don’t feel like. I prefer it this way: I have three children, I have a lot to do at home too.”
What was the best part of your career?
“I think the first or second year with Milan. But I also had glimpses with Atalanta and Fiorentina. It’s hard to pinpoint a specific period: maybe when you’re younger you’re more daring, even physically, but then with experience you become a better player.
“Between the ages of 30 and 32 I felt more confident. I played a lot with Atalanta, Milan, and Fiorentina: it’s difficult to say one. I spent more time at Milan: six years, maybe I’m a little more attached to them. Atalanta and Fiorentina, however, were also experiences that, in their own way, helped me grow a lot.”
What was your best moment?
“My Serie A debut. I didn’t really believe in it: I was playing in the Primavera, I occasionally trained with the first team, but when I made my Serie A debut, I started to believe that maybe I could make a career for myself.
“Italiano and Colantuono are the coaches I’ve been with the longest, three years each: they’re the ones who taught me the most, who gave me the most in terms of knowledge. But I’ve had about twenty coaches: I’ve tried to take the good things from each one.”
Did you become a leader?
“I was a pretty quiet guy. When I was younger, I tried to learn from the more experienced players. From 26 or 28, I started to feel more confident, even when it came to dealing with situations in the locker room and helping out the younger players.
“And in the second half of my career, I brought out my character a little more. I want to be remembered as a football enthusiast who worked hard, trying to give his best, without shortcuts or tricks. I’ve always tried to do my best.”
Any advice for the younger players?
“In football , you have to be patient and trust the process, because you don’t become a good player in two seconds: it takes time. And then maybe it all comes suddenly, after years of work. When you’re young, you might want everything right away, and that can be a mistake.
“In recent years, I’ve always spoken to the younger players, those who perhaps didn’t yet know how to react to certain situations. When you’re more experienced, I think the most important thing with young players, rather than talking, is to set the right example.
“The greatest satisfaction was playing for the national team: it’s every boy’s dream when they start playing football. I have no regrets, I’ve always given it my all. And even the things that don’t go the way you’d like during your career, I’ve tried to make the most of them to grow and become a better player and person.”
Is there anyone playing now that you see a bit of yourself in?
“There are many good players in Italy, young players who are developing. I like watching midfielders, how they play and how they perform on the pitch.
“I think there are several good ones in Italy, perhaps at the top of their game right now. I’m thinking of Tonali and Barella: they’re extraordinary players who can still give a lot to football and the national team.”
What do you see yourself doing now?
“Now I want to spend time with my family and figure out what motivates me to do something. Then we’ll see. While I was playing, I often told myself that as soon as I stopped playing I would become a coach.
“But now that I’m no longer playing, I don’t have the same desire, even though I feel it’s slowly returning. Maybe I’ll take a coaching course: it seems like the role best suited to me, character-wise. I don’t see myself as a manager or agent.”
What a man. Grazie mille, Gentleman Jack.
During a period that was very bad for us, with many sub-average players, he was a player I actually liked and enjoyed watching.
I felt like he was let go off too soon and should have been allowed to be part of the team that will eventually win the scudetto. He didn’t look bad afterall with Fiorentina and he was a versatile player.
Grazie mille Giacomo.
Exactly. Imagine him playing in a Milan-team actually fighting for scudetti. He would have become a Milan-legend if only he had better players next to him. He couldn’t do everything by himself and that was holding him back.
He deserved so much more.
100%. He definitely could have stayed and been a more than useful, if not an important, part of the squad for another two to three seasons. Auguri Jack! Good luck in the next phase.
Yeah class guy and class player.
I remember at that time telling a friend of mine if we had one world class player it was jack.
Absolutely he should have been kept longer.
We had Hakan, Paqueta and Jack. He was the one let go, pity.
He continued to be a class act at Fiorentina and would have been deserving to win a scudetto for his commitment, much like Romagnoli.
Best to him. Class