Zinho Vanheusden, former Belgian international, retires from football at age 26

Zinho Vanheusden Retires from Football at 26 Years Old Due to Injuries

Belgian footballer Zinho Vanheusden has announced his retirement from football at the young age of 26, due to constant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Vanheusden, who began his professional career at Inter Milan, did not debut with the first team in Serie A. During his career, he played on loan at teams such as Standard Liege, Genoa, AZ Alkmaar and K.V. Mechelen, before ending his career at Marbella FC in Spain. The defender spent seven years in the Standard Liege academy before joining Inter in 2015, where he was considered a youth prospect. However, persistent injuries, including a third ACL injury, led him to make the decision to retire. Vanheusden only made one appearance for the Belgian national team in a friendly against Ivory Coast in 2020.

He was only able to play seven matches with Marbella before ending his career. In his Instagram account, Vanheusden expressed:

Zinho Vanheusden’s post

Vanheusden stated that after 22 years dedicated to football, his time as a professional footballer is coming to an end. Football shaped him as a person and gave him a life he never dreamed of. The last few years were difficult, marked by injuries, surgeries, and medications. Despite giving it his all to return, it became increasingly complicated. The player went on to mention that he was constantly searching for his level, playing through pain on many occasions, and living with the uncertainty of how his body would react the next day. He fought to be the player he wanted to be, but each time he faced a new battle.

In my heart, I will always be a footballer, but my body has said enough for some time. And for that reason, out of respect for myself, my health, and my responsibility as a father, I am making this decision.

Zinho Vanheusden

Vanheusden concluded by saying that, although his time as a player has ended, football will always live in his heart and will be part of what he is and will be. He thanked these 22 years, remembering with sadness, but above all with pride, what he was able to experience.