Buenos Aires – Former Argentine international playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, 37, played the final match of a distinguished career on Sunday in the final round of games in the country's Closing Championship.
Veron, whose nickname 'Brujita' translates as 'The Little Witch', was part of the Estudiantes side that drew 2-2 away to Union de Santa Fe to end the season in ninth place.
On an emotional day, the Estudiantes players paid tribute to Veron by wearing t-shirts with his number 11 on the back and with the slogan 'Thanks, Witch'.
Veron followed in the footsteps of his father Juan Ramon, who was known as 'The Witch' during a successful career spent mostly with Estudiantes in the 1960s and '70s.
The younger Veron's career began with the same club in his home town of La Plata in 1994, and he went on to make a name for himself during a decade spent in Europe with Sampdoria, Parma, Lazio, Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan before returning to Estudiantes in 2006.
He won the Uefa Cup with Parma in 1999, the English Premier League with Manchester United in 2003, one Serie A title (2000) and two Italian Cups (1999, 2000) as well as the Copa Libertadores in 2009.
Veron also won 73 caps for Argentina and took part in three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2010). – Sapa-AFP