Former Adelaide United favourite announces retirement

Adelaide United great and Hyundai A-League Grand Final winner Marcelo Carrusca has called time on his decorated football career.

The 35-year-old announced his retirement in an Instagram post on Wednesday, stepping away from the game after close to two decades as a professional.

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Carrusca, a silky left-footed playmaker, debuted for Estudiantes in his native Argentina in 2001 and spent time with Turkish giants Galatasaray before moving to Adelaide in 2012.

He was signed by John Kosmina and went on to win the FFA Cup in 2014 and the Hyundai A-League double under Guillermo Amor the following season. 

"After 17 years of professional football I have decided the time is right for me to hang up my boots," Carrusca wrote on social media.

"There are too many people to thank individually, so I want to thank everyone who has helped me - big or small - realise the dreams I had as a young boy for so many years."

He added: "Now I'm going to focus on giving back to the game that has given me so much.

"I want to guide and nurture the future generations of footballers and share my love of football with as many people as possible."


Carrusca left Adelaide for Melbourne City in 2017 before switching to Western Sydney Wanderers, where he made the last of his 129 Hyundai A-League appearances.

The attacking midfielder wrapped up his playing days following a stint with NPL South Australia side West Adelaide.

Carrusca also represented Argentina alongside Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Pablo Zabaleta at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.

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