Roberto Baggio to retire in 2004

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Roberto Baggio to retire in 2004

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Roberto Baggio, one of Italy's most popular soccer players for two decades, intends to retire next year, the striker said in an interview broadcasted Monday evening by a local radio station "Teletutto" of Brescia.

Baggio, who will be 37 in February, confirmed he will end his career with the Italian Serie A club Brescia, which he joined in September 2000.

His career has drawn to an end with a remarkable "Indian Summer" which almost allowed him to take part in last year's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

European Player of the Year in 1993, Baggio played in the previous three World Cups, making his mark at the 1990 tournament in Italy with a memorable strike against Czechoslovakia before helping the Azzurri to third place.

In 1994 his goals fired Italy to the final but he missed the crucial penalty in the deciding shoot-out against Brazil.

He was a last-minute entry in the 1998 World Cup squad after a sustained media and popular campaign for his inclusion, but did not make the Italian squad for Euro 2000.

In his 55 matches for Italy, he scored 27 goals, making him thefourth-highest all-time scorer for the Azzurri.

In his long Serie A career, which has been plagued by injury, Baggio has played for Fiorentina, Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan and Brescia.

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