Divock Origi has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31, bringing an end to a career defined by iconic goals and major honours. The former Liverpool forward, who scored crucial goals in the 2019 Champions League campaign, revealed that his most memorable moments were the result of months of private training sessions.
A Career Defined by Iconic Moments
Origi wrote his name into Anfield history when he scored Liverpool's second goal in the 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham Hotspur in 2019. Just a month earlier, he had scored twice, including the decisive goal, in the remarkable 4-0 semi-final second-leg comeback against Barcelona, overturning a three-goal deficit.
In a special piece for The Players' Tribune, Origi disclosed that he had been on the verge of leaving Liverpool for Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of 30 million pounds just months before those heroics. However, he felt compelled to stay, guided by his faith.
The Secret Training Sessions
During a difficult period when he was out of the team and unable to participate in full training matches, Origi took matters into his own hands. He would go to a small pitch in the city early in the morning, before the team's afternoon sessions, to practice finishing repeatedly.
"In private, I was training even more than anyone knew. It was like a little secret," Origi wrote. "I'd go to this little pitch in the city, and like every other day, I would go and just practice finishing — nothing but finishing."
He would visualize a moment and finish, repeating the process for an hour. This drilling transformed his composure and focus, allowing him to master his gift. "At some point I was finishing on my left foot almost as well as my right," he added.
The Road to Champions League Glory
Origi's dedication paid off spectacularly in the 2019 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. With Liverpool trailing 3-0 from the first leg and hit by injuries, manager Jurgen Klopp turned to Origi. The striker scored twice, including the decisive goal, to complete an unforgettable comeback. In the final against Tottenham, he scored the second goal to seal a 2-0 victory and Liverpool's sixth European Cup.
"The rest is history — our history. By the end of that year, I was a Champions League winner. And I'm the one that scored one of the two goals," Origi recalled.
A Career in Numbers
- Origi joined Liverpool from Lille in 2014 but remained on loan at the French club for another season.
- He made 175 appearances for Liverpool, with only 68 starts, but scored 41 goals.
- His goals included six against Everton in Merseyside derbies, the brace against Barcelona, and the Champions League final clincher.
- After leaving Liverpool in 2022, he joined AC Milan on a free transfer, making 36 appearances and scoring twice before departing in December.
- He also had spells at Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest, and earned 32 caps for Belgium, scoring three goals.
Origi retires at just 31, leaving behind a legacy of clutch performances and unforgettable moments.
