Juan Mata has decided to step away from his playing duties with A League outfit Melbourne Victory.
Mata played a leading role at Melbourne Victory as they secured a fourth-placed finish in the 2025/26 season, scoring five goals and recording 12 assists in his debut campaign.
While there were few signs to suggest that the Spaniard was a spent force -- notching more assists than any player in the top-flight, winning Melbourne's Player of the Season and included in the A League's Team of the Season -- he has opted to step away from the pitch as he weighs up the next move in his remarkable 20-year professional playing career.
Melbourne announced: "After careful consideration, the 38-year-old, whose on-pitch contribution represented one of the most impressive individual seasons in A-Leagues history, will now concentrate his expertise with Victory on his position in the Club’s ownership group, while he considers the next steps in his career from his home in Europe."
It was announced in June that the World Cup winner had agreed to become a shareholder at the club, viewing it as the natural next step after a fruitful spell in Melbourne. The ownership role will be paired with a position as Chair of Victory’s newly established football committee.
Upon confirming his departure, Mata said: “I loved every minute and so greatly enjoyed everything that we achieved last season, falling back in love with football at such a special place, in an amazing city that it was a privilege to call home."
It's yet to be seen as to whether Mata wishes to continue playing professionally, with a return to Europe deemed unlikely after leaving Galatasaray in 2023.
The Spaniard played 135 times for Chelsea before making the £37.1m switch to Premier League rivals Man Utd in 2014, where he would amount 285 appearances.
His spell in England's top-flight was followed by short stints with Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe and Western Sydney Wanderers, but he never quite found his feet at any of the three teams before re-establishing his form in Melbourne -- who could turn out to be the 38-year-old's final club should he opt to hang up the boots.
