Heart condition forces Lucas into early retirement

Midfielder speaks of sadness at premature end to career

Former Boavista midfielder Joao Lucas has admitted his sadness at being forced into early retirement after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

The 28-year-old midfielder joined Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade last summer, but after being advised by doctors that he was putting his life in risk if he continued playing, the Portuguese has confirmed his decision to hang up his boots.

“This is the most difficult moment of my life but I have to thank everyone at Red Star who stood by me in the past two months,” said an emotional Lucas. “The club has been impeccable. They have always supported me and made things as easy as possible for me.

“The support has meant so much to me throughout what has been a very difficult period and I now have to look forward to living a normal life as well as finding another field of interest.”

In what has been an emotional time for the Caldas da Rainha native, Lucas has spent the last two months undergoing tests and seeking opinions from doctors, with the news of his retirement finally made official over the weekend.

“I’m going to try to deal with this in the best possible way. It’s very difficult. To finish like this is very sad. I can’t help thinking ‘why?’ but it’s just as well it was detected because something more serious could have happened.

“Aside from my family, only two or three people knew what was going on. It was not worth alarming people because it wasn’t certain. Therefore, there are still lots of people who don’t know yet.”

“I don’t know yet what I am going to do, first I have to rest because the ordeal has been mentally exhausting.”

Red Star dedicated their weekend victory over OFK Belgrade to Lucas, with manager Aleksandar Jankovic saying: “All of us were shocked by the sad news today that our player Lucas would end his football career. We are very sorry for that and we dedicate this victory to him.”