Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have described Hazard as one of their greatest ever players, and it is hard to argue with that.

Apart from two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and two Europa Leagues, his consistency throughout his time at Stamford Bridge was impressive.

In all Premier League seasons - except 2015-16 when Chelsea uncharacteristically finished 10th - Hazard recorded over 20 goal contributions. His best season was his final one, yielding 16 goals and 15 assists in 37 matches.

Eden Hazard scored 110 goals across 352 appearances for Chelsea, including the winner in the 2019 Europa League final against Arsenal in his final appearance for the club.

He is also one of only four players in Premier League history - alongside Thierry Henry, Matt Le Tissier and Eric Cantona - to score 15 or more goals and provide 15 or more assists in a single season, having netted 16 times and laid on 15 assists during the 2018-19 campaign.

"During my career I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates - thank you to everyone for these great times, I will miss you all," Hazard added on social media.

"I also want to thank the clubs I have played for: LOSC, Chelsea and Real Madrid; and thank the RBFA for my Belgian selection.

"A special thank you to my family, my friends, my advisors and the people who have been close to me in good times and bad.

"Finally, a huge thank you to you, my fans, who have followed me for all these years and for your encouragement everywhere I have played.

"Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences. See you off the field soon my friends."

After making his international debut against Luxembourg in 2008, Hazard earned 126 Belgium caps and scored 33 goals. He featured at three World Cups and two European Championships, as well as captaining the team 56 times.

He found the net three times at the 2018 World Cup when Belgium finished third, including a strike against England in the third-place play-off.

Image source, Getty Images

"You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time," said Hazard, who has been a free agent since his contract was terminated in June.

"After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer."

Let's focus on the big news that Eden Hazard has retired from football at the age of 32.

Have a look back at Euro 1996 as England beat Scotland 2-0 thanks to some Paul Gascoigne magic.

Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, says: "This is the first time [hosting], a special day for Wales. For football, we’ve had great success on pitch since 2016 of course.

"But to bring the tournament to Wales is a special day for us. We’re excited. We want to qualify to make sure hundreds of thousands of people can see Wales play as well.

"Football is huge, it’s the biggest sport in terms of participation. To bring a senior men’s tournament to Cardiff, to Wales, is massive for us, we couldn’t be more excited.

"We’d like the national stadium of Wales to host the opening match - perfect venue - and a quarter-final. That’s up to Uefa to choose. We’ve put forward a schedule of matches, we think Cardiff is perfect for the opener and we look forward to it.

"We hope by hosting, and having these big matches in Cardiff, we can bring Wales to the world in a way it hasn’t been before."

Image source, Getty Images

Some quotes from Wales legend Gareth Bale, who says: "For me as a Welshman I would love for Cardiff to host the opening match. We have the stadium and infrastructure for it. We have held big tournaments in the past so we have the experience.

"Now we’ve had a taste of the Euros in 2016, and the success, being a part of Euro 2020 and the World Cup, the fans especially in Wales have an appetite, are used to qualifying, so I hope we can do that again and give them some more happy times to cheer about."

On the fact two qualifying spots will be held back for host nations that don't qualify automatically for the tournament: "Every team would want to qualify on merit, want to go in playing well. Coming through in a campaign, going into the tournament you’ve got confidence behind you.

"Those two back up spots are there just in case and it's important all teams try and qualify and do best they can and hopefully they all do it automatically anyway."

Watch Eden Hazard's best moments in the FA Cup as the former Chelsea forward announces his retirement from football.

Mark Chapman, Chris Sutton, Micah Richards and Rory Smith sit down to discuss whether having former professional footballers involved with VAR will help decision making.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been giving his reaction to the news the UK and Ireland will host Euro 2028.

Image source, Getty Images

FA chair Debbie Hewitt, speaking to BBC sports editor Dan Roan, says: "This is a huge moment – three years on this journey. To get to this day is an amazing moment for all of the UK and Ireland. It feels very good and hasn’t sunk in yet.

"Nothing is ever a formality. We took nothing for granted. There was still a moment where you want to know and we never thought it was a formality."

Asked what will be special about Euro 2028, Hewitt replied: "The legacy. That’s were we started. The fact we have a really unified view that we want to leave something behind, quite ground-breaking. The way we’ve worked together, many things you think may divide, but actually it is unified."

On whether Wembley will hold the final: "That all starts now and the details are to be worked though with Uefa. None of that is certain right now. Uefa will help decide."

On whether there are security concerns about hosting games at Wembley after crowd trouble at the Euro 2020 final: "That was a very sad day for English football, no two ways about that. We started with how that reputation is put to bed.

"Learn all the lessons. We did an independent review after that tournament and thought very hard about the security, it comes first. Fans come first, if they don’t feel safe in a tournament that’s not a great place to be. We want the reputation to host the most safe tournament, most enjoyable."

Former Wales captain Gareth Bale says he would "love" for Cardiff to host the opening game of the Euro 2028 tournament after Uefa confirms the UK and Republic of Ireland as hosts.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

Uefa have today abandoned a plan to reinstate Russian Under-17 teams in men’s and women’s football in time to qualify for European championships next year following a meeting of their executive committee earlier today. The Under-17 men’s tournament will be held in Cyprus, the women’s in Sweden.

Two weeks ago Uefa’s ExCo said they wanted to allow them back in and asked the administration to examine the logistics of doing so. However around a dozen national associations publicly expressed their opposition to playing, including the FA.

A Uefa spokesman said: “The agenda point was withdrawn as no technical solution to allow Russian teams to play could be found.”

Irish FA chief executive has been giving his reaction to the announcement to BBC Sport NI's Thomas Kane in Nyon.

The hot topic is Casement Park - and the IFA are keen to make sure Northern Ireland is definitely part of Euro 2028 in five years time.

But Italy went on to win the last European Championship, beating England on penalties in the final.

This is from the last European Championship when England reached the 2020 final.

Watch the highlights from the Euro 96 semi-final as England took on Germany, only to lose on penalties.

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell has said: “Throughout the bidding process, the commitment and support received from our longstanding partners at Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, EventScotland, and Police Scotland, has been pivotal in delivering a successful outcome for Scotland, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

"It is a tremendous privilege, and honour, to again be awarded “Euro” host status, and I look forward to the building upon the existing strength of our unique partnership as we begin the journey towards 2028.”

Some reaction now from Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf, who says: "Football is Scotland’s national game and a powerful force for good in communities right across the country. It is this combination which underpinned the Scottish Government’s support for the successful joint bid.

“Hosting the Euros in Scotland will provide a range of opportunities, not only through the economic benefits of visiting fans, but through a strong legacy programme that will help grow a more inclusive and diverse game right across the country.

“The legacy vision of ‘Football for All, Football for Good and Football for the Future’ captures the positive impact football has in our communities. Scotland has proven experience in hosting major events and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Scottish FA, Glasgow Life, and all other bid partners to deliver a welcoming, exciting and safe Euro 2028."

These are the 10 locations that are set to host matches during Euro 2028.

Image source, .