Milan, Jan. 13 (LaPresse) – Former AC Milan and Denmark captain Simon Kjaer officially retired from professional football on Monday, despite offers to continue playing since leaving the Rossoneri as a free agent last year. Kjaer is perhaps best remembered as the captain who rushed to assist Christian Eriksen and then led his teammates in shielding Eriksen from view on the pitch after the midfielder collapsed due to cardiac arrest during a European Championship match in June 2021. Kjaer also consoled Eriksen's partner on the field. Kjaer, along with the Danish team and medical staff, later received the FIFA Fair Play award for their actions in Copenhagen. Eriksen has since resumed his career with Denmark and now with Manchester United, and his record of 140 appearances for the national team surpasses Kjaer's 132 caps. The 35-year-old Kjaer told Danish broadcaster TV2 that he had the opportunity to sign with Champions League clubs but did not receive the "once-in-a-lifetime" offer to continue his career. A tough central defender, Kjaer began with the Danish club Midtjylland and went on to play in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Turkey. He won a Serie A title with AC Milan in 2022.