Lazio vs Sampdoria Preview: Brocchi blow for Lazio

Lazio's season will end next weekend, but both the season and the career of midfielder Cristian Brocchi came to an end this week.

The 37-year-old was forced to announce his retirement from football with immediate effect due to a long-standing injury problem, ruling him out of the visit of Sampdoria and Lazio's trip to Cagliari next weekend.

He will take to the field at the Stadio Olimpico to bid farewell to football and his club's director of sport Igli Tare says it will be hard to imagine not seeing him in a Lazio shirt again.

"Brocchi's farewell is a great loss for football because he is an exemplary footballer," he said.

"It was a decision made purely due to his physical condition. He is very sorry, but he just cannot carry on playing.

"He will be remaining in the game, though, and I think he will start a coaching career in the coming years.

"But I want to say that Brocchi has given lots to Lazio in these past five years. He is a fantastic person and there is a great deal of respect towards him and for the difficult decision he has had to take."

Once Brocchi has said farewell, Lazio will be involved in an important Serie A tie with Sampdoria with a place in the Europa League next season still up for grabs.

The Biancoceleste trail fifth-place Udinese by two points while they are six points adrift of Fiorentina in fourth.

Sampdoria secured their place in the top flight in midweek and talks have now commenced with their coach Delio Rossi over a new deal.

The former Lazio manager replaced Ciro Ferrara earlier in the season, succeeding in his goal of saving the Blucerchiati from the drop.