Former France international defender Eric Abidal played his last official match Saturday as his Olympiakos team blasted Kalloni 5-0 in a Greek Super League contest on the Aegean island of Mytilene.

The 35-year-old former Barcelona star, who returned to playing football after undergoing a liver transplant, had announced his retirement at an emotional press conference in Piraeus on Friday stating “personal reasons.”

“These are moments I will never forget. Very good and unique moments. It was my last match, we played well and an ideal way to go on holiday,” Abidal told Nova TV after the match which lifted Olympiakos to first place in the league standings, two points ahead of PAOK Thessaloniki.

When Abidal was replaced with seconds remaining in the match, he received a standing ovation from the spectators as well as the players from both teams.

His teammates lifted him and tossed him up in the air.

“Before the match I talked to my teammates and told them that they should enjoy the match, play with enthusiasm and make me remember this last match,” Abidal said.

“The return from my health problems was a very special moment that I cannot describe. I’ve always been a fighter. I am lucky because I am an open person, I met many people and I experienced great moments,” Abidal added.

“It was beautiful for me to end with a big win. I thank the spectators of Kalloni for their warm applause, despite the big loss for their team.”

Olympiakos’ Spanish coach Michel said after the match: “We feel fortunate to have witnessed the farewell of such a legendary player. He had football as a hobby rather than as a profession. He is an example for all of us.”

Abidal joined Olympiakos six months ago on a two-year contract, played in nine out of 14 Super League matches and all six Champions League fixtures.

He spent six years with Barcelona but left in 2013 after recovering from the transplant but was not offered a new contract.

Abidal was first diagnosed with a liver tumour in March 2011 but remarkably he played the whole of the Champions League final against Manchester United two months later which Barca won 3-1.

A year later he underwent the transplant.

Capped 67 time by France, he played in all bar one of the games in the 2006 World Cup finals where the French reached the final only to lose in a penalty shoot-out to Italy.

He spent last season with Monaco before moving to Olympiakos.