Denmark captain Simon Kjaer, who protected stricken teammate Christian Eriksen, retires from soccer

By The Associated Press

FILE - England's Harry Kane, 2nd left, hands to Denmark's Simon Kjaer an English shirt with the name of Denmark's Christian Eriksen before the Euro 2020 soccer championship semifinal match between England and Denmark at Wembley stadium in London, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. (Catherine Ivill/Pool Photo via AP, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Catherine Ivill]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Former Denmark captain Simon Kjaer has formally retired from soccer despite offers to continue playing since he left AC Milan as a free agent last year. Kjaer will perhaps be best remembered as the captain who led teammates in shielding Christian Eriksen on the field during a European Championship game in June 2021. The star playmaker had collapsed because of cardiac arrest. Eriksen resumed his career and only his record 140 appearances for Denmark is ahead of Kjaer’s 132. The 35-year-old Kjaer tells Danish broadcaster TV2 he could have signed for Champions League clubs but didn’t get a “once-in-a-lifetime” offer.