Clarence Seedorf spoke frankly and warmly about ending his playing career and said it was a 'duty' to accept the invitation to become the new coach of AC Milan.
The former Dutch international won two league titles and the Coppa Italia to go with the two Champions League victories during his time at Milan.
"It is hard for me not to feel emotional about this great opportunity that has been given me. I am very happy to be able to launch a new career, above all in a place where I have lived through many, many beautiful moments," a smiling Seedorf told a news conference in Milan on Saturday (January 18).
"Obviously you make decisions based on the moment. It's obvious that I have always prepared mentally for 'after-football' - because that could happen at any moment, as a player you could get injured," said the 37-year old.
"And I decided at a young age that I did not want to suffer from depression if I had to leave football, because there are always other things in life, and this gave me a certain 'mental freedom' and an ability to make decisions, like the one I made just now, that I'd no longer play as a player," he added.
The midfielder was the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs - Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. He has also represented Inter Milan and Sampdoria and opted to finish his career at Brazilian club Botafogo.
With Milan languishing in 11th place with only five wins in the Italian Serie A, he said he could not refuse when he received a call of duty to replace coach Maximiliano Allegri who was sacked following a 4-3 defeat to lowly Sassuolo.
"I gave everything I could give in Brazil, and at least I left an important mark, and I feel quite satisfied about accepting this new challenge. And I'd repeat, someone asked me 'Is it also my duty?' Yes, it's also a duty, because this club has given me so much. So when they called me up, I said yes, and now I'm here together with you," he said.
The Dutchman, who has no previous coaching experience, signed a contract with the club until the end of the 2015-16 season and was preparing Milan to face Hellas Verona on Sunday (January 19).
Despite poor domestic form, Milan are still in the Champions League and the appointment of the former player who spent 10 years of his career at Milan and has no previous coaching experience can be seen as gamble.
His first task will be to try to move Milan from mid-table. They are currently 30 points behind leaders Juventus and 20 points off the final Champions League berth occupied by Napoli. On February 18, Milan host Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.