Premier League: Declan Rice, Guardiola’s most expensive setback
The world of soccer is constantly changing with young players stealing the spotlight from the greats. And even though this is becoming more and more noticeable lately, there are some big names too that don’t wait this long on the soccer scene before moving on. And the latest is Gareth Bale.
Gareth Bale is a player whose retirement was as early as some of the big names in soccer. Since the Welshman who signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy, was going to live an American adventure worthy of the name before hanging up his boots. At least that’s what we all expected. But the reality was cruel.
The Welshman decided to end his career with the national team and his club after the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This means that the adventure in Qatar was his last in the world of soccer, a situation that nobody saw coming. However, he is not the only one who left the soccer world in this way.
So, to give you an idea of the legends who retired too early from the world of soccer, we give you a list of 15 great names, apart from the Welshman, who left the sport while they still had something to give. It is because of this assumption that everyone says they left too early.
However, it should be remembered that injuries, physical problems, fatigue and others have been the cause of several early departures … That is to say that there are different reasons that can lead a footballer to retire when he was still expected.
Top 15 soccer greats who retired too early
16. Ronaldo Nazario: “He couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to continue, but I can not. I think of a game, but I do not execute it as I want. It’s time.” This is how the Brazilian star said goodbye at a press conference, at the age of 34.
15. Didier Deschamps: The current French coach hung up his boots at the age of 32. His last team was Valencia, in 2001, and he immediately started training.
14. Marco Van Basten: The great Dutch striker had to say goodbye to the field at the age of 31 due to serious ankle and knee injuries.
13. Eric Cantona: The French striker retired at the top of his game at the age of 31.
12. Carles Puyol: The great Barça captain retired at the age of 34 due to constant knee problems.
11. Gareth Bale: The Welshman’s next step in life came after he concluded his journey with the Galaxy. He turned 33 this past July.
Top 10 soccer greats who retired too soon
10. Michel Platini: The French star of the 1980s retired from soccer at the age of 32, in his own words, because he no longer loved the game.
9. Sergio Kun Agüero: His heart condition accelerated his retirement from soccer in 2021 (age 33) almost right after his contract with Barcelona was up.
8. Zinedine Zidane: Those tears after the game against Villarreal at the Bernabeu were the last of Zidane’s career. The World Cup he would make in 2006 was exceptional.
7. Jorge Valdano: It had not been long since he won the World Cup in 1986 when he was diagnosed with hepatitis. He retired in 1987 at the age of 31.
6. Uli Hoeness: The now controversial former Bayern Munich manager was one of the greats of German soccer who retired prematurely due to constant knee problems. He was 27 years old.
Top 5 soccer greats who retired too early
5. Franck Rijkaard: The former Barca coach and brand new player of Arrigo Sacchi’s historic Milan retired at the age of 32.
4. Patrick Kluivert: The Dutch striker was 32 when he announced his retirement in 2008. He was then a member of Lille.
Top 3 soccer greats who retired too early
3. Philippe Lahm: Although Bayern offered to continue, the German winger great decided to end his career in 2017.
2. Juste Fontaine: Considered one of the best of all time, the Frenchman only played until the age of 28. A shin injury in the fibula forced him to hang up his boots.
1. Sebastien Deisler: This is an example of someone who aimed for a “ball wizard” and injuries did not cut his career short. His battered knee and subsequent clinical depression caused him to hang up his boots at the age of 27.
