Learn about footballers who retired too early
Not all footballers are lucky enough to have a full career at the top of the game. Even those with the talent to maintain their level at the highest level into their late 30s have to overcome their luck to stay fit – and for some, that’s a hurdle too far. Raphael Varane recently called it quits after a glittering career at the age of 31. A recent knee injury sustained while making his debut for Italian club Como left the Frenchman with no choice but to say goodbye to professional football. But he’s not the last footballer to abruptly end his football career. Here are 10 footballers who retired too early that Kingsoccertips.com has compiled.
List of footballers who retired too early
10. Gareth Bale
Retires: 2023, aged 33
Gareth Bale is sure to go down as one of Wales’ greatest ever. The left-footed wizard lit up the Premier League during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, winning the PFA Player of the Year twice and creating a highlight reel of spectacular long-range strikes in the process.
A record £85.3m move to Real Madrid in 2013 saw the Southampton youngster become the most expensive footballer of all time, eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80m move.
During his nine years in the Spanish capital, he scored over a century of goals in 258 appearances and won every honour imaginable, including a remarkable five Champions League titles.
At the age of 33, Bale announced his retirement, and there is no doubt that he could have continued playing at the highest level if he had wanted to, but perhaps his drive had waned too much.
In the last few years of his career at Madrid, he was sometimes booed by the fans themselves, which affected his confidence, as he himself admitted.
9. Patrick Kluivert
Retired: 2008, aged 32
Patrick Kluivert emerged as one of Europe’s finest strikers in the 1990s, thanks to his talent and natural goalscoring instincts. He started his career at Ajax Amsterdam, where he made his mark with years of great success. During his three seasons at Ajax, Kluivert not only scored many important goals but also played a major role in helping the team win the treble, including the UEFA Champions League in 1995. His brilliant form attracted the attention of Europe’s top clubs, and in 1997, AC Milan signed him, marking his first step into Serie A.
However, Kluivert’s time at Milan only lasted a year before he moved to Barcelona in 1998. It was here that he truly entered the peak of his career, scoring 122 goals in 257 appearances over six seasons. A mainstay in the attack, Kluivert was known for his technical play, versatile finishing ability and tactical intelligence. However, after leaving Barcelona in 2004, his career began to decline. In the final years of his career, he played briefly for Newcastle United, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and Lille before retiring in 2008. However, Kluivert’s legacy remains as one of the best strikers in the history of Dutch and European football.
8. Eden Hazard
Retirement: 2023, aged 32
This week, Eden Hazard announced his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to an illustrious career that has seen him reach heights few players have ever achieved.
However, his sudden decline was completely unexpected by many, and left fans wondering what had happened. Yes, injuries were certainly a factor, but some in the media have suggested that his mentality, particularly in Madrid, was to blame.
The Belgian’s last season at Los Blancos saw him reportedly ‘overweight’ by 7kg – and this is said to have caused a rift between him and president Florentino Perez.
It’s not the first time he’s struggled with his weight in pre-season – he had a similar problem in 2015 when he was at Chelsea and was a shadow of his former self.
Whether his sudden decline was due to injury or hard work is all speculation, so perhaps we should focus our attention and admiration on the moments of magic he’s delivered over the majority of his career.
7. Raphael Varane
Retires: 2024, aged 31
The former Real Madrid centre-back left Manchester United in the summer after helping the Red Devils to FA Cup glory in May. He leaves the great sport as a World Cup winner and four-time Champions League winner.
Varane began his career at Lens before moving to Real Madrid at the age of 18. He became one of Los Blancos’ most inspired signings, winning the majority of his career trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu.
United arrived in 2022 and the Frenchman brought his trophy-winning ability to Old Trafford, leaving the north-west with trophies in both of his campaigns.
But shortly after signing for Cesc Fabregas’ Como, a serious injury brought Varane’s career to an early end.
6. Brian Laudrup
Retired: 2000, aged 31
Brian Laudrup was one of the most gifted footballers of all time, admired not only for his technical prowess but also for his ability to produce magical moments on the pitch. However, the Dane’s career was plagued by injuries, particularly chronic problems with his Achilles tendon. Despite his physical limitations, Laudrup left an indelible mark, contributing to many important victories for the teams he played for. Most notably, he played a key role in Denmark’s historic 1992 European Championship triumph.
In his final season at Ajax, Laudrup continued to perform brilliantly despite being plagued by injuries. He scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists, a remarkable return for a player on the verge of retirement. However, persistent problems with his Achilles tendon forced him to make the difficult decision to end his football career that summer. Doctors said surgery was unlikely to guarantee a full recovery, so Laudrup chose to preserve his health. Despite his career ending prematurely, he is remembered as one of the most talented and graceful players of his generation.
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5. Jack Wilshere
Retirement: 2022, aged 30
When Jack Wilshere produced a magical performance against Pep Guardiola’s relentless Barcelona side in 2011 as a young teenager, many predicted the left-footed midfielder would become one of England’s greatest ever players. Unfortunately, he failed to live up to those early expectations – largely due to injury.
His early promise certainly paid off to some extent, as he went on to represent England 34 times while making nearly 200 appearances for Arsenal, winning two FA Cups. But he was plagued by injuries throughout his career and decided to retire from professional football at the age of 30. He has since taken up a coaching role with the Gunners’ Under-18s.
“It has been difficult to accept that my career has taken a downturn in recent times for reasons beyond my control when I felt I still had so much more to offer,” Wilshere said in a statement in 2022. “However, having had time to reflect and speaking to those closest to me, I know now is the right time and, despite the difficult times, I look back on my career with great pride in what I have achieved”.
4. Marco van Basten
Retired: 1995, aged 30
The Dutch striker is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, with a career that included 301 goals and three Ballons d’Or. Sadly, he played his last professional game at the age of 28 due to an ankle injury, forcing him to hang up his boots two years later after failing to recover from surgery. The Dutchman’s farewell to football was emotional as he waved goodbye to the 80,000 Milan fans gathered at the San Siro in August 1995, with even coach Fabio Capello in tears.
In his autobiography, ‘Basta: My Life, My Truth’, he wrote: “Suddenly I knew it. It was as clear as day. It touched my heart. In front of 80,000 people. I was witnessing my own farewell. Marco van Basten, the footballer, was no more. You are watching someone who no longer exists. You are clapping for someone who no longer exists. I ran and clapped, but I was no longer there”.
3. Eric Cantona
Retired: 1997, aged 30
The iconic Manchester United No. 7 retired at the age of 30, having just won the Premier League after scoring 15 goals and providing 16 assists. It was clear he still had the ability to play at the highest level.
His decision came as a shock to United fans as they flocked to Old Trafford following the news, expressing their disbelief.
A short and sweet statement was released by the Frenchman, which read: “I played professional football for 13 years, which is a long time. Now I want to do other things. I always planned to retire when I was at my peak and at Manchester United I have reached the peak of my career.
“For the last four and a half years I have enjoyed my time at the top level and had a great time. I have had a great relationship with the manager, staff and players, and most importantly the fans. I wish Manchester United every success in the future”.
The centre-forward has given up his starring role at the Theatre of Dreams to pursue an acting career, appearing in films such as Looking for Eric and Elizabeth.
2. André Schürrle
Retired: 2020, aged 29
Brian Laudrup was one of the most talented footballers of his generation, known for his technical prowess and ability to create moments of magic. However, his career was hampered by persistent injuries, particularly chronic problems with his Achilles tendon. Despite this, Laudrup won fans over with his creative style of play. His greatest achievement was helping the Danish national team win the 1992 European Championship, an iconic achievement in the country’s football history.
In his final season at Ajax, Laudrup continued to play impressively, scoring 15 goals and providing 13 assists, an outstanding return for a player in the twilight of his career. However, a chronic Achilles tendon injury forced him to retire that summer. Doctors said that surgery did not guarantee a full recovery, and Laudrup decided to stop playing to protect his health. Although his career ended prematurely, he will be remembered as a talented player who inspired and inspired fans around the world.
1. Hidetoshi Nakata
Retired: 2006, aged 29
Fans were stunned when Japanese international Hidetoshi Nakata announced his retirement at the age of 29. He had just played every minute of the 2006 World Cup group stage, but he decided to hang up his boots with just one year left on his Fiorentina contract. The former Roma midfielder admitted he had lost his love for the sport: “As the days went by, I realised that football had become a big business”.
“I could feel that the team was playing for money, not for fun. I always felt that a team was like a big family, but it wasn’t like that anymore, i was sad. That’s why I stopped at 29”.
Conclusion
Despite their talent and fame that lit up the pitch, the footballers who retired too early on this list remind us that a football career is not just about skill, but also about luck and perseverance. From devastating injuries to losing their passion, they all faced different reasons that ended their football journeys sooner than expected. However, what they achieved in their short time is still etched in the memories of fans, proving that, even if short, the most brilliant moments always live on.
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