Chris Maduewesi
Member
Like they say: " every good thing comes to an end", so also does the career of footballers.
Some footballers are so good that one hardly envisages them leaving the stage at some point. However the body wearies, and it would come to a point that it more less caves in.
Those dashing and menacing runs would elude these players, and they will not be able to conjure up the things they once did with ease at their peaks.
That is the hallmark of football. Unlike in Golf that its longevity spans into the 50's, a footballer would be lucky to play on till 40, and in these instances goalkeepers are the ones who last longer.
Outfield players are not so lucky, just a handful get that far ro 40, so eventually footballers at some point call it quits.
Below we have lined up eleven outstanding footballers who hung up their football boots in 2014.
1) Thierry Henry:
Former Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona player, Thierry Henry had an impeccable football career that was laden with laurels during his time on the pitch.
His goalscoring prowess is enviable, cutting his teeth with Arsenal where he came to reckoning with how lethal he was in front of goal.
Having sojourned to New York Red Bulls, it was a journey towards the end of his career.
A peep into Henry's achievements: he won the FIFA World Cup tournament, FIFA Confederations Cup and the Euro championship in 2000.
He won the league titles with Monaco, Arsenal and Barcelona, where he also won the UEFA Champions League title.
Henry retired at the age of 37
2) Ryan Giggs:
A one-man club, it was inevitable that Ryan Giggs would eventually call time on his career with Manchester United.
Having graced the scene since 1991 when Sir Alex Ferguson gave him the breakthrough to launch his career.
Giggs has gone on to win everything that a footballer needs to win in a club career, recording unprecedented success .
Giggs is the most decorated player in English football history. He also holds the club record for competitive appearances. During his time at United, he won 13 Premier League winner's medals, four FA Cup winner's medals, three League Cup winner's medals and two Champions League winner's medals.
Despite his amazing hits with Manchester United, Giggs had a quiet international career with Wales, playing 64 times but never at a major tournament.
Giggs was appointed interim manager of Manchester United following the sacking of David Moyes in April, and he announced his retirement from football after the 2013/2014 season to take up an appointment as Louis Van Gaal's assistant coach.
Giggs retired at the age of 40, he turned 41 in November.
3) Javier Zanetti:
Just like Giggs, Javier Zannetti is reputed for his one-club loyalty. The Argentine played his entire club football in Europe, with Italian clubside, Inter Milan.
Before his sojourn to Inter, Zanetti had stints with Talleres and Banfield football clubs in his country.
He played 19 seasons at Inter and was a constant fixture in the side, captaining them for over 15 years.
Following his huge importance to Inter Milan, the club retired his legendary number 4 jersey and named him as Vice President upon his retirement.
He equally had a memorable international career, winning 145 caps for Argentina and scoring five goals.
He retired from football at the age of 40 (turned 41 in August)
4) Juninho Pernambucano
Renowned for his great specialty from dead balls, Juninho knows how to score freekicks that left people breathless.
He mastered the art of taking freekicks that whenever he was about to take one, you are sure that it will find the net.
As of 2013, Juninho had 76 official goals that he converted from direct free kicks, and he netted free-kicks beyond 40 metres on four occasions.
Juninho was one of the people who made Lyon thick, playing an integral role in helping them win seven successive French Ligue 1 titles from 2002 to 2008.
He retired from international football after the 2006 World Cup tournament, playing his final match in their 1-0 defeat to France.
Juninho retired from playing professional football on 2 February, 2014 after having his third stint at Vasco Da Gama.
He retired from football at the age of 39.
5) Seedorf
The first player to win the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs, the Dutch player was one of the greatest midfielders to light up the football stage.
First came to prominence at Ajax under the watchful guidance of Louis Van Gaal, the then dreadlocks wearing player developed to be sought after by the world's best clubs.
Seedorf won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and then with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007.
He moved to the Brazilian league in on a two-year deal, signing for Botafogo.
But on 14 January 2014, Seedorf announced his retirement from playing football,saying that he was ending his playing career to take up the manager position at AC Milan,although he was sacked at the end of that season in June to be replaced by former teammate, Filipo Inzaghi.
He retired from football at the age of 37, he turned 38 in April
6) Carles Puyol
A curly hair and a less smiling face as he went about the task of defending, Carles Puyol undoubtedly was one of the best defenders to have played for Barcelona.
Just like Giggs and Zanetti, Puyol was a one-club man who devoted so much of his life playing for the Catalans.
He made nearly 600 appearances for Barcelona, going on to win 21 major titles, amongst which were six La Liga trophies and three UEFA Champions League titles, being the club's longtime skipper.
With Spain, Puyol was successful as well and he won the Euro 2008 championship as well as the 2010 World Cup tournaments
But Puyol's injury history ensured that he called it quits from football in 2014, despite having an extra two-year contract until 2016 left in his contract.
At a packed Auditori 1899 stadium on 15 May 2014, Puyol's teammates, ex-teammates, presidents and coaches bid farewell to a loyal servant of the club.
He retired from football at the age of 36
7) Landon Donovan
Regarded as the face of American "soccer" Landon is widely regarded as the poster poster boy of the football in the United States.
Most people consider him to be the best player to ever come out of the United States.
Not much of a glittering career club wise, but mainly reckoned with for his exploits playing for USA (USMNT)
However he won six Major League Soccer(MLS) Cups and is the league's all-time top scorer with 136 goals.
He had stints abroad at Bayer Leverkusen and also in the Premier League with Everton.
Donavan is the all-time leader in scoring and assists for the USMNT, and has the most caps of all active players. He is also the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark.
Perhaps his personal low point was missing the 2014 World Cup tournament after Jurgen Klinsmann omitted him from his squad to the competition where he would have made his fourth appearance.
He retired from football at the age of 32.
8) Gabriel Heinze
A versatile defender, Gabriel Heinze decided to hang up his football boots in 2014 after having a fulfilling career.
The Argentine played for two European football super powers, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
After his successful spell in Europe, that included sojourns to Paris Saint Germain, Heinze finished his 18-year professional career with Argentine clubside Newell's Old Boys.
He represented Argentina at two World Cups, in 2006 and 2010.
Heinze made 71 appearances for Argentina,netting three goal,one of the goals was in South Africa at the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.
He retired at the age of 36.
9) Juan Sebastian Verón
From Lazio to Manchester United, then to Chelsea and Inter Milan, Veron played for some of the best clubs in Europe.
In 2000, Verón was superb for Lazio helping them win the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup.
And it was not surprising when Manchester United shelled out a British transfer record of £28.1 million to sign him.
He didn't live up to his price-tag and was subsequently sold to Chelsea for £15 million, as they tried to recoup some of the money expended on him.
Veron returned to the Argentina league in 2006 to his boyhood club Estudiantes de La Plata, and he helped them win the Apertura 2006 tournament, working with the then coach and his former teammate, Diego Simeone.
He is the current chairman of Estudiantes de La Plata, where he had served as Director of Sports.
Veron played at three World Cup for Argentina, and he won 73 caps and scored 9 goals.
He retired at the age of 39
10) Rivaldo
Who will forget that wonderful left foot, Rivaldo remains one of the greatest exponents of the game from Brazil.
Rivaldo played for Deportivo, Barcelona, AC Milan and Olympiacos during his playing career in Europe.
He has also had other playing stints in countries like Uzbekistan and even in Africa with an Angolan club, Kabuscorp.
He won the FIFA World Cup tournament with Brazil,and together with Ronaldo formed a formidable partnership in 2002 at the competition in Korea and Japan.
Rivaldo announced his retirement from football in March 2014, calling time in a career that spanned for more than 20 years.
He retired from football at the age of 41, turned 42 in April
11) Eric Abidal
Perhaps the most suiting player to end this write-up, Eric Abidal in 2014 decided to end his football career.
Popular for his ability to twice beating life threatening ailments of debilitating effects, Abidal inspired hope in adversity and the belief of overcoming a trial.
He had a liver disease that warranted him in having a transplant to stay alive,and he succeeded.
Abidal played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona, and won 21 major titles while playing for these two clubs.
In his international career, Abidal made 67 appearances for France, representing them at two World Cups and also the Euro 2008 championship.
He returned to Monaco last season helping them qualify for the Champions League in the 2014 season.
Despite signing a two-year deal with Greek side Olympiacos, Abidal decided to end his career in December, albeit the last of the veterans to do so in 2014.
*****
These players left an indelible mark in football. They might have retired into life after football, but their exploits is forever entrenched in the minds of those who watched them.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Some footballers are so good that one hardly envisages them leaving the stage at some point. However the body wearies, and it would come to a point that it more less caves in.
Those dashing and menacing runs would elude these players, and they will not be able to conjure up the things they once did with ease at their peaks.
That is the hallmark of football. Unlike in Golf that its longevity spans into the 50's, a footballer would be lucky to play on till 40, and in these instances goalkeepers are the ones who last longer.
Outfield players are not so lucky, just a handful get that far ro 40, so eventually footballers at some point call it quits.
Below we have lined up eleven outstanding footballers who hung up their football boots in 2014.
1) Thierry Henry:
Former Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona player, Thierry Henry had an impeccable football career that was laden with laurels during his time on the pitch.
His goalscoring prowess is enviable, cutting his teeth with Arsenal where he came to reckoning with how lethal he was in front of goal.
Having sojourned to New York Red Bulls, it was a journey towards the end of his career.
A peep into Henry's achievements: he won the FIFA World Cup tournament, FIFA Confederations Cup and the Euro championship in 2000.
He won the league titles with Monaco, Arsenal and Barcelona, where he also won the UEFA Champions League title.
Henry retired at the age of 37
2) Ryan Giggs:
A one-man club, it was inevitable that Ryan Giggs would eventually call time on his career with Manchester United.
Having graced the scene since 1991 when Sir Alex Ferguson gave him the breakthrough to launch his career.
Giggs has gone on to win everything that a footballer needs to win in a club career, recording unprecedented success .
Giggs is the most decorated player in English football history. He also holds the club record for competitive appearances. During his time at United, he won 13 Premier League winner's medals, four FA Cup winner's medals, three League Cup winner's medals and two Champions League winner's medals.
Despite his amazing hits with Manchester United, Giggs had a quiet international career with Wales, playing 64 times but never at a major tournament.
Giggs was appointed interim manager of Manchester United following the sacking of David Moyes in April, and he announced his retirement from football after the 2013/2014 season to take up an appointment as Louis Van Gaal's assistant coach.
Giggs retired at the age of 40, he turned 41 in November.
3) Javier Zanetti:
Just like Giggs, Javier Zannetti is reputed for his one-club loyalty. The Argentine played his entire club football in Europe, with Italian clubside, Inter Milan.
Before his sojourn to Inter, Zanetti had stints with Talleres and Banfield football clubs in his country.
He played 19 seasons at Inter and was a constant fixture in the side, captaining them for over 15 years.
Following his huge importance to Inter Milan, the club retired his legendary number 4 jersey and named him as Vice President upon his retirement.
He equally had a memorable international career, winning 145 caps for Argentina and scoring five goals.
He retired from football at the age of 40 (turned 41 in August)
4) Juninho Pernambucano
Renowned for his great specialty from dead balls, Juninho knows how to score freekicks that left people breathless.
He mastered the art of taking freekicks that whenever he was about to take one, you are sure that it will find the net.
As of 2013, Juninho had 76 official goals that he converted from direct free kicks, and he netted free-kicks beyond 40 metres on four occasions.
Juninho was one of the people who made Lyon thick, playing an integral role in helping them win seven successive French Ligue 1 titles from 2002 to 2008.
He retired from international football after the 2006 World Cup tournament, playing his final match in their 1-0 defeat to France.
Juninho retired from playing professional football on 2 February, 2014 after having his third stint at Vasco Da Gama.
He retired from football at the age of 39.
5) Seedorf
The first player to win the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs, the Dutch player was one of the greatest midfielders to light up the football stage.
First came to prominence at Ajax under the watchful guidance of Louis Van Gaal, the then dreadlocks wearing player developed to be sought after by the world's best clubs.
Seedorf won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and then with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007.
He moved to the Brazilian league in on a two-year deal, signing for Botafogo.
But on 14 January 2014, Seedorf announced his retirement from playing football,saying that he was ending his playing career to take up the manager position at AC Milan,although he was sacked at the end of that season in June to be replaced by former teammate, Filipo Inzaghi.
He retired from football at the age of 37, he turned 38 in April
6) Carles Puyol
A curly hair and a less smiling face as he went about the task of defending, Carles Puyol undoubtedly was one of the best defenders to have played for Barcelona.
Just like Giggs and Zanetti, Puyol was a one-club man who devoted so much of his life playing for the Catalans.
He made nearly 600 appearances for Barcelona, going on to win 21 major titles, amongst which were six La Liga trophies and three UEFA Champions League titles, being the club's longtime skipper.
With Spain, Puyol was successful as well and he won the Euro 2008 championship as well as the 2010 World Cup tournaments
But Puyol's injury history ensured that he called it quits from football in 2014, despite having an extra two-year contract until 2016 left in his contract.
At a packed Auditori 1899 stadium on 15 May 2014, Puyol's teammates, ex-teammates, presidents and coaches bid farewell to a loyal servant of the club.
He retired from football at the age of 36
7) Landon Donovan
Regarded as the face of American "soccer" Landon is widely regarded as the poster poster boy of the football in the United States.
Most people consider him to be the best player to ever come out of the United States.
Not much of a glittering career club wise, but mainly reckoned with for his exploits playing for USA (USMNT)
However he won six Major League Soccer(MLS) Cups and is the league's all-time top scorer with 136 goals.
He had stints abroad at Bayer Leverkusen and also in the Premier League with Everton.
Donavan is the all-time leader in scoring and assists for the USMNT, and has the most caps of all active players. He is also the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark.
Perhaps his personal low point was missing the 2014 World Cup tournament after Jurgen Klinsmann omitted him from his squad to the competition where he would have made his fourth appearance.
He retired from football at the age of 32.
8) Gabriel Heinze
A versatile defender, Gabriel Heinze decided to hang up his football boots in 2014 after having a fulfilling career.
The Argentine played for two European football super powers, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
After his successful spell in Europe, that included sojourns to Paris Saint Germain, Heinze finished his 18-year professional career with Argentine clubside Newell's Old Boys.
He represented Argentina at two World Cups, in 2006 and 2010.
Heinze made 71 appearances for Argentina,netting three goal,one of the goals was in South Africa at the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.
He retired at the age of 36.
9) Juan Sebastian Verón
From Lazio to Manchester United, then to Chelsea and Inter Milan, Veron played for some of the best clubs in Europe.
In 2000, Verón was superb for Lazio helping them win the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup.
And it was not surprising when Manchester United shelled out a British transfer record of £28.1 million to sign him.
He didn't live up to his price-tag and was subsequently sold to Chelsea for £15 million, as they tried to recoup some of the money expended on him.
Veron returned to the Argentina league in 2006 to his boyhood club Estudiantes de La Plata, and he helped them win the Apertura 2006 tournament, working with the then coach and his former teammate, Diego Simeone.
He is the current chairman of Estudiantes de La Plata, where he had served as Director of Sports.
Veron played at three World Cup for Argentina, and he won 73 caps and scored 9 goals.
He retired at the age of 39
10) Rivaldo
Who will forget that wonderful left foot, Rivaldo remains one of the greatest exponents of the game from Brazil.
Rivaldo played for Deportivo, Barcelona, AC Milan and Olympiacos during his playing career in Europe.
He has also had other playing stints in countries like Uzbekistan and even in Africa with an Angolan club, Kabuscorp.
He won the FIFA World Cup tournament with Brazil,and together with Ronaldo formed a formidable partnership in 2002 at the competition in Korea and Japan.
Rivaldo announced his retirement from football in March 2014, calling time in a career that spanned for more than 20 years.
He retired from football at the age of 41, turned 42 in April
11) Eric Abidal
Perhaps the most suiting player to end this write-up, Eric Abidal in 2014 decided to end his football career.
Popular for his ability to twice beating life threatening ailments of debilitating effects, Abidal inspired hope in adversity and the belief of overcoming a trial.
He had a liver disease that warranted him in having a transplant to stay alive,and he succeeded.
Abidal played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona, and won 21 major titles while playing for these two clubs.
In his international career, Abidal made 67 appearances for France, representing them at two World Cups and also the Euro 2008 championship.
He returned to Monaco last season helping them qualify for the Champions League in the 2014 season.
Despite signing a two-year deal with Greek side Olympiacos, Abidal decided to end his career in December, albeit the last of the veterans to do so in 2014.
*****
These players left an indelible mark in football. They might have retired into life after football, but their exploits is forever entrenched in the minds of those who watched them.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
