Some players stick around too long. Some go too soon. It is always sad to look back on what could have been, especially with some of the outstanding talents that often get ruined by injuries curtailing careers before they begin.
Teamkenya.co.ke takes a look at footballers who retired too soon because of various reasons
Andre Schurrle
At just 29 years old, Schurrle shocked the football world when he announced his retirement after failing to recapture the form that helped him star for Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea. The former Germany international – a World Cup winner in 2014 – said that he doesn’t “need the applause anymore”.
Schurrle played for Chelsea, Wolfsburg, and Borussia Dortmund, among other clubs, and added to his international triumph by clinching the Premier League and two German Cups.
He re-emerged in the Premier League with Fulham last season before heading to Spartak Moscow on loan this campaign, but he admits the “depths became deeper and the highlights less and less”. hence his early retirement from football.
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Eric Cantona
The Frenchman became one of the most influential players in Manchester United's club’s history, The footballer-turned-actor arrived at Old Trafford for £1.2million from Leeds United in November 1992 and inspired United to four Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
He also picked up a plethora of individual awards, including the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, the FWA Footballer of the Year, and the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year. Cantona shocked the world when he brought his career to a premature end in June 1997 at the tender age of 30 after four-and-a-half glorious years.
The Frenchman claimed in an interview in 2018 stated that he left the game after noting that he had no 'passion' left for football.
Sergio Aguero
The Manchester City record goalscorer moved to Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer, had to be substituted during his team's 1-1 draw with Alaves in October after receiving medical assistance on the pitch to treat chest pains and dizziness.
The Argentina striker was taken to hospital for cardiac tests, after which he was ruled out for three months. However, Aguero did not make his return to the field and later announced his retirement at the Nou Camp at 33 years.
Zinedine Zidane
There aren’t many more dramatic ways to end your career than being sent off for a headbutt in a World Cup final.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder is regarded as one of the most gifted players of his generation but the nature of his retirement after being shown a red card in a world cup final in 2006 left fans thinking what might have been in his twilight years?
Hanging his boots up at the age of 34 might seem like a logical decision when age is considered, but the fact Zidane did so just shortly after a dramatic end to the 2006 World Cup leaves a question mark over what might have been.
Alan Shearer
The former Newcastle and Blackburn striker retired from international football at the age of 29. Shearer did so immediately after a poor performance for England at the European Championships in 2000.
Even though the English Premier League record goalscorer retired from club football at the age of 35. This shows how the Newcastle great might have stopped playing for the Three Lions too soon. Speaking to the media Shearer said he did not regret retiring too soon from the national team.
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