Offside Soundoff: Who Is The Best Player who Retired Injured?

By: Rob | September 13th, 2009

It was really nice, I thought, to see Tomas Rosicky score at the weekend. He’s been out of action for roughly 1000 years, and he came back and showed he’s still got the magic, by banging one in (in vein) against Manchester City.

Luckily, Rosicky hasn’t joined the list of players who had to retire from the game due to injury. Anyway, it got me thinking, who is the best player who had to retire due to injury?

The first name that came to mind, inevitably was Marco van Basten. Alot of people’s favourite Number Nine, the Dutch striker was robbed of a longer career by a ankle injury. So lets cast Van Basten aside, who else’s career was ended prematurely robbing us of many years of wonderful football?

Secondary question, which players went through big injuries and never came back the same again? I’m thinking, Ronaldo, Michael Owen or Michael Bridges.

Over to you.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: Arsenal, Bridges, Busst, Injury, Man City, Offside Sound Off, Owen, Ronaldo, Rosicky, Soundoff, van Basten, World Football

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• Laurie |  September 13th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

  
  
  

  It broke my heart that Lilian Thuram had to retire with a heart problem (although it was probably time.) Ditto for Steve Savidan — for whom it was NOT time.

  That said, though, I’m glad they discovered both before it was too late.

  Posted from United States

  

• Dan |  September 13th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

  
  
  

  Definitely Matthias Sammer.

  Posted from United States

  

• GAGA |  September 13th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

  
  
  

  Paul Lake by a mile, he would have been England captain for many years.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• alessio |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

  
  
  

  
  Secondary question, which players went through big injuries and never came back the same again?

  A lot of people in Italy would say Del Piero. He’s had a tremendous career, but he suffered a catastrophic knee injury when he was young, coming off a season where he scored 10 goals in 10 CL games. He hasn’t been as fast since then, it took him 3 years or so to get back to normal scoring levels.

  Posted from United States

  

• Andrew Johnstone |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

  
  
  

  Would have to go Paul Lake myself, as already posted he would of been England captain, and a Legend in the game.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Paul Lake |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

  
  
  

  Paul Lake of course closely followed by van Bastern

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Bluenose |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

  
  
  

  Happy to see Paul Lake’s name mentioned twice already… here’s the third. Would of been an absolute legend.

  Posted from United States

  

• BVB |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

  
  
  

  Matthias Sammer-european football-player of the year 96 than 5 big knee injuries
  Lars Ricken(scored many important goals before the age of 21)

  Posted from Germany

  

• Andrew B |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

  
  
  

  Paul Lake was already a legend when he retired so young. Many think he would have gone on to be the best Manchester City player ever. He would have been hugely influential for his country too. He was better than Beckham, Rooney and Gasgoine.

  Posted from United States

  

• Claudia |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

  
  
  

  Recently for me it was Bernd Schneider.

  Posted from United States

  

• ilcb |  September 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pm

  
  
  

  For me it has to be Colin Bell, the greatest player ever to pull on a Blue Shirt. Very closely followed by Lakey.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Daryl |  September 13th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

  
  
  

  Norman Whiteside had a decent career with Man Utd and then Everton, but retired at 26 with a persistent knee injury.

  Posted from United States

  

• Stephen Hilton |  September 13th, 2009 at 2:24 pm

  
  
  

  Has to be Paul Lake retiring so young.

  Posted from United States

  

• dave milner |  September 13th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

  
  
  

  hi. as a man city fan i have two players who spring to mind that had to retire due to illness, the first was Colin Bell and the second was Paul Lake who i feel sure would have gone on to captain England. Then of course we have Alfie Haarland who Roy Keane made a point of finishing Alfies career, that tackle was far wosrt than Persies

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Rob MCFC |  September 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

  
  
  

  Danny Mills :p

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• damian |  September 13th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

  
  
  

  Marc Vivian Foe ….. RIP

  Posted from United States

  

• damian |  September 13th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

  
  
  

  Marc Vivian Foe… RIP….. uk not usa

  Posted from United States

  

• Jaffery |  September 13th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

  
  
  

  Overmars was always a joy to watch..

  Posted from United States

  

• Juliet |  September 13th, 2009 at 6:35 pm

  
  
  

  Sebastian Deisler comes to mind as a wonderful midfield talent whose injuries (and depression) ended his career. I was sorry that Willy Sagnol had to retire because of his ankles.

  Owen Hargreaves still has a long road ahead of him, and I think it will be very hard for him to reach his earlier heights. :\

  Posted from United States

  

• huskynation |  September 13th, 2009 at 8:08 pm

  
  
  

  Whiteside. The Ulster youngster won the FA Cup and played in the World Cup before the age of 18.

  Posted from United States

  

• Gooner |  September 13th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

  
  
  

  The former Arsenal left back Daniel Karbassiyoon, who scored on his debut against Man City in the Carling Cup and would have been a great player if not for injuries forcing him to retire at 22.

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  September 13th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

  
  
  

  Matt Jansen is another one who had a horrible injury and was never the same again. The Blackburn striker looked to be on the verge of an England debut in 2002, but had a motorcycle accident in Rome that same year.

  He played a few more seasons, but never fully recovered. According to his Wiki, Jansen is now player/coach at non-league Leigh Genesis FC.

  Posted from United States

  

• Erick |  September 14th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

  
  
  

  I love this Blog!

  Erick
  iconcerttickets.com

  Posted from United States

  

• burnley forum |  October 23rd, 2009 at 6:54 am

  
  
  

  you cant beat rosler

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

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