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.

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Category: World Football

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burnley forum

you cant beat rosler
Erick

I love this Blog!

Erick
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Daryl

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.
Gooner

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.
huskynation

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

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. :\
Jaffery

Overmars was always a joy to watch..
damian

Marc Vivian Foe... RIP..... uk not usa
damian

Marc Vivian Foe ..... RIP
Rob MCFC

Danny Mills :p
dave milner

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
Stephen Hilton

Has to be Paul Lake retiring so young.
Daryl

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

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

Recently for me it was Bernd Schneider.
Andrew B

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.
BVB

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)
Bluenose

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

Paul Lake of course closely followed by van Bastern
Andrew Johnstone

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

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

Definitely Matthias Sammer.
Laurie

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.