jordan pulse -
2022 witnessed the retirement of some of the world's most famous football stars, as they bid farewell to the stadiums after a career full of successes and achievements, during which they achieved many titles and trophies, whether with their clubs or teams, but at the end of the journey they chose to stop playing and bid farewell to the green rectangle for various reasons, including injuries and advanced age. Also, not receiving suitable offers.
Among the ten most famous players who retired in 2022, we find the Spanish Gerard Pique, the Barcelona player, who bid farewell to the stadiums in tears last November, during his team’s match with Almeria in the Spanish League.
After reaching the age of 35, the Barcelona defender decided to stop playing, although his contract extends until 2024, as he chose to end his football career after winning all possible championships by winning 35 titles, including 30 with Barcelona, most notably the 2009 hexagon, along with 3 titles with Manchester United. Including the European Champions League title, in addition to two titles with the Spain national team, the first being the 2010 World Cup, and the second Euro 2012.
The second star who bid farewell to the stadiums is the 39-year-old Frenchman Franck Ribery, who played 12 years in the ranks of the German club Bayern Munich, during which he won the German League title 9 times, won the European Champions League, and won the title of best player in Europe for the year 2013. He also played with France national team 81 international matches, and went through other experiences with Fiorentina, Marseille, Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Italian Clernitana.
As for the third star, he is the Argentine Carlos Tevez, who ended his career at the age of 38, after a busy career and various experiences, as he played in the ranks of the Argentine Boca Junior, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus, and is now a coach. He played 76 international matches with "Tango", during which he scored 13 goals.
The fourth star is the 34-year-old Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, who was a Real Madrid player for six years, and his most prominent stops were with Napoli, Juventus and Milan in Italy and Chelsea in England.
As for the fifth star, we find the Turkish Arda Turan, who spent 6 seasons in the Spanish ranks of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, during which he played 233 matches, in which he scored 37 goals. He also played 100 international matches, scoring 17 goals.
The sixth star is Englishman Jack Wilshere, who retired at the age of 30 due to an injury he suffered. Among his most prominent stations, we find the English Arsenal, who played in its ranks during 17 years, and joined West Ham United, Bolton and Bournemouth, and also participated in 34 international matches with the Three Lions.
And the seventh player to retire this year is the Brazilian Fred, the former player of French Lyon, at the age of 38, as he bid farewell to the green rectangle amidst a great ovation from the Fluminense fans who gathered at the legendary “Maracana” stadium.
He played important experiences in South America with Crocero, Fluminense and Atletico Mineiro clubs. He also played 39 international matches with the samba team and won the 2013 Confederations Cup.
The list of the top ten retired players also includes the 35-year-old Nigerian John Obi Mikel, whose most prominent station was in the ranks of Chelsea, England, and led the Nigerian national team to crown the 2013 African Cup title. Who retired at the age of 36, capping his international career with 51 caps.
It is mentioned that 2022 also recorded the retirement of many other prominent players, such as the Belgian Thomas Vermaelen, the former Barcelona player, the Englishman German Defoe, the Sunderland player, the Serbian Alexander Kolarov, the Italian Inter Milan player, and Fabian Dell, the Manchester City player, who did not find the right offer to continue his career, and the Englishman Mark Noble is a West Ham player, who will become, starting next January, the club's sporting director.
Yokohama player Shunsuke Nakamura also retired at the age of 44. He played 98 international matches.