11 footballers who ended careers prematurely due to injuries

By Peter Ochieng

Over the years, several players have ended their careers prematurely as a result of niggling injuries, forcing them to leave the game while still at their peak. Here is a list of some of them.

1. Marco van Basten

A legend at Ajax and AC Milan, Marco van Basten is a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and a European champion with the Netherlands. Considered one of the best strikers of all time, Van Basten scored 283 club goals and a further 24 for the Netherlands. The Dutch forward played his last game at the age of 28, and was forced to retire two years later after failing to recover from a serious ankle injury.

2. Carles Puyol

The former Barcelona and Spain captain said he wanted to play on to the age of 40, but a troublesome Achilles problem brought the defender's career to an end in 2014.

After 36 injuries in his career and a number of knee operations, the World Cup, Euro and Champions League winner retired at the age of 36.

3. Andre Schurrle

A key figure in Germany's 2014 FIFA World Cup winning team. Schurrle's career came to an end in 2020 after an injury-interrupted spell on loan at Spartak Moscow.

Following a long spell out, the former Chelsea winger said he had lost motivation and rescinded his contract with Borussia Dortmund, surprisingly announcing his retirement at the age of 29.

4. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The ‘baby-faced assassin’ spent 11 seasons at Manchester United, and will forever be remembered by the Red Devils fans for his epic late winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

In 2007, Solskjær underwent minor surgery on his knee and although the procedure was successful, he never fully recovered and announced his retirement that August. He later managed Manchester United, becoming one of the few legends to do so.

5. Sergio Aguero

Aguero scored 260 goals in 390 appearances for Manchester City. After a decade at the club, the Argentine left as a legend in 2021.

He signed for Barcelona but would make only five appearances for the Catalan club, scoring one goal, before he was forced to retire in December 2021 at the age of 33 due to a heart problem, minus a Champions League and World Cup title.

6. David Silva

The left-footed maestro won 125 caps for Spain and was part of the squads which won Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.

He also spent 10 successful seasons at Manchester City. After leaving City, Silva opted to extend his career at Real Sociedad and continued at a very high level, but the midfielder ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in July 2023 and retired just six days later at the age of 37.

7. Jack Wilshere

He was described by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as having ‘Spanish technique and English heart.’

He was a fan favourite within the Gunners ranks. The midfielder made close to 200 appearances for the north London club, and won 34 England caps.

His career was however interrupted by injuries and he retired in 2022 aged 30, following short spells at West Ham, Bournemouth and Danish side Aarhu.

He is currently the head coach of the Arsenal under-18 team.

8. Enock Mwepu The former Brighton midfielder was forced to retire from football in October 2022, after he was diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition aged only 24 years.

He signed for the Premier League outfit in the summer of 2021 from RB Salzburg, and made 27 appearances.

After retiring from professional football due to his heart condition, Brighton announced on 30 December that Mwepu had been appointed to serve in the role of under-9s coach in their academy from January 2023.

9. Ronaldo Nazario

The Brazilian is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his influence spans generations.

He led Brazil to FIFA World Cup glory in 2002. His incredible performances for Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid saw him win two Ballon d'Or awards, but recurring knee issues hampered his career.

If he was healthy, the speedy and skillful former Brazil forward would've achieved much more. He retired in 2011 at 34.

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima is the owner of Brasileiro Série A club Cruzeiro, and owner and president of La Liga club Real Valladolid.

10. Alf-Inge Haaland

Better known these days as the father of one of the world's finest footballers (Erling Haaland). That does not take anything away from Alf-Inge Haaland, as he was a talented midfielder in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Haaland won 34 caps for Norway and played for Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Manchester City. In a derby against Manchester United in 2001, he was caught by a vicious Roy Keane tackle on his right thigh, but actually retired in 2003 due to problems with his left leg at the age of 30.

He briefly came out of retirement to play in Norway's third tier in 2011, before finally hanging up his boots in 2013.

11. Eden Hazard

Eden Michael Walter Hazard is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a winger or attacking midfielder for Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and the Belgium national team.

Known for his dribbling and creativity, he is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. It was at Chelsea, from 2012 to 2019 that he became a force to reckon with, scoring 85 goals from 285 games.

On 3 June, Hazard and Real Madrid reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract at the end of the season, ending his time at the club after four years.

His run saw him score just 7 goals and assist only 12 times in 76 appearances across all competitions throughout his time at the Spanish capital, with many labelling him as "the greatest flop in Real Madrid history" and "one of the worst transfers ever."

On 10 October 2023, three months after his departure from Madrid, Hazard announced his decision to retire from professional football at age 32.