In 2024, a whole constellation of brilliant football masters passed away. By escorting them to a well-deserved rest, we give them their due.
Toni Kroos Citizenship: Germany
Age: 34 years old
Last club: “Real”
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Toni Kroos The boy said – the boy did. But it would be better for the boy not to do this. Kroos was in amazing shape before his “retirement”. I could play at least three more seasons at a high level. At a very high level.
However, Tony always said that he was going to retire on a pike, that he did not want to become a laughingstock, a shadow of his former self. He did not change his word.
The German linebacker wanted to retire in 2023, but then “Real” in the person of president Florentino Perez convinced him to extend his football life.
Kroos agreed. And he hardly regretted it. He won the Spanish championship and the Champions League as part of the “Slyvochny”. Tony returned to the German national team for the sake of victory at the home Euro. But in this case, a beautiful final did not turn out.
Nevertheless, he, as he promised, went on a pike. His right.
Andres Iniesta Citizenship: Spain
Age: 40 years
Last club: Emirates (UAE)
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Andres Iniesta It turns out that the legend of “Barcelona” and the Spanish national team is done with big football only now, although he has not been noticeable on the “radars” for a long time.
He left Barça at the age of 34. He went beautifully, won everything possible as part of the Blaugrana. Then there were “bread” times in the exotic championship of Japan, where Andres spent as many as five years.
But he did not put an end to that. He played the last season in the Emirates, where he also improved his already serious well-being.
In honor of the end of Iniesta’s career, “Barca” and “Real” played a friendly match. And, interestingly, the initiator of this match was “Madrid”.
Pepe Citizenship: Portugal
Age: 41 hours
Last club: “Porto”
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Pepe At Euro-2024, 41-year-old Pepe played in the center of defense as part of the Portuguese national team. This European championship was the fifth for the naturalized Brazilian.
And he can also boast of the gold medal of the European Championship and the Champions Cup, won as part of Real Madrid.
It seemed that after leaving “Madrid” his traces were lost. However, it was not here. Pepe returned from the championship of Turkey to the championship of Portugal. In Porto, where he spent five and a half seasons, he became the oldest player ever to play in the Champions League.
Raphael Varane Citizenship: France
Age: 31 hours
Last club: Como
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Raphael Varane Very early end of career, very early. Although God let everyone win as many titles as the French center back won.
With his team, he became the champion and vice-champion of the world. He won the Champions Cup with Real Madrid.
Then he decided to change the environment – he went to the Premier League, to Man United. It didn’t work very well: Rafael was constantly haunted by injuries. Nevertheless, he was offered to stay at “Old Trafford” after the end of the contract, but the Frenchman again decided to make a horse move.
This time I missed. In the first match for the Italian team, he was seriously injured. And he decided not to tempt fate – he hung his boots on a nail.
Leonardo Bonucci Citizenship: Italy
Age: 37 years old
Last club: Fenerbahce
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Leonardo Bonucci A real pillar of the Azzurri’s defense, one of the core players that helped the Italian team win the Euro 2020.
As part of Juventus, Bonucci became an eight-time winner of Serie A. After Euro-2020, he decided to change the situation. But for this lesson, as it turned out, he chose not the most suitable option – the German “Union”.
He did not stay there for long: an hour later he moved to the Turkish championship. There, as part of Fenerbahce, he ended his glorious career as a player.
Jesus Navas Citizenship: Spain
Age: 39 years old
Last club: Sevilla
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Jesus Navas I won everything possible with the Spanish national team. But not only with the “golden” one of the mid-nineties. And with the current “Fury”. And this at such an advanced age!
Navas won not one or two Europa Leagues with Sevilla.
Surely this tireless linebacker would have played further, but he was tormented by a thigh injury. She has been following him for the past four years. And she did it: Jesus Navas said goodbye to football with tears in his eyes at the sight of the fans of his native Sevilla.
Joe Hart Citizenship: Great Britain
Age: 37 years old
Last club: “Celtic”
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Joe Hart It is difficult to say what would have happened to “Manchester City” if Josep Guardiola had not come to this club as a coach. But one thing can be said for sure: with such a schedule, Joe Hart’s career would have certainly turned out differently.
Hart had a brilliant start at City: he was rightfully included in the narrow circle of top European goalkeepers. He played six seasons for “MC”, sometimes working miracles in the frame. But sometimes making mistakes too.
Guardiola did not like Hart’s style of play. And Joe was forced to rent. He did not manage to return to City.
But he found himself at Celtic, with whom he won seven trophies. And without too much noise he went to rest.
Marouane Fellaini Citizenship: Belgium
Age: 36 years old
Last club: “Shandong”
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Marouane Fellaini The textured Belgian had two distinguishing features. He brilliantly burned the center of the field, acting in the position of a breaker. But even more he was remembered for his magnificent hair.
The peak of his career is Manchester United. He didn’t make a difference there, but he did his work as a destroyer competently.
He had the opportunity to stay in the Premier League, but Marouan took advantage of crazy money from China. He ended his career there.
Nana Citizenship: Portugal
Age: 38 years old
Last club: “Estrella Amador”
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Nana A real football pilgrim who has not truly revealed his huge potential.
Ego was called “the second Ronaldo”, and it was instead of Krysh that “MU” bought Nana. But in the composition of the “red and white” Manchester, this Portuguese midfielder did not reveal himself. Sometimes injuries got in the way, sometimes quarrels.
After the Premier League, his ego was carried around the world. USA, Australia, Spain, Turkey.
He ended his career in Portugal. Finished quietly. In a modest club.
Yevgeny Konoplyanka Citizenship: Ukraine
Age t: 34 years old
Last club: “Cluj”
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Yevgeny Konoplyanka (second from the right) If only age is taken into account, Evgenia could still play and play. Well, at least two seasons.
But why deceive yourself: the last four years have left only a shadow of the once unstoppable winger.
In “Shakhtar”, and even more so in “Krakowia” and “Cluj”, it was already the second Konoplyanka. Not the one we are used to seeing in Dnipro, Sevilla or Schalke.
Loss of motivation is the main scourge of this talented player. Perhaps, if his dream had come true at the beginning of his long journey, and he had been released from “Dnipro” to “Liverpool”, Konoplyanka would have achieved much more.
But it turned out the way it did.
It’s also not bad, if by and large.
Source: sport.ua