In football, the retirement of a footballer is a moment full of emotions. However, for some, Hanging up your boots is not a final decision. After having made this determination, several athletes have been tempted to return to the fields and resume the activity.
In this tour of the players who decided to return, we will see how renowned figures, such as the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesnythey joined an extensive list of those who could not resist the adrenaline of playing again.
From retirement to the courts: the players who returned to play after hanging up their boots
Despite announcing their definitive retirement, some footballers have shown that the desire to compete and be on the field is stronger than anything else. Several of them have returned to the fields after leaving their sporting careers.
Wojciech Szczesny’s return to professional football is just one of many examples that show that the decision to retire only represents a pause along the way.
Juan Roman Riquelme
In 2012, after losing the Copa Libertadores final against Corinthians, Riquelme announced his retirement of football after his time at Boca Juniors. However, his goodbye was not final. Just seven months later, the midfielder decided to return to wear the Xeneize shirt again, where he stayed for 18 more months.
In 2015, the idol of the institution hung up his boots permanently. However, his return in 2013 is one of the most remembered by the club’s fans.
Matias Almeyda
The footballer He had announced his retirement in 2005 after passing through Quilmesbut only It took two years for me to decide to return. and be part of the Norwegian Lyn squad. His time with this team was brief, but it was not the end of his career.
In 2009, Matías Almeyda returned to the field, this time with Fénix, and In 2011 he signed with River Platewhere he played until he finally hung up his boots. After that, he took charge of technical direction in a critical situation for the Nuñez institution.
Arjen Robben
The Dutch announced his retirement from professional football in 2019after having won everything with Bayern Munich. His decision was painful, but the desire to return to the field did not disappear.
A year later, Arjen Robben He surprised everyone by resuming practice with Groningen of the Netherlands. His return was brief, since He only played one season before making the decision to retire again.
Juan Sebastian Veron
The current president of Students of La Plata He is one of the most prominent players in Argentine soccer and is also on the list. After a first retirement in 2012, Verón surprised by returning to the courts the following year to play for Pincharrata, the club where he finished his professional career. However, “The Witch” did not completely distance herself from football and, in 2017, he returned again to the playing field to compete in the Copa Libertadores. His third farewell came that same year.
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Claudio Paul Caniggia
Claudio Caniggia too lived multiple returns. After a first retirement in 1996, the “Pajaro” He returned to the courts in 1999 to play with Atalanta of Italy. Although in 2005 he announced his final farewellthe Argentine striker He decided to resume the activity at the age of 45. to play some games for Wembley in London in 2012.
José Luis Chilavert
Considered one of the best goalkeepers in the history of South American football, the Paraguayan also returned in 2004. After hanging up his gloves in 2003, Chilavert made the determination to take a shortcut again to play the Copa Libertadores with Vélez Sarsfield. Although his return was brief, it allowed him to say goodbye to the competition in which he had achieved great achievements.
Pele
One of the eminences of world football announced his retirement in 1974. However, It only took one year for “O Rei” to put on his boots again. The return to the fields took place in New York Cosmosin the NASL. This determination was reportedly motivated by financial problems. In 1977, Pelé left professional football permanently..
Landon Donovan
Although Landon Donovan retired in 2015his love for the ball led him to return to the fields in 2016 to play with the LA Galaxy. In 2018, he surprised the world by signing with Mexico’s Club León, but his time at the club was brief. However, the American’s return did not end there, as He returned to play in 2019, with the SD Sockers, a futsal team.
Paul Scholes
The Manchester United legend he left football in 2011but In 2012 he gave a surprise when he returned to play the second part of the season. Sir Alex Ferguson convinced the midfielder to return to action, an event that contributed to the team’s success in the Premier League. At the end of that season, the Englishman retired again, ending his illustrious career.
Diego Armando Maradona
Diego Maradona, considered by many to be the best player in history, went through various extra-sports situations that led him to stay off the field for a long time. In 1996, “Pelusa” hung up his bootsbut In 1997 he returned to play with Boca Juniors. However, he said goodbye to the courts as a player for six months.
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Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco He ended his professional career in 2015after a year in Puebla. But in 2016, the “Temo” He returned to the fields to play one last game with América. At 43 years old, the talented Mexican soccer player played 37 minutes in his team’s victory and said goodbye definitively with a standing ovation.
Source: Ambito
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