• Sports News
  • Football
  • 5 famous players who came out of international retirement
Zinedine Zidane came out of retirement to lead France to the 2006 World Cup final

5 famous players who came out of international retirement

Ad

Representing one’s country is a matter of pride for anyone. Some players have managed to play until the late thirties by keeping up immense fitness levels, while others end their careers early succumbing to illness or injuries.

Ad

Retirement is unfortunately something that every player has to face, irrespective of the love for the game. But there has been instances of players ending their careers prematurely and then surprise everyone by deciding to revert their way back to playing the beautiful game at the highest level. It may not always be a wise decision, as for some players, it was a short-lived mistake.

Ad

Let us take a look at how players coming out of international retirement have fared in the past.

Ad

#1 Zinedine Zidane

Ad

Zinedine Zidane played a key role in the successful reign of France at both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Zidane won the 1998 World Cup, scoring twice in the final and UEFA Euro 2000, where he was named the Player of the Tournament. He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year three times, in 1998, 2000 and 2003.

Ad

After France’s elimination from Euro 2004, Zidane announced his retirement from international football. With France in a state of almost missing out on qualification for the 2006 World Cup, the then manager Raymond Domenech persuaded Zidane to come out of retirement and reinstated him as the captain.

Ad

It was a dream return for the current Real Madrid manager as France made it to the Finals of the 2006 World Cup and he was awarded the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.

Ad

#2 Henrik Larsson

Larsson celebrating after scoring a late equaliser against England at the 2006 World Cup
Ad

Sweden striker Henrik Larsson was well known for his goal scoring prowess and on-field intelligence. Larsson represented Sweden in three World Cups and three European Championships. During this course, he pulled out of international retirement not once but twice.

After guiding Sweden to the knockout stages of the 2002 World Cup, the powerful striker chose to retire from international football. However, the chance of representing Sweden at Euro 2004 lured him and he came out of retirement to represent his country. There, he scored three goals in the group stages ensuring Sweden’s qualification to the knockout stages. They were eventually eliminated by Holland on penalties in the quarter-finals.

He was also part of the 2006 World Cup where he scored in the dying minutes in a group stage draw against England and helped Sweden qualify for the knockout stage. Following his stint at the World Cup, he retired from international football for the second time.

Ad

He made another return at Euro 2008- but this time he wasn’t as successful, starting all three group matches as Sweden failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

#3 Jamie Carragher

Carragher was never the first option for but was at their service when needed
Ad

The one-club man won many honours with Liverpool- two FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup and two Super Cups. Through all the successes at the club, he played a key role at the heart of the defence. However, he was never the first-choice centre-back for the national team.

Carragher decided to retire from international football, stating his unwillingness to feature as a squad player and a lack of opportunities at centre back, the position at which he plays for Liverpool.

He made his return to international football to help an injury-hit England ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Carragher appeared in both of England’s opening games, receiving a booking in each that kept him out of the third game of the group stages. He failed to make it to the playing XI in the knockout stage exit to Germany. Carragher’s England career was then over for good.

Ad

#4 Claude Makelele

Raymond Domenech built the French team around Makelele
Ad

Having not been a part of France’s 1998 World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 successes, Makelele made his tournament debut at the 2002 World Cup. At UEFA Euro 2004, Makelele was a first choice player in midfield, being offered a starter role in three of France’s four matches.

The defensive midfielder decided to retire from international football in 2004, in an attempt to focus on club football with Chelsea. But he was hauled out of retirement alongside Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram to help a France team struggling in the qualifying stages of 2006 World Cup.

Makelele’s tireless performances in the midfield alongside Patrick Viera proved effective as the 2006 World Cup finalists conceded only three goals in seven games. Despite his will to retire, he was again called up for the Euro qualification games by the then manager Raymond Domenech.

Makelele went on to play the UEFA Euro 2008, where France faced a surprise exit in the group stages itself. He took his final call on retirement following the elimination from the competition.

Ad

#5 Lilian Thuram

France was led by Lilian Thuram at Euro 2008
Ad

The tall defender is the most capped player in the history of France national team. Thuram is known for his heroics in the 1998 World Cup semi-final against Croatia. He scored two goals that helped France come back to win 2-1 and hence advance to the final. He was awarded with the Bronze Ball, an honour for the third most valuable player in the tournament.

Following a disappointing Euro 2004 campaign, Thuram retired from international football in 2004, before being called up by Raymond Domenech in 2005.

In the 2006 World Cup, he led the formidable French defence alongside William Gallas. He was named the Man of the Match in France’s semi-final victory over Portugal, the same honour he had received at the semi-finals of 1998 World Cup.

He was named as the caption of the national team for Euro 2008. However, it was a tournament to forget for the stalwart defender as his team failed to qualify for the knockout stages. He announced his retirement alongside Claude Makelele after Euro 2008.

Ad
Edited by
Staff Editor
 
See more
More from Sportskeeda