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Athletes are never immune to injuries and the threat is higher when one plays in a contact sport like football
In recent times, the advancement in physiotherapy and general medicine have made recovery easier for footballers who pick up injuries.
Many players have had their footballing careers cut short due to Injuries in the last 20 years. However, quite a few were lucky to recover from the various career threatening tackles, while others have attained their best form since their injuries.
We have compiled 5 players in their 20’s who have had their professional careers cut short due to injuries.
#5 Ryan Mason
The Hull City player retired in February 2018 due to the severe head collision he had with Chelsea captain, Gary Cahill during their game at Stamford Bridge in January 2017.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who spent a week after in hospital after surgery on his fractured skull, said he was lucky to be alive after the collision.
Quite a few football fans around the world paid tribute to the former Spurs player after he announced his intention to retire from football.
A Tottenham youth graduate, Mason made his debut in 2008 but struggled to get regular game time at the club which is why he was loaned out to quite a few clubs.
He returned to Spurs in 2014 and had a good season with Mauricio Pocchetino's side in 2015 till he picked up an injury that ruled him out for several weeks.
Upon his return, he found it hard to break into the first team on a regular basis and left for Hull City in 2016.
#2 Dean Aston
The former English player retired at 26 after struggling with chronic ankle injuries.
The former West Ham man was poised to become one of England’s great forwards before the career-threatening tackle by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Ashton scored 19 goals in 53 appearances for West Ham having risen to limelight with his successful time at Norwich City.
The Swindon born English forward is a product of the Crewe Alexandra Youth Team, rising from the ranks to become Crewe's second all-time highest goal scorer with 74 goals in 2005.
Ashton became Norwich City's record signing in 2005, after moving from Crewe Alexandra for a fee of £3 million.
#3 David Busst
In a bid to compete for the ball inside Manchester United 18-yard box, Busst collided with Denis Irwin and Brian McClair. The resulting impact was gruesome as he had extensive compound fractures on the tibia and fibula of his right leg.
The former Coventry City defender retired from Professional football at the age of 28 after the game against Manchester United in 1996. At 25, the English defender rose to limelight when he moved from a non-league side in Moor Green to the FA Premier League.
He played 50 games for Coventry before his collision. And he was one of Coventry's top defenders.
After his retirement, Busst rose from a backroom staff position to become a director of Coventry's football community programme and has managed several other clubs since then.
#4 Ben Collett
Ben Collett is the youngest professional player to have retired due to injury. Retiring at the age of 18, Collett suffered a double leg fracture following a rough tackle by Gary Smith against Middlesbrough in 2003.
The former Manchester United player, often touted as the next “Ryan Giggs”, had his career cut short by the double leg break at the age of 18.
In 2008, Collett was awarded £4.5 million compensation after he took legal proceeding against Gary Smith and Middlesbrough.
A case that led former United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson and club captain, Gary Neville to testify in Court about the player's ability and the potential to have risen to stardom if he had not been injured in their game against Middlesbrough.
#5 Fabrice Muamba
Fabrice Muamba retired immediately after his cardiac arrest during Bolton Wanderers' game against Tottenham in FA Cup quarter-final tie in 2012.
Muamba retired in August 2012 after medical advice on his health condition. Muamba, who was 23 when he retired, was reported to have a rare heart condition that had made his heart stopped for 78 minutes before doctors were able to revive him.
Prior to his injury in 2012, the 6'2" midfielder was a key player at the heart of Bolton Wanderers' midfield.
Having commanded a first-team spot at the age of 20, Muamba was on his way to feature for the English senior national team after appearing in all England's youth sides.
He was named Bolton's player of the season in the 2009-2010 season. A stunning performance that led another four years contract renewal at the Reebok Stadium, allaying the club's fear of an imminent move away from Bolton.
The Zaire-born midfielder is a product of the Arsenal Youth Academy. He had two fantastic seasons at Birmingham City before moving to the Reebok stadium in 2008.
