5 footballers who fans wish had retired later rather than sooner

#3 Hidetoshi Nakata

Hidetoshi Nakata (right) played for Bolton Wanderers in his final days

The popularity of European football is unparalleled across the globe due to factors like money, viewership, quality and talent on display. So naturally when a young aspiring Asian footballer names a European star as his inspiration there are no surprises.

However, Hidetoshi Nakata deserves a lot of admiration for achieving a dream, many only ever dream of. He deservedly became an idol for many in Asia. The attacking midfielder was by no means as prolific as any other name on the sheet. But he took to European football's intensity as a duck takes to the water.

Nakata was a centerpiece in Japan's revolutionary qualification to the 1998 World Cup as he scored five goals in the qualifiers. At just 20, he carried the country's hopes and answered prayers by rising to the occasion. He provided all three assists in the 3-2 playoff victory against Iran.

Regarded as the best Asian player in late 1990s and early 2000s, he won the Serie A title with Roma in 2001. The following season, Nakata won the Coppa Italia with Parma. He was contracted to Fiorentina in 2006, but with a year remaining on his contract, chose to hang his boots.

The Japan international was left unhappy with the increasing importance of money found in football. He believed the sport was losing its core value. He fell out of love with the sport due to the same and retired aged 29.

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#2 Brian Laudrup

Brian Laudrup of Rangers

If there were footballers who the fans could gift an injury-free career to, Brian Laudrup would make the list of the vast majority. The Dane was an accomplished player as he finished his career with league titles from Italy, Denmark and Scotland.

Best known for his immense contributions to the 1992 Euro and 1995 Confederations Cup-winning Denmark side, Laudrup retired at 31. Injuries ruined his progress and made it impossible for him to carry any momentum. The brilliance of the younger Laudrup was thwarted.

He had high standards when he was fit and as his career progressed he enhanced his quality as a professional. He won four Danish Player of the Year accolades in 1989, 1992, 1995 and 1997. They were proof that he had the pedigree to extrapolate his career beyond the age when many started to crumble.

In his last season while representing Ajax, Laudrup scored 13 times and provided a further nine assists.

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#1 Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona of Manchester United (right) goes for the ball With Robbie Earle of Wimbledon

There was every chance of Eric Cantona adding to his four Premier League titles and two FA Cups but he chose to hang his boots in 1997. A decision that shocked many given that the Frenchman was in fine form and wasn't showing any signs of slacking.

In his own candid and unfiltered manner, Cantona revealed that he retired because he had lost the passion he once had. It was after the 1-0 consecutive semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League that he revealed to Sir Alex Ferguson about his decision.

He captained Manchester United in his final season, which ended in an English top-flight triumph in 1997. Cantona was an admirer and connoiseur of art. He loved spending his time in art galleries, something that added to his popularity as an influencer in England.

In his final campaign as a professional footballer, the France international played 50 games, scoring 15 and registering 16 assists.