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The dawn of a new decade comes with the realisation that while a series of young players are beginning to carve out a name for themselves in world football, the legends who influenced them are nearing the end of their playing careers.
The previous year had witnessed the likes of Petr Cech, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o, Robin van Persie, and Fernando Torres hang up their boots and they have since moved into different roles within football and beyond.
2020 is likely to bring its own set of career ends with a host of influential names expected to bid farewell to the beautiful game. In this article, we take a look at five players who may be contemplating retirement in the new year:
Also Read: Top 5 most expensive signings from the 2020 January transfer window
#1 Andres Iniesta
Age: 35 years
Clubs: Barcelona, Vissel Kobe
Country: Spain
Andres Iniesta forms the vanguard of an exceptional generation of La Masia graduates who commanded a creative revolution in modern football. Often considered the most complete midfielder in the game, the 35-year-old is a master at manoeuvring space - an ability that becomes more lethal when coupled with his quick-thinking and his astute cognisance on the pitch.
'Don Andres', as he came to be known, spent 22 years at Barcelona and was a vital cog of the Cruyff-esque set-up that won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015. With 35 trophies to his name, including nine La Ligas and four UEFA Champions League titles, the diminutive midfielder is also the most decorated Spanish football player of all time.
The Fuentealbilla native is also part of a rare standard of players who are as influential for their countries as they are for their clubs. Making his international debut in 2006, the playmaker replicated his brilliance for his country and helped the national team to the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA Euros. He also famously scored in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final that gave Espana their first-ever win in the competition and the goal is now immortalised with a statue in his home town.
He announced his retirement from international football shortly after Spain's horrendous Round of 16 penalty defeat to Russia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Iniesta currently plies his trade for Tokyo-based outfit Vissel Kobe and won his first major trophy in Japan with a 2–0 victory over Kashima Antlers in the 2019 Emperor's Cup final on New Years' Day. Many believe the Barcelona legend was building the road to retirement when he moved to the J-League club and the man himself has admitted that he hopes to retire at the club.
"Will I retire here? I hope so. I’ve got two years left on my contract and I don’t know if I will have the strength to continue (beyond that). We’ll see. I like the league that I’m in, I still feel like a footballer and I want to improve. Let’s hope (I’m in Japan) for many years, but there will be a day that it will have to come to an end."
#2 Gianluigi Buffon
Age: 42 years
Club: Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain
Country: Italy
Largely considered a pivotal figure in the golden age of Italian goalkeeping, Gianluigi Buffon has played at the highest level of football for 25 years and has earned plaudits for both his domestic and international performances between the sticks.
The former Italy international is often considered the heir to Dino Zoff - an inheritance that cannot be transferred easily - and rightfully acquired equal status through his dominant presence at goal and his exceptional reflexes, coupled with admirable leadership qualities.
The Carrara-born stopper began his professional career with Parma in 1995 and helped them win the Coppa Italia, the UEFA Cup, and the Supercoppa Italiana four years later. The youngster earned a reputation as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Italy and was soon bought by Juventus for a then-record fee of €52 million in 2001.
The 42-year-old enjoyed 17 seasons of unprecedented success with the Turin giants before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 in the hopes of winning the only major trophy to have eluded him: the UEFA Champions League. He won the Ligue 1 title with PSG before making his return to the Old Lady just a season later. Upon his arrival, he famously turned down the number 1 shirt offered by Wojciech Szczesny as he insisted that he did not come back to colonise any player's position in the squad.
The 2006 World cup winner won a record nine Serie A crowns, four Coppa Italia trophies, and five Supercoppa Italiana titles with the Bianconeri and was named Serie A's Goalkeeper of the Year a record 12 times.
Buffon's return to Juventus not only marked a homecoming for the veteran, who stuck with the club when they were relegated in 2006 after the Calciopoli scandal, but it also served as a bittersweet reminder that his playing career might soon come to an end.
#3 Wayne Rooney
Age: 34 years
Clubs: Everton, Manchester United, DC United, Derby County
Country: England
In January, Wayne Rooney made his return to the country where it all started for him in a move that has largely been considered a retirement-driven decision. After a short stint playing for Major League Soccer outfit DC United in the US, the Manchester United legend made his way back to England where he currently captains Derby County in the Championship.
The 34-year-old was a part of Everton's youth set-up and made his professional debut for the club in 2002. The forward famously announced himself to the football world when he scored a last-minute winner to end Arsenal's 30-game unbeaten run and become the Premier League's youngest goalscorer five days before his 17th birthday.
It wasn't long before Rooney moved on to greater things as he signed for Manchester United for a then-record fee of £25.6 million in the summer of 2004. The Liverpool-born star earned legendary status at Old Trafford as he lifted 16 trophies during his 13-year stint at the club and became the only English player, alongside Michael Carrick, to win the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, League Cup, UEFA Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup. He also boasts of being the Red Devils' all-time top scorer with 253 goals to his name.
The Englishman departed Manchester United in 2017 to return to his boyhood club Everton and spent a season on Merseyside before moving to DC United. He ended his time in the MLS with 23 goals and 15 assists in 48 regular-season appearances before returning to his homeland.
Internationally, Rooney is England's all-time top scorer and their second-most capped player with 53 goals in 120 international caps. He has featured in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 FIFA World Cups and the 2004 edition of the UEFA Euros.
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#4 Dani Alves
Age: 34 years
Clubs: Esporte Clube Bahia, Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG, Sao Paolo FC
Country: Brazil
Dani Alves remains one of the most successful and strongest right-sided defenders in the history of modern football and will be known for his influence in the golden Barcelona team that dominated Spain and Europe years ago.
The Brazilian boasts of impressive technical ability, physical strength, and pace which helped him develop an uncanny connection with Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta. The full-back also registered 20 goals and 74 assists in 293 appearances for the club and repaid his €40 million transfer fee with well-balanced performances on both ends of the pitch.
Alves made his professional debut for Esporte Clube Bahia in 2001 before moving to Sevilla, where he won two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey during a six-year spell. It wasn't long before Barcelona came knocking and made him one of the most expensive defenders of all time. He lifted 26 trophies with the Blaugrana, including six La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies and four Copa del Reys and was an integral member of the team that won the treble in the 2008-2009 and 2015-16 seasons.
The 36-year-old joined Juventus on a free transfer in 2016 and won the Serie A and Coppa Italia in his only season with the Turin giants. He moved to Paris Saint-Germain the following year and won the domestic treble in his first season followed by another Ligue 1 title in the following campaign. The right-back returned to Brazil last year and currently plies his trade for Sao Paolo FC.
Internationally, the Barcelona legend won the 2009 and 2013 editions of the FIFA Confederations Cup as well as the 2007 and 2019 editions of the Copa America. Brazil's victory in the South American tournament last year saw him become the most decorated player in football history with a staggering 40 trophies.
Alves' return to Brazil spells out his possible retirement from a glittering and trophy-laden career that is envied by even the biggest football superstars in the world.
#5 Franck Ribery
Age: 36 years
Clubs: Boulogne, Lille, Olympique Alès, Brest, Metz, Galatasaray, Marseille, FC Bayern München, Fiorentina
Country: France
Franck Ribery has come a long way since his days as a youth player for local hometown club Conti Boulogne in 1989 and has cemented his place as one of the greatest traditional wingers in the history of football.
The 36-year-old was known as an assist machine in his prime and possesses excellent dribbling skills, pace, and energy on the ball. He formed a brilliant partnership with Arjen Robben at Bayern Munich and the lethal duo were affectionately nicknamed 'Robbery'.
The Frenchman had plied his trade for the likes of Boulogne, Olympique Ales, Brest, Metz, Galatasaray, and Marseille before making his career-changing move to Munich in 2007. The winger became an integral member of the Bavarian set-up at the Allianz Arena and helped them to a series of titles including a record nine Bundesliga trophies, six DFB-Pokal, a Champions League title and one FIFA Club World Cup.
His exploits for the club's 2012–13 treble-winning season under Jupp Heynckes even saw him nominated alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the three-man shortlist for the coveted Ballon d'Or award.
Internationally, Ribery never won a trophy with France and announced his departure from the national team in 2014. He made 81 appearances for Les Bleus since his debut in 2006 and was a part of the 2006 World Cup team that finished as runners-up to Italy.
The Bayern Munich legend currently plays for Serie A outfit Fiorentina and it remains to be seen if he will end his successful career at the club this year.
