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Retirement is tough. Retirement from football is even heartbreaking. Bidding adieu to a sport that gives you something worth living for is a sight enough for a grown man to cry.
Over time, we have had to witness our idols put an end to their long journeys. While we hope for them to play forever, we had to digest the fact that there is an end to a beginning. Many of our beloved heroes, because of whom we fell in love with this game, have brought about an end to their careers..
Unless and otherwise injuries play a role, players usually think of retirement after crossing the 30-year mark. And with increasing age, their market value decreases.
However, many footballers ended their careers with a high value. We will be viewing five of the most valuable forwards at the time of their retirement:
#5 Steve Savidan - €6 million
The French forward has played for seven clubs during his career as a player. Mostly playing for second and third division sides, Savidan made his professional debut for the Ligue 1 side, Angers.
His form attracted another club, however, he struggled for goals at Chateauroux. Jumping from one club to another every other season, the player failed to score goals the way a forward was supposed to do. However, he was a late bloomer as he finally found his form five years later.
Playing for third division side Valenciennes, Savidan's goalscoring run helped the club reach the top division in just two seasons. His success at Valenciennes saw him move to Caen.
He was preparing for a move to AS Monaco a year later, but a heart defect was detected during the medicals, which forced him to retire at the age of 31. He was valued €6 million at the time of his retirement in 2009.
#4 Yura Movsisyan - €6 million
The Armenian forward is a famous name in Major League Soccer, but his most eminent spell came during his time with Spartak Moscow. He started his professional campaign in America after moving there from Armenia at a very young age.
Marking his debut for the Kansas City Wizards, Movsisyan also played for Real Salt Lake in the MLS. He then moved to Europe when he signed for Danish club Randers in 2010.
A year later, Movsisyan joined Krasnodar midway through the season and produced a display that earned him the club's Most Valuable Player award.
Following that spell was the period with Spartak Moscow, where he spent four seasons. The forward then marked his return to MLS by signing for his former club, Real Salt Lake.
His last spell was with Chicago Fire, after which he was a free agent for a while. In 2021, he announced his retirement from professional football at 33 when he was valued at €6 million.
#3 Robert Acquafresca - €6.50 million
Robert Acquafresca is an Italian professional footballer who could never fulfill his dream of wearing an Inter Milan shirt. A part of Torino's academy, Acquafresca was signed by Inter Milan after he became a free agent.
The majority of his career was spent on loan. He played for Treviso and Cagliari during his time with Inter Milan. Without a single appearance for the Nerazzurri, he became part of Genoa after four years.
Unfortunately, the loan fever followed here as well, as he was a part of the Atalanta and Cagliari team during this period on temporary stints.
A move to Bologna in 2011 saw him stick at a club for the most period, although his outings were limited. He accumulated a total of 288 appearances after his last spell with Sion. Acquafresca was valued at €6.50 million at the time he announced his retirement in 2020.
#2 Dean Ashton - €8.5 million
Dean Ashton was the best striker England could never have. He was a special talent and a complete forward at a very young age. Ashton would dance through the defenders with his tidy footwork before terrifying the goalkeeper. However, his career ended before it could take flight.
He was part of Crewe Alexandra's renowned youth academy trained by manager Draio Gradi. After five years with the club's senior team, Ashton signed for Norwich City in 2004. He wrecked havoc in his limited time there and was later subject to a move after the club were relegated.
In January 2006, he signed for West Ham United and also earned a national call. However, during the international duty, he suffered a broken ankle which forced him to miss the 2006-07 season. He was doubtful about his return, but he regained fitness and appeared 35 times for the Hammers the following season.
The 38-year-old forward started the 2008-09 season in blistering form, but soon became the victim of another injury scare. However, this time there was no return.
After missing the remainder of the season and the first half of next season, West Ham confirmed that Dean Ashton had retired aged 26. When he called curtains on his career due to the ankle injury, Ashton was valued at €8.5 million.
#1 Andre Schurrle - €20 million
Andre Schurrle's retirement was a lesson for everyone in the world implying that nothing is more important than individual happiness and a sound mental health. Despite having had a commendable career, Schurrle announced his departure from football at the age of 29.
Beginning his journey at Mainz, the left-winger was a successful part of Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund. He was a further part of two loan spells with Fulham and Spartak Moscow, after which he announced his retirement.
He was also the player who assisted Mario Gotze for the World Cup winning goal for Germany in 2014. Speaking about his early retirement, Schurrle said that he was tired of the loneliness and endless competition in top-flight football.
Despite closing his football chapter in 2020, he will always be remembered as a winner and an inspiration to all. Astonishingly, Schurrle was still valued at €20 million at the time of retirement.
