Football Legends: The Painful Farewells That Tarnish Greatness
In life, every story concludes. In the world of football, the same holds true. Fans never forget those who brought them joy, those who celebrated in front of them at the moment their club or national team made history. Yet, do stars always receive the farewell they deserve?
Unceremonious Exits: A Recurring Theme
Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, departed Real Madrid with little fanfare, lacking a tribute match or a proper send-off befitting his contributions. Similarly, his exit from Manchester United was marked by controversy, a player sitting on the bench, then openly criticizing the coach in an interview. This paved the way for a move outside of Europe. Lionel Messi, after breaking records with Barcelona, also left through the back door. The farewell was filled with tears, but it placed the club’s management in a negative light for failing to retain a star who had given everything to his home club, without receiving a ceremonial farewell at the Camp Nou.
More Examples of Unfortunate Goodbyes
Del Piero, who once played in the second division with Juventus, faced a similar fate. Despite leading the club back to prominence, he wasn’t offered a new contract by the management. Philipp Lahm retired at Bayern Munich but hasn’t returned since his playing days ended. Bastian Schweinsteiger, after facing doubts about his relationship with Guardiola, went to Manchester United and experienced his worst days when Mourinho kept him in the reserve team. Kevin De Bruyne was released from Manchester City after Guardiola and the club’s management decided not to offer him a new contract.
The Contractual Reality and Its Impact
While some examples shine, such as Zanetti and Maldini, who stayed in their clubs as administrators after retirement, Napoli took a more distinguished step to preserve Maradona’s legacy by renaming their stadium in honor of the Argentinian legend. The relationship between a player and their club is often seen as a contractual one, where the player receives money for the services provided. However, the future of many stars has shown that the impact of their careers has been an obstacle to their future endeavors.
The Physical Toll: Health Risks and Long-Term Consequences
Alan Shearer, for instance, spoke about the problems and pains his head endured. Cruyff suffered from lung cancer, with his smoking during his football career cited as a major cause. Gerd Muller died after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, with some attributing it to his frequent use of his head while playing. The money players receive isn’t just compensation for their services, but also for their health, which is at risk. How many stars have never had at least one surgery on their foot during their career? All these leave marks that are hard to erase in the future.
The Farewell: A Time for Reflection
In the end, the moment of farewell arrives. Beautiful memories that players leave throughout their careers remain. Some fear this moment, like Ronaldo, who doesn’t want to stop. Carlo Ancelotti seems more convinced, as the Italian coach once said: “I am still young to coach national teams and sit in my house for three months without leading the team on the field,” as the same man chose to coach the Brazilian national team, as if he was saying to himself: “Yes, now I am old enough to choose to stop playing every three days.”
We will all leave our jobs one day. Life tells us this every day. But the most beautiful among us are those who leave their place feeling that they are exiting the field amid applause from those they worked with for a long time, leaving a good memory before the hour of departure. And so are the players, nothing replaces a beautiful memory that is immortalized at the end of their journey.
Source: Annahar
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