6 Footballers who retired early to pursue other interests

Modified Feb 24, 2019 01:15 GMT

Football is the most famous sport on this planet. Anyone who gets a chance to play it on an international level is considered fortunate. It brings money, fame, and adulation on a massive scale.

There have been numerous football players who have played for their country and clubs for several years. However, there have been a few players who did not pursue their international football career due to certain reasons.

We look six such players who retired early to pursue other interests.

#6 Hidetoshi Nakata

Hidetoshi Nakata was a Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder for Bolton Wanderers before he retired in 2006. He was a superb player with excellent dribbling and passing skills. Pele included him in 'FIFA 100' list of the top living footballers in 2004. They consider him to be the greatest Japanese player of all time.

Nakata announced his retirement in 2006 after the final match of Japan against Croatia in the World Cup. “I decided half a year ago that I would retire from the world of professional football,” Nakata wrote in his farewell letter. He started working as a model and an ambassador for various social causes. He now runs a sake company.

#5 David Bentley

David Bentley - Stevenage v Tottenham Hotspur

David Bentley was an English player who played as a winger for Arsenal and other English clubs. He was fast and accurate with his right foot which made him a decent striker of the ball. At 29, he retired from the game citing loss of passion for the game. He felt the game had become robotic and calculated.

Bentley moved to Spain with his family where he opened a restaurant. He has investments in beach resorts and restaurants in London and other places.

#4 Mario de Castro

Mario de Castro was a Brazilian football player who played as a forward for Atletico Mineiro. He was a fantastic player who scored 195 goals in 100 matches. This is not even matched by the great Pele. He was stubborn and once turned down a chance to represent Brazil at the 1930 World Cup.

While playing a game against Villa Nova, one of the club directors shot the Villa Nova fan after Atletico Miniero won the game. Castro retired from football in protest and started practicing medicine until he died in 1998 at the age of 92.

#3 Peter Knowles

Peter Knowles was an English football player who played as a forward in Wolverhampton Wanderers. Billy Brag called him "God’s footballer" for being deeply religious. While playing for a promotional league in Kansas, America, he became a Jehovah's Witness.

He said, "I shall continue playing football for the time being but I have lost my ambition. Though I still do my best on the field I need more time to learn about the Bible and may give up football." He later worked as a window cleaner, a milkman, and at odd jobs in Marks & Spencer.

#2 Espen Baardsen

Espen Baardsen was an American goalkeeper who also played for Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and other clubs. Having dual nationality, he switched sides to Norway and played 1998 World Cup with them. Soon, he got tired of the constant traveling and playing. Also, the money offered to him was also not that great.

Baardsen retired in 2000 to pursue his interest in traveling. He also studied at the Open University. Currently, he is the fund manager and partner of an asset management company in London. He is a regular guest at the business news channel CNBC.

#1 Carlos Roa

Carlos Roa was a goalkeeper from Argentina who played for Olimpo, Albacete, and other clubs. He played a crucial role in England's exit from the 1998 World Cup when David Batty's penalty was saved by him. During his playing days, he was a practicing Seventh-day Adventist. Roa prophesied the year 2000 will be difficult and will bring hunger, plague, and war in the world.

Nothing of that sort happened. He rejoined the club 'Mallorca' on the condition he won't play on Saturdays. That didn't work out, so he left Mallorca, and after playing for a few other teams. He currently is part of the Chivas coaching team where he has helped bring four major trophies to the club.

Edited by Nnanna Mba