Top 5 legends who could retire in 2018 

#4 Andrea Barzagli

One of the best defenders of his generation

At 36, it is only a matter of time before the Italian gives up on football as a player. The Juventus defender has served the game for a lot of years and might consider a graceful exit from the game while still playing for the club he loves.

Last season, he confessed that he won’t retire just yet because he likes playing the game. However, a year is a long time in football and opinions could change within that time frame. It should also be noted that the centre-back has already retired from international duty.

The legendary defender has won 7 league titles in club football and has also lifted the World Cup in 2006. He is someone who is regularly regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation and also a great mentor, someone who actually played a significant role in transforming Leonardo Bonucci from an error-prone defender to the world class player that he is today.

A coaching role surely beckons, then.