Stars who could not stop: Barça's Szczesny the newest participant to come back out of retirement

Simply when he thought he was out, they pulled him again in. Wojciech Szczęsny grew to become the newest footballer who simply could not stop the sport this week when the goalkeeper reversed his decision to retire with a purpose to signal for Barcelona as a free agent.

Regardless of having one yr left on his contract with Juventus, the 34-year-old known as time on his profession in August after representing Poland at Euro 2024.

The previous Arsenal shot-stopper acknowledged that, after 18 years as knowledgeable throughout which period he received 11 trophies together with three Serie A titles, he now not felt the identical ardour for the sport as he as soon as did.

Nevertheless, it solely took a few months for Szczęsny to be tempted again into the fray when Barça got here calling with a proposal of a short-term contract as cowl for Marc-André ter Stegen, who suffered a season-ending knee damage in opposition to Villarreal final month.

Iñaki Peña is anticipated to proceed as Ter Stegen’s alternative, in the interim no less than, however Szczęsny will likely be on name to supply skilled backup for the rest of the marketing campaign having agreed a deal that may run till the top of June 2025.

And so, simply 5 weeks after saying his retirement, Szczęsny is again on the books of one of many largest membership sides on the planet and thus turns into the newest high-profile veteran to have bowed out gracefully solely to subsequently discover that they weren’t fairly completed with soccer.

Editor’s observe: This text has been up to date because it was first revealed in Might 2020

Pelé

The one participant to win three World Cups, Pelé cast a prolonged profession that started at Santos on the age of 15 and ran — no less than initially — till 1974, when the Brazil icon made the emotional choice to bow out after 19 prolific seasons along with his boyhood membership.

Nevertheless, a profitable provide from the New York Cosmos satisfied Pele to maintain on taking part in and the veteran striker eked out one other three years within the NASL earlier than retiring once more in 1977.

Diego Maradona

One other participant with a professional declare to be the best of all time, Maradona additionally staged a dramatic comeback to the sport after initially retiring in 1996 whereas at Boca Juniors after lacking 5 penalty kicks in a row.

His lay-off lasted a matter of months earlier than he agreed to return to play for Boca in 1997. The reunion lasted simply six months till Maradona noticed match to say his goodbyes yet again, retiring from skilled soccer for good this time.

Johan Cruyff

The Dutch maestro initially stop soccer in 1978 after leaving Barcelona however was quickly compelled again to work the next yr after dropping a small fortune in an funding rip-off.

Cruyff joined NASL aspect Los Angeles Aztecs on a profitable contract to recoup a few of the hundreds of thousands he’d misplaced in a Spanish pig-farming con. Sure, you learn that accurately.

He then remained within the U.S. for a spell with the Washington Diplomats earlier than returning to Spain with Levante after which headed house to the Netherlands, firstly with former membership Ajax after which Feyenoord.

Landon Donovan

MLS Corridor of Famer Donovan introduced his profession to a detailed in 2014 on the age of 32 after, by his personal admission, “dropping his ardour” for soccer.

Fortunately, the fireplace was reignited two years later when Donovan returned to LA Galaxy to assist cowl an damage hex that had seen three gamers go off in the identical recreation.

The previous U.S. worldwide performed in six league video games and three playoff fixtures, scoring as soon as, however could not assist propel Galaxy to the championship.

He then retired (once more) on the finish of the season solely to come back again (once more) and signal for Liga MX outfit León, however his contract was terminated 5 months later.

Paul Scholes

Scholes first retired on the finish of the 2010-11 season, bringing a detailed to just about 20 years of loyal and extremely profitable service at Manchester United and shifting straight on to the teaching employees.

Nevertheless, simply six months later, an damage blitz noticed Sir Alex Ferguson compelled to persuade Scholes to return to the fray in January — which he did, and moderately efficiently at that, as United went on to win the Premier League title.

Certainly, what was alleged to be a short-term repair quickly led to a one-year contract extension that finally noticed Scholes make one other 33 appearances and rating one other 5 objectives for United earlier than retiring for a second time in Might 2013, having helped United declare one ultimate title earlier than Ferguson retired.

✅ Accomplished! And now again to work. 💪⚽️ @fcgroningen pic.twitter.com/HdedmvDRQn

— Arjen Robben (@ArjenRobben) June 28, 2020

Arjen Robben

Robben initially retired from the skilled recreation in the summertime of 2019 when his contract at Bayern Munich expired, hanging up his boots and scampering off into the sundown for a lifetime of post-football leisure.

Nevertheless, true to type, the winger shortly reduce inside on his retirement plans after being tempted into one final season along with his boyhood membership, FC Groningen, on the grand outdated age of 36.

Sadly, Robben wasn’t capable of make a huge effect in his second spell with Groningen, making simply seven appearances in all competitions after succumbing to the outdated damage woes that blighted a lot of his profession. He then introduced his second retirement on the finish of the 2020-21 season.

Rivaldo

Rivaldo performed on effectively into his 40s earlier than lastly succumbing to his first “retirement” announcement.

The primary choice to stop got here in March 2014, which lasted till June 2015, when the 43-year-old Brazilian dusted off his boots with a purpose to signal for Brazilian Serie B membership Mogi Mirim — the place he performed alongside his 20-year-old son. Extremely, the pair even scored in the same match.

Rivaldo, 43, and his son Rivaldinho scored in the identical match for Mogi Mirim final evening!

Like father like son… pic.twitter.com/zpYj5GUP0M

— Squawka Soccer (@Squawka) July 15, 2015

Romario

One of many best strikers to have ever lived, Romario’s lengthy and meandering profession spanned nearly three many years.

The Brazilian lastly stop in 2008 however his retirement got here to an abrupt finish in 2009 when he returned from the void to signal for Rio de Janeiro-based membership America FC — the group his late father had supported.

Romario failed so as to add to his mythic profession tally of 1,000 objectives within the 25 minutes he performed for America, however he’ll go down as a part of the squad that received the Carioca Championship second-division title that season.

Jens Lehmann

A former “Invincible” from the Gunners’ 2003-04 title-winning squad, Lehmann reversed his retirement to return to Arsenal for the latter levels of the 2010-11 season to assist cowl an damage disaster.

Two years on from his 199th look, Lehman performed as soon as throughout his second stint to take his tally to a pleasant spherical 200 for the Gunners.

He additionally grew to become the oldest participant to characterize the membership within the Premier League within the course of.

Jurgen Klinsmann

5 years after bringing his glittering, World Cup-winning profession to an finish, Klinsmann was tempted again by the prospect of taking part in within the fourth-tier US Premier Growth League.

The legendary German striker had moved to the US to start his teaching profession, however stored his expertise honed by frequently turning out for Orange County Blue Star, his native newbie aspect.

Zico

He might have been of the best gamers of his era, however Zico made a relative hash of his makes an attempt to go away it.

The Brazil nice tried to retire in 1989 after three injury-dashed years with Flamengo. Nevertheless, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Zico accepted a proposal to try a comeback in Japan with Kashima Antlers.

What adopted was an inspirational, transformative goal-laden second wind that lasted three extra years earlier than coming to an finish in 1994, with Zico then age 41.

Paul Gascoigne

In equity, it is troublesome to maintain monitor of all of the occasions Gascoigne has dipped out and in of retirement, however the official choice to hold up his boots got here in 2004 following a largely depressing few months at Chinese language aspect Gansu Tianma.

The prevailing years have seen Gazza make intermittent returns to soccer, first with League Two aspect Boston United (2004) as player-coach — a place that lasted mere weeks.

Then, after 12 years away, the England nice signed for Abbey FC, his native Sunday league aspect, after apparently being satisfied to take action by a taxi driver who additionally occurred to be Abbey’s supervisor.