Footballers typically transfer to second-tier leagues in the direction of the tip of their careers, with the USA, Turkey and Saudi Arabia among the many hottest locations lately.
However soccer is in fact a world sport and the next stars wound down their enjoying days in some places which are fairly a distance from the overwhelmed observe.
32. Adrian Mutu
Signed by Chelsea in 2003, Mutu by no means recovered from a constructive take a look at for cocaine and subsequent seventh-month ban the next 12 months.
After spells with Juventus, Fiorentina, Cesena, Ajaccio and Romanian membership Petrolul Ploiesti, the striker spent a number of months with Pune Metropolis in India, the place he was managed by David Platt.
31. Jlloyd Samuel
Samuel was an everyday for Aston Villa within the early 2000s and later performed for Bolton and Cardiff, earlier than sealing a shock switch to the Iran Professional League in 2011.
Thor former England U-21, who went on to play twice for Trinidad, spent three seasons with Tehran-based Esteghlal, then moved to Paykan for the ultimate 12 months of his profession.
Sadly he was killed in a automotive accident again in England in 2018 aged simply 37.
30. Arie Haan
A key a part of the legendary Netherlands groups that dazzled on the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, Haan represented Ajax, Anderlecht, Customary Liege and PSV at membership stage, earlier than transferring to Seiko in Hong Kong for his last season as an expert.
He went on to have a peripatetic teaching profession, working in Iran, China, Cameroon and Albania.
29. Nigel de Jong
De Jong moved to MLS with LA Galaxy in 2016, however he solely stayed within the USA for a number of months. The Dutchman then spent a season every with Galatasaray and Mainz, earlier than he wound down his profession in Qatar.
De Jong represented Al Ahli and Al Shahaniya, who have been relegated in his last season as an expert.
28. Carsten Jancker
The person who opened the scoring in Germany’s 5-1 loss to England in 2001, Jancker gained 4 Bundesliga titles and a Champions League with Bayern Munich.
In between spells at Kaiserslautern and Austrian membership Mattersburg, the striker made seven appearances for Shanghai Shenhua within the nascent Chinese language Tremendous League in 2006.
27. Dragan Stajkovic
One of the crucial gifted footballers of his era, Stajkovic’s profession was disrupted by frequent harm issues. After spells with Pink Star Belgrade and Marseille, the attacking midfielder joined Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1994.
Japan was not a standard vacation spot for European gamers again then (Gary Lineker being an exception) however to the shock of nearly everybody Stajkovic spent seven seasons with Nagoya.
26. Mateja Kezman
After a season every with Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, Kezman moved to Fenerbahce. His profession on the highest stage ended when he left PSG in 2010, however the striker was not able to retire simply but.
Kezman went on to haven’t one however two spells with South China in Hong Kong, in between which he represented BATE Borisov in Belarus.
25. Salomon Kalou
A Premier League and Champions League winner throughout six profitable seasons with Chelsea, Kalou went on to play for Lille, Hertha Berlin and Botafogo.
His subsequent cease? Djibouti in East Africa in fact. In 2022 the previous Ivory Coast worldwide moved to Arta/Solar7, a membership sponsored by an area solar energy agency.
24. Zico
Zico just isn’t solely a legendary determine in Brazil but additionally in Japan. That’s largely due to his time in command of the nationwide workforce between 2002 and 2006, however the former attacking midfielder additionally performed within the nation.
The Brazilian got here out of retirement in 1991 to hitch Kashima Antlers, for whom he went on to play 66 instances.
23. Xavi Hernandez
When Xavi’s lengthy and profitable time at Barcelona got here to an finish in 2015, many anticipated him to hold up his boots there after which.
As an alternative, the legendary midfielder joined Qatari workforce Al Sadd on a three-year deal, turning into essentially the most high-profile footballer to ever play within the tiny Center Jap nation.
22. Asamoah Gyan
Gyan was solely 25 years outdated and nonetheless an everyday starter within the Premier League when he selected to depart Sunderland (to a lot disappointment on Wearside) for Abu Dhabi-based Al Ain in 2011.
The Ghanaian would later strut his stuff for Shanghai SIPG in China, Shabab Al Ahli in Dubai, Kayserispor in Turkey and NorthEast United in India. Not your common profession path.
21. Nicolas Anelka
The Chinese language Tremendous League turned a preferred vacation spot for ageing European and South American stars later within the decade, however Anelka’s transfer to Shanghai Shenhua in 2012 raised eyebrows.
After a sixth and last spell within the Premier League with West Brom, the Frenchman spent the previous few months of his profession with Indian facet Mumbai Metropolis.
20. Gabriel Batistuta
One of many best strikers of his era, Batigol in fact spent the majority of his profession in Italy with Fiorentina, Roma and Inter.
He was anticipated to return to Argentina on the finish of his profession, however as an alternative launched into a sojourn to Qatar. His 24 appearances for Al-Arabi yielded 27 targets.
19. Alessandro Del Piero
After departing Juventus as their all-time prime scorer in 2012, Del Piero determined he was not prepared to hold up his boots. A productive two-year spell with Sydney FC adopted, earlier than the Italian legend penned a short-term cope with Delhi Dynamos in India.
Del Piero’s workforce missed out on the play-offs, although, and he bade farewell after simply 10 appearances.
18. Dimitar Berbatov
The previous Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham striker bade farewell to the Premier League in 2014 after seven and a half years entertaining years in England.
After spells with Monaco in France and PAOK in Greece, Berba made 9 appearances (and scored just one objective) for Kerala Blasters within the Indian Tremendous League.
17. Nicky Butt
A six-time Premier League champion with Manchester United, Butt additionally represented Newcastle and Birmingham in England’s prime tier.
Not all his silverware was gained at Outdated Trafford, although. Butt lifted the long-lasting Hong Kong League Cup in 2011 after being persuaded to come back out of retirement by South China.
16. Samuel Eto’o
After massively profitable spells with Barcelona and Inter, Eto’o signed for cash-splashing Russian facet Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011.
He later had stints with Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria and two Turkish groups, earlier than a shock swap to Qatar SC in 2019. After 23 outings there, Eto’o hung up his boots on the age of 38.
15. David James
The previous Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis and Portsmouth shot-stopper performed his final match in English soccer for Bournemouth in 2013.
Nobody might have predicted his subsequent vacation spot, as James signed a player-coach cope with IBV in Iceland. After that he moved to India, making 12 appearances for Kerala Blasters earlier than calling it a day.
14. Alex Tune
Tune performed the perfect soccer of his profession at Arsenal, though he went on to win a La Liga title with Barcelona earlier than returning to England with West Ham.
Subsequent up for the Cameroonian have been spells with Rubin Kazan (Russia) and Sion (Switzerland), earlier than a perplexing transfer to Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti, which geography followers will let you know is in East Africa.
13. Michael Laudrup
One in all solely a handful of gamers to maneuver immediately between Barcelona and Actual Madrid, Laudrup left the Bernabeu in 1996 and ended up signing a cope with Vissel Kobe in Japan.
What made the deal much more outstanding was that Vissel have been a second-tier workforce. Laudrup helped them to promotion earlier than departing the next summer season.
12. Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos performed for seven golf equipment in complete, however he’ll all the time be most related to Actual Madrid. The legendary left-back performed 527 instances for the Blancos, profitable 4 La Ligas and three Champions Leagues.
The final two sides he turned out for although, have been Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia (however solely after being linked with Notts County) and Delhi Dynamos in India.
11. Emmanuel Adebayor
The previous Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Tottenham striker continued enjoying for longer than you suppose. After late-career spells with two Turkish groups, Adebayor headed to the unlikely vacation spot of Paraguay for his subsequent contract.
Nevertheless, the coronavirus pandemic put an early finish to his time in South America, with the striker managing simply 4 appearances earlier than the worldwide shutdown.
He held on for a number of extra years earlier than formally calling it a day in March 2023 aged 39.
10. Ronaldinho
A footballer who all the time performed with a smile on his face, it was like Ronaldinho did not care who he performed for, all he wanted was a ball.
It was that angle that introduced the ex-Barcelona magician to Mexican membership Queretaro in 2014. “I wish to thank all of the Mexican nation for all the times that I’ve lived with individuals so particular,” he stated after departing.
9. Pablo Aimar
An outrageous expertise who was idolised by Lionel Messi, Aimar was a pleasure to observe on his day. His 12 years in Europe have been break up between Valencia, Actual Zaragoza and Benfica, earlier than the Argentine determined he needed to strive one thing totally different.
Aimar ended up in Malaysia in 2013, signing for Johor Darul Ta’zim to the shock of nearly everybody.
8. Hristo Stoichkov
A temperamental genius who did issues his means on and off the pitch, Stoichkov’s most profitable years got here at Barcelona.
His second spell on the Camp Nou resulted in 1998, when the Bulgarian was snapped up by Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia (lengthy earlier than that was the accomplished factor). He solely performed two video games there earlier than becoming a member of Kashiwa Reysol in Japan.
7. Bebeto
A World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994, Bebeto performed for 10 totally different golf equipment within the last six years of his profession, most of which have been again house.
However Bebeto additionally turned out for Mexican facet Toros Neza and Japanese outfit Kashima Antlers, earlier than ending up at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. Simply consider the air miles.
6. Gary Lineker
A couple of weeks earlier than his thirty first birthday Lineker left Tottenham and signed a two-year cope with Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.
“Clearly it was a giant pay-day however I might all the time been fascinated about travelling and experiencing different cultures after enjoying in Barcelona and this appeared like a very nice strategy to finish my profession,” he stated in 2023.
5. Pep Guardiola
Guardiola performed 382 video games for Barcelona, after which he spent two years in Serie A with Brescia and Roma.
The midfielder was then lured to Qatar by Al-Ahli in 2003. Two years later, Guardiola judged he had yet one more transfer left in him, becoming a member of Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico so he might work beneath his future assistant, Juanma Lillo.
4. Michael Essien
An necessary and infrequently underrated member of the Chelsea facet that gained a lot between 2005 and 2014, Essien went on to play for Actual Madrid and AC Milan after leaving west London.
In 2017 the midfielder popped up in Indonesia to signal for Persib Bandung, earlier than an equally outlandish stint with Sabail within the Azerbaijan Premier League.
3. Keisuke Honda
A Japanese nice, Honda is greatest remembered for his time at AC Milan between 2014 and 2017. After leaving San Siro, he launched into a globetrotting mission which took in employment by golf equipment in Mexico, Azerbaijan and Lithuania.
Honda mixed a few of these roles with a job as the top coach of the Cambodia nationwide workforce. As you do.
2. Robbie Fowler
Born in Liverpool, Fowler grew up as an Everton fan however turned a legend throughout town. Nicknamed ‘God’ by Liverpool followers, the striker additionally performed for Leeds, Manchester Metropolis, Cardiff and Blackburn.
He later had a spell in Australia with North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory, earlier than winding down his profession with Muangthong United in Thailand.
1. Rivaldo
Among the best gamers on the earth on his day, former Barcelona and AC Milan star Rivaldo simply couldn’t give up soccer.
After leaving Milan, the Brazilian spent 4 years in Greece with Olympiacos and AEK Athens. He then signed for Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan, earlier than an much more weird stint with Kabuscorp in Angola. Cracking passport stamps, thoughts.