The summer of 2019 is practically over. And as all good things come to an end, the end of this football season has marked the end of the careers of some true legends.
League heroes and club legends, the following 5 players
have all hung up their boots at the end of 2018/19 – and will go on to be remembered as amongst the all-time greats in the game.

Xavi
Former Barcelona legend Xavi retired at the end of 2018/19.
Along with Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, perhaps no other player symbolises the Pep Guardiola-era Barcelona side that conquered the world more than Xavi.
The Spanish midfield maestro – famed for his incredible range of passing and ability to dictate the flow of the game – spent an incredible 17 seasons at the Nou Camp before leaving in the summer of 2015 to finish his career in Qatar.
During his time with Barca, Xavi practically won it all. Produced by the famed La Masia academy, he broke into the Blaugrana first team in the late 1990s and became a key player under the tutelage of then-boss Louis van Gaal, winning his first LaLiga title in 1998/99.

Xavi won two more league titles – as well as a first Champions League – under Frank Rijkaard, but he'll always be intrinsically linked with the Guardiola regime at the Nou Camp.
Barca won a treble of LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in 2009/10, and soon became recognised as arguably the best club side in history.

More trophies followed for Xavi; two more league titles and another Champions League under Guardiola and then the same again under different bosses, as well as the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with Spain.
Since leaving for Qatari side Al Saad in 2015 Xavi had largely faded from view, but with the announcement of his retirement this month he should go down as one of the all-time great midfielders.

Petr Cech

Petr Cech will go down as one of the Premier League's greatest ever goalkeepers.
Of the five players on this list, Petr Cech is the only one who may yet play one last game.
There's a chance the Arsenal goalkeeper may appear in their Europa League final against his former club Chelsea, but that feels unlikely given that Cech is reportedly about to make his way back to Stamford Bridge in a technical role when he hangs up his gloves in the summer.
Regardless of his role in the future, Cech will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history.

Signed by then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2004 for a fee of £7 million – the Czech international immediately broke records by keeping an unbelievable 24 clean sheets across the season in a Blues side that conceded just 15 goals.
Cech went on to win the Premier League title that season and then repeated the feat a further 3 times while at Stamford Bridge, also winning the FA Cup on 4 occasions, the EFL Cup on 3 occasions and in 2011/12, the Champions League.

The final of that competition – against Bayern Munich - saw Cech save a penalty from Arjen Robben in normal time and another 2 penalties in the eventual shootout that saw Chelsea triumph.
After the emergence of Thibault Courtois at Chelsea, Cech moved to Arsenal in 2015 and immediately became their first choice keeper, too.

Trophies were harder to come by for Cech at the Emirates but he still managed to pick up one more FA Cup in 2016/17 – coincidentally by beating Chelsea in the final.
Despite a less successful end to his career, though, he'll definitely go down as one of the all-time great goalkeepers – one who was dependable until the very end.

Arjen Robben

Everyone can predict what he is going to do, but no one can stop him.
Robben enjoyed a glittering career at the top of European football, winning a host of trophies for PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern.
It was at Chelsea – whom he joined in 2004 – where he established himself as one of world football's great promises, helping the club to back-to-back Premier League triumphs in 2004-05 and 2005-06 and an FA Cup win the following season.
His subsequent move to Real Madrid was less successful on a personal level, though he did win LaLiga in 2007-08.
Bayern snapped him up in 2009 and, though injuries were a regular occurrence, he still managed to enjoy a sparkling 10-year stay at the Allianz Arena.

He won eight Bundesliga titles in that time, plus the Champions League in 2012-13, making 309 appearances across all competitions.

Despite the injuries, Robben still managed to score 144 times for Bayern, including six in 19 matches in his final campaign.
The winger had been tipped to return to his first professional club Groningen after his Bayern contract expired, but he has since opted to end his career altogether.
On top of a glorious club career, Robben also won 96 caps for his country in 14 years, netting 37 goals.

Wesley Sneijder

One of the most perfect No.10 in football history.
Sneijder began his senior playing days with Ajax in 2002 and went on to play for Real Madrid, Inter, Galatasaray and Nice in a storied career in Europe.

He was a star performer for Jose Mourinho's Inter side of 2009-10, which won the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles.

Sneijder then inspired Netherlands to the final of the 2010 World Cup, where they lost 1-0 to Spain, and won the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player.

His omission from the final three-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or of the same year was widely considered to be unjust.
Sneijder played 134 times for the Netherlands from 2003 to 2018, becoming the most capped Dutch player of all time.

Robin van Persie

Robin Van Persie will go down as one of the best strikers of his generations.
Dutch striker Robin van Persie may not have won as many trophies across his career as other legends – a single Premier League title in 2012/13 and FA cup in 2004/05 stands as his only triumphs during 11 seasons in the Premier League – but arguably, he made the biggest impact of any single player on a side in the history of the competition when he moved from Arsenal to Manchester United in the summer of 2012.

Van Persie played in all 38 of United's games in 2012/13 as they marched to their most recent Premier League title – the final one under the stewardship of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson – and scored 26 goals, enough to win him the Golden Boot.

While his first season at United was definitely RVP's highest watermark, he was also brilliant for Arsenal for the majority of his 8 seasons there, and he signed off his time at the Emirates by delivering a phenomenal 30 goals in 38 Premier League games.

Throw in his strong record on the international stage for the Netherlands – 50 goals in 102 games including the best goal of the 2014 World Cup, his flying header against Spain – and despite a lack of trophies to his name, van Persie must be considered one of the best strikers of his generation – and he’ll definitely be missed now he's retired.

Andrea Barzagli

Andrea Barzagli won 8 consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus.

Most top-level players tend to begin to slow down by the time they reach their mid-30's, and so it's rare to see someone pushing 40 still plying their trade at the top level.

That wasn't the case for defender Andrea Barzagli, though.

The Italian international announced his retirement earlier in 2019 and hung up his boots last weekend at the ripe age of 38, but while he only made 7 appearances for Juventus in 2018/19, he managed 38 in 2017/18 – remarkable for a player of his age.

Barzagli had somewhat of a topsy-turvy career; in the early 2000s he made his name as a tough, no-nonsense defender with mid-level Serie A clubs like Palermo and Chievo before moving to Wolfsburg in Germany, and while he had success there – surprisingly winning the Bundesliga in 2008/09 – by the time he moved to Juventus in early 2011 he was already pushing 30.

But forming a rock-solid defence alongside fellow Italian stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, Barzagli had an instant impact in his first full season with the Old Lady, as they won the 2011/12 Serie A title, in large part thanks to their impregnable back line.

For Italy, Barzagli won the 2006 World Cup, but due to poor performances in 2008, he was spared the Azzurri's blushes in their disastrous 2010 campaign. He returned to the side in time for Euro 2012 – and helped them make the final – and appeared in the 2014 World Cup and at Euro 2016, too.

Barzagli will go down as an all-time great Italian defender for longevity alone, and he feels like the type of player who Juve fans will probably miss most when they fully realise he's gone.

Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill is arguably the best Australian player of all time.

Tim Cahill might not be as decorated as the other players on this list; his best accomplishment, in club football at least, was probably his Division II title with Millwall back in 2000/01.

But ask any football fan from Australia and you'll probably find that Cahill is as big a legend Down Under as any other player to appear for the Socceroos.

Largely playing as an attacking midfielder, Cahill debuted for Australia in 2004 and helped them to win that year's OFC Nations Cup, before playing a pivotal role in the Aussies' first World Cup qualification for over 30 years.

The 2006 tournament turned out to be a mild success for Australia as they reached the Round of 16, but it was a huge success for Cahill, as he became the first Australian to score a World Cup goal with a brace against Japan, enhancing his reputation heavily in the process.

Cahill would play in two more World Cups – 2010 and 2014 – and despite Australia failing to make it out of the group stage in either tournament, Cahill himself managed to score in both, with his goal against the Netherlands in the 2014 edition being one of the very best goals on offer that year. With 50 goals in 108 appearances for his country, Cahill remains Australia's all-time top goalscorer.

Despite his club achievements being overshadowed by his international ones, Everton fans will always remember his famed celebration – shadow-boxing the corner flag – fondly too, as he spent 8 seasons at Goodison Park at the peak of his career.

A true cult hero, it might be a while before Australia produces another player of his caliber.

Source

https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.allfootballapp.com/amp/news/Headline/Sneijder-Xavi-Cech-Robben...-Seven-football-LEGENDS-who-retired-in-2019/1423864

Xavi Hernandez.



Arguably the greatest midfielder of all time.

You can quote me on this one. Posts like this is why I ❤️ obembet so f_ _king much. Obembet just take it from me when I say that I love u. I will keep following you until the day I leave Nairaland, and if possible beyond that. XOXO �

Bomboiy:
Xavi Hernandez.



Arguably the greatest midfielder of all time.

Zidane was better than him so as ronaldinho

Sneijder... Blatter ,platini and Messi stole ur deserved balon d'Or... It's quite unfortunate that u were cheated and never had the chance in history

Beverlyjean:
Sneijder... Blatter ,platini and Messi stile ur deserved balon d'Or... It's quite unfortunate that u were cheated and never had the chance in history

Same way Ronaldo stole ribery's balon d'or.

Beverlyjean:
Sneijder... Blatter ,platini and Messi stile ur deserved balon d'Or... It's quite unfortunate that u were cheated and never had the chance in history

I agree with you that sneijder was robbed in favour of a certain Leonel Messi. Till today I still regard sneijder as the true winner of the 2010 ballon d'Or and not Messi. Ojoro cancel Ojoro

Bomboiy:


Same way Ronaldo stole ribery's balon d'or.

Kai, which year did ribery deserve to win the ballon d'Or ahead of RONALDO? I shake my head for you bros.

They made great achievements in their own little way despite being overshadowed by the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.. To me they are the real heroes

FACTS: in 2010 Messi only won La Liga. Sneijder on the other hand won the Serie A title, the Copa Italia title, the UEFA champions league title. Played a crucial role in leading the Netherlands to the World Cup final, scoring 5 goals in the process; yet Messi became the World's best. History will jugde Platini, Blatter and everybody responsible for that injustice. Look, let's be honest Luka Modric didn't do half as much but was still crowned world's best. Ojoro cancel Ojoro

Lalasticlala

Dizzyrascal:
Kai, which year did ribery deserve to win the ballon d'Or ahead of RONALDO? I shake my head for you bros.

So ribery no deserve 2013 balon d'Or?



After winning Six trophies?





Yet someone that went trophyless won it.

Dizzyrascal:
FACTS: in 2010 Messi only won La Liga. Sneijder on the other hand won the Serie A title, the Copa Italia title, the UEFA champions league title. Played a crucial role in leading the Netherlands to the World Cup final, scoring 5 goals in the process; yet Messi became the World's best. History will jugde Platini, Blatter and everybody responsible for that injustice. Look, let's be honest Luka Modric didn't do half as much but was still crowned world's best. Ojoro cancel Ojoro

LMAO typical penaldo fan.


In 2013 Ribery won the UCL, bundesliga,DFB pokal,German super cup,Uefa super cup and club world cup.


Same 2013 Messi won the la Liga and was the highest goal scorer in Europe.


Cristiano Ronaldo went trophyless yet he won it.



If that one no be ojoro wetin e be?

Bomboiy:


Same way Ronaldo stole ribery's balon d'or.

There was no exceptional player in that Bayern squard of 2013... They were all equally good just like the 2014 German world cup winning squard .... Besides, ribery wasn't mentioned by the op... U can't even compare sneijders loss cos it was a WC year and he directly defeated lionel in the 2010 CL and also carried the Dutch to the final just like modric...

Bomboiy:



So ribery no deserve 2013 balon d'Or?



After winning Six trophies?





Yet someone that went trophyless won it.

What did Messi win in 2012 that made him to b crowned with the balon d'Or?? Just because he scored goals after loosing the penalty that knocked Barca out of the CL against Chelsea but he was still crowned despite Ronaldo winning la Liga , sighting he scored 91 goals... So if he deserved it , ahead of Ronaldo due to goals , then they had no choice but to also give it to Ronaldo the following year due to the same goals considering he scored 76 goals that year ... What is good for the goose is also good for the Gander... Ronaldo is meant to hv won 6 balon d'Or and that's. 2012 and 2018 and Messi isn't meant to win more than 3 , 2010 and 2012 was undeserving ...

Beverlyjean:


There was no exceptional player in that Bayern squard of 2013... They were all equally good just like the 2014 German world cup winning squard .... Besides, ribery wasn't mentioned by the op... U can't even compare sneijders loss cos it was a WC year and he directly defeated lionel in the 2010 CL and also carried the Dutch to the final just like modric...

Ribery was not an exceptional player? OMG.



What do you mean by exceptional player?goalscorer?




What did ronaldo do in 2013 that made him the winner?



You think Messi didn't deserve 2010 balon d'Or but ronaldo deserved to win 2013 balon d'Or?

LMAO.

Beverlyjean:



What did Messi win in 2012 that made him to b crowned with the balon d'Or?? Just because he scored goals after loosing the penalty that knocked Barca out of the CL against Chelsea but he was still crowned despite Ronaldo winning la Liga , sighting he scored 91 goals... So if he deserved it , ahead of Ronaldo due to goals , then they had no choice but to also give it to Ronaldo the following year due to the same goals considering he scored 76 goals that year ... What is good for the goose is also good for the Gander... Ronaldo is meant to hv won 6 balon d'Or and that's. 2012 and 2018 and Messi isn't meant to win more than 3 , 2010 and 2012 was undeserving ...

Ronaldo deserved 2013 balon d'Or because he scored the highest goals that year but Messi didn't deserve 2010.



Can you please tell who was the highest goalscorer in 2010?

Bomboiy:



Ronaldo deserved 2013 balon d'Or because he scored the highest goals that year but Messi didn't deserve 2010.



Can you please tell who was the highest goalscorer in 2010?

I said Ronaldo wudnt hv deserved 2013 if he won 2012... But criminal Blatter and platini decided to give it to Messi because of goals , so they had no choice but to also give Ronaldo the following year

Bomboiy:



Ribery was not an exceptional player? OMG.



What do you mean by exceptional player?goalscorer?




What did ronaldo do in 2013 that made him the winner?



You think Messi didn't deserve 2010 balon d'Or but ronaldo deserved to win 2013 balon d'Or?

LMAO.

Messi dint deserve 2010 and 2012... If u say messi deserved 2012 because of goals , then don't mention ribery because Ronaldo scored 76 goals to deserve it because Messi scored 91 the previous season despite winning nothing and he was crowned balon d'Or

Bomboiy:



So ribery no deserve 2013 balon d'Or?



After winning Six trophies?





Yet someone that went trophyless won it.

For all you guys calling Ronaldo Penaldo know that last season he became the best player in Italian league. The third league in a roll that he would achieve such an honour. Let Messi come out of his Barcelona cage. Time don reach, La Liga is not a prison ooooooo..let him come out. Even if it is the Chinese league let him go...

Beverlyjean:



Messi dint deserve 2010 and 2012... If u say messi deserved 2012 because of goals , then don't mention ribery because Ronaldo scored 76 goals to deserve it because Messi scored 91 the previous season despite winning nothing and he was crowned balon d'Or

that is what I am talking about....go girl!

Beverlyjean:


I said Ronaldo wudnt hv deserved 2013 if he won 2012... But criminal Blatter and platini decided to give it to Messi because of goals , so they had no choice but to also give Ronaldo the following year

Same way they gave it to Messi in 2010 because of goals.




And they will also give it to him this year because of goals too.




Even Harry Kane deserved 2017 balon d'Or because he was the highest goal scorer that year.

mynd44

I no see my name

LMAO typical penaldo fan.

Nice one