Kuyt, Lahm and 4 other football legends who retired in 2017

The world is ever changing and people evolve. The same can be said of footballers who after long career's decide to call it a day because they cannot continue to produce inspired performances.

The end of the 2016/2017 season saw the retirement of the greatest players ever;

1. Philip Lahm

Lahm has retired at a fairly early of 33 despite it being obvious he could still play three more years at the top as a reinvented midfielder of right-back.

The club captain won the Bundesliga in his last campaign as a Bayern Munich player.


Bayern Munich legend Philip Lahm

2. Xabi Alonso

Alonso will go down as one of the greatest midfielders ever after his stunning displays for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

The two time Champions league winner retires as a Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich.


Alonso and retired on the same day
3. Francesco Totti

The AS Roma legend could have won the FIFA player of the Year of Ballon d'Or if he has agreed moves to Real Madrid or AC Milan in his younger years. He lives AS Roma a legend and one of footballs moved loved players ever.


4. Dirk Kuyt

A fan favorite at Liverpool and Fenerbache and a true club legend at boyhood club Feyernood. Kuyt retired a champion; he scored a hat-trick on the final day of the season as he led Feyernood to the Dutch Eredivisie as club captain.


Kuyt celebrates winning the Eredivisie for Feyernood

5. Frank Lampard

The greatest goalscoring midfielder ever announced his retirement on 2 February 2017. A club legend with Chelsea and New York FC which was the last club he played for.


Lampard won the UEFA Champions LEague with Chelsea
7. Oleksandr Shovkovskiy

The lesser known Shovkovskiy is a legend in Eastern Europe for his long association with Dynamo Kiev who represented for over 23 years. He appeared 92 times for Ukraine.

A look at his achievements on Wikipedia is all you need to know about his achievemments.


Shovkovskiy retired a legend and possibly the greatest player ever from Dynamo Kiev
Steven Gerrard is exempted because he retired at the end of the 2016 MLS season and did not play in 2017.