The 2016/2017 Football League season has officially come to an end across the Top Leagues around Europe. Though, the closure wasn't synchronizing due to the start date and kick-off of most of the leagues while others gave us the excitement until the last match day.
In Spain, the La Liga was wrapped up on matchday 38 after Real Madrid clinched their 33rd La Liga title at Malaga after a 2-0 win to see off fierce rivals Barcelona. The Premier League was won 2match days before the final day after Champions Chelsea clinched their second title in three years in a home win over WestBrom on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga ahead of League new-comers RB Leipzig with two games to spare and the French Ligue 1 was won by Leornado Jardim's Monaco team who fought until the end to clinch their eighth title in 17 years.
Juventus won the Italian Serie A for a fifth consecutive time with a 4point advantage over near rivals AS Roma.
With the conclusion of these Leagues, we take a look at players who retired from club football at the end of the season.
England: Chelsea
John Terry: The Chelsea captain who is the last player remaining of the Roman Abramovic' era was given a 26th minute standing ovation substitution during their final home game against Sunderland to mark his retirement and honour his heroics with the club.
The defender announced his retirement on the 17-04-2016, three weeks before the final 2016/2017 PL season. During that time, John Terry was regarded as an interim fulcrum to Antonio Conte's backroom team as he played less games.
He made his debut in 1998 and has stayed with the club for 19 years (1998-2017). In that time, he won:
1 UCL
5 PL
5 FA Cup
3 EFL Cup
1 Europa
2 Charity Shields
Germany: Bayern Munich
Philip Lahm: Joined Bayern Munich in his young days but was sent on loan to Stuttgart where he matured into a better Full-back and came back to regain his spot in the Bayern first XI.
The Full-back announced his retirement from football on his official twitter handle. He was made to wait so he could lift the final Bundesliga trophy in a heroic send-forth. During that time, Lahm won:
8 Bundesliga
1 UCL
6 DFB Pokal
1 Club World Cup
1 German League Cup
1 UEFA Super Cup
3 German Super Cup
He made his debut in 1998 and has stayed with the club for 19 years (1998-2017). In that time, he won:
1 UCL
5 PL
5 FA Cup
3 EFL Cup
1 Europa
2 Charity Shields
Germany: Bayern Munich
Philip Lahm: Joined Bayern Munich in his young days but was sent on loan to Stuttgart where he matured into a better Full-back and came back to regain his spot in the Bayern first XI.
The Full-back announced his retirement from football on his official twitter handle. He was made to wait so he could lift the final Bundesliga trophy in a heroic send-forth. During that time, Lahm won:
8 Bundesliga
1 UCL
6 DFB Pokal
1 Club World Cup
1 German League Cup
1 UEFA Super Cup
3 German Super Cup
Last weekend far exceeded any of my expectations & will be one that I'll remember a long time. Thanks for all of the unforgettable memories! pic.twitter.com/krlZ8KfcPT— Philipp Lahm (@philipplahm) May 22, 2017
Xabi Alonso: Started his career as a young boy in Spain with Basque club Real Sociedad, moved on to Liverpool where he established himself as one of the finest DMF s alongside Stephen Gerard.
Alonso was part of the Liverpool team that did the incredible in Istanbul in 2004 where they went on to win the UCL. Transferred to Real Madrid in 2010 and established himself as a stalwart in the team. In the 2014/2015 season, he joined Pep Guardiola in Germany. However, Alonso decided to call it quit and announced his retirement on 9-04-2017. In that time, he won:
Liverpool:
1 UCL
1 FA Cup
1 UEFA Super Cup
1 Charity Shield
Real Madrid:
1 UCL
1 La Liga
2 Copa Del Rey
1 Spanish Super Cup
1 UEFA Super Cup
Bayern Munich:
3 Bundesliga
1 DFB Pokal
1 German League Cup
And now, the end is near... pic.twitter.com/XDCMztfQqu— Xabi Alonso (@XabiAlonso) May 19, 2017
A farewell tweet from Bayern Munich official handle to her retired players
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) May 22, 2017
— FC Bayern US (@FCBayernUS) May 22, 2017
Holland: Feyenoord
Dirk Kuyt: The Dutch International first made his debut appearance in Europe for FC Utrecht in 1998 before making his huge move to Feyenoord in 2003. His impressive display earned him a move to Liverpool in 2006 which paid off when he scored the winning goal in the Carling cup to land the trophy.
The 36-year old then moved to Fenerbahce in 2015, in 2016, Kuyt moved back to where he started in Feyenoord. He announced his retirement from football after winning the 2016/2017 Eredivisie with Feyenoord. During that time, he won:
Utrecht:
1 Dutch Cup
Liverpool:
1 EFL Cup
1 Charity Shield
Fenerbahce:
1 Turkish League
1 Turkish Super Cup
1 Turkish Cup
Feynoord:
1 KNVB ( Dutch League)
1 Dutch Cup
Utrecht:
1 Dutch Cup
Liverpool:
1 EFL Cup
1 Charity Shield
Fenerbahce:
1 Turkish League
1 Turkish Super Cup
1 Turkish Cup
Feynoord:
1 KNVB ( Dutch League)
1 Dutch Cup
Our captain Dirk @Kuyt has just announced his retirement from football. The 36 year old will remain with #Feyenoord in an off the pitch role pic.twitter.com/ub7SEOxQBZ— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord_int) May 17, 2017
Ligue 1: France
1 UCL
2 La Liga
1 Spanish Super Cup
3 Copa Del Rey
1 FIFA Club World Cup
Inter Milan:
3 Scudettos
1 Italian Super cup
Ajax:
2 Dutch League title - 2001/2002, 2003/2004
1 Dutch cup - 2001/2002
1 Dutch super cup - 2003
PSG
4 - Ligue 1 titles
1 French cup
1 french super cup
3 French League Cup
The world of football will miss these stars.
Tags: Sports, Bundesliga, EPL, Eredivisie, Serie A, Ligue 1
Maxwell, Totti, John Terry, Lahm, Alonso, Kuyt.
Follow us on twitter @koksnationn
Maxwell: Maxwell is a renowned Brazilian Left-back who played for Ajax, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris Saint Germain. He evolved from his position also playing as a DMF, CMF and LM. His agent Mino Raiola harnessed his potentials and took advantage by orchestrating his moves around Europe.
Maxwell was among the successful Pep Guardiola Barcelona side of 2010, he also was an egghead in the classic XI of Laurent Blanc's PSG side who dominated France. The Brazilian decided to call it quit on his career finishing as the Most successful club player ever. During his stint, he won:
Barcelona:1 UCL
2 La Liga
1 Spanish Super Cup
3 Copa Del Rey
1 FIFA Club World Cup
Inter Milan:
3 Scudettos
1 Italian Super cup
Ajax:
2 Dutch League title - 2001/2002, 2003/2004
1 Dutch cup - 2001/2002
1 Dutch super cup - 2003
PSG
4 - Ligue 1 titles
1 French cup
1 french super cup
3 French League Cup
— PSG English (@PSG_English) May 22, 2017
Serie A: AS Roma
Francesco Totti: Its a story of a love, commitment and heroics. Totti's 25 years with the AS Roma team has come to an end after the club legend announced his retirement at the end of the season. Joined since 2003, his stint with the Rome team wasn't trophy-laden but he made a mark in the Italian Serie A.
Once considered to be the best strikers in the league, age caught up with him he drifted into midfield and enjoyed his free-role the Manager, Spalleti indulged him. Totti will play his last game with Roma at home against Genoa. During his spell with the Roma team he won:
1 Scudetto
2 Italian Cup
2 Italian Super Cup
The world of football will miss these stars.
Tags: Sports, Bundesliga, EPL, Eredivisie, Serie A, Ligue 1
Maxwell, Totti, John Terry, Lahm, Alonso, Kuyt.
Follow us on twitter @koksnationn
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