Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: It’s now 11 years ago to the day – July 3, 2006 – since one of the most iconic Asian players of all time hung up his boots at the age of just 29.
Having been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup in France following a 4-1 defeat to Brazil less than two weeks earlier, Japan legend Hidetoshi Nakata announced that he had played his final game.
Given the relatively short careers on offer to footballers it’s rare, but not entirely unheard of, to see them give the job up so early, as the-AFC.com reveals by profiling five stars who retired at an early age.
Dong Fangzhou, China (retired at 31)
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/dong_manchesterunited_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/dong_manchesterunited_2_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/nashat-akram_2_iraq_ls_jpg_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/post_match_interview__jung_sung-ryong.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/urawa-reds_v_kawasaki-frontale_acl-qf-2nd-leg_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/jasem-al-huwaidi_2_kuwait_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/mohammad-parvin_iran_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/mohammad-parvin_2_iran_ls_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hidetoshi_nakata_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/hidetoshi-nakata_2001_confed-cup_afp_jpg.html
