For most people, life as a professional footballer would be considered a dream. The money, the fame, the excitement. What could one ask more for?
Several players, though, could not make it to the top level and were forced to retire. A few simply lost interest in the beautiful game and decided to quit.
Here is a list of 5 of the most bizarre reasons for footballers retiring:
#5 Carlos Roa: Retired claiming the world was going to end
Carlos Roa was a great Argentine goalkeeper. In the 1998 World Cup he was responsible for Argentina knocking out England on penalties. In the same year, he won the Zamora Award as the best goalkeeper in Spain. Roa, at the peak of his powers, decided to call it a day in 1999.
He went on a religious retreat claiming that he believed the world was going to end imminently. He also gave up on meat and focussed on meditation instead. Roa, eccentric as he was, returned to the game a year later, but never found his top form again.
#4 Chase Hilgenbrick: Retired to become a Catholic priest
Chase Hilgenbrick began his professional career in Chile as a defender after being undrafted by the MLS. While in Chile, he often visited churches to be connected spiritually and remind him of his childhood spent at Holy Trinity in his hometown.
He was then drafted into the MLS and made a few appearances for New England Revolution. His mind thoug,h was never in the game and he felt the pull of something greater – his religion. At 26, he retired from football and joined the Catholic Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland to become a priest.
Father Chase is currently posted at St John's Catholic Newman Center at Champaign, Illinois.
#3 Jordan Seabright: Quit football to become a car salesman
Jordan Seabright was just 20 years old when he decided to hang up his boots. A backup goalkeeper at Torquay Untied, a club in England’s fifth division, Jordan made just 17 appearances in his entire career. Seabright, impressed with the level of service he had received at a car dealership, Poole Audi, where he had gone to buy a car, decided that was the place he wanted to be.
After retiring, Jordan was quoted as saying, "If I'm honest, I fell out of love with the game, I didn't really enjoy it any more. I didn't see myself going anywhere and I want to have a career and be successful. It wasn't a lack of ambition in football, but it was a good opportunity for me come home and work in a good environment. I had dealt with the company, I drive one of their cars and it is a very professional environment. I am really looking forward to the new challenge.”
#2 Wendell Lira: Retired from football to pursue a career in professional gaming
Wendell Lira plied his trade in association football for his entire career. He is famous for winning the Puskas award in 2015 for best goal of the year, beating Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez to take home the prize. The 27 year old went on to play for another season, but in 2016 he decided his time was up.
Wendell announced his retirement in July in order to pursue a career in professional gaming, particurly FIFA. Wendell has stated that one of his lifelong dreams is to be the FIFA World Champion. He is well on his way to achieving that goal after defeating FIFA Interactive Champion of 2015, Abdulaziz Alshehri. Wendell also plans on showcasing his virtual skills on his own YouTube channel.
#1 Rory Allen: Retired from football to watch The Ashes in Australia
Rory Allen was once Portsmouth’s record signing when he signed from Spurs for £1m. A former England under-21 striker, Rory decided to quit football to go watch The Ashes along with England’s Barmy Army in Australia.
Portsmouth chief executive at the time, Peter Storrie said, "Certainly, I have never come across a situation like this during all my years in football. To say the conduct is somewhat bewildering is an understatement."
At just 25 years of age when he quit, Rory described the experience as “an amazing experience, despite the scoreline.” England lost the Ashes series 4-1.
