The XI of footballers with the highest market values on the day they retired

For a host of different reasons, there are some ex-footballers who retired arguably a little too early.

Some are forced to hang up their boots due to injuries or health problems while others simply decide they’ve had enough and call it quits.

Transfermarkt have published an XI of footballers with the highest market values for their respective positions on the day they retired. Let’s take a closer look…

Goalkeeper: Oliver Kahn (€4.5 million)

One of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, Kahn retired aged 38 in 2008.

Could the former Germany international have gone on for one or two more seasons? Possibly, In the 2007-08 campaign, Kahn made 42 appearances for Bayern Munich in all competitions.

Defender: Willy Sagnol (€9.5 million)

Another former Bayern Munich player, Willy Sagnol was forced to retire in 2009 aged just 31 after failing to recover from an Achilles tendon injury.

“The evidence is there – it’s an injury which won’t heal,” the ex-France international said at the time. “Surgery is not possible. The only solution is to stop.”

Defender: Martin Hinteregger (€9 million)

Martin Hinteregger recently announced his shock retirement at the age of just 29.

Part of the Eintracht Frankfurt team that won the 2021-22 Europa League, the Austrian said: “Last autumn I’d already started to think about retiring at the end of the season. I was in a difficult period on the pitch: my performances were shaky.

“My improvement in the spring and our joint successes in the Europa League made me even more motivated to bow out with a great sporting success.

“That’s why I enjoyed the Europa League victory so much, because I already knew it would be my last big victory celebration with the fantastic fans in this city, which has become my