The retirement of iconic Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson grabbed the most prime-time space around the world, but there were big names like David Beckham, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes and Louis Saha who also hung their boots in 2013. Here's the elite list:
Alex Ferguson
The Manchester United manager announced his retirement on May 8, ending a legendary career that included 13 English league titles, five FA Cups and two UEFA Champions League trophies in 26 seasons with the club. Ferguson was the most successful manager in the history of the British game and famously won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999. He began his managerial career as a 32-year-old at East Stirlingshire before moving to St Mirren, where he won his first trophy by taking the Scottish first division title in 1977. Ferguson's talent at building winning teams became apparent after he took over at unfashionable Aberdeen and turned them into a major force in a league where Rangers and Celtic had dominated.
David Beckham
Beckham played his final game for Paris Saint-German on May 18, ending an era in which he not only became a global superstar, but also a legenday figure world wide. The midfielder started his career with Manchester United in the English Premier League, and he also played in Spain for Real Madrid and in MLS for the Los Angeles Galaxy - and won championships with each club. With United from 1992 to 2003, Beckham won six EPL titles, a Champions League crown, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup.
Jamie Carragher
The Liverpool defender's first-team career spanned 16 years and 131 days - the seventh longest in the club's history. He captained Liverpool for the 52nd time in the Premier League and is the only Liverpool player to play 150 times in Europe for the club, appearing in a staggering 44 percent of all their games in Europe. His first significant trophy at Liverpool came in 1996 when he was part of the team, alongside David Thompson and Michael Owen, that lifted the FA Youth Cup. He is the only player in Liverpool's history to have played under six different permanent managers - Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafael Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rodgers - and is second only to Ian Callaghan on the all-time appearances list (all competitions) and also on the league appearances list. He has won 11 first-team honours with Liverpool plus the FA Youth Cup.
Louis Saha
On August 8, 2013, date of his birthday, Saha announced his retirement from professional football via Twitter. Saha played for Metz, Newcastle (on loan), Fulham, Manchester United, Everton, Spurs, Sunderland and Lazio. Saha enjoyed lengthy spells at Craven Cottage, Old Trafford and Goodison Park, joining Fulham in 2000 and scoring 64 goals in 144 games for the west London club, helping them to promotion to Premier League. He moved to Manchester United for £12.8 million in January 2004 and spent four-and-a-half years with the Red Devils, scoring 42 goals in 124 appearances, before adding 35 goals in 115 games with Everton.
Michael Owen
Owen, one of England's greatest goal-scorers, announced his retirement on March 17, 2013. The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United striker, who scored 40 goals for England and was the young star of the 1998 World Cup, called it a day at 33. Owen, a European footballer of the year, was England's fourth-leading goal-scorer after Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves. Owen was a prodigious talent as a schoolboy and signed for Liverpool when he was 12 before turning professional at Anfield five years later. Owen helped Liverpool to a treble of FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup titles and was named European Footballer of the Year - the first Englishman to win the award since Kevin Keegan in 1979.
Alessandro Nesta
Italian soccer great Alessandro Nesta didn't need to be dragged away from the soccer pitch. The legndary defender announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the MLS season in December 2013. He joined Lazio's youth academy in 1985 and began his pro career with the Roman club, but went to AC Milan on a 30-million Euro transfer in 2002. He won the first of two Champions League titles that season. He played 78 times for Italy and was part of the 2006 World Cup champions, although he didn't play beyond the group stage due to an injury. Nesta was named in the EUFA team of the year, an all-star team for European players, four times, and was considered by many as the best defender of his generation.
Paul Scholes
Scholes walked away from his one-club career in Paul Scholes fashion - under the radar. The Manchester United midfielder announced his retirement for the second time. The 38-year-old first ended his career at the end of the 2010-11 season but returned to the side in January 2012 after admitting he missed playing. Scholes came through the club's youth system in 1992, at the same time as former players Beckham and Gary Neville, and made his debut in 1994. The diminutive midfielder adopted a low-key farewell in the last match of his glittering career that has left him third on the all-time appearance list at Manchester United.
Deco
Fluminense's Brazil-born Portugal midfielder announced his retirement at the age of 36. The former Chelsea playmaker called an end to a glittering 17-year career. The 35-year-old won the Champions League with Porto and Barcelona during his time in Europe, but finished in Brazil - the place of his birth - with Fluminense. He also amassed 75 caps for Portugal, and he said he is quitting football because of his failure to overcome a series of recent muscle injuries.
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