There are many stories of footballers who, at a certain point, completely change their career to generate new motivations.. Although the most common thing in football is for any player to maintain a competitive appetite until an advanced age – something that increases with the development of the sport – the entry of new actors and competitions that offer different things – which is also influenced by money – makes things vary.
If the league of Saudi Arabia It was long ago an exotic or random place to visit, the increase in purchasing power, competitiveness and the arrival of stars has marked a change in trend. However, far from Cristiano Ronaldo, Mané, Milinkovic-Savic or other big names, there are leagues that still, in Europe or not, remain unusual places for players who were once on the front page.
One of the most recent cases is that of Ziyechwho signed for the Wydad Casablanca to play in Morocco. After a great 2022 World Cup with his national team, his last steps in teams have not had the same success, and that led him to play in the country he represents – since he was born in the Netherlands -. The case of Juan Matawho after being European champion and one of the mainstays of Manchester United, has been jumping through several teams until he ended up in the Melbourne Victory FC from Australia. Illarramendi could join this series of players, with the Basque standing out in the Kitchee de Hong Kong.
The most curious case in this season is that of Martin Škrtel, more than known for his extensive period at Liverpool, since until a few weeks ago he continued playing in the third division of Slovakia with the Hajskala Raztocno. At the beginning of this year, he decided to change his boots for the board and is a sports director at the Spartak Trnava, team from the country’s highest category… Something similar, although at a higher level, happens to Lukas Podolskiwhich despite the fact that the most surprising thing today is its Döner Kebab chain, continues as a professional in Poland’s first division with the Gornik Zabrze.
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In Qatar, another of the leagues that aims to grow through economic means, there are players who once shone in Europe. one of them is Verratti with the Al-Duhailwho after leaving PSG has spent several years in the Middle East. Another of them is Javi Martínezwho after nine seasons at Bayern Münich went to play in Qatar. It is currently in the Al Bidda SC in second division.
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