China Daily looks back at some of sports' biggest retirements last year
From left: Spanish soccer great David Villa, American Olympic champion shooter Matthew Emmons and Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei were among some of the biggest stars to call time on their sports careers last year. XINHUA
Dutch soccer great Arjen Robben hung up his boots last year at the age of 35. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star was regarded as one of the finest wingers of his generation and was particularly renowned for his rasping left-footed long-range strikes. XINHUA
Former Spain, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres hung up his soccer boots last June. In his prime, the 35-year-old was one of the most lethal finishers in the game, with his goals helping Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. XINHUA
Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time and was named the continent's player of the year a record four times. He retired in September, aged 38. XINHUA
Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn called it quits in August. The American great is a three-time Olympic medalist and amassed 82 World Cup golds. XINHUA
Dutch soccer star Wesley Sneijder ended his playing career in August. The former Ajax, Inter Milan and Real Madrid playmaker was named UEFA midfielder of the season and one of the three best midfielders in the world in 2010 by FIFA. A product of the Ajax Youth Academy, Sneijder won four trophies with the Amsterdam club before being sold to Madrid in 2007, winning La Liga in his first season in Spain. Sneijder's most successful spell, however, came at Inter under Jose Mourinho where he won Serie A, the Coppa Italia (twice), the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also starred at the 2010 World Cup to help the Netherlands reach the final. XINHUA
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