Footballers Who Overcame Major Injuries to Succeed
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There are few things in football as sad as a talented footballer suffering a career- threatening injury and never being able to return to their old level. Or in the case of young players, reach their full potential.
However, for every dozen such stories, there is an example of a player that was able to successfully recover from a serious injury and or even improve on their past performances.
One recent example is Virgil van Dijk, who suffered an ACL rupture in the 2020/21 season and was forced to miss nine months through injury. The Dutch centre-back was able to recover, and odds on major betting platforms, including those from the Legalbet sports betting UK rating, for instance, now consider his availability.
This article will provide a look at other successful recovery stories, with players returning to lead their teams to trophies or showing an impressive individual form.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy had two reasons to be worried when he picked up an ACL injury in the summer of 2000. Firstly, he was predicted to be out for 12 months and it was not guaranteed that he would return to his previous level. And second, it cancelled his transfer to Manchester United at the eleventh hour, with all parties being one medical test away from agreeing the final terms.
Thanks to his winning mindset, the Dutch striker successfully recovered from the setback. And despite making just 12 total appearances in the 2000/01 season, Man United returned for the forward next summer, paying a then-record £19 million for the Netherlands international.
Van Nistelrooy would go on to have an iconic stint at Old Trafford, scoring 150 goals in 219 matches, and winning the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield and multiple individual awards.
Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla regularly struggled with injuries in his last years at Arsenal, but the most devastating news came in 2016 when he suffered a right Achilles tendon injury. The initial rehabilitation proved ineffective, and Cazorla had to undergo eight operations on the ankle. The tendon also contracted gangrene and the reports
suggested that the Spaniard may never be able to walk again, let alone play football. After a skin graft and an intensive recovery programme back in Spain, the midfielder returned to training.
Cazorla never featured for Arsenal again, his contract having expired at the end of the 2017/18 season, but he was signed by Villarreal soon after. Santi had two impressive seasons at the Yellow Submarine, scoring 22 goals in 86 matches and being an undisputed starter and one of the best performers in La Liga.
At the age of 39, Cazorla remained a professional footballer, playing his share for childhood club Real Oviedo in Spain's second tier.
Petr Cech
Petr Cech’s story is a bit different in that he was not sidelined for an extensive period of time – he would only miss around three months after suffering a collision during a Premier League match back in 2006. But this does not make the injury he suffered, a depressed skull fracture, any less serious.
In fact, the doctors at the time concluded that the Czech goalkeeper nearly lost his life following the collision with Stephen Hunt’s right knee because of the poor initial response from the medical personnel.
In January of the following year, Cech returned between the sticks. From then on, the goalkeeper would always wear a protective rugby-style headguard. He also admitted to suffering from migraines long after the said injury.
Nevertheless, it did not stop Petr Cech from becoming one of the most iconic goalkeepers in history. He retired from football in 2019 with countless team trophies, individual awards and records, including the most clean sheets in the Premier League.
Roy Keane
Roy Keane’s reputation would suggest that he is more likely to injure several opposition players than to get injured himself. The older fans will remember that the Irishman was on the receiving end of a career-threatening injury back in 1997 following an unsuccessful tackle on Alfie Haaland.
Keane did not return to the pitch in the 1997/98 season. His absence had a major impact on Man United that term, as they were easily beaten by Arsenal to the league title.
The following year, though, the midfielder was back to captaining the Red Devils. The team had one of their most successful seasons to date, winning the treble as Roy Keane made 55 appearances and netted five times. He played seven more seasons at the professional level.
Alfie Haaland, who touted Keane for faking the injury back in 1997, would suffer an act of retribution from the midfielder several years later. Unlike the Man United player, the Norwegian was never able to return to full fitness and retired.