Just when he thought he was out, they pulled him back in. Wojciech Szczęsny became the latest footballer who just couldn't quit the game this week when the goalkeeper reversed his decision to retire in order to sign for Barcelona as a free agent.
Despite having one year left on his contract with Juventus, the 34-year-old called time on his career in August after representing Poland at Euro 2024.
The former Arsenal shot-stopper stated that, after 18 years as a professional during which time he won 11 trophies including three Serie A titles, he no longer felt the same passion for the game as he once did.
However, it only took a couple of months for Szczęsny to be tempted back into the fray when Barça came calling with an offer of a short-term contract as cover for Marc-André ter Stegen, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Villarreal last month.
Iñaki Peña is expected to continue as Ter Stegen's replacement, for the time being at least, but Szczęsny will be on call to provide experienced backup for the remainder of the campaign having agreed a deal that will run until the end of June 2025.
And so, just five weeks after announcing his retirement, Szczęsny is back on the books of one of the biggest club sides in the world and thus becomes the latest high-profile veteran to have bowed out gracefully only to subsequently find that they weren't quite finished with football.
Editor's note: This article has been updated since it was first published in May 2020
Pelé
The only player to win three World Cups, Pelé forged a lengthy career that began at Santos at the age of 15 and ran -- at least initially -- until 1974, when the Brazil icon made the emotional decision to bow out after 19 prolific seasons with his boyhood club.
However, a lucrative offer from the New York Cosmos convinced Pele to keep on playing and the veteran striker eked out another three years in the NASL before retiring again in 1977.
Diego Maradona
Another player with a legitimate claim to be the greatest of all time, Maradona also staged a dramatic comeback to the game after initially retiring in 1996 while at Boca Juniors after missing five penalty kicks in a row.
His lay-off lasted a matter of months before he agreed to return to play for Boca in 1997. The reunion lasted just six months until Maradona saw fit to say his goodbyes all over again, retiring from professional football for good this time.
Johan Cruyff
The Dutch maestro originally quit football in 1978 after leaving Barcelona but was soon forced back to work the following year after losing a small fortune in an investment scam.
Cruyff joined NASL side Los Angeles Aztecs on a lucrative contract to recoup some of the millions he'd lost in a Spanish pig-farming con. Yes, you read that correctly.
He then remained in the U.S. for a spell with the Washington Diplomats before returning to Spain with Levante and then headed home to the Netherlands, firstly with former club Ajax and then Feyenoord.
