GOAL runs through the top talents prevented from realising their full potential by persistent fitness problems
We sometimes forget how precarious the life of footballer can be. One moment of misfortune can shorten, ruin or even end a career – and there's nothing sadder than seeing a truly exceptional talent sidelined by injury.
Of course, some players are punished for failing to properly look after themselves, while others are just plain unfortunate, cursed with bodies incapable of coping with the rigours of the modern game.
Below, GOAL runs through some of the most high-profile victims of persistent fitness problems, from teenage prodigies prevented from realising their full potential, to stars that simply faded after incessant injury issues…
Getty14Jonathan Woodgate
Woodgate's Real Madrid debut is obviously the stuff of footballing infamy: after spending the first 17 months of his spell at Santiago Bernabeu sidelined by injury, the English defender belatedly introduced himself to the club's supporters with an own goal and a red card for a second bookable offence.
However, there's a reason why Madrid had taken a gamble on Woodgate in the first place: he was, when fully fit, an excellent centre-back – he had proved that during the early days of his breakthrough at Leeds United.
Unfortunately, he never stayed fit long enough to make the most of his obvious ability. There were some highlights along the way, most notably the winning goal for Tottenham in their League Cup win over Chelsea in 2008, but it's telling that he only played 30 or more league games twice between 2000 and 2016.
What really killed him, though, was being restricted to just 14 appearances for Madrid. "When I look back on my career, that gets to me, more than anything," he told the podcast. "Because you’re on the biggest stage… And my body let me down."
AdvertisementGetty13Yoann Gourcuff
After Gourcuff had inspired Bordeaux to a league-and-cup double in 2009, labelled the attacking midfielder 'Le Successeur', Zinedine Zidane's undisputed heir.
Even one of Zizou's former team-mates agreed. "I felt ill when Zidane retired," Christophe Dugarry admitted. "Watching Gourcuff has cured me." Unfortunately, there was no remedy for Gourcuff's many mental and physical issues.
By the time of his rebirth at Bordeaux, he had already flopped at AC Milan, Paolo Maldini argued, because "there was a problem with his behaviour", with the iconic defender castigating the Frenchman for failing to make any kind of effort to integrate.
After then making a historic move to Lyon in 2010, Gourcuff was plagued by injuries, some of which it was argued were psychosomatic. Certainly, some of his coaches and team-mates were never fully convinced by the severity of some of the ailments, which included hurting his hand after getting high-fived by Alexandre Lacazette, and spraining his ankle while walking his dog.
In the end, one of France's finest prospects retired at 34 – after more than a year without a club.
Getty12Abou Diaby
Both Arsenal and France fans were so excited by Diaby's form during his first six months in north London. They all felt that they had 'The new Patrick Vieira' on their hands.
Unfortunately, Diaby never hit those heights. In injury-time at the end of a 3-0 win at Sunderland in May 2006, the midfielder was on the receiving end of a horrendous and completely unnecessary challenge from Dan Smith. Diaby was left screaming on the pitch in agony, having suffered a severe ankle fracture that would require three operations and eight months of rehabilitation.
Diaby eventually returned in January 2007, but not at the same level and ultimately spent more than half of his remaining years at Arsenal sidelined by injury, with former manager Arsene Wenger subsequently stating on that his compatriot's hopes of reaching the very pinnacle of the profession had been "destroyed" by "an assassin's tackle".
Getty11Louis Saha
Sir Alex Ferguson essentially admitted that he signed Louis Saha from Fulham primarily because every time the Frenchman faced Manchester United, "he gave us a doing".
"Of all the centre-forwards we employed," the legendary manager later wrote in his autobiography, "when you talk about their talents (two-footed, good in the air, spring, speed, power), Saha would be one of the best. He posed a perpetual threat."
Only when fully fit, though. Saha made a sensational start to his Old Trafford career, showing exactly why United had agreed to pay £12.4 million ($15.5m) for his services by scoring seven times in his first 14 appearances.
However, then the injuries began to arrive and Saha felt so bad about his regular spells on the sidelines that he used to text Ferguson apologising for his absences. The Scot was sympathetic to Saha's plight, but eventually allowed Saha to join Everton in 2008.
Ferguson explained, "The reason for selling him was that no matter how talented he was, I could never plan around him."