Players to have come out of retirement as Francesco Totti considers Serie A return

Throughout footballing history there have been plenty of players who the viewing public have felt called it a day slightly too soon, left wanting more.

Most players ignore the desire to return, but some are persuaded to lace up the boots once again.

With the news that Francesco Totti is considering a return to Serie A at 47, we look at five players who came out of retirement.

Johan Cruyff

One of the greatest footballers and pioneers of the game, Johan Cruyff hung up his boots in 1978 having won six Eredivisie titles, three European Cups, four Dutch Cups, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

But a series of poor financial investments forced the legendary Dutchman out of retirement where he reignited his playing career across the pond. Cruyff would reflect that he was too hasty in retiring at 31, spending a couple of years in the USA with the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Washington Diplomats before returning to Spain, signing for second tier Levante.

Cruyff would move back to Ajax, winning the Eredivisie in each of his two seasons there, adding another Dutch Cup. The club's refusal to offer him a new contract saw Cruyff make the highly controversial move to Ajax's archrivals Feyenoord for his final campaign.

Many fans protested the move, even refusing to go to Feyenoord games while Cruyff was there, but the club did win a first league title in a decade as well as the KNVB Cup.

Paul Scholes

At the end of the title-winning 2010/11 season, Paul Scholes called time on his glittering career with Manchester United after 466 Premier League appearances, 102 goals, 10 league titles, two Champions Leagues and three FA Cups.

But so bad was Manchester United's injury crisis the following season with Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Darren Fletcher all unavailable leaving Michael Carrick and Park Ji-sung as the only central midfielders that Scholes was asked to return.

Initially signing on to the end of the season, Scholes would stay on for another year, adding a total of 33 Premier League appearances to his tally, picking up another league winners' medal.

Roger Milla

Perhaps the World Cup's defining cult hero, Roger Milla lit up the 1990 tournament with his record-breaking appearances from the bench and his unforgettable celebrations.

Persuaded to come out of retirement to appear for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup, Milla came off the bench to score a brace against Romania as his side topped a group containing world champions Argentina.

Cameroon would then beat Colombia with two extra-time goals from Milla before eventually being downed by England at the quarter-final stage.

Scoring at 38 years of age, Milla was the oldest player to score at a World Cup before breaking his own record four years later with a goal against Russia in 1994.

Arjen Robben

After a hugely successful career in which he won 12 league titles in four countries as well as the UEFA Champions League and reached a World Cup final, Arjen Robben hung up his boots in 2019.

Despite his success, Robben's career was severely blighted by injuries, making 30 league appearances just once and clearing 25 just five times, making the decision to retire somewhat easier.

But unable to shake the itch, Robben returned to his first club, Groningen, though injuries returned again, with Robben limited to just six appearances.

Wojciech Szczesny

After a total of 542 club appearances for Arsenal, Brentford, Roma and Juventus, Wojciech Szczesny hung up his gloves at the end of the 2023/24 season with Juve declining to offer a new contract.

But a season-ending knee injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October left Barcelona short of goalkeeping options, with Szczesny persuaded to come out of retirement, where he's expected to serve as a back-up to Inaki Pena.