The Indian deal that is bringing out Austin Okocha from retirement, relating the experience to some sporting legends who did the same
The plan for Austin Okocha to end his retirement and star in the new football league in the Indian state of West Bengal may equate the former Super Eagles captain with some of the legends in sports who came out of retirement to earn mega bucks.
Okocha is one of the former stars and semiretired world stars who are being lured out of retirement to earn big fees in a regional India league, expected to be played in six venues in West Bengal from March 24 to May 6.
But organisers said on Wednesday that kick-off date had been postponed. To star in the league, Okocha was signed for $550,000.
The former Bolton star retired from football in 2008 after constant injuries reduced his appearance to 18 matches with no goal for Hull City.
In 1972, Pele announced his retirement from football after 17 seasons with Brazil club Santos. Two years later, he signed with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League, playing three more seasons that earned him a big in income. He played his final match for the club against former club Santos, featuring a half each for the two teams.
Former heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, retired in 1979 but the temptation of winning the title for the fourth time brought him out of retirement against Larry Holmes in 1980. Ali lost the fight but entered the ring one more time a year later, losing to Trevor Berbick.
After eight years in the ring, George Foreman announced his retirement in 1977 but returned in 1987. In 1994, he beat Michael Moorer, 26, to win the heavyweight title 20 years after he last won it. He retired in 1997 to private life.
In recent times, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was undefeated in 41 bouts and has won 25 by knockout before retiring in 2008. Predictably, he returned to the ring in 2009, beating Juan Manuel Marquez in 12 rounds. He has since defeated Shane Mosley in a unanimous decision. He is considered by many to be the best pound for pound boxer in the world, and is looking for his next big money bout.
Former basketball star Michael Jordan is still considered to be among the greatest players of all time. He announced his retirement in 1993 after the murder of his father. To honour his father’s wish for him to play baseball, he joined White Sox minor league team for a year.
Rumours said his retirement was conceived to hide his gambling problem. On March 18, 1995, Jordan returned to basketball, wearing the number 45 for the Bulls. He won three more championships and retired again in 1999. For the second time, he returned to the game in 2001, playing for Washington before finally retiring in 2003.
Magic Johnson left basketball in 1991 after testing positive for HIV. But he returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game and after complaints from fellow players for fear of being infected, Johnson announced his retirement again. In 1996, he returned to star for the Lakers, playing 32 matches before retiring finally.
In 1996, cyclist Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer at 25, forcing him to retire from racing early. But he returned in 1998, finishing fourth in the Vuelta a España, and then went on to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles. After winning the seveth, in 2005, Armstrong officially retired from pro cycling. He came back to the sport once again in 2009, racing to raise awareness about global cancer.
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