Premier League - Famous comebacks from injury

Eurosport - Wed, 18 Feb 10:02:00 2009

Eduardo da Silva's triumphant return to action following a year out through injury has left the Arsenal striker with high hopes of regaining his best form.

FOOTBALL 1982 World Cup 1982 France Patrick Battiston injury - 0

But the Croat is not the only one to have made a successful recovery from a terrible injury.

Here we take a look at several other top players who have managed to continue playing at the highest level despite career-threatening knocks - before we highlight a few who were not so lucky in the link under the photo.

Bobby Charlton - Whilst the physical injuries sustained by Charlton were not as severe as some others who survived the horror of the 1958 Munich air disaster, the England legend was nevertheless hospitalised for a week with cuts to his head and severe shock. He recovered, outwardly at least, and went on to become European player of the year, win the World Cup and write his name into folklore at Manchester United. Surely one of the greatest recovery stories of all time.

Patrick Battiston (pictured) - After suffering the mother of all on-field injuries - he slipped into a coma after a sickening collision with Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher at the 1982 World Cup left him unconscious, with damaged vertebrae and minus several teeth - the France defender made a miraculous comeback to win four French league titles and two Coupes de France. The recovery was even more impressive considering Michel Platini thought his team-mate was dead at the time of the injury.

Henrik Larsson - The haunting image of Larsson's leg snapping in two places during Celtic's UEFA Cup tie against Lyon in the 1999-2000 season will stay with those who witnessed it for years to come, but the Swede defied the odds and managed to come back from the injury better than ever. Following his return on the final day of the same season, Larsson went on to lead Celtic to a domestic Treble the season after, winning European football's Golden Boot on his way to eventually becoming Celtic's record goalscorer with 242 goals.

Jimmy Bullard - Cruciate ligament injuries may not be what they once were given the advances in recent medical technology but nevertheless the knock suffered by the then-Fulham player against Newcastle back in 2006 was bad enough to raise doubts over his future. But the tenacious midfielder not only came back, he came back better, becoming his team's most influential player and winning an England call-up two years later. His current status? Most likely out for the season with another knee injury.

Petr Cech - Public concern for the Chelsea keeper's health after a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt in 2006 left him with a fractured skull was unprecedented. Would he survive? Would he walk again, let alone play again? The giant Czech answered those questions in emphatic style by returning to action after three months out and going on to keep eight successive league clean sheets later on that season. He still wears his protective head guard.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 22 - 41 of 41

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  1. eudardo deserved it for playin 4 arsnel

    From Ruben, on Sun 22 Feb 10:39AM

  2. Eduardo's injury was sickening and it looked­ possible than he may loose his foot. Of course other­ people have had injuries and many have come back, they­ all deserve credit.

    People who complain about others­ giving credit are mentally injured and there is no­ chance of a comeback for them.

    How about Steven Hendry­ winning the Snooker World Championship with a broken­ elbow in a sling???

    From Giskard, on Sun 22 Feb 1:24AM

  3. i was expecting Brazilian Ronaldo's comeback and­ winning the world cup and becoming top goal scorer? He­ broke his leg twice in his career yet he is playing as­ wel speak. Doesnt Mike Hytner know enough about­ football? Bullard has done more than El Phenomeno???? ­ LOL

    From Unknown U, on Wed 18 Feb 3:52PM

  4. I can see the headlines now -

    "Riise In Horrific­ Shot Shock!"

    Brilliant...

    From purple_hatstand, on Wed 18 Feb 9:39AM

  5. Alan Smith?

    That shot he bravely blocked from Riise­ was horrific and left him with severe injuries

    From jusstinn, on Wed 18 Feb 9:17AM

  6. what about diaby vs sunderland dislocated ankle and­ broken tibia

    From greek_and_proud2000, on Wed 18 Feb 8:58AM

  7. Where is Djibril Cisse on the long list. I think­ someone is missing something here. This is not an­ injury to forget at all. Two double leg breaks.........

    From Foluso, on Wed 18 Feb 8:46AM

  8. hajiay - knee injury?? Do me a favour!! this article is­ about career threatening injuries not some slight­ twinge that most other players wouldn't even­ notice.

    From Ashley B, on Wed 18 Feb 5:08AM

  9. Good for Eduardo....

    From Zaqueman, on Wed 18 Feb 4:51AM

  10. Cisse's was horrific.

    From Aaron C, on Wed 18 Feb 1:18AM

  11. Hey man how could you forgot Ronaldo? Knee injury and­ come back and after 12 minutes gone back but come back­ to win a world cup and Fifa player of the year.

    From Haji Abdullah, on Wed 18 Feb 12:27AM

  12. re:27 Tom.Burton Yes, you're right. Most notably­ he ended Patrick Vieira's Arsenal career. During­ that tunnel confrontation Vieira visibly cr*pped­ himself on live television and was too afraid to stay­ in the EPL.
    I can't think of any other career he­ ended though.

    From Gearoid, on Tue 17 Feb 11:40PM

  13. esther.melvyn me heart goes out to you but you've­ made me feel better!
    Greatest comeback for me has­ to be P.Battiston bar none.
    H.Schumacher should­ have gone direct to jail,filth.

    From treeman, on Tue 17 Feb 10:16PM

  14. Sorry for going off-topic, but Comment 25 is one of the­ funniest posts I've read here. Hahaha mate I feel­ the pain.

    On a serious note, Roy Keane's comeback­ is of note, so is the brazilian Ronaldo's, but­ Jimmy Bullard? Really? His comeback is neither­ spectacular nor complete.

    From r00ney10, on Tue 17 Feb 9:16PM

  15. How about Pele? Portugal knocked out Brasil in 1966­ World Cup after Pele was hacked several times. He then­ vowed never to play in another World Cup. However, in­ 1970, he came back to show the world Brasil is the best­ footballing nation by becoming the first team to win­ the World Cup thrice.

    From angelodalpra, on Tue 17 Feb 8:49PM

  16. re: No.1 Gearoid: Roy Keane was even better at ending­ other footballer's carears!

    From tom.burton5, on Tue 17 Feb 8:45PM

  17. you all need to join da world' s best, if you want­ da best thing! (Man Utd 4ever)

    From olubu_dosumu, on Tue 17 Feb 7:47PM

  18. Bert Trautmann overshadows all the above mentioned!

    From Stephen, on Tue 17 Feb 7:41PM

  19. Christiano Ronaldo allegedly chipped a fingernail­ during a match but has since made a complete recovery!

    From Perry Neeham, on Tue 17 Feb 7:28PM

  20. PROBABLY THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL WAS WHEN MY­ MOTHER IN LAW ENTERED HOSPITAL WHEN SHE WAS 85 WITH A­ LIFE THREATENING CHEST COMPLAINT AND NOT EXPECTED TO­ LIVE WALKED OUT OF HOSPITAL 10 DAYS LATER TO CONTINUE­ TO WREAK HAVOC ON ALL THAT MET HER. SHE IS 92YR NOW AND­ EXPECTED TO OUTLIVE US ALL. OH DEATH WHERE IS THY­ STING? OH GRAVE THY VICTORY.

    From esther.melvyn, on Tue 17 Feb 7:27PM
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