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Top Ten Sporting Retirements of 2014

  • Dean Cox is a West Coast legend, playing a club reocrd 290 games. Widely considered as the best ruckman in the competition throughout his career, he won a premiership in 2006 and was named All-Australian six times, including four consecutive years from 2005-2008.
    1/11

    Dean Cox

    Dean Cox is a West Coast legend, playing a club reocrd 290 games. Widely considered as the best ruckman in the competition throughout his career, he won a premiership in 2006 and was named All-Australian six times, including four consecutive years from 2005-2008.
  • The legendary fullback announced he would draw the curtain on his illustrious 15-year NRL career at the end of the 2014 season. Mini played 302 games with the Sydney Roosters, the most by any player in the club's history. He won the 2002 and 2013 premierships and was the Golden Boot Award winner in 2005 as the International Player of the Year.
    2/11

    Anthony Minichiello

    The legendary fullback announced he would draw the curtain on his illustrious 15-year NRL career at the end of the 2014 season. Mini played 302 games with the Sydney Roosters, the most by any player in the club's history. He won the 2002 and 2013 premierships and was the Golden Boot Award winner in 2005 as the International Player of the Year.
  • Brent Tate will be remebered as one of the nicest blokes in league as well as one of the most courageous. His career could have ended several times with major injuries but he kept coming back and was an integral part of Queensland's eight straight series wins in Origin. He also played 229 first grade games with Brisbane, the Warriors and the Cowboys and won the 2006 premiership with the Broncos.
    3/11

    Brent Tate

    Brent Tate will be remebered as one of the nicest blokes in league as well as one of the most courageous. His career could have ended several times with major injuries but he kept coming back and was an integral part of Queensland's eight straight series wins in Origin. He also played 229 first grade games with Brisbane, the Warriors and the Cowboys and won the 2006 premiership with the Broncos.
  • Former freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan announced his immediate retirement from competitive swimming due to ongoing shoulder injury concerns. Once holder of the 50m and 100m freestyle world records, West Australian Sullivan - who won two Olympic silver medals in Beijing - had been plagued by shoulder issues in recent times.
    4/11

    Eamon Sullivan

    Former freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan announced his immediate retirement from competitive swimming due to ongoing shoulder injury concerns. Once holder of the 50m and 100m freestyle world records, West Australian Sullivan - who won two Olympic silver medals in Beijing - had been plagued by shoulder issues in recent times.
  • Harry Kewell is widely ragarded as our most talented footballer of all time and our greatest footballing export. Although his career was blighted by injury and inconsistency, there was never any doubting his talent. He played for Leeds, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa and Melbourne Heart at club level, winning a Champions league medal with Liverpool in 2005. For the Socceroos he played 58 times, scoring 17 goals, the most memorable of which was against Croatia at the 2006 World Cup. The goal saw the Socceroos proceed to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first and only time.
    5/11

    Harry Kewell

    Harry Kewell is widely ragarded as our most talented footballer of all time and our greatest footballing export. Although his career was blighted by injury and inconsistency, there was never any doubting his talent. He played for Leeds, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa and Melbourne Heart at club level, winning a Champions league medal with Liverpool in 2005. For the Socceroos he played 58 times, scoring 17 goals, the most memorable of which was against Croatia at the 2006 World Cup. The goal saw the Socceroos proceed to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first and only time.
  • Arguably the greatest all-rounder the game has ever seen, Jacques Kallis was a giant of South African cricket. In 166 Tests for South Africa he amassed 13289 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Pointing, at an average of more than 55. He also picked up 292 Test wickets. He is the only player to have scored more than 11,000 runs and taken 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
    6/11

    Jacques Kallis

    Arguably the greatest all-rounder the game has ever seen, Jacques Kallis was a giant of South African cricket. In 166 Tests for South Africa he amassed 13289 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Pointing, at an average of more than 55. He also picked up 292 Test wickets. He is the only player to have scored more than 11,000 runs and taken 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
  • Jonathan Brown's career list of achievemnets makes for impressive reading. The former Brisbane Lions captain is a three-time club best and fairest winner, two-time All Australian (2007 and 2009), a Coleman Medallist and three-time AFL premiership player. But more than awards, Brown will be remembered for his courage and passion at the Lions. It is a huge loss for the club.
    7/11

    Jonathan Brown

    Jonathan Brown's career list of achievemnets makes for impressive reading. The former Brisbane Lions captain is a three-time club best and fairest winner, two-time All Australian (2007 and 2009), a Coleman Medallist and three-time AFL premiership player. But more than awards, Brown will be remembered for his courage and passion at the Lions. It is a huge loss for the club.
  • Jonny Wilkinson brought the curtain down on a stunning career by helping Toulon to their first Top 14 success in 22 years. He is one of the true greats of English rugby. Wilkinson was an integral member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning England squad, scoring the winning drop-goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final (pictured). He then came back from several injuries to lead England to the final of the 2007 World Cup.
    8/11

    Jonny Wilkinson

    Jonny Wilkinson brought the curtain down on a stunning career by helping Toulon to their first Top 14 success in 22 years. He is one of the true greats of English rugby. Wilkinson was an integral member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning England squad, scoring the winning drop-goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final (pictured). He then came back from several injuries to lead England to the final of the 2007 World Cup.
  • Li Na retired at the top of her game. She reached her highest ever ranking of World No.2 in February this year, after winning the Australian Open, but chronic knee injuries forced her hand. She also won the 2011 French Open and in doing so became the first women's player from Asia to win a major. One of the tour's most well-liked players, she was also one of China's highest paid athletes.
    9/11

    Li Na

    Li Na retired at the top of her game. She reached her highest ever ranking of World No.2 in February this year, after winning the Australian Open, but chronic knee injuries forced her hand. She also won the 2011 French Open and in doing so became the first women's player from Asia to win a major. One of the tour's most well-liked players, she was also one of China's highest paid athletes.
  • Sydney champion Ryan O'Keefe announced his retirement after 286 games with Sydney Swans. O'Keefe won two permierships with Sydney, in '05 and '12. In the 2012 decider he also won the Norm Smith Medal for best afield. He won the Bob Skilton Medal in 2009 and was an All Australian in 2006. His huge engine and commitment made up for a lack of szie and speed, he was every part a 'Blood'.
    10/11

    Ryan O'Keefe

    Sydney champion Ryan O'Keefe announced his retirement after 286 games with Sydney Swans. O'Keefe won two permierships with Sydney, in '05 and '12. In the 2012 decider he also won the Norm Smith Medal for best afield. He won the Bob Skilton Medal in 2009 and was an All Australian in 2006. His huge engine and commitment made up for a lack of szie and speed, he was every part a 'Blood'.
  • Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice announced her retirement from swimming this year. The 25-year-old won three gold medals with three world record times at the 2008 Beijing Games, but a series of shoulder operations prevented her from reaching the same heights at the 2012 London Games.
    11/11

    Stephanie Rice

    Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice announced her retirement from swimming this year. The 25-year-old won three gold medals with three world record times at the 2008 Beijing Games, but a series of shoulder operations prevented her from reaching the same heights at the 2012 London Games.
Dean Cox is a West Coast legend, playing a club reocrd 290 games. Widely considered as the best ruckman in the competition throughout his career, he won a premiership in 2006 and was named All-Australian six times, including four consecutive years from 2005-2008.
The legendary fullback announced he would draw the curtain on his illustrious 15-year NRL career at the end of the 2014 season. Mini played 302 games with the Sydney Roosters, the most by any player in the club's history. He won the 2002 and 2013 premierships and was the Golden Boot Award winner in 2005 as the International Player of the Year.
Brent Tate will be remebered as one of the nicest blokes in league as well as one of the most courageous. His career could have ended several times with major injuries but he kept coming back and was an integral part of Queensland's eight straight series wins in Origin. He also played 229 first grade games with Brisbane, the Warriors and the Cowboys and won the 2006 premiership with the Broncos.
Former freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan announced his immediate retirement from competitive swimming due to ongoing shoulder injury concerns. Once holder of the 50m and 100m freestyle world records, West Australian Sullivan - who won two Olympic silver medals in Beijing - had been plagued by shoulder issues in recent times.
Harry Kewell is widely ragarded as our most talented footballer of all time and our greatest footballing export. Although his career was blighted by injury and inconsistency, there was never any doubting his talent. He played for Leeds, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al-Gharafa and Melbourne Heart at club level, winning a Champions league medal with Liverpool in 2005. For the Socceroos he played 58 times, scoring 17 goals, the most memorable of which was against Croatia at the 2006 World Cup. The goal saw the Socceroos proceed to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first and only time.
Arguably the greatest all-rounder the game has ever seen, Jacques Kallis was a giant of South African cricket. In 166 Tests for South Africa he amassed 13289 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Pointing, at an average of more than 55. He also picked up 292 Test wickets. He is the only player to have scored more than 11,000 runs and taken 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
Jonathan Brown's career list of achievemnets makes for impressive reading. The former Brisbane Lions captain is a three-time club best and fairest winner, two-time All Australian (2007 and 2009), a Coleman Medallist and three-time AFL premiership player. But more than awards, Brown will be remembered for his courage and passion at the Lions. It is a huge loss for the club.
Jonny Wilkinson brought the curtain down on a stunning career by helping Toulon to their first Top 14 success in 22 years. He is one of the true greats of English rugby. Wilkinson was an integral member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning England squad, scoring the winning drop-goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final (pictured). He then came back from several injuries to lead England to the final of the 2007 World Cup.
Li Na retired at the top of her game. She reached her highest ever ranking of World No.2 in February this year, after winning the Australian Open, but chronic knee injuries forced her hand. She also won the 2011 French Open and in doing so became the first women's player from Asia to win a major. One of the tour's most well-liked players, she was also one of China's highest paid athletes.
Sydney champion Ryan O'Keefe announced his retirement after 286 games with Sydney Swans. O'Keefe won two permierships with Sydney, in '05 and '12. In the 2012 decider he also won the Norm Smith Medal for best afield. He won the Bob Skilton Medal in 2009 and was an All Australian in 2006. His huge engine and commitment made up for a lack of szie and speed, he was every part a 'Blood'.
Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice announced her retirement from swimming this year. The 25-year-old won three gold medals with three world record times at the 2008 Beijing Games, but a series of shoulder operations prevented her from reaching the same heights at the 2012 London Games.
Yahoo Sport Australia

Each year we say goodbye to some of our favourite sports stars as they withdraw from their chosen field. This is our list of sporting greats to retire in 2014.