Miserable Career finishes

Often great sport professionals have ended their career on low. Kings and immortals of sports have experienced huge slumps at their career ends. Here is a list....

Needing 4 runs to keep his average in three digits, Don Bradman was out for duck in his final Test match. He had to end his career with an average of 99.94. To his bad luck, he didn't get a chance to bat in the second innings, as Australia tumbled England by innings defeat.

Michael Schumacher, the greatest F1 driver ever, couldn't win championship title in his final two years, thanks to the fantastic rise of Fernando Alonso and Renault.

Though having a successful streak of tennis career, Andre Agassi couldn't carry on till the end. He lost to a 112th ranked guy in his last match.



Ian Thorpe, the 5 times Olympic gold winner had to end his career in the wake of prolonged illness.

Having won three world titles, Mohamed Ali's last appearance is often viewed by the critics as the fight of deteriorated Ali. He then succumbed to Parkinson disease.

Mike Tyson , the undefeated baddest man on the planet was blessed with losses, bankruptcy, court cases during his career end. Interestingly Tyson's 6 losses (of 58 total fights) were at his career end.

In his last world cup appearance, Diego Maradona the greatest foot baller ever was sent home after failing a drug test.

There are very few greats who managed to remain undefeated at the end.

Though facing a slump in his career end, Pete Sampras managed to win his last match which was an U.S. Open final.

Glenn Mcgrath is the luckiest cricketer to finish his career at career best, after Ashes clean sweep and World cup win. He exited as highest wicket taker in ODI's and world cup matches.

There are many more entries for the first list, if you consider Tendulkars and Gangulies of India as Greats. They have spent most of their career in lows and survived for a longer period because of their rare shows. It is always good to retire at the times, when people ask "Why are you retiring?" before they start asking "When are you retiring?"