Premier League / Mike Norman / 21 September 2008 / Leave a comment

Mike Norman looks at a few of the old stagers due to exit the Premier League soon and rates the effect it may have on their respective teams.

You know you're getting old when your back goes out more times than you do, or you sink your teeth into a nice steak... and they stay there!

Age catches up with everyone eventually, that's for certain, but at what age we decide to do things differently varies depending on what we do. At the age of 35 I've decided that it's time for me to stop doing something I've loved doing for decades, but unlike Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Sami Hyypia, it's a paper-round that I'm giving up and not a career in top-flight football!

There has been no formal announcement that the above named will be retiring sometime soon, but along with such celebrated stars as David James, Robbie Fowler, Dietmar Hamann, Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Dwight Yorke their age dictates that they will be 'bowing out' sooner rather than later. For the Premiership it means waving goodbye to some of the stars that helped showcase our league around the world, whilst for the fans it's farewell to players that will be forever idolised at the clubs they served.

In Manchester United's case ([4.0] to beat Chelsea later today and [4.1] to retain the title), the retirement of Giggs, Scholes and Neville will bring to an end arguably the greatest generation of 'kids' the game has ever seen. Alongside David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville they formed part of an incredible team that started winning silverware from the moment Alan Hansen famously announced: "You'll never win anything with kids".

Giggs will unquestionably go down as one of the Premiership's all-time greats, though his retirement won't affect United in the same way as it will when Scholes decides to hang up his boots.

Giggs is the most decorated player in British Football history and his retirement will be a celebration of his brilliance rather than a time for fans to mourn. Though still a great player, he doesn't have the same impact he once did and United aren't necessarily a weaker team when he isn't playing, albeit down to the fact that Nani, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo are wonderful players.

Scholes on the other hand is slightly different. If he were to retire at the end of the season (or perhaps join his first love Oldham Athletic) it would leave a gaping hole in the centre of United's midfield. Yes they have Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick, but they are yet to reach the standards so highly set by United's quiet man, and in Hargreaves and Carrick they seem to have two players plagued by injuries.

If it has anything to do with Scholes he will retire without a fuss, that's the type of guy he is, but the United fans will hail him as a legend, one of the best midfielders ever to pull on the famous shirt. It would be fitting if either he or Giggsy were to be crowned 'PFA Player of the Year' - if you think they're in with a chance, just ask for them to be added to the market and place your bet.

Liverpool's Hyypia is another player close to retirement and after ten years at the club it would be right for him to quit The Reds at the end of the season. To say he is the best central defender Liverpool have had since Hansen is a tribute in itself and he will be sorely missed on the red side of Merseyside. Liverpool are available at [11.0] to give Hyypia his first league title, though you can't help feel that their best chance of silverware remains in the cup competitions - they are [8.6] to win the FA Cup, [8.4] to win the Carling Cup, and [14.5] to win another Champions League.

Another Liverpool great, Robbie Fowler, is on probably his last contract at Blackburn Rovers and is unlikely to make any major impact in helping the club finish in the top six this season ([9.6] to do so). He has been controversial at times during his career and won't be missed by neutral fans as much as the likes of Giggs and Scholes, but his contribution to the Premiership down the years was often breathtaking and he will never be forgotten at Liverpool FC.

I doubt there's a fan in the country who won't miss players like David James and Dwight Yorke once they're retired. They have been tremendous value since the Premiership commenced and continue to play the game with enthusiasm and a smile. In James' case, he is arguably playing the best football of his career and he will be influential in helping Portsmouth finish in the top six this season - [3.95] currently available.

There have been many great players retire from our game and there will be many more in the future - all we can do as fans is thank them, whilst being a tad envious that, unlike me, they've never had to deliver a newspaper in anger during their lifetime.