It is now confirmed that Jurrien Timber has suffered a major ACL injury.
Whilst this might rule him out for the 2023/24 season, an ACL injury is no longer career ending. Many a player has returned from the injury to reach the pinnacle of the game.
Robert Pires
In 2002, Robert Pires won the Football Writers Player of the Year award, despite his season being curtailed in March due to an ACL injury.
Considered one of the most inform form players in World Football at the time of his injury, he sidelined for more than six months and missed out on the chance to play fir his country at the 2002 World Cup
Despite missing a third of the 2002/03 season with the injury, Pires would bag himself 14 league goals – the most in his career at that point.
In 2003/04, Pires would be a key component of Arsenal’s invincible winning team, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, a career high. The year after he would grab himself another 17 goals.
In the 4-years after his injury, Pires would average a goal every 2.7 games. In the 4-seasons before his injury, he was averaging a goal every 5.1 games.
Xavi
The best example of overcoming a major ACL injury and continuing to excel is arguably Xavi.
Xavi suffered an ACL injury in December 2005, necessitating surgery, and faced being left out of Spain’s World Cup squad the following year.
He returned quickly after only five months out and played his part to help Barcelona win La Liga. He was also selected forn the Spain squad for the 2006 World Cup.
After his injury, Xavi would go on to win six more La Liga titles, four Champions League medals, two European Championships, and one World Cup. He also holds the record for most appearances for Barcelona.
Zlatan Ibrahmovic
Recovering from an ACL is not just a young mans game.
At the age of 35 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, damaged his cruciate knee ligament in the penultimate minute of extra time in Manchester United’s second leg of the Europa League quarterfinal against Anderlecht in April 2017.
It was anticipated that he would be absent for a full year, but Zlatan being Zlatan only stayed away from the game for seven months before making a comeback.
“Lions don’t recover like humans” was the on-brand Zlatan remark.
In 2022, a few months shy of his 41st birthday, Zlatan would lead AC Milan to their first league title. That would be Rossoneri’s first league title in 11 years. Leading the line for them in 2011 was, you guessed it, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in 1992, during his first season with Blackburn Rovers.
The following year, Shearer made a comeback and scored 31 goals. He outperformed that the next year, scoring 34 goals to help Blackburn win the Premier League.
He remains the all-time leading scorer in Premier League history with 260 goals.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
In 2000, Ruud van Nistelrooy saw a record breaking transfer to Manchester United collapse after failing his medical.
Shortly after, he tore his ACL in training for PSV.
A year later, having recovered from the injury, the deal would resurrect itself and the Dutchman would join Manchester United for £19 million.
In 219 games for Manchester United, Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals, helping the club win the Premier League, League Cup, and FA Cup. He also helped Real Madrid win La Liga twice.
In total, he would score 236 goals in 391 games post injury for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Hamburg and Malaga before retiring at 36.
Roy Keane
One of the most infamous moments in Premier League history had its origins 4 years earlier.
During a niggly game against Leeds United, Manchester United captain Roy Keane clashed with Alf-Inge Haaland throughout.
Out of frustration, Keane would attempt to trip his rival towards the end of the game. His studs would get caught in the turf and he ended up tearing his cruciate ligament. Keane would miss the rest of the 1997/98 season. His absence sorley missed as Arsenal would overhaul Manchester United to win the title.
Keane would return for the 1998/99 season and lead Manchester United to the treble (although he missed the Champions League final due to suspension).
After his injury, Keane would captain the side to 4 league titles and two FA Cups.
Four years after injuring himself, Keane would look to seek his misguided revenge and end Haaland’s career with a horror tackle during a Manchester derby.
In Keane’s autobiography, he admitted he went out to deliberately hurt Haaland: “I’d waited long enough. I hit him hard.”
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 