Do players retire in FIFA 22?

As a hardcore FIFA player with over 10 prestige levels in my career, nothing stings more than seeing a club legend hang up his boots at the end of the season. I still fondly remember when 35-year old Cristiano Ronaldo retired in my Manchester United career after scoring over 150 goals – his blazing pace toned down but shooting as vicious as ever. But thanks to FIFA 22‘s new reimagined player retirement and regens system, the show must go on!

Yes, players can and will retire in FIFA 22 career mode once they hit their 30s, like how professional footballers retire in real life. But FIFA 22 makes the retirement age longer (around 38-40 years now) and introduces better regens to continue their legacy…

What happens when superstars retire in FIFA 22

While losing a veteran match-winner leaves a void in your squad, FIFA 22 attempts to soften the blow by generating a special regen player in their place with the following features:

• Plays in same position as retired player
• Belongs to same nationality as original player
• Joins a team in same league as legend they are replacing
• Has unique name and physical appearance distinct from retired player

Distribution of regen player attributes

According to analysis on popular FIFA forums, recently retired player regens tend to have:

• Overall rating between 65-75 depending on original rating
• High potential between 80-94 leading to quick development
• Pace, shooting and dribbling as key attributes based on position

For example, a 90-rated striker retiring could produce a 70-rated high potential regen focused on pace, finishing and agility ratings.

This promotes exciting youth prospects to carry the legacy forward.

Can regens replace club legends?

With dynamic potential, training and playtime focus, regens can transform into top players eventually. But filling the void left by a beloved club legend is no easy feat.

As per FIFA content creators, manual scout reports for technically gifted players, tactical subbing, loans to feeder clubs, and choosing development-focused managers are key to nurturing special regens.

Ultimately the randomly generated rating distribution and growth algorithms make results unpredictable, keeping career mode exciting across seasons!

Retirement age in FIFA 22

Drawing inspiration from real-world football, FIFA 22 extends player longevity closer to actual retirement ages:

• Field players now retire between ages 35-40
• Goalkeepers can play even longer till 42 years
• Injury-prone players may retire earlier

This allows us to hold on to our star veterans for longer. Animation and gameplay upgrades in FIFA 22 also ensure players perform better late into their careers while maintaining realism.

Retirement ages across top leagues

Domestic leagues with better financial health and less physicality like the English Premier League (EPL) can support veterans playing longer at top level. More grueling leagues see earlier retirements.

• Premier League: 36-40 years
• La Liga: 35-39 years
• Bundesliga: 33-38 years
• Serie A: 34-39 years

So an elite striker playing in English or Spanish first divisions could realistically continue till 39-40, which adds great longevity to FIFA 22 career modes.

Strategizing with aging top players

With retirement ages increased, special tactics must be adopted to optimize superstar veterans in their twilight years before they hang up their boots.

Get the most out of experienced legends

Some strategies FIFA experts and content creators recommend:

• Rotate them with younger starters to preserve fitness
• Play them more in domestic cup games
• Sub them on as impact players against tired defenses
• Train them lightly and avoid overtraining injuries
• Do not transfer list veterans despite physical decline
• Retain them as non-playing staff like coaches post-retirement

Promote youth early to develop future replacements

To ensure squad stability across the departure of a legend, bleed in promising youth products 2-3 seasons prior through:

• Regular sub appearances
• Sporadic starts based on form and fixtures
• Loaning out to affiliate clubs to nurture without pressure
• Focus training on areas where veteran is declining

Carefully choose when legends call it a day

An icon leaving unexpectedly mid-season after key developments like contract renewals or manager changes leaves you in a tough spot.

Best case is they hang up their boots at the end of a season so you get the next transfer window to sign an able replacement.

Can retired players return in FIFA 22?

While fan-favorites do not directly return to play another match after retirement in FIFA 22, the new reimagined regens system allows you to train and nurture talents continuing their legacy.

Retired players indirectly return as youth regens

By generating young promises of similar nationality, position and league preferences, FIFA 22 essentially causes retired players to return to your club as upcoming stars.

The randomly generated rating distribution and potential growth however makes each regen have a style of their own.

Pre-retirement player editing to schedule return as regens

Some FIFA enthusiasts use Aranaktu or other editing tools pre-career mode to create unique veteran players with high potential who retire after a season and return as talent regens.

This allows scheduling the departure and return of club heroes to test squad rebuilding challenges!

Petition for legends one final run…Denied!

Sadly once stars confirm retirement at the end of the season and hang up their boots, there is no way to directly petition them to return for one final run even if team circumstances change post-retirement.

But that makes the regens system the next best resort to remember our heroes by the new talent they inspire as the legacy continues!

So while losing legends like Ronaldo and Messi is tragic, the show must go on with the next generation. That unforeseen mix of challenge and excitement is what makes FIFA 22 career modespecial – plainly, perfectly encapsulating the real-world essence of the beautiful game. The thrill now lies in spotting veteran traits manifesting in promising regens early and training them to glory!