Does anyone else

[M138]

hear a footballer’s name and be surprised they’re still playing.
The latest one from me is Barcelona’s goalie Szczesney, seems like years ago he was playing for Arsenal (which I know it was) but I would’ve assumed he’s long retired.
It happens quite a lot with me in these European competitions.

[Radec]

He did retire for a bit until Barca came calling.

Think Santi Cazorla, Pepe Reina and Blackburn fave Roque Santa Cruz are still playing.

[Olivera]

What happened to footballers being over the hill at 30, then being utterly past it and retired by 33-34?

Now we have players like Modric, Giroud and Ronaldo playing at a phenomenal level until 36/37+

[Blackpuddin]

Sommer at the other end played a blinder in that match last night and he's 36. Fantastic game.

[SWoll]

Olivera said:

What happened to footballers being over the hill at 30, then being utterly past it and retired by 33-34?

Now we have players like Modric, Giroud and Ronaldo playing at a phenomenal level until 36/37+

Conditioning and sports science. Modern players take much better care of themselves than they used to and get great advice from teams of experts.

Genetics obviously plays a part, but without the above they'd sill stand little chance.

Blackpuddin said:

Sommer at the other end played a blinder in that match last night and he's 36. Fantastic game.

Keepers have always had the longest careers. Buffon made it to 45 and 500 clean sheets.

Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 7th May 09:18

[Skyedriver]

In addition, whilst their speed may slow a little, their eye for what's happening in the game, reading the opposition and general skill level can increase with age. Injury or recovery time can be the cause of players retiring. Or they get offered a job as a pundit without the worries.

[48k]

Jamie Vardy

[LastPoster]

Olivera said:

What happened to footballers being over the hill at 30, then being utterly past it and retired by 33-34?

Now we have players like Modric, Giroud and Ronaldo playing at a phenomenal level until 36/37+

You know how photos of mulleted and moustachioed players from the 70s pop up on Facebook showing them smoking a fag in the dressing room at half time? And everyone comments about how cool there were, ‘proper players’ etc. That’s why they were done by 35.

Much wider than that, but also if you read ‘The Secret Footballer’ he talks about the relentlessly dull diet plans etc as well.

[M138]

Olivera said:

What happened to footballers being over the hill at 30, then being utterly past it and retired by 33-34?

Now we have players like Modric, Giroud and Ronaldo playing at a phenomenal level until 36/37+

Seems decades since Modric played for Spurs.
On the other end of the scale, Kane seems like he’s been playing for five minutes and he’s 31 now.

[W i d e body]

48k said:

Jamie Vardy

His missus has a few bills still to pay

[MarkT17]

I don't watch Italian footy so was quite surprised with Mkhitaryan (cut and pasted lol) being on the pitch the other night for Inter - I was watching it on my phone and assumed it was his son until it finally did a close up He's now 36 and in a UCL final, nice!

[ChocolateFrog]

MarkT17 said:

I don't watch Italian footy so was quite surprised with Mkhitaryan (cut and pasted lol) being on the pitch the other night for Inter - I was watching it on my phone and assumed it was his son until it finally did a close up He's now 36 and in a UCL final, nice!

Same.

[M138]

MarkT17 said:

I don't watch Italian footy so was quite surprised with Mkhitaryan (cut and pasted lol) being on the pitch the other night for Inter - I was watching it on my phone and assumed it was his son until it finally did a close up He's now 36 and in a UCL final, nice!

Exactly.
As an Arsenal fan with supposedly a team full of youthful football talent here’s an ex-Arsenal player who was surplus to requirements at Man Utd and Arsenal getting to the final that the current Arsenal team couldn’t.