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The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, and the point of exhaustion, when no one else is watching
- Mia Hamm
This quote came from a legendary American female soccer player. Watching stellar individuals make their mark on the game is one the reasons why we love football, why the sport is so glittering, breathtaking and beautiful. There is no greater joy than seeing talented youngsters make their mark on the field, winning accolades and providing great value to the hard working supporter’s money, but the memories that these players leave behind when they retire or approach the twilight of their glistening careers require special attention. As a football writer cum supporter, it is paramount to reflect on some of those individuals who are the epitome of our beautiful game, who continue to be shining stars despite advancing age. Here is profiling the top 5 veterans in modern football.
1. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United):
If ever there is one footballer who still has the urge to perform week in week out for his beloved Manchester United, it is none other than former Wales captain and the evergreen Old Trafford legend Ryan Giggs. ‘Giggsy’, as he is known to his fans and friends, is now 37 but his appetite to serve the Red Devils is second only to that of Sir Alex Ferguson who was the visionary who brought his most favourite football son to the Theatre of Dreams.
Born in Cardiff, Wales, Ryan Giggs can be compared to another United legend George Best for having the misfortune of not representing his country in any international event despite his ridiculous talent. Former Brazil coach Dunga once paid compliment to Giggs after Brazil’s 2-0 win over Wales at White Hart Lane in 2006 by stating that the mercurial left winger would not look out of place playing alongside the likes of Kaka and Ronaldinho. Such is the calibre of a player who has won everything in Manchester United colours, but never made it to the international stage to be bracketed alongside the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.
Maybe Giggs was born to be a Red Devil. Manchester United and Wales run in his veins and he has stated that if required in an emergency, he would return to international duty. Sir Alex has immense trust on his ageing veteran. He might not be in his prime anymore, but on dire situations the legendary manager can call upon his most trusted general to guide the younger players both in the league and in Europe.
The fact as to why Ryan Joseph Giggs is still considered one of the best wingers of all time came to light once again when he rescued United against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League group match with a trademark solo goal at the Estadio da Luz a couple of weeks ago. The Red Devils were outplayed by the home side at that point until United’s longest serving player came up with his legendary ingenuity in front of goal in his first start of the season, thus becoming the oldest Champions League scorer, breaking his own record in the process.
Having signed a one year contract extension last season until June 2012, Ryan Giggs OBE is still the man to call upon when the chips are down. The normally media shy and soft spoken Welshman also became the first man ever to score in sixteen different Champions League seasons when he scored in Lisbon, surpassing another legend of the game, Raul Gonzalez, who was tied with him on fifteen seasons. Who can forget the Welsh wizard running sixty yards marauding past a hapless Arsenal defence and David Seaman to score the best ever FA Cup goal in the epic 1999-2000 FA Cup semi final in Villa Park which proved to be the first giant step in United’s historic treble winning season! A man who has given fans of the game numerous such memories to cherish, Giggsy is still going strong.
A disciplinarian to the core, Giggs has never been sent off playing for United after more than 600 appearances to date and at 37 years of age the man still looks for improvement having won two Champions Leagues, twelve Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, four League Cups, eight Community Shields, one Super Cup, one intercontinental cup, one FIFA Club World Cup and sixty four caps for his beloved Wales in a senior career spanning more than two decades at the heart of the Manchester United folklore.
“In the next 15 to 20 years everybody will be saying Ryan Giggs is the greatest player to ever play for Manchester United. Bobby Charlton was one of the people who took [manager] Alex Ferguson along to see a young Ryan Giggs training and his eyes just lit up on seeing the young player – and I’m talking about when he was 15, and he’s still going 22 years later. Sometimes great players can be great players at 15 and 16 and then at 17 they’re gone, but this one is still going at 37 years of age.”
- Paddy Crerand
2. Miroslav Klose (Lazio and Germany)-
Vintage Klose
Considered one of international football’s greatest gifts, Miroslav Klose is more of an ‘national’ player nowadays rather than a club player. At his age, many players consider club football to be the only option to prolong a fledgling career, yet 33-year old Miroslav Klose is a rare personality who seems to find his best touch when playing for the German national team rather than having any appetite for the Champions League or the Europa League or even the domestic title.
Virtually a spectator with the Bayern Munich side for the whole of last season, the Poland born former Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen striker continued to surprise a lot of football analysts and supporters by finding the mark at will for Joachim Low’s Germany. The staggering 62 goals in 111 caps is a fantastic record for a player who has never been on the spotlight when it comes to club football.
Yet, speaking of club football, Klose was the most prolific Bundesliga striker in the 21st century with 123 goals in 309 appearances for Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich. But his fame lies with his adopted country. Even when the striker was struggling with Bayern, national team boss Joachim Low never discounted his most trusted sharp shooter from his plans. Such is the trust that Low had in his man that he assured the six feet tall Klose of a regular place in Euro 2012 qualifiers even before the campaign had started. Where modern international managers look for players having prolific seasons with their respective clubs, Mr. Low has immense faith on Miroslav Klose’s passion for playing for the national team.
The Euro 2012 qualification campaign has again vindicated Low’s decision to keep the 33-year old in his fantastically assembled young Die Mannschaft squad. Klose has scored at will in the qualifiers and such is his urge to play on at the international stage that the player has left Germany for the first time to join Lazio in order to keep himself match fit come the Euro 2012 finals.
Though never the most potent striker at the club level, Klose has always raised his game in high profile tournaments. His fourteen goals over the three World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2010 leave him just a goal behind the legendary Ronaldo’s record, and his 62 goals put him six behind Gerd Muller’s record of 68 for the national side. When asked why he always scores goals for Germany rather than Bayern Munich, the player was quoted as saying,
“Why do I score for Germany and not Bayern Munich I ask myself every time. Here I have more luck, which is lacking when I play for Bayern.”
After a decade of service to Germany since his debut against Albania on 24th March, 2001, the name of Miroslav Klose is deeply ingrained in German hearts as a legend of German football. With passion still running high in the veteran’s veins, Klose might have his eyes firmly on the 2014 World Cup where, if he keeps on playing, he would get the chance to beat Ronaldo. As of now, it is Euro 2012 all the way where Miroslav Klose and the whole German team would like to go one step further in lifting an international silverware for the first time since 1996.
3. Raul Gonzalez (Schalke 04)-
The Angel of Madrid has come a long way
“I hope he doesn’t like traveling. Failing that we will stop him entering the country. Real buy these big players like Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but I think the best player in the world is Raúl”
- Sir Alex Ferguson
Considered one of the most talented and respected footballers produced by Spain in the modern era, Raul Gonzalez Blanco is a pillar of Spanish and European football. With 550 appearances for Real Madrid and more than a century of caps for the national side, ‘The Angel of Madrid’ has a truly legendary status within the hallowed fields of the Santiago Bernabeu.
Released by cross town rivals Atletico in 1992 after the club decided to shut down the youth academy to cut down on costs, Real Madrid picked up the then 15 year old, and who would have thought that the silent assassin would go on to lift six La Liga titles and three Champions League medals among many other silverware! The love and respect for Raul, not only in Madrid but across the football world, is immense and the manner in which he conducted himself both on and off the field in the glamourous world of the Spanish capital is in itself truly commendable.
Raul has earned the unique distinction of not being sent off in his entire 17-year professional career and was duly appointed the undisputed leader of Real Madrid after another club and country legend, Fernando Hierro, passed on the baton. Captaining the club from 2003, Raul would go on to lead his side till the last day of his glittering Bernabeu career. He captained a host of legends at Madrid as he formed an integral part of the Galacticos, sharing the dressing room with the likes of Zidane, Figo and Beckham.
A man who was born to rule Europe, Raul still holds the record of the all-time highest goal tally in the Champions League which stands at 71 goals, while his closest competitor is Ruud van Nistelrooy at a distant 56 goals.
A true champion that he is, Raul decided to take up a new challenge and although Real coach Jose Mourinho wanted him to continue, the former Spanish captain bid an emotional goodbye to his eternal home and landed in the Ruhr valley of Germany in July, 2010 where the then Schalke 04 manager Felix Magath welcomed him to Gelsenkirchen. Magath left the club and entered Ralf Rangnick, yet the respect for the 34 year old striker never diminished in the heart of the German industrial belt.
The boy from San Cristobal in Madrid has now ingrained his legendary name in the hearts of German football fans with his ever present attacking prowess in front of the goal. Many younger players find it tough to adjust to the differing football climes of Spain and Germany, but with Raul that was never a problem. From the day he set foot on the Veltins Arena, he has been scoring freely; 17 goals in 41 appearances and setting up numerous others. His Midas touch has again come to the fore with struggling Schalke winning the DFB Pokal and the DFL Supercup, with the Spaniard at the forefront of the achievements. Winning the German Cup was a milestone for the player as Raul never won the Copa Del Rey in his 17 year long spell with Real Madrid.
The new season has again proved to be fruitful for both Schalke and Raul as the latter has formed a devastating strike partnership with Dutch talent and former Madrid player Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Given his performance for the Royal Blues, there is a talk of a further extension to his contract and as long as Raul keeps on performing at the highest of levels, his long list of admirers would keep on growing even after he hangs up his boots. Currently the highest scorer in all UEFA competitions, Raul never realized his potential with the Spanish national team. The player himself has sometimes spoken of his frustration for not able to deliver in major tournaments although he never had the chance to be a part of the current Spanish golden generation.
“When he plays, in his mind there is only the goal; it’s the football essence. Every time they do something, you stand up over your seat”
- Thierry Henry
4. Alessandro Nesta(AC Milan)-
The Grand old man of Milan
Very few modern football players are in the mould of 35-year old Alessandro Nesta, who is a true reflection of the age old tactical Italian defensive football play. Sometimes people wonder how Italian defenders tend to outlast every challenge of different eras and yet be considered as models for youngsters and stay on as legends in the country. Italy’s old guard never tend to leave home shores for lucrative challenges elsewhere, although things are starting to take a turn in the modern era. But the likes of Paolo Maldini and in this case, Alessandro Nesta, are genuine examples of home grown Italian stalwarts whose names would forever be celebrated by football fans across Italy and the world.
Standing at the twilight of a glittering career that has spanned for almost two decades in two clubs, Alessandro Nesta is the undisputed king of the Italian football system. Built and trained in the mould of former defensive partner and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, the former Lazio youth academy product is an amazing talent whose reputation is that of a man who is a role model for young and fellow professionals, a true great who has never backed off in the face of adversity and a defender who would be hard to replace at Milan once he decides to hang up his boots next season.
Having won a combined three Scudettos, three Coppa Italias, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup(Lazio) and two UEFA Champions League(AC Milan) with Lazio and Milan, Alessandro Nesta was also in the triumphant 2006 Italian World Cup winning squad in Germany, although he was injured in the last group game against the Czech Republic and sat out the rest of the tournament. Injuries have certainly put a halt to Nesta’s international career with Italy. Yet the player ended all speculation of him retiring at the end of last season from football by signing a one year contract extension with Milan till next summer.
His love for Milan and the beautiful game is second to none, and the fact that he has plenty left in the tank was portrayed in the Nou Camp a couple of weeks earlier when AC Milan played defending champions Barcelona in the Champions League in a classic game of defence vs. attack. Alessandro Nesta’s performance on the night against the likes of Pedro, Villa and Messi was vintage and one to savour for the rest of our lives. Nesta formed the centre of Milan’s old guard as they came away with an invaluable 2-2 draw from Catalonia. One moment that would summarize the whole of Alessandro Nesta’s reputation as one of the best, if not the best, in the modern era was a stunning tackle on a marauding Lionel Messi in front of the Milan goal. As the Argentinian raced to score, Milan’s favourite old boy was there to execute a challenge that was timed to perfection and dispossess the forward of the ball. Maybe for a blink of a moment Lionel Messi might have thought how hard it would be to put the ball in the net in the Italian Serie A where many defenders are following in Alessandro Nesta’s footsteps.
AC Milan’s defensive organization stunned the home side and the 35-year old Nesta produced a performance that proved once again there are few better defenders in the world than the Milan man and such nights are tailor-made for a fast disappearing star in the night sky.
5. Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan and Argentina)
“The true image of Zanetti is the one we saw in Moscow last night. If you ask me, he was the best player on the pitch. Especially in the first half, he showed that at the age of 38 he’s not only still a great player, he’s indispensable for any team.”
- Massimo Moratti on his club captain’s performance against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
Argentine international Javier Zanetti is undoubtedly Internazionale’s greatest legend, having surpassed Giuseppe Bergomi’s record of 756 games. Still vindicating his oil magnate owner’s aforementioned words, the versatile club captain is a force to reckon with even at the ripe old age of 38. Unlucky not to have won anything for Argentina, Zanetti is a man of little words, of great stature and a big heart. Brushing aside international disappointments of the last two World Cups when he was not selected for some unthinkable reasons, Il Capitano is still the undisputed midfield general of an Inter side that seems to have brushed aside early season rustiness.
The irony of this great man’s career is that he has lived out an entire era at the San Siro playing under 17 coaches, having been the first signing in the Massimo Moratti era, yet coaches in his national side have often sidelined him for weird reasons or playing him in unusual positions thus failing to bring the best out of this highly committed footballer. No one can question the former Banfield player’s dedication to football, and after 145 caps for his beloved country since making his debut way back in November 1994, Javier Zanetti has still not lost his appetite to do well for the Albiceleste.
His strength, stamina, vision, commitment and loyalty are a lesson for each and every Argentine youngster and even after two decades of non-stop football, Javier Zanetti is a model for any modern footballer. Considered the motor that runs Inter, versatility is the key for the midfielder/defender from Dock Sud in Buenos Aires. He is a talismanic figure of consistency that has experienced the highs and lows of Inter’s rise as a super power in Europe under the highly volatile Massimo Moratti.
Having played under seventeen coaches with equal distinction in a sixteen year spell in the blue half of Milan winning five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia, one Champions League and UEFA Cup each and one FIFA Club World Cup, Javier Zanetti is a legend that unfortunately would be remembered more for his club exploits rather than for his country where he has been a victim of Argentina’s lack of vision and tactical expertise from coaches who have failed to understand the player’s talent on the big stage. Still with Zanetti not hanging up his boots for his country and with lack of alternatives for new coach Alejandro Sabella, the Inter Milan captain might still be a man to call upon in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
6. Andrea Pirlo (Juventus and Italy)-
Elegance, vision and intelligence personified
“Pirlo is our silent leader, he lets his feet talk on his behalf”
- Marcelo Lippi
Nicknamed ‘Il Metronomo’ for the way he sets up his team’s attack in a rhythmic style, Andrea Pirlo is one of those rare breed of players who goes on doing his job in his own rhythmic way. The 32-year old Italian international has just joined a new look Juventus side in a brand new stadium joining up with old mate Alessandro del Piero. Prior to his move to Turin, the ten years spent at Italian champions Milan proved to be the making of Andrea Pirlo as a footballer that we all know.
Having started his career with Brescia, Pirlo moved to Milan but not with the Rossoneri instead joining arch rivals Internazionale. At Inter, no one noticed the full potential of a player who would go on to change the face of Italian football and redefine the very definition of a midfielder. For a decade, he was the brain of a successful AC Milan team winning Scudettos, Champions League, Coppa Italia and the Italian national team becoming the brainchild of the 2006 World Cup win in Germany
Still a part of the national team, Cesare Prandelli has Pirlo very much in his long term plans as the Azzurri prepare for an assault on the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. As with many of the old Italian guard, Andrea Pirlo goes on doing what he does best, and that is to play with passion, respect, humility and integrity.
A role model for many youngsters, the Lombardy born player is a class act in a true sense. His sense of passing defies logic as he has the ability to split defences in one single pass and make his 30 or 40 metre long passes land right on the feet of his team mates. A specialist in set pieces, the man’s play is full of elegance, grace and intelligence. Even at the age of 32, Juventus came calling at his door and although Milan were happy enough to keep him at the San Siro, Pirlo decided to take up a challenge with Antonio Conte’s ambitious Turin giants and the ‘old lady of Turin’ might just have made the signing of the season as the midfielder is already the motor behind the team’s strong start to the season.
His vision to link up with players up front is legendary and his fitness speaks volumes of the player’s and the Italian system’s ability to put the ageing factor well behind when it comes to football matters. He has lot to offer to the national side and if he is injury free through out the season, La Nazionale might just be heading to Poland and the Ukraine confident enough to stall the Spanish dominance in Europe.
