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It is a commonly held belief that wine gets better with age. If we were to apply this belief to the sporting world, then one would find that it holds true as well. The Barclays Premier League provides the best example of this phenomenon.
The 2013/2014 season is filled with veteran players whose contributions to their respective clubs are immeasurable. Paraphrasing Lord Tennyson’s famous poem The Brook, ‘Players may come and players may go, but veterans go on forever’.
Here is a list of players who are 33 years old or above and are still currently plying their trade in the Premier League.
10. Mark Schwarzer
Club: Chelsea FCAge: 40
The towering Australian goalkeeper is the oldest player on this list. Schwarzer began his professional career at Marconi Stallions at the age of 19. He then went on to play for Dynamo Dresdean and FC Kaiserslauten. He came to prominence after he joined Middlesborough in 1997 where he made a huge impact. He produced several stellar performances for the Teeside club, including a great effort in the 2004 League Cup final that ‘Boro eventually won. He was also part of the squad that reached the UEFA Cup final against Sevilla. While at ‘Boro, Schwarzer became the Premier League’s longest serving foreigner at a single club, eclipsing Dennis Bergkamp’s record for Arsenal.
He subsequently moved to Fulham where he produced some outstanding performances and again featured as the custodian in another UEFA Cup/Europa League final. His impressive displays caught the eye of Arsenal who tried to sign him on multiple occasions but failed to do so. He then moved to Fulham’s West London neighbours Chelsea for the 2013-2014 season. Appearances may be few and far between for the Australian from now on but he still remains a class act.
9. Kevin Phillips
Club: Crystal PalaceAge: 40
He’s one of the ultimate journeymen in English football having represented Watford, Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Blackpool and Crystal Palace. The small yet infinitely talented English forward has carved a name for himself. A former Premier League Golden Boot and European Gold Shoe winner, the only Englishman to hold the latter honour it must be mentioned, Phillips has seen and done it all in football.
He won plaudits for his 30-goal season in 1999/2000 and went on to break Sunderland’s post-war goal scoring record the following year. Now, in the twilight of his career, he has a chance for one last hurrah with London club Crystal Palace, managed by the ever effervescent Ian Holloway, as he links up with Chamakh and co.
8. Craig Bellamy
Club: Cardiff CityAge: 34
The talented yet troublesome Welsh forward has garnered a bit of a reputation of being a bad boy on the football pitch. His disputes with both managers and players are well documented. His most famous run-in was with fellow team mate John Arne Riise before a crucial Champions League game versus Barcelona. Yet, despite all the negativity surrounding him, Bellamy has always delivered. He put his dispute with Riise to one side, scored once and set up another goal for, you guessed it, Riise as Liverpool claimed a historic result at the Nou Camp.
His electric pace and vicious shot has garnered much appreciation. Despite all his problems, he has made telling contributions to almost every club he has represented and that is the mark of a good player. Now back at his beloved Cardiff City, he will be hoping to make one final bow before setting off into the sunset of retirement.
7. Jussi Jääskeläinen
Club: West Ham UnitedAge: 38
The second goal keeper on the list is the man with multiple Umlauts in his name. The Finnish goalkeeper has quite a reputation at Bolton Wanderers, having represented them 527 times before joining current club West Ham United. His performances between the sticks have been nothing short of marvellous over the years. A double save he made against Man United came third in a poll of best saves in the last 20 years of the Premier League. If only he had played for a Top 4 club, his legendary status would have been cemented with a glut of silverware.
6. Giorgos Karagounis
Club: Fulham FCAge: 36
The combative Greek midfielder has gained quite a cult reputation at Fulham where his energy, enthusiasm and passion has rubbed off well with the Fulham faithful. Having played for Greek giants Pananthinaikos and other European super powers like Internazionale and Benfica, one does expect some class from the Greek superstar.
Karagounis was also a part of the now fabled Greek side that shocked Europe, if not the world, by winning Euro 2004. His performances for Fulham have also earned him many plaudits. Recently, in the game against Arsenal, his substitute appearance sparked on a mini revival for the West London club, who came within a whisker of taking the 3 points from Arsenal. The Greeks are known for their mythological characters and if football had its own mythology, then Karagounis would feature as one of those Greek heroes.
5. Sylvain Distin
Club: Everton FCAge: 35
The French centre-back has formed the backbone of Everton’s defence for many a season now. The former Portsmouth and Manchester City man has a calm and composed stature at all times and has marshalled the Everton defence with aplomb. His performances this season too have been excellent. He now holds the record of the most number of appearances for a foreign outfield player with 402 appearances.
He was also named Everton’s player of the season last year and was vice captain of the Portsmouth side that lifted the FA Cup in 2008. Having signed a 1-year deal, the Toffees have a stable head at the heart of their defence in the new Martinez era.
4. Rio Ferdinand
Club: Manchester United FCAge: 34
When Manchester United broke the bank in 2002 by paying a world record fee of £30 million to secure the Englishman’s signature, many baulked at the price tag. Yet, despite having the tag of being the most expensive defender ever transferred in the EPL, Ferdinand has not let the pressure get to him.
A Manchester United legend whose career is littered with silverware and plaudits, Rio has made sure he will be remembered fondly by the Old Trafford faithful. A product of the prestigious West Ham Academy, Rio first caught the eye quite early on and that is what prompted Leeds to purchase the player for £18 million, a then British transfer record. Ferdnand’s career has gone from strength to strength and he is currently United’s main man in defence. Despite a dip in form, he rose to prominence again last season in a great year for the club that ended in a 20th league title. He still has a lot of gas left in his tank or so the United fans will be hoping.
3. Frank Lampard
Club: Chelsea FCAge: 35
Another product of the West Ham Academy, Frank Lampard is a legend at Chelsea having recently become the club’s highest goal scorer and also holds the honour of being the only midfielder to have scored more than 150 goals in the EPL. His performances last season for Chelsea at a ripe old age of 34 earned him much praise as there had been a lot of talk of him moving elsewhere. It just goes to show that form is temporary but class is permanent.
One of the Chelsea ‘old boys’ along with John Terry, Lampard has managed to retain his place in an ever changing Chelsea midfield. His presence at the club along with Terry has also maintained a much needed stability in the Chelsea side that has seen a merry-go-round of managerial changes in recent years. He has won a host of honours with the Blues and was also the captain when they won the European Cup in Munich. Mourinho will be counting on Lampard’s expertise as he plots another title challenge.
2. Ryan Giggs
Club: Manchester United FCAge: 39
He’s the man who has defined Manchester United in the Premier League era and who has been a part of every Premier League title winning squad till now, the original Welsh Wizard; Ryan Giggs. To have maintained such a high level of fitness throughout his career such that Moyes chose him as a starter against Liverpool over Nani and Valencia is a testament to the great man’s abilities on the pitch.
One of the original fledglings of Sir Alex Ferguson, Giggs has matured into one of the most respected and lethal midfielders in the world. Having won 35 trophies as a player, he is an icon for the Manchester Club and is soon to be a manager himself, having already been appointed as a player/coach. There aren’t enough words to describe this one club man who, at 39, still looks like he is 26, tearing up the Arsenal defence in that famous FA Cup semi-final.
1. Steven Gerrard
Club: Liverpool FCAge: 33
The youngest player on this list, the Liverpool captain has been the epitome of what Liverpool is all about in recent years. The born and bred Liverpudlian that he is, Steven Gerrard is one of those players who shook the Kop. The 2012/2013 season saw him rise like a phoenix from the ashes and grab his most impressive career stats since the 2008/2009 season.
He remains as vital as ever for the Brendan Rodgers led Liverpool side. His strikes against Olympiacos and West Ham in the Champions league and FA Cup final respectively remain etched in people’s memories. 2005 was his year and Istanbul was the stage for his most epic feat yet. His goal inspired Liverpool to claw back what looked like an impossible deficit and the rest, as they say, is history.
Till date, he remains the only player ever to have scored goals in the finals of the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the UEFA Cup/Europa league. Currently the captain of the English national team as well, this could be a crucial season for Gerrard. And England and Liverpool fans will be hoping for his renaissance to be complete.
