Once you hit your thirties or so, getting older makes a convenient excuse for not performing well on the soccer field. But its still an excuse. I know this from personal experience. I am guilty of trying to justify my poor play with the phrase, "I'm getting too old." If that were true then that would free me from any accountability. It would mean that there is nothing I can do. I don't believe that.
There are a bunch of great players in their mid-thirties and even older that still contribute in some of the top leagues in the world. I created an All-World-Advanced-Age-Soccer-Team mainly for myself but I thought it would be fun to share it here. All of the players selected will be at least thirty-five this year.
Brian McBride, forward, 36 in June.
McBride, the Captain America of soccer is still one of the most dangerous aerial threats in the world. Although injuries have limited his playing time this season, he is the captain of his EPL club Fulham.
Filippo Inzaghi, forward, 35 in August.
"Pippo" Inzaghi continues to score goals for AC Milan in a league known for stingy defending. Just yesterday he scored a hat trick to raise his goal tally to nine in eighteen games this season.
Claude Makelele, midfield, 36 in February.
The Congo born player has redefined the holding midfield position, an unforgiving position in the EPL. Neither size nor age has prevented him from making seventeen appearances for Chelsea this season.
Luis Figo, midfield, 36 in November.
The Inter Milan midfielder has made seventeen appearances for the top team in the Italian Serie A. Rumor is that he will be coming to the United States to continue fooling defenders in the MLS next season.
Ryan Giggs, midfield, 35 in November.Giggs was just resigned by Manchester United to play through to 2009 despite his age. He was recently given the start over the young phenoms Anderson and Nani in United's important showdown with Chelsea.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco, midfield, 36 in January.
Mexico's most popular player made a big move to the Chicago Fire last season where he helped his team reach the Eastern Conference Final and was a finalist for league MVP. He has started all five games and has two goals so far this season.
Javier Zanetti, defender, 35 in August.
Zanetti leads his team Inter Milan, with thirty-two starts. This Argentine defender is known for joining the attack from his defensive position. Zanetti captains Inter Milan and the Argentinian national team.
Fabio Cannavaro, defender, 35 in September.
Cannavaro's contract with Real Madrid extends through next season. Despite standing just 5'9" tall he is considered one of the worlds best central defenders. Cannavaro is currently the captain of Italy.
Paolo Maldini, defender, 40 in June.Maldini is the elder statesman even on this team. He has seventeen appearances with AC Milan this season and has recently announced that he will play one more season next year with AC Milan.
Lilian Thuram, defender, 37 in January.
Thuram is a central defender for Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga. He has appeared in fifteen domestic and Champions League appearances this season.
Kasey Keller, Goalkeeper, 39 in November.
There are a lot of goalkeepers still getting the job done in their late thirties. I admit I selected Keller because he is not only American but because he played for the Portland Pilots. He is also one of the worlds best keepers.
These and many other players are proof that people can continue to play at a high level well into their thirties or even forties. One day, everyone is eventually put on notice by their body to slow down. But until then, easing off the throttle is a choice and not something forced upon us. Its shameful to be so eager to jump into a wheelchair and waste the precious gift of health and activity.
What do you think of this team? Could they compete?
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I think this team would be very tough on a one-game basis. Great goalkeeper. Great defenders.
I would choose Pavel Nedved from the Czech Republic over Blanco. I would choose an injured Nedved over Blanco. Nedved in front of Makalele would be brilliant.
I don't think that McBride would link well with Inzaghi, but what do I know? Maybe Inzaghi would be zipping around toeing balls into the net that McBride knocked down.
This team couldn't run and fight in the day-to-day schedule that the EPL has, but it would be a great team to play any other club team around. Go Old Dudes!
Kasey Keller is no good. I can't see the reasoning behind his selection for the US national team. What about Tim Howard? He is a much better keeper.
McBride no longer captains fulham.
And Kasey Keller a great goalkeeper? No way, he doesn't even make the Fulham first team.
He wouldn't even make the England team at present, and that's low.
Great team on paper. I've always admired Brian McBride since he came over here to England years ago, and it's a shame to see him going back to America.
As for the goalkeeper, I'd have to pick Edwin van der Sar over Kasey Keller.
Oh, and to the anon guy above me; Tim Howard's only 29.
Thanks for the comments. A reader across the Atlantic, yes! McBride is a stud and was Fulham's captain while he was there. Teammates and fans loved him there.
"As my captain last season Brian was truly respected in the dressing room and led by example on the pitch. The club would have liked Brian to stay for at least another year but respect the decision he has made."
I wish Landon had half the grit of McBride.
Keller played at Portland in college so he gets extra Oregon love.
Just so you know, Brian McBride is rubbish and he left Fulham this summer. Although he scored a header that kept Fulham up in the last game of the season, he definitely isn't "one of the most dangerous aerial threats in the world". You can tell by the fact he got sold. By Fulham. Try someone like Thierry Henry up front or Jan Koller. Both are a lot better than "Captain America". Hope this helps your football knowledge. You idiot.
Jan Koller would make a great bad guy for a James Bond movie. For clutch goals I'll stick with McBride who is leaving Fulham of his own acccord.
David James, if you want a good older keeper.
38 this year, in Portsmouths first team week in, week out, and is probably the number 1 choice for England at the moment despite younger goalies being around. Ok, so its only England, but its International football nonetheless and Capello isnt exactly short of keepers to choose from. I think he also holds the records for most number of premiership clean sheets, and was with Portsmouth when they broke the club record for most clean sheets in a season.
That said, many keepers play their best football well into their 30's, so its perhaps no surprise at its so easy to pick older, great keepers.
I think the easiest way to determine how good McBride was for Fullham is to look at their performance without him. They were a decent side last season, but couldn't get out of the relegation zone this season without him. He was their heart and soul and has gotten better with age.
I like it when 'really smart' people call other people idiots, and then can't get their own facts straight. I like it even better when they post anonymously, so that there is no accountability. That's fun and funny. In a perfect world, and for a perfect funny trifecta, the above 'really smart' person is from England, and thinks he knows a bunch about the game because he is talking to an American. Like somehow I know a bunch about the NBA and basketball generally because I'm from the US?
McBride didn't get sold, he left Fulham on his own. McBride is neither brilliant nor rubbish. He is, however, a dangerous aerial threat, and for you to suggest that Henry is an aerial threat, shows who needs some help in the soccer knowledge department. He TAKES the corners, because he DOESN'T contribute in the air. And he is only 30, so he doesn't really belong on the old-guy team, now does he?
Congratulations on spotting Koller as an aerial threat - you are a SOCCER GENIOUS!!
Please keep posting here, so I can get my laughs for the day.
Who's Kasey Kellar?... I've never heard of him. I suppose it's not a great keeper as you think
Ever hear of Romario, the scorer of one thousand goals (give or take). Following a match against Keller, Romario had this to say about him.
"That was the greatest performance I have seen from a goalkeeper. It was an honour to be on the field with him."
Despite Romario's questionable math skills I feel pretty good about sharing my admiration of Keller with him.
Yo, Ali Daei.
Anyone heard of this Iranian Phenom?//
He holds the record for most international goals ever.
So many critical goals and he wasn't a bad assist man either. Tall, athletic and strong as a bull. From a small town in Azerbaijan province of Iran, He played for the biggest clubs in Iran before going to Europe to play for Bayern.
He is now the national team coach after a role as player/coach with his club, who beat out powerhouses persopolis and esteglal for the national title.
This guy could score with his head from anywhere in the box. Check out some of his videos on youtube. He played until well into his thirties and even featured on the national side.
Another elder statesman of Iranian football is midfield general Ali Karimi "the wizard".
Ali Daei was definately a good "old timer". 109 goals in 149 appearances for Iran is hard to argue with. Daei is also known for being very classy guy on and of the field.
I really enjoy your blog man.
I love how some guys use that "getting old" excuse, you know the 32 year old guy who sneaks into the over 35 league because he feels he is old now.
Meanwhile those of us approaching 50 or beyond wonder what the heck you're complaining about.
If soccer is a life passion, play it for life (no needs to complain about the little things, right)
As far as the team... ah, all depends who they are playing against. The difference between top flight and tier down soccer can be tight, but I suspect a team like this could give a credible performance in a single game in a mid-tier professional league. A season would be tougher, as the young guys recover more quickly from injury.
cheers
The New Year deserves a new All-World-Old-Man-Soccer-Team! Who should make the team this year?
My early favorite is 35 year old winger Robert Pirès of Villareal. 7 assists in 14 games so far.
you forgot zinidine zidane!!! and roberto carlos....
McBride is no good Internationally.
He can't play on the ground.
An average MLS player at best.
Thanks for the comment. The "average" McBride has scored 6 goals in 14 games ih the MLS. Landon Donovan shares that same stat.
Here is a nice goal scored by McBride. With his left foot. On the ground.
http://mfile.akamai.com/11504/wmv/mlbmls.download.akamai.com/11504/2009/open/mls/2009/06/20/mls_pfsgah_5158753_400K.wmv
Old man McBride can still cause some problems.
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