At what age does a footballer become an old man?

[Lord Bracknell]

Interesting to see 30 year old OGH described as an "ageing pro" on another thread.

At what age does a footballer get to be called a veteran?

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

it is strange isn't it? i would describe anything over 30 as nearing retirement, and therefore strangely, old

thats what you get with a short shelf life

 

[Dover]

I would state 30, but to me it's when they loose that turn of pace or when they have lost the pace to keep up with the game at the level they are playing in.

 

[Beach Hut]

34................

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I think it does depend on the assets of the players game. Someone like Gary Hart has pretty much lost his pace and that is what his game revolved around. I am sure it differs for each player. From what I have seen of Forster, I wouldn't describe him as an ageing pro.

 

[tedebear]

Depends on what decade you are talking about....in the modern game anything over 28 is old...but they played on til they were about Lord B.'s age when I was growing up Didn't they?

 

[Gwylan]

Doesn't it depend on position? I wouldn't call a 35-year old goalie that old, but I think a striker is past it at that age.

I'd have thought that wingers of that age were knocking on a bit too but all the players who seem to have played to a great age: Stanley Matthews, Ivor Allchurch, Tommy Hutchison, Tony(?) Ford seem to be wide players.

 

[Buzzer]

Sir Stanley Matthews retired at 48 didn't he? Now that's class.

I plumped for 33. Dunno why but 26-32 is prime age in my eyes.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Depends on what decade you are talking about....in the modern game anything over 28 is old...but they played on til they were about Lord B.'s age when I was growing up Didn't they?

I remember going to see the great Sir Stanley Matthews play a first division match for Stoke City at Villa Park when he was approaching his 50th birthday. That was his last season in top flight football.

How kind of tedebear to suggest that I haven't yet reached 50.

 

[Gully]

Look at David James, he is 37 but still playing well at the highest level, he could quite conceivably keep going for another 5 years if he looks after himself and keeps clear of injury. However, he is a keeper, would tend to say that anyone over 33 who is an outfield player should be termed ageing as most finish at about 35/36 years of age.

 

[Spunk Bubble]

Steve Claridge still thinks he is 21.

 

[hart's shirt]

Didn't Dino Zoff lift the World Cup for Italy in 1982 at the age of 40?

As for outfield players, I'd have said around 35 would qualify for veteran status.

Which is older than swimmers and gymnasts, but younger than lawn bowls enthusiasts.

 

[robbied69]

When they can't train as much as they used to or they just generally get slower.

 

[Icy Gull]

I think of Kerry and OGH as being past it but neither are that old

 

[Skint Gull]

I think that once you get past the age where players are 'supposed' to be in their prime (26-29) people will start to say he's an aging pro. It would also be about the time he's been around for a decade or so, so i reckon with outfield players it's 30+

 

[REDLAND]

Gary Speed is 38 next month, he looked pretty healthy on Saturday against Portsmouth to me !!!

I was gonna say fit but it sounded a bit gay

 

[Storer68]

They can claim a pension at 35

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I think of Kerry and OGH as being past it but neither are that old

The ginger prince is 29 and OGH is 30.

 

[Tooting Gull]

30 has to be 'senior pro', but not ageing or veteran. I reckon that kicks in about 34/35, depending on the player. For Dean Ashton, you'd probably get away with it at 25.

 

[Strike]

30+ in my opinion, in the tennis world it seems to be 29 onwards, though there are pros retiring younger than that (Kim Clisters), or those that advance well into their 30's (Andre Agassi).