People worldwide are living longer and according to the World Health Organization, between 2015 and 2050 the proportion of the world's population aged over 60 will increase from 12% to 22% and will number over 2.1 billion people. In high income countries that shift has already happened and in Japan, 30% of the population is at least 60 years old. We have seen this reflected in sport and it is only edging in one direction. For the best part of two decades we have enjoyed possibly the three greatest male tennis players of all time, Roger Federer retired last year aged 41, Rafael Nadal has said he will retire in 2024 by which time he will be 38 years old, Novak Djokovic is 36 and if you catch him on a good day he will say he can play until he is 40. In the women's game both Serena and Venus Williams have played into their 40's. All this when the game is faster and more demanding than at any time in the past.

 

In football, we have seen five Premier League head coach's take charge of teams in their 70's with Roy Hodgson pushing that envelope this season, he was aged over 75 when he returned to Crystal Palace on a short term contract. He enjoyed great success and is tipped to sign a contract extension this summer, Roy will celebrate his 76th birthday the week before the 23/24 season commences. Of course, they are not actually playing the game, but it is a demanding job, both mentally and physically and it is only in recent years that managing at the highest level beyond normal retirement age has become acceptable. There are a number of footballers who have played in the EPL into their 40's, mostly goalkeepers, but Teddy Sherringham is still on the list of top 10 oldest and Ryan Giggs not far behind. Of the current crop, Thiago Silva will turn 39 early in the new season, he played in 35 Premier and Champions League games for Chelsea this  season and has another year left on his contract. Ashley Young of Aston Villa will be 38 next month, his contract expires just before then, but after playing in 29 games and starting in over half in a team that qualified for Europe, his value is obvious, contract negotiations are under way and he wants to renew. James Milner is 37, he played in 31 EPL and 8 CL games this season, but will be leaving Liverpool this month, however, he will continue in the top flight and his signing for Brighton is one of the worst kept secrets in football. Milner is very disciplined and a fitness fanatic, often named as the model pro and the talk at Anfield is now that the club will need a "new adult". To highlight the discipline side, he learned Spanish in order to better communicate with team mates, despite never having played in Spain and his family only converse in the language at home, so that his children grow up speaking the language and he says that when he decides upon something, he "does it", adding "I am stubborn"!

 

In addition to playing multiple team sports as a youngster , Milner also excelled at running, both sprints and long distance and I understand that even now he is the fittest player at Anfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold said that newcomers to club are staggered by what Millner can do in training and added that "he wins every fitness test and most by some way" and all that in one of the fittest teams in the EPL. The teetotal Millner could push the boundaries of what we expect in terms of lifespan for an EPL outfield player and looks yet another great signing for the Seagulls , not just on the pitch where so much experience works well within a starting 11 which regularly features four teenagers, but as a role model in the gym, training pitches and for life.

 

Brentford (come on, you knew it was coming!), also have a very young squad, but one which was improved in 22/23 by the signing of Ben Mee, he will turn 34 in the first month of next season, he has been a revelation, picked up the Supporter's POTY award and hopefully a contract extension is already being discussed. He has no pace to lose (sorry!) so it is hard to see how time is going to catch up with him in the near future, a little experience goes a very long way and he is another model and articulate pro, that younger players can only learn from. I understand that no other EPL club was prepared to offer Mee a two year deal, which seems crazy, but I bet a few would now and that one or two wish they had! 

 

We are seeing a lot of very young players being introduced into the EPL now, but there needs to be a balance and across the last four seasons, three of the youngest average starting 11's each year have provided five relegated teams and they picked up just 4.2 points on average from their final 10 games. You need that experience to see you over the line and across the most gruelling 38 games in world football.

 

I can foresee a time in the not too distant future where 33-35 yo is the new 28 yo in the EPL and certainly where teams will still be prepared to pay big money fees for older players who have looked after themselves and can still play at a high level, but with the bonus of bringing with them a wealth of experience. Which is priceless!

 

Good luck!