Sad news of a former Liverpool player’s death today
Essam El-Hadary, the goalkeeper for Egypt, created history on Monday by becoming the oldest player to ever compete in a World Cup final. News about this was reported worldwide.
The 45-year-old Pharaohs goalie beat out Colombia’s 43-year-old Faryd Mondragon by 161 days, and he even went back in time to pull off a stunning penalty save.
Despite El-Hadary’s heroics and Mohamed Salah’s first goal, Egypt lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia. However, the veteran’s antics lit up social media and made us think about the seasoned players that have graced the Anfield pitch over the years.
We’ve put together an XI of the oldest Reds players ever to have played in the Premier League for some lighthearted entertainment.
Goalie
Paul Jones (36 years old, 36.247 days)
Ironically, goalie Paul Jones waited until he was thirty-six years old to even make a Liverpool appearance.
After joining on loan from Southampton to cover for injured players Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland, he only made two appearances for the Reds.
At 36 years and 240 days, he became the oldest post-war debutant at LFC after keeping a clean sheet against Aston Villa. He also broke Bruce Grobbelaar’s record as the club’s most senior stopper by 138 days in his final game against Tottenham Hotspur.
defenders
At the age of 35 years and 229 days, Sami Hyypia
“Big Sami” bid the team a heartfelt farewell in May 2009 after playing his 464th and final game for Anfield. He wore the captain’s armband for the final five minutes of a 3-1 victory over Tottenham, signing off on the field to applause from the crowd at the age of 35 years and 229 days.
Adding the Champions League trophy to his ten-year collection of UEFA, League, and FA Cup victories while playing for Liverpool, he became one of the greatest center backs to ever don a red shirt. He was one of Istanbul’s heroes in 2005.
35 years old as of today, Jamie Carroll
Following a successful apprenticeship, Carragher signed a professional contract in October 1996, which launched a 17-year career that would yield seven major championships.
The one-club center back Carragher is second on Liverpool’s all-time list with 737 appearances. He was given a standing ovation after playing his final game at Anfield against Queens Park Rangers in May 2013, when he was 35 years and 11 days old.
(Age of 35 years and 33 days) Toure Kolo
After Carragher retired, center back Kolo Toure signed with Liverpool for three years. Signed from Manchester City in 2013, Toure was an immediate hit.
He was already seen as a “veteran” when he joined Brendan Rodgers’ squad. In 2016, his final game with the team, his leadership helped the team advance to the Europa League final.
However, the 35-year-old Ivory Coast defender had just played his final Premier League match a week earlier.
Mark Wright, thirty-four years old, fifty days
Although an injury ended Mark Wright’s football career, he played until September 1997, when he was 34 years and 50 days old and took part in his 210th and final Reds game.
Graeme Souness, the manager of Liverpool, signed the center back, who was one of England’s best players at the 1990 World Cup, to be the team’s defensive anchor. As captain, he took home the FA Cup in 1992.
midfielders
136 days old and 37 years old, McAllister, Gary
The Scot, who joined the Reds in 2000 at the age of 35, is the oldest Premier League player to have ever played for Liverpool. The midfielder McAllister is sophisticated.
A few eyebrows were raised when McAllister was first signed by Gerard Houllier. Though McAllister’s skill set was immediately apparent, the team won the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup in 2001 with his participation in all three finals.
He participated in his final Liverpool match, a 5-0 triumph over Ipswich at Anfield in May 2002, at the age of 37 years and 136 days.
34 years old Gerrard Steven (358 days)
Many people consider Steven Gerrard to be the greatest player to have ever played for Liverpool. In May 2015, he announced his retirement from Anfield after 710 games to focus on new challenges with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.
He was 34 years and 358 days old when he scored his last goal in his last game as a member of the squad.
Following his graduation from the Academy, Gerrard made his senior debut in 1998. In 2003, he was named club captain. Over the course of 17 amazing years, he nearly won every trophy at his boyhood club.
The age of John Barnes is 33 years and 185 days.
Kenny Dalglish, the manager of Liverpool, paid £900,000 to bring England international John Barnes to Anfield in 1987. Barnes won four trophies during his ten years at Anfield, including two league titles and the 1988 PFA Player of the Year honor.
Barnes was a graceful and devastating left winger in his prime. In May 1997, at the age of 33 years and 185 days, he played his final game for Liverpool at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday. Later in his career, he was moved into the infield as a cunning playmaker.
Attackers
(34.7 days, 34 years) Ian Rush
During his two stints at the team, Ian Rush scored 346 goals in 660 games, making him the all-time top goalscorer for Liverpool. In a Premier League game in May 1996, he netted his final goal.
Rush, 34 years and 197 days old, got the captain’s armband from manager Roy Evans and scored to seal a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at Maine Road.
Rickie Lambert is 33 years old and 96 days old.
Relatively late in his career, the England international—who was picked for the 2014 World Cup and had a legendary ascent through the English leagues—became successful. He completed his dream transfer to his boyhood club, Liverpool, at the age of 32.
The Scouse striker, who was released from the Reds Academy at the age of 15, had played 36 games in his one season with the team when he retired in the same game as 33-year-old and 96-day Steven Gerrard.
There are 305 days left in Craig Bellamy’s age.
Craig Bellamy, a fierce forward, played for Liverpool for two stints but never seemed to settle in.
In the first, from 2006–07, he scored and provided assistance to John Arne Riise as Barcelona, the reigning European champions, was defeated 2-1 at Camp Nou in the Champions League. He scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal in the second, from 2011 to 2012, and went on to win the League Cup.
He played his final game for the Reds in 79 games at Liberty Stadium against Swansea City, clocking in at 32 years and 305 days.
