Super League veterans proving they’ve still got it
AGONAsport takes a look at 10 ageing veterans who are still competing in the Super League despite their advanced years.
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The vast majority of footballers aren’t capable of playing at elite level past the age of 35. There are exceptions to the rule, however, with 10 players in Greece aged between 35 and 39 still valued by their respective teams in the Super League. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the players in question who are continuing to produce the goods for their clubs:
Loukas Vyntra
You don’t often see teams relying on 39-year-old players to a large degree. However, Vyntra is certainly a crucial figure for Lamia, with the flexible defender having participated in 23 out of 26 Super League games during the regular season. Born in the Czech Republic, the veteran made 57 appearances for the senior Greek national team in the past, making his name at Panathinaikos between 2004 and 2013. Vyntra transferred to Lamia from Omonia in July 2019.
Vangelis Moras
Moras continues to hold his own in the top tier of Greek football. Now 38, the tall centre-back is a vital pillar for AE Larissa in defence, providing stability and reliability for Alexis Kougias’ organisation. During the 2019/2020 regular season, Moras once again stood out for AEL with his solid play in the back line, even popping up with two goals and one assist at the other end. Moras has been on AEL’s books since January 2018 when he moved to Larissa from Panetolikos.
Javier Umbides
It’s hard to imagine this Atromitos side without Umbides. Admittedly, the vastly experienced 38-year-old didn’t play such an important role in the Super League regular season, but he still offers the Peristeri-based organisation plenty of calmness and confidence in midfield. Despite his reduced minutes, Umbides managed to score two goals and make three assists in the league, while also netting the one goal in UEFA Europa League qualification. The former Aris midfielder joined Atromitos from Orduspor seven years ago.
Vanderson
Vanderson, 35, has been involved in the Greek game since 2015 when he was snapped up by Platanias from Paulista. Now a Lamia player, the Brazilian left-back continues to calmly go about his business with competency in the Super League, racking up a grand total of 2,250 minutes on the pitch in the 2019/2020 regular season as his employers finished in 10th position. Vanderson contributed with one assist in a 1-1 draw at Panionios in late September.
Mathieu Valbuena
The signing of the season. Boasting true star quality, the talented French winger has been a shining light for Olympiacos since penning a deal with the Greeks last summer, rolling back the years with wonderful performances on both the domestic and continental stages. Overall, Valbuena has registered eight goals and 21 assists for Olympiacos across all competitions, regularly making the difference with his superb technical ability and footballing intelligence. The diminutive 35-year-old will continue playing his football in Piraeus until at least the completion of the 2020/2021 season.
Adrian Lucero
The 34-year-old Argentine midfielder is no stranger to the Hellenic game. Over the course of the past eight years, Lucero has gained a reputation of a reliable midfielder across spells at Panthrakikos, AEK Larnaca, Apollon Smyrnis, Xanthi and Panetolikos, and he was solid for the latter in the 2019/2020 regular season as he competed in 14 matches. Lucero’s contract with Panetolikos is due to expire at the end of June.
Avraam Papadopoulos
Many doubted the logic behind Olympiacos’ swoop for Papadopoulos in January 2019. At first, it was expected that the Erythrolefki only signed the ageing centre-back in order for him to promptly end his career in Piraeus, but Papadopoulos subsequently proved his doubters wrong. So far, he has played in 14 games this season, offering Pedro Martins an ideal option from the bench. Papadopoulos, 35, is on course to claim his seventh Super League title with Olympiacos.
Damir Kahriman
The Serbian goalkeeper has barely featured for Lamia this season. Regarded as the back-up goalkeeper by the coaching staff, Kahriman has mainly kept the bench warm in Lamia, only playing in two Super League matches and four in the Greek Cup. The 35-year-old transferred to Lamia from Iraklis last September.
Stelios Malezas
Malezas was shifted out by PAOK to Xanthi ahead of the 2019/2020 season. Unfortunately for the 35-year-old, injuries have prevented him from becoming a true leader for Xanthi, restricted to 11 games in the Super League and a further two in the Greek Cup. It remains to be seen if his contract with Xanthi will be extended beyond the current campaign.
Walter Iglesias
The veteran defensive midfielder is a crucial footballer for Asteras Tripolis. A powerful player, the 35-year-old often comes to the rescue for Asteras, grabbing two goals in the 2019/2020 Super League while providing leadership on the pitch. In 2007, Iglesias first moved to Greece with AEL, before transferring to China seven years later after a subsequent two-year spell at Atromitos.
