More often than not, footballers expect the better years of their careers in their mid to late-20s.
In some instances the tradition
is altered, as a few gradually improve in their late 20s before finally peaking
in their 30s.
Here are five great players who
made impact in their later years.
Antonio Di Natale
Antonio Di Natale was 32 when he first managed to bag more than 20 goals in single season.
The former Udinese striker scored
29 times in 2009 – 2010, ending the season as the league’s top scorer and was
named Serie A footballer of the year.
In the following 4 seasons he
scored 28, 29, 26 and 20 goals respectively, and was still scoring goals at the
time of his retiring in 2016.
Dubbed the football’s ultimate
late bloomer, Di Natale also earned call-up’s to the Italy's national team, scoring 11 times in 40 outings.
Jamie Vardy
When Leicester city surprisingly won the premier league in 2016, Jamie Vardy was on remarkable form as he managed 24 goals in 36 appearances.
Just like other players on this
list, his rise to prominence did not arrive until he was 29 years old.
Prior to joining Leicester city
for £1 million in 2012, he was playing for non-league team, Fleetwood town.
34 now, Vardy has found the net
over 150 times, for Leicester city and England national team.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan is one of the most revered footballers in the world today, with a career spanning well over 20 years.
He has scored over 500 goals, a
feat only marched by 4 active players – Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert
Lewandowski and Luis Suarez.
Majority of goals Zlatan has
scored came after turning 30, thanks to exceptional spells at PSG, Manchester
United, LA Galaxy and now, AC Milan.
Almost 40 now, there is no sign
of Zlatan retiring any time soon. He has actually hailed his ability to stay at
the top for so long by saying “I’m like fine wine. The older I am, the better I
get.”
Marcos Senna
Marcos Senna spent the early years of his football career in the lower divisions of Brazil.
He got his big break in 1999 after
he moved to Corinthians, but it was at Sao Gaetano he caught the eye of
Spanish, side, Villareal, who he joined aged 26.
His first 2 seasons with the
yellow submarines were not as glamourous as he endured lengthy spells on the side
lines.
It was in his 3rd that
he established himself and was granted Spanish citizenship in order to
represent the national team.
In 2007-08, he enjoyed his best
season, as he helped Villareal finish second in Laliga, afterwards won European
championship with Spain.
His brilliance earned him a place
in the UEFA team of the tournament (EURO 2008) and was named Spanish footballer
of the year.
He enjoyed 5 more seasons with
Villareal, before leaving for New York Cosmos, then retiring in 2015 aged 38.
Marco Materazzi
Italian footballers have a
tendency to peak in the later years of their careers, and Marco Materazzi is a perfect example of that.
The former Italy international
didn’t make his debut for the Azzurri until he was 28.
He spent the initial years of his
career in Italy’s lover divisions as well as Everton in the Premier league.
2001 was his breakthrough year,
after impressing for Perugia. This earned him his first Italy call up and a move
to Inter Milan.
He spent 10 seasons with Inter,
winning 5 Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias, the Champions league and the club
world cup, as well as the Worrld cup with Italy.