Is there an expiry date for football players?
While the 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko impressively starts his professional career in Dortmund, a 40-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic experiences his second spring in Milan.
Almost a quarter of a century lies between the two strikers - both offensive players have their justification, their strengths and their weaknesses.
A few weeks before the European Football Championship, national coach Jogi Löw has now reacted and reactivated Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller, who have already retired from the national team. Was the recent poor performance of "Die Mannschaft" responsible for this? Löw himself justifies the decision with the fact that a team should be set up according to the performance principle.
A question that hangs like a sword of Damocles over this discussion: is there an age limit in football?
The age limit in football continues to fall
If you believe the popular saying, you would reach the footballing peak of your career at the tender age of 27, 28. Despite improved medical support and a steadily optimised diet over the past few years, the average age of players in the Bundesliga has nevertheless continued to fall.
Last season it was 25 years and seven months - ten years ago it was 26 years and four months. An age limit in football that Japan's Miura Kazuyoshi can only grin wearily about. The Yokohama FC striker has even extended his current contract at the age of 54. This means that "King Kazu", as he is also known, will enter his 36th professional season.
Even for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who at almost 40 seems to have fallen out of time, age is merely a number and not a sign of quality. Even at 39, the Swede at AC Milan gives the impression that football careers can be endless.
Studies show only minor variations between age groups.
There are also a few studies that attempt to address this issue. One study, based on the Spanish first and second divisions, examined the efficiency of older players - with interesting results:
- Across all positions and age groups, there was very little change in the total distance covered.
- The age group of 20 to 24-year-olds achieved the highest values in almost all tests
- The under-20 age group showed the fastest speeds
- Players aged over 35 covered significantly more running distance than their younger counterparts
- Wing players aged 30 to 34 were the most active and covered more distance than all other age groups in this position.
In summary, therefore, there is much to suggest that players in the U20 age group can - or must - expend more energy on the pitch. This means that they have to chase lost balls more often and also have less of the experience of the old warhorses.
The latter often know exactly when chasing is worthwhile and when energy-saving mode should be switched on.
The mix between "old" and "young" is crucial
So let's return to the question of the half-life of a footballer. In the football academies, young talents are currently maturing into Bundesliga players faster than Erling Haaland sprints 100 metres.
Talents like Youssoufa Moukoko, Florian Wirtz or Jamal Musiala are already playing impressively and consistently well in the Bundesliga at the age of 16 or 17.
A balanced measure is nevertheless the only true key to success.
After all, when the lightning-fast youngster prances gracefully forward down the flank, but his cross finds the catch fence behind the goal as the only recipient for the sixth time in a row, it is an experienced player who should show him how it's done.
If, after two decent games, the team's youngest player thinks he's the next Xaví and tries things in his own sixteen-yard box for which his body is even less prepared than for the coming team night, who should "ground" him again?
Exactly, a player with experience. One who has seen so much in his career that he fills entire team outings with it. Someone who, despite his age, still burns for this sport. Who is ready to show the youngsters something. Even if they will replace him in his position one day.
Georg Hartmann - the "King Kazu" of amateur football
Experienced players are especially important in amateur sport - they stick together and also like to pass on their experience.
One of them is Georg Hartmann, who everyone calls "Schorsch Sport". At the age of 60 and with the B42 training app, the Sunday League legend took off. Even at the age of 60, he is still actively playing football - in an ordinary men's team.
"Schorsch Sport", however, is not on the pitch with these 20- to 30-year-olds because he had a falling out with the Old Men's team or because they wanted to please him.
Georg Hartmann is an essential part of this team. And when you watch him straddle the ball, read his game, see how he wins duel after duel, you know why that is.
And anyone who tries to recognise signs of age-related wear and tear after an hour of training will be proven wrong. Schorsch Sport tackles, passes, crosses, shoots. Schorsch Sport is one of them.
"When I'm in training, I'm one of them. Then I'm like 20 or 30, then there's no difference."
You listen to him, feel his energy, see the gleam in his eyes and realise once again: football is more than just a sport - for YOUNG and OLD.
Corona has spoiled a dignified farewell for many
Quitting in the middle of a global and restrictive pandemic for amateur football is anything but dignified:
No final farewell game. No substitution with a standing ovation. No public thank-you.
Many footballers are therefore surely faced with the question of adding another year or getting a silent exit through the back door.
We certainly can't answer that question. But we can help you if you have decided that you are not done yet.
You are still hungry for success and want to continue playing injury-free and successful football for as long as possible: With our app for IOS and Android - including our free training programmes for players and teams - you can work on the foundations of an unrivalled season.
Get the app now and get started:
Be fearless. Be focused. B42