5 Oldest Premier League Players
The average EPL player is just 25.5 years old, with most players hanging up their boots in their early 30s. Despite youth playing a strong role in football, some players, due to their discipline, skills and sheer luck, have managed to compete at the highest level well beyond their 30s.
Keep reading as we unveil the 5 oldest football players in Premier League history. Learn about how these stars were able to wind back the clock, avoid injuries and hang around the EPL when their contemporaries were sitting on the sofa!
1. John Burridge (43y, 162d) - Manchester City vs Queens Park Rangers (14 May 1995)
John Burridge is the oldest Premier League player. In his final appearance, he was in goal for Man City as they lost 3-2 to QPR at Maine Road in May 1995.
No one expected Burridge to play in the 1995 season. Manager Brian Horton signed Budgie as a fourth-string goalkeeper, backing up Tony Coton, Andy Dibble and Martyn Margetson. However, due to injuries and a suspension, Burridge ended up making four appearances for Man City.
After his brief stint in Manchester, he carried on playing still. He didn’t retire until 1997 and ended his career as player-manager for Blyth Spartans.
2. Alec Chamberlain (42y, 327d) - Watford vs Newcastle United (13 May 2007)
After 246 games for Watford, the team decided to send him off with a charity appearance against Newcastle in May 2007. By this stage of his career, Chamberlain was the 3rd string goalie and was riding the bench. However, with one minute to go in normal time, Chamberlain stood in goal for one last time for the Hornets. Luckily, he managed to keep a clean sheet and six days later, he retired. At 42 years old, Chamberlain is the second oldest football player in Premier League history.
3. Steve Ogrizovic (42y, 237d) - Coventry City vs Sheffield Wednesday (6 May 2000)
When looking at the oldest Premier League players, you can’t get more seasoned than Steve Ogrizovic. At 42 years of age, the Coventry City legend made his 507th appearance for the club against Sheffield Wednesday in May 2000. In front of a roaring Highfield Road crowd, Coventry City clubbed Sheffield Wednesday, winning 4-1. Ogrizovic probably wishes he had kept a clean sheet in his final game! Oggy is not only one of the best goalkeepers in Coventry City history but he was also a talented right-arm medium-fast bowler, making three appearances for Shropshire County Cricket Club.
4. Brad Friedel (42y, 176d) - Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United (10 November 2013)
Brad Friedel is the fourth oldest player in Premier League. The American made his first appearance in the EPL for Liverpool way back in 1997. He then was Blackburn Rovers starting goalkeeper from 2000 until 2008.
After Blackburn, he was the starting keep for Aston Villa, playing all 38 games in his three seasons before finally signing for Tottenham. In the 2011-12 season, Friedel played 38 games, but in the next campaign, he only made 11 appearances. Then, in his last season in 2012-13, the American legend only made one appearance against Newcastle, which would be the 42-year-old’s final Premier League game.
In his long career, Friedel has recorded 10 wins against Newcastle, so it seemed fitting he’d play his last match against the Magpies. However, Newcastle didn’t give Friedel the send off he was looking for, winning 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
5. Mark Schwarzer (42y, 159d) - Leicester City vs Hull City (14 March 2015)
Mark Schwarzer is the second international player to make this list. The Australian is not only the fifth oldest Premier League player of all time, but he also played the most EPL games of any non-British player (514).
In his last game for Leicester City against Hull City in March 2015, Schwarzer kept a clean sheet as the match ended as a 0-0 draw. The towering 6 ft 5 Aussie kept 151 clean sheets throughout his epic Premier League career.
Schwarzer started his professional journey with the Marconi Stallions in Sydney way back in 1990. He became a legend at Middlesborough, making 366 appearances. He also played for other Prem teams, including Fulham and Chelsea.