Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Andres Iniesta, Raul, Iker Casillas
Josh Lawless
Chelsea changed the game with their incredible long-term contracts handed out to stars like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo.
But there are four instances in history of where players signed a lifetime contract with a club, with only one on course to fulfil it. And it turns out that the contract arrangement is most popular in Spain, where every one of the players is from and spent a good chunk of their careers.
Here are the four players who penned deals for life:
The first to do so was Raul Gonzalez, who made a record 741 appearances for Real Madrid and six La Liga titles as well as two Champions Leagues. The 2001 Ballon d'Or runner up captained Los Blancos and in 2008, both he and fellow Real great Iker Casillas penned lifetime contracts at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The deal stipulated that they could stay for as long as they wanted but Raul left in July 2010, continuing his playing career with Schalke and then New York Cosmos.
Legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas stayed right up until 2015 following a 25-year spell and later left for Portuguese side Porto, where he played over 150 times before retiring.
Advert
He continues to work for Real as the CEO of their foundation.
Another key member of Spain's Euros and World Cup winning, Andres Iniesta is Barcelona through and through and became the first Blaugrana player to sign a lifetime contract.
Advert
Yet despite his commitment, he left after the 2017/18 campaign and finished with 674 appearances, nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. Iniesta went on to experience football in two new cultures with Vissel Kobe of Japan and Emirates in the United Arab Emirates before retiring in October.
The final member of the club is the one still currently playing. Jesus Navas is in his second spell with Sevilla, either side of a stint in the Premier League with Manchester City. He is the Andalusian club's record appearance maker and has won eight trophies.
In May Navas, now the 38-year-old announced he was departing - only to perform a u-turn and sign a lifetime contract. The Sevilla skipper is tied until 31 December 2024 and will then transition into a role "inside the club", the club said.
Advert
Navas's wages for his final stretch are going to charity and his importance to the club is emphasised in the fact the club's youth training ground is named after him.