Russian Pensioner Smashes Oldest Footballer Record in Cup Clash
James Milner made history in Brighton’s 2-1 win over his former side, Manchester City, earlier this season.
The former City, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Aston Villa star scored from the penalty spot to help his team achieve the victory at a remarkable 39 years and 239 days old.
Milner was already the Premier League’s second youngest goalscorer, having found the back of the net in the English top flight aged 16 years and 356 days.
The spot-kick against City meant he also became the second-oldest goalscorer in Premier League history, one place below Teddy Sheringham.
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Sheringham set the record after scoring for West Ham in their clash with Portsmouth back in 2006.
However, a player in Russia has reportedly gone to even greater lengths to prove that age is nothing but a number.
Zenit Chairman Alexander Medvedev was named in the starting XI for a Russian Cup match between Amkal and Salut-Belgorod.
The Russian businessman took to the field less than a month after his 70th birthday, making him the oldest player in the history of Russian football.
The previous record was held by Vladimir Tumaev, who competed in a match for SOYUZ-Gazprom at the age of 58 in 2005.
Medvedev has been the chairman of Russian football club Zenit Saint Petersburg since being appointed to the role in 2019. He is clearly a big sports fan, having also been the first president of the Kontinental Hockey League between 2008 and 2014, when he resigned from the role.
The clash between Amkal and Salut-Belgorod was held at Zorky Stadium in Krasnogorsk.
The ground was opened in 1948, meaning it is only slightly older than the Russian football administrator and has a capacity of 8,000.
Salut-Belgorod took the lead in the match in the 31st minute.
However, it was 1-1 at the break after Amkal equalised through Russian midfielder David Papikyan.
The hosts grabbed the winner in the 75th minute when Leon Sabua got his name on the scoresheet.
The oldest player ever to compete in a Premier League fixture was John Burridge, who represented Manchester City at 43 years and 162 days old, back in 1995.
The oldest outfield player was also Sheringham after he represented West Ham at 40 years 139 days.
Jonathan Bray