73-Year Old Goalkeeper Breaks Guinness World Record For Oldest Active Player To Play An Official Match

Age is just a number. Just ask Itzhak Hayk, who is approaching 74 years of age and yet has gone into the record books today for being the oldest active player to play an official football match.

Hayk, Iraqi-born but made in Israel after moving in 1950, is still going strong playing in the fifth tier of Israeli football and was in between the sticks against Ramat Israel in a game his side lost 4-1.

As per Baba Gol, official Guinness World Record adjudicator was in attendance at Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda's ground to give Hayk his plaque.

Instead of playing Bingo or lounging about in his slippers, he's beaten the previous record set by Uruguayan Robert Carmon, who turned out for Club Pan de Azúcar aged 53 and 182 days on 30 October 2015.

Incredibly, Hayk made history playing on a pitch surrounded by fences containing his name on as he is the owner of a company that specialises in stage equipment.

Another man who is proving age is just a number of Kazuyoshi Miura.

'King Kazu', now 52, is in his 34th season as a professional footballer. He started his career all the way back in 1986 when Lionel Richie was number one in the charts but still can't find it within him to call it a day, signing a new contract with Yokohama FC for the 2019 season.

Over on these shores, 79-year old Colin Lee is Britain's oldest goalkeeper and wants to keep playing until his 80s.

As well as serving as secretary for a total of eight teams in his local area, he plays most Saturdays with his 50 year-old son Colin Jr and 21-year old grandson Tom.