Ángel Mateos González retired from competitive football 27 years ago. Now, at 70 years old, he is set to return to the pitch for an official match in Spain, potentially becoming the oldest player to ever participate in a sanctioned game.
Return to the Pitch
The veteran goalkeeper is due to play for CD Colunga in a fifth-tier Tercera Federación group two match against regional rivals CD Praviano this Sunday. If he takes the field, he will reportedly break the record for the oldest player in an official match in Spain.
Mateos, who has been assisting Colunga's goalkeepers throughout the season, said he is uncertain whether he will play the full game. 'I'm going to train with the team this week but I still don't know if I'll play the entire 90 minutes or just the first half,' he told the local newspaper El Comercio.
Club's Tribute
In a Facebook post, CD Colunga explained that the decision to play Mateos was not a publicity stunt but a tribute to his lifelong dedication to work and football. The club stated, 'Mateos perfectly embodies what we stand for at CD Colunga: passion; consistency; respect for football, and a way of experiencing the sport that transcends age.'
The statement continued, 'Age is secondary. What matters is attitude, dedication and commitment to the sport. We're talking about a man who was a miner, who has dedicated his life to work and football, and who has helped our goalkeepers all season long.'
The club added emphatically, 'Mateos isn't playing because he's 70 years old. He's playing because he's earned it.'
Changes in Football
Mateos, a former miner, reflected on how football has evolved since he started playing. 'When I started out, it was almost a different sport,' he said. 'The balls; the pitches … I remember I used to keep a bucket next to the goalpost so I could bail out water when the pitch got muddy, which was almost an everyday occurrence back then.'
He told Cope radio that he has been playing football since age 10 and maintains the same weight—68 or 69 kg—as when he was 18. Mateos also described himself as fiercely competitive, hating to lose any game, and always loving various sports.
'A lot of the guys I worked with in the mines didn't like sports and just wanted to go to the bar,' he said. 'I never got that. You have to keep active and do sport or go for a walk.'
Deeper Meaning
CD Colunga emphasized that Sunday's match is about more than just one man's age. 'If anyone's focusing solely on his age, then they're missing what's important,' the club said. 'This is about getting back to the essence of football, recognising the people who make it great and showing that there's another way of doing things.'
