5 Players Who Spent More Than 20 Years At One Club

Sergio Busquets announces that he will leave FC Barcelona after 18 years of success with the club. This means that there is no member left from the 2011 UEFA Champions League Barcelona winning team. It is sad to see Busquets leaving especially having played a vital role in the club’s Golden Era, especially under the reign of Pep Guardiola between 2009 and 2011. We look at 5 players who spent more than 20 years at one club.

Nevertheless, the lanky midfielder left an irreplaceable legacy for the club which the upcoming generations will be reminded about.

Paolo Maldini (31 years at AC Milan)

In world football, Paolo Maldini’s name is respected for many reasons. As a defender, Maldini was virtually unbeatable and is regarded by many as the greatest defender of all time. He joined AC Milan youth setup in 1978 before being promoted to the first team in 1984.

Then he played 25 seasons at the highest level and eventually, he retired at the age of 41 but not until he’d played an incredible 902 appearances for AC Milan, winning 26 trophies along the way. Winning the Champions League five times with a club no doubt earns you hero status, and Maldini retired as a living legend. He currently serves as the Technical Director at the club.

Fransisco Totti (28 years at As Roma)

The streets won’t forget Fransisco Totti’s name for a reason. A deadly striker with composure, vision, technique and flexibility. Throughout his career, he managed to adapt to many positions from lone striker to second striker and creative playmaker. It was with Roma, that he earned his legendary status.

Arrived in 1989, Totti had to wait till 1993 to make his senior cap and never looked back. He went on to rack up over 250 goals for the club. He won five trophies and the World Cup with Italy. In 2017, he retired and took up the role of Club Director, though in 2019 he resigned due to clashes with the chairman. 

Ryan Giggs (27 years at Manchester United)

Despite launching his youth career with Manchester City, Ryan Giggs chose to switch to crosstown rivals Manchester United in 1987. Then he went on to make his senior debut in 1990. With 963 appearances to his name and the Welshman won the English Premier League thirteen times, the FA Cup four times, three League Cups and two Champions League winner’s medals during 24 years in the top level for the Red Devils.

Affectionately known as Giggsy, he was instrumental in the Golden Era of the club during the time of Sir Alex Ferguson before announcing his retirement in 2014.  He has since coached United in a brief spell before leaving for Wales national team job which was the last of his post. 

Jamie Carragher (25 years at Liverpool)

James Carragher arrived at Liverpool FC as young as the age of 10 in 1988. Then Carragher went on to spend 17 years of his professional football career at Anfield. The one-club man was the backbone of Liverpool’s defence for years and is part of a legendary group of players that have featured for the club.

The defender managed 737 appearances for the Reds where he won several accolades, including two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Champions League trophy. Currently, he spends his time featuring as a football pundit for reputed football networks. 

Xavi Hernandez (24 years)

Xavi Hernandez joined Barcelona’s well-known academy LA Masia at the age of 11 then he spent his entire career with the club. One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Xavi was famously known for his great passing, vision, ball retention and ball protection. His partnership with Andries Iniesta dominated world football in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

The combination of the two played a fundamental role in the success of Pep Guardiola during the time the club won the treble twice in a space of three years ( 2009- 2011). He enjoyed some achievements with the club winning eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. The diminutive midfielder recorded 767 appearances for the club which was the club record before legendary Lionel Messi surpassed it. He left the club for Qatari club AL Sadd where he further earned the badge to be a club coach. The 43-year-old is now serving his childhood club as the manager.