Dante becomes oldest outfield player in Europa League history

The centre-back currently plays for OGC Nice.

When Dante started playing professionally in 2002, the UEFA Europa League was still known as the UEFA Cup, and the first iPhone had not yet been created.

That same Dante is still playing on the field 23 years later, and seventeen iPhone versions have been released. In 2016, after spending several years in the Bundesliga, where he won multiple trophies with Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, the Brazilian transferred to OGC Nice in France.

The relentless central defender is still playing there now, as he unintentionally set an ‘oldest’ record during the Europa League game against AS Roma. Dante became the oldest outfield player in the competition’s history at 41 years and 341 days.

Dante makes Europa League history by becoming the oldest outfield player

The centre-back, known for his impressive defensive ability, played his peak career at Bayern Munich and was influential in their success in the domestic league and Europe.

Brad Friedel, an English goalkeeper, is still the oldest player in history. He was 42 years and 173 days old on November 7, 2013, when he played for Tottenham against Sheriff Tiraspol.

It’s commendable that the player has continued to deliver spectacular performances in his career, and at such a ripe age, he still remains one of the preferred centre-backs for OGC Nice.

He is now the oldest outfield player in the Europa League‘s history to play in the competition. It’s incredible because he has been consistent throughout his career and is still playing at a top level in Europe.

The centre-back is currently under contract with Nice until 2026. He hopes to renew his deal for more years. Maybe he could also be looking to break the record of Brad Friedel in the coming years.

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