At 70, former miner-turned-goalkeeper Angel Mateos Gonzalez is proving age is just a number.
When he pulls on the gloves for CD Colunga against visitors Praviano in the fifth tier of Spanish football on Sunday, he will reportedly become the oldest player to appear in an official match in Spain.
Colunga said it has named Mateos in the matchday squad for the Tercera Federacion Group Two fixture as a “tribute” to the keeper, who originally retired from competitive football at the age of 43.
“This is neither a record nor an oddity. It is a tribute,” the Asturian club said on Instagram.
“Mateos represents exactly what we stand for at Colunga – passion, consistency, respect for football and a way of living the sport that goes beyond age.
“We are talking about a man who has been a miner, who has dedicated his life to work and football. This isn’t about numbers, it’s about values. If anyone focuses solely on his age, they are missing the point.”
Gonzalez has been helping out the club’s goalkeepers this season, offering guidance and support behind the scenes.
He told local newspaper Las Provincias he is unsure whether he will play the full match but insists he is still up for the challenge.
“I still feel agile,” said Gonzalez, who is 5ft 8in and represented Turon, Caudal and Santiago de Aller, sides who play at a similar level to Colunga, during his career.
“I’ve remained active, playing for the Hunosa company team, the Turon veterans’ team, and I’m still playing today.
“When I started, it was almost a different sport – the balls, the pitches…
“I remember I used to keep a cauldron next to the goal so that, without the referee seeing me, I could scoop out water when the pitches got muddy, which back then was almost a daily occurrence.”
Sunday’s fixture is of little consequence for Colunga, who sit 10th in the 18‑team league with two matches remaining – clear of any relegation concerns and also out of promotion contention.
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