basically recount great players and their legacy into their 30's. ie.great players who enjoyed indian summers still on top. ill start off by saying dennis bergkamp. probably had his 2nd finest season with us when he was 32 y/o. scoring that wonder goal against newcastle and teaming up with henry and freddie ljungberg to push the arsenal towards an EPL title. also a first teamer of the invincibles as a 34y/o.
Romario did one of his best seasons in 2000, when he has 33-34 years old. Petkovic in 2005 with 33 years was one of the best players in brazilian league. Junior was brazilian champion in 92 with 36 years. mauro galvão for vasco in 2000 with 39 years. maldini do great seasons in italy too.
i think that can be picked a lot of 30+ great players, it could be best if mention only 32+ or 35+ players exception for keepers.
Somebody just have a birthday, by any chance? I'll contribute Maldini. edit: whoops, sorry sidis, I see you thought of it first.
Two Italian goalkeepers Gianluca Pagliuca (40 years old and still has the reflexes of a cat) Angelo Peruzzi (built like a tank but makes acrobatic saves)
I had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago in Porto, during Lazio's game with Benfica. He was with Corradi, and he looked HUGE. I cannot fathom how a man of that structure can make saves like he does.
Both of them are having top seasons (Ascoli would be a lot worse without Pagliuca)and are both living legends. I've always liked Peruzzi more though. Gianfranco Zola is an obvious one. He was at his peak in his 30s and still played well for Cagliari at 39. Morten Olsen from Denmark is a must. He played with the Danish Dynamite team of the 1980s, he was their sweeper for most of the time yet he was over 30. Only until Euro 88, when he was nearly 39, did he show signs of slowing down.
Gordon Strachan was in his early thirties when he helped push Leeds to the title and was still a quality player for Coventry when he was 40. His Leeds, Coventry and Scotland team mate Gary McAllister was an integral part of the Liverpool team that won the FA, League and Uefa cups when he was in his late thirties.
Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy led Trinidad and Tobago to our first ever appearance in the world cup at 34 and 37 respectively. at the cup Yorke was easily one of the best defensive midfielders in the group stages. Phenomenal play from him. edit: How bout Valderamma???
Rijkaard probably had his best ever season in '95. Blind played his best football after he was 30. Vasovic played his best ever season in '71.