Football stats

[Sutekh]

Jonny Evans' departure means that next season will be the first at Manchester United since 1973-74 without a player who played for the club under Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson didn’t join Man Utd until 1985.

Yeh, and there were players from 73-74 onwards who were still there when he joined.

Depends how you look at it, in 1985 there were a ton of players at ManU that hadn't played under Fergie. So unless ManU bought players off of East Stirling (in 1974) or St Mirren (between 1974 and 1978) or Aberdeen (after 1978), then 2025-26 will be the first season since 1985-86 without a player at ManU who played under Sir Alex.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Ferguson didn’t join Man Utd until 1985.

Yeh, and there were players from 73-74 onwards who were still there when he joined.

Depends how you look at it, in 1985 there were a ton of players at ManU that hadn't played under Fergie. So unless ManU bought players off of East Stirling (in 1974) or St Mirren (between 1974 and 1978) or Aberdeen (after 1978), then 2025-26 will be the first season since 1985-86 without a player at ManU who played under Sir Alex.

What?

Arthur Albiston was at Utd from 74-88. He played under Fergie. Therefore Jonny Evans' departure means that next season will be the first at Manchester United since 1973-74 without a player who played for the club under Alex Ferguson.

[Sutekh]

Yeh, and there were players from 73-74 onwards who were still there when he joined.

Depends how you look at it, in 1985 there were a ton of players at ManU that hadn't played under Fergie. So unless ManU bought players off of East Stirling (in 1974) or St Mirren (between 1974 and 1978) or Aberdeen (after 1978), then 2025-26 will be the first season since 1985-86 without a player at ManU who played under Sir Alex.

What?

Arthur Albiston was at Utd from 74-88. He played under Fergie. Therefore Jonny Evans' departure means that next season will be the first at Manchester United since 1973-74 without a player who played for the club under Alex Ferguson.

I’m just saying it depends on the interpretation put on the fact. There’s also probably similar facts to this one around any clubs which had a long served manager eg. West Ham and John Lyall or John Rudge at Port Vale etc.

[Sanguine]

You could probably do something similar with Ronnie Moran at Liverpool, he joined the club as a player in 1952, and finally hung up his coaching boots in 1998. He played alongside Billy Liddell, who joined Liverpool in 1938, and coached Jamie Carragher, who retired and left Liverpool in 2013.

[stealthpapes]

Depends how you look at it, in 1985 there were a ton of players at ManU that hadn't played under Fergie. So unless ManU bought players off of East Stirling (in 1974) or St Mirren (between 1974 and 1978) or Aberdeen (after 1978), then 2025-26 will be the first season since 1985-86 without a player at ManU who played under Sir Alex.

What?

Arthur Albiston was at Utd from 74-88. He played under Fergie. Therefore Jonny Evans' departure means that next season will be the first at Manchester United since 1973-74 without a player who played for the club under Alex Ferguson.

I’m just saying it depends on the interpretation put on the fact.

No, no it doesn't. It literally just says that 73-74 United had a single player* who eventually played under Fergie and that the current squad no longer contains anyone who did.

*massive props to the comment replying that there was just one player. Yes.

There’s also probably similar facts to this one around any clubs which had a long served manager eg. West Ham and John Lyall or John Rudge at Port Vale etc.

Yes.

[stealthpapes]

You could probably do something similar with Ronnie Moran at Liverpool, he joined the club as a player in 1952, and finally hung up his coaching boots in 1998. He played alongside Billy Liddell, who joined Liverpool in 1938, and coached Jamie Carragher, who retired and left Liverpool in 2013.

A propos of little

Older Players Looked Much Older Back Then - Jack Balmer, 1949



(Last appearance for Liverpool - 1952)

[Winston Biscuit]

Was looking at some records over the weekend to see when Ronaldo might break some more, and spotted that the person with the 2nd most professional appearances ever is still playing, still first choice for his club and is now 63 games away from breaking Peter Shilton's record

Fabio, the Fluminense goalkeeper, is 43 years old, about to turn 44, and still playing as first choice for them. If you weren't aware, Fluminense are one of the big boys of South American football and were Copa Libertadores winners (South American Champions League) for the first time in their history just last year, so fair play to him. Looks like they are in a relegation scrap right now though.

update - appears to now be 55 behind and as the first choice goalkeeper he is playing around 60 games a season. considering he is playing at a decent level, even if Fluminense want to move him on he could probs drop down somewhere and in a years time have overtaken Shilton

Since I last looked at the record on Wikipedia, a new player has been entered at the number 1 spot. a 62 year old Uruguayan who has apparently been playing professionally non stop since he was 14 years old and has played more than 800 games more than Shilton

update - he's done it! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm21x8mzdnxo

[Sutekh]

Was looking at some records over the weekend to see when Ronaldo might break some more, and spotted that the person with the 2nd most professional appearances ever is still playing, still first choice for his club and is now 63 games away from breaking Peter Shilton's record

Fabio, the Fluminense goalkeeper, is 43 years old, about to turn 44, and still playing as first choice for them. If you weren't aware, Fluminense are one of the big boys of South American football and were Copa Libertadores winners (South American Champions League) for the first time in their history just last year, so fair play to him. Looks like they are in a relegation scrap right now though.

update - appears to now be 55 behind and as the first choice goalkeeper he is playing around 60 games a season. considering he is playing at a decent level, even if Fluminense want to move him on he could probs drop down somewhere and in a years time have overtaken Shilton

Since I last looked at the record on Wikipedia, a new player has been entered at the number 1 spot. a 62 year old Uruguayan who has apparently been playing professionally non stop since he was 14 years old and has played more than 800 games more than Shilton

update - he's done it! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm21x8mzdnxo

And if Clemence hadn't have been around, Shilts would probably have had about another 70 odd games added to his total.

[Sanguine]

Fabio also holds the record for the longest span playing FIFA recognised tournaments, at 28 years - in 1997 he played for Brazil in the U-17 World Cup (he never won a senior cap), and this year he played for Fluminese in the World Club Cup.

Is also claimed that he kept a 507th clean sheet in Fluminese's 0-0 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns at the World Club Cup, moving him ahead of Gianluigi Buffon for most all-time.

[Winston Biscuit]

bit of a pointless stat, but I found it interesting anyway

opposition red cards minus own red card in La Liga since the turn of the century:

1. Barcelona +65
2. Real Socieded +43
3. Athletic Bilbao +18
4. Villarreal +16

19. Real Madrid -2

Can't help but think the Sergio Ramos effect may well have contributed significantly there