Andina

Peru's Pizarro: Modern soccer too 'intense' for 40-year-old players

Photo: Twitter/@werderbremenES

Photo: Twitter/@werderbremenES

12:40 | Berlin (Germany), Oct. 6.

Former Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Peru striker Claudio Pizarro said there is "no chance" modern soccer players could play into their 40s because of the increased demands of the game.

Pizarro retired in 2020 at the age of 41 after playing 595 games in the Bundesliga, Premier League, and Peruvian Liga 1, along with 86 games in Peru's red-white team.

"No chance, no chance. I think it is not possible to do that anymore," Pizarro expressed on Thursday afternoon, referring to his own experience of playing into his 40s.

"Soccer is about fitness at the moment. The intensity of the games is really high," he added.

Pizarro said that despite improvements in science, nutrition and training, the game was too intense and that 40-year-old soccer players would be even rarer than they are now. 

"If you want to play for these big clubs, in big leagues, where the teams are playing three games a week, it is very, very difficult to continue playing at that level," the former striker said.

"I think it is not going to be possible to do that anymore (…) I was one of the last to do that," he concluded

Pizarro retired with six Bundesliga titles, five German Cups and a Champions League medal. He played more Bundesliga games than any other non-German and is the league's oldest goal-scorer (40).  

Pizzaro —a club ambassador with Bayern Munich— spoke to AFP ahead of this weekend's 'Der Klassiker' match between his former side and Borussia Dortmund. 

Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich on Saturday afternoon. 

(END) AFP/MVB

Published: 10/6/2022