Michael Essien, Milan Baros and Eric Djemba-Djemba: 42 footballers you didn’t know were still playing

How many of these players did you know were still going strong?   

Luke Brown
Tuesday 11 February 2020 11:53 GMT
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It is now universally accepted that there is simply too much football. With Premier League matches taking place every night of the week, numerous cup competitions and the return of European football, it can be difficult to keep up to speed with everything going on.

And so you are forgiven if you have little to no idea what is currently happening in the Chinese Super League, for example, or the Qatar Stars League.

But that does unfortunately mean you’re likely unaware of all the old Premier League and European favourites still going strong around the globe. Did you know that 37-year-old former Chelsea favourite Michael Essien is still playing regularly for Azerbaijani side Sabail FK? Or that cult hero Eric Djemba-Djemba is now turning out for Swiss fifth-tier side FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues?

Below, we have rounded up 42 familiar faces that we are certain you will be surprised to learn are still playing. In fact, if you already knew that more than 10 were still going strong – we salute you.

Did we miss anybody particularly noteworthy? Make sure you let us know in the comments below. And if you have a working knowledge of the Turkish Süper Lig or support İstanbul Başakşehir you are banned from taking part, as you are clearly already an expert on football’s golden oldies.

Take a look at the above gallery to see 42 footballers you will definitely be surprised to learn are still going strong.

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