European champions of retirement age

Far from spending his time watching the works progress (what a great piece of mindless entertainment!), Gian Piero Gasperini and Jose Luis Mendilibar They continue to make waves in the world of football. The Italian, 66 years old, conquered the European League with Atalanta last week. The Spanish lead, with 63 Olympiacos until the achievement of Meeting this Wednesday. And next Saturday Carlo Ancelottiwho is 64, could complete a trio of ‘old rockers’ who, in retirement age, continue to accumulate titles in European football.

The story of the three is more than interesting. start of Gasperinialmost one of God in ‘Dea’ (goddess in Italian), which is what Atalanta. When he arrived in Bergamo, in 2016, it had been almost 30 years since the Nerazzurri had been seen competing in European competitions, and since the first season in which they managed to finish 4th in Serie A, he made himself a regular traveler the Atalanta. for the old continent. Even listening to the Champions League anthem. It was necessary, however, to bring the title to the showcases of the club, which has not experienced any entry since winning the Coppa in 1963. And this year, with 66 years and lost in the final of European League still Bayer Leverkusen of Xabi Alonso champion of Bundesliga without losing a single match, Gasperini he got

The Don José Luis Mendilibar Etxebarria. ‘Mendi’, he prefers. After conquering the European League with the Seville last season, at Pizjuan In some ways he was disrespected. He started the season on the Sevilla bench because the offices did not dare to do without him after winning the aforementioned championship in 2023, but at least they have the reason of a bad streak they hit him. It’s a very unfair decision, but in this matter of time football usually puts everything in their place, and as Sevilla wanders with more pain than glory throughout the current season Mendilibar found a place to live in Olympiacos to be the architect of what is the first title in Europe in the history of those from Piraeus. At 63 years old and after fighting in the Spanish mud like no other. “Long live the mother who gave birth to all Greeks,” said a man who deserved all the good things happening to him amid the title celebration.

Finally, it remains to be seen whether Carlo Ancelotti whether or not the trio of successful ‘retirements’ is completed. The Real Madrid coach, who is 64 years old, will fight this Saturday to win his fifth Champions League of his career on the bench. Many people, at their age, look back and see that despite decades of being in the elite of continental football, they were not able to lift the ‘orejona’. Now it seems strange, but it is worth remembering that more than a year ago the continuation of ‘Carletto’ on the Bernabéu bench was more than in doubt. How reckless doubt like the ‘old rockers’ Ancelotti, Gasperini and Mendilibar!