Historic

Oldest professional soccer player ever dies in Mexico: how old was he when he retired?

By Federico Aldrighetti

His name was Enrique Alcocer, and he was certified as the oldest soccer player ever in history, his life is worth a movie.

His name was Enrique Alcocer, and he was certified as the oldest soccer player ever in history, his life is worth a movie.

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Enrique Alcocer Gagniere has passed away in Mexico in the last hours. If you are into Mexican TV, you’ll think about a young presenter who has been starring on the screen for some time. But not, we are ahead of talking about his grandfather, who died but has set an extraordinary record, being the oldest soccer player ever.

We are not talking about Sir Stanley Matthews, neither about Ryan Giggs. Not even Kazuyoshi Miura, who is still active in Japan’s second division being 52 years old and inspired the story of Oliver Atom, main character of Captain Tsubasa cartoons. Alcocer was born in Mexico, on August 24, 1924, and passed away at the age of 96. He played since 1952 for Reforma Athletic Club.

Alcocer’s grandson is a journalist who works for Mexican TV station Heraldo Television, which depends on one of the most prestigious newspapers in Mexico. The most outstanding fact on this legendary soccer player is that he kept on playing in his beloved Reforma for many years, until it was certified he was the oldest soccer player in the world. The club was a big reference in Mexican's amateur soccer era, until 1920s, and later stayed playing in lower leagues.

Guinness World Records did the research and certified he was the oldest soccer player ever at the age of 77. His grandson, Enrique Alcocer, has expressed his thankfulness in social media, and exhibited, once again, the certification extended by the world records’ organization, in order to prove his grandfather’s amazing feat.

What about the World Cup?

2014 and 2018 World Cups gave two records in this aspect: in Brazil, Colombia’s coach José Pekerman sent 43-year-old goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon once his team was winning their last group stage match replacing David Ospina. Colombia beat Japan 4-1 that time. Four years later, Argentina’s Hector Cuper, who was coaching Egypt, lined-up 45-year-old Essam El-Hadary for the last group stage match against Saudi Arabia, with both teams already eliminated. He saved a penalty kick, but his country lost 2-1 in injury time.

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