Ángel Mateos González retired from competitive football 27 years ago. Now, at 70 years old, he is set to return to the pitch for an official match in Spain, making him the oldest player to take part in an official game in the country.
A Lifetime of Dedication
Mateos, a former miner, will play in goal for the Asturian team CD Colunga in a fifth-tier match this Sunday. He has been helping out the team's goalkeepers during the current Tercera Federación group two campaign. In an interview with the local newspaper El Comercio, he expressed uncertainty about whether he would play the full 90 minutes or just the first half.
Club's Tribute to a Legend
CD Colunga announced the decision on Facebook, stating that they wanted to celebrate Mateos's lifelong dedication to work and football. The club emphasized that the move was not a stunt but a recognition of a man who embodies their values: passion, consistency, and respect for the sport. 'Age is secondary. What matters is attitude, dedication and commitment to the sport,' the statement read.
The club added: 'Mateos isn't playing because he's 70 years old. He's playing because he's earned it.'
Football Then and Now
Reflecting on his career, Mateos noted how football has changed since he started playing. 'When I started out, it was almost a different sport,' he said, recalling the heavy leather balls and muddy pitches that required a bucket to bail out water. Despite the changes, his passion remains undimmed.
Mateos told Cope radio that he has been playing football since age 10 and still weighs the same as he did at 18 – 68 or 69kg. He described himself as fiercely competitive, hating losing any kind of game, and always loving sports. Unlike many of his former colleagues in the mines, he never understood the appeal of just going to the bar, advocating instead for staying active through sport or walking.
More Than Age
CD Colunga stressed that Sunday's match is about more than just Mateos's age. 'If anyone's focusing solely on his age, then they're missing what's important,' the club said. 'This is about getting back to the essence of football, recognising the people who make it great and showing that there's another way of doing things.'
