Veteran goalkeeper, 70, to return to pitch for official game in Spain
Seventy-year-old Ángel Mateos González is set to return to competitive football by playing in an official match for CD Colunga in Spain's fifth tier, marking a rare comeback nearly three decades after his retirement. The club says the decision honors his lifelong dedication to football and work, not his age, and emphasizes values like passion and commitment. Mateos, a former miner and goalkeeper, has been training with the team and could become the oldest player in an official Spanish match.
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Ángel Mateos González retired from competitive football 27 years ago. ‘When I started out, it was almost a different sport,’ he said. Photograph: skaman306/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenÁngel Mateos González retired from competitive football 27 years ago. ‘When I started out, it was almost a different sport,’ he said. Photograph: skaman306/Getty ImagesSpainVeteran goalkeeper, 70, to return to pitch for official game in SpainÁngel Mateos González due to play for CD Colunga, making him oldest player to take part in official matchSam Jones in Madrid and agencyWed 29 Apr 2026 13.17 EDTFirst published on Wed 29 Apr 2026 12.37 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleAt an age when many veteran footballers might prefer to be regaling grandchildren, friends and assorted barflies with slightly…
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