Key Takeaways
- Ángel Mateos González will play for CD Colunga at age 70 in an official fifth-tier match this Sunday
- The former miner retired from competitive football 27 years ago but has served as a goalkeeper coach this season
- If he features against CD Praviano, he will become the oldest player ever to appear in a sanctioned Spanish match
Most people in their seventies enjoy watching football from the comfort of the stands. Ángel Mateos González would rather stand between the goalposts.
The 70-year-old is preparing to make a sensational return to competitive action this weekend. He is set to wear the gloves for CD Colunga when they meet CD Praviano in Spain’s Tercera Federación.
Mateos last played a competitive match 27 years ago. However, the Asturian side insists this appearance is not a marketing gimmick. They claim the former miner has earned his spot through months of dedication.
Throughout the current campaign, Mateos has supported the club’s keepers during training sessions. The club says he represents their core values of passion, consistency and respect for the sport.
“Age is not the issue here,” the club stated on social media. “What counts is attitude and commitment. Mateos is playing because he deserves it, not because he is 70 years old.”
The veteran began playing football when he was just ten. He told the local press that the game has changed almost beyond recognition since his early days.
“When I started out, it was practically a different sport,” he explained. “The balls were heavier. The pitches were terrible. I used to place a bucket beside my goal so I could bail water out when the pitch flooded.”
Speaking to radio station Cope, Mateos revealed he still weighs the same 68 to 69 kilograms he did at age 18. He maintains a fierce competitive spirit and despises losing at any activity.
“Many of my colleagues from the mining industry only wanted to visit the pub after work,” he recalled. “I never understood that mentality. You must stay active.”
CD Colunga hopes Sunday’s fixture will remind supporters of football’s true essence. They want to demonstrate that love for the game transcends generations.
“If you focus only on his age, you miss the message,” the club added. “This is about honouring people who dedicate their lives to football.”
Mateos remains unsure whether he will complete the full 90 minutes or only feature in the first half. Either way, his appearance will secure his place in the Spanish record books.