Nowadays, players in modern football are known for making switches to different clubs and leagues. With more economic opportunities in various countries, players are aware of the market and quickly seize the opportunity to improve their status by switching.
Having said that, the number of players who have managed to stay at one club for long is staggering low. There are a few exceptions, however.
So, here we have a list of 10 players who have played longest for their clubs in European football. So, without further ado, let’s take a look.
10. Marcelo:
Club – Real Madrid
Duration – 13 years 4 months
The Brazilian full-back has been a familiar name for all football fans but very realize that he has stayed with Real Madrid for so long. He has scored 37 goals and bagged 96 assists throughout his stay in Madrid. He has won four La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, two Copas, three UEFA Super Cups, and more with Real Madrid. Many thought that with Ferland Mendy’s arrival, Marcelo will be phased out of the squad slowly but the Brazilian is still going strong under Zidane.
9. Javi Lopez:
Club – Espanyol
Duration – 13 years 4 months
A product of the youth ranks of Betis, Javi signed for Espanyol in 2007. The Espanyol captain rose through the B team and was promoted to the first team in 2010. He is versatile and has the ability to play as a midfielder as well as a full-back. He has over 250 appearances for the Catalan side.
8. Bruno Soriano:
Club - Villareal
Duration – 13 years 10 months
One-club man, Bruno has spent his entire youth and professional career with Villareal. He has 31 goals and 25 assists in 415 appearances for the Yellow Submarines. The current Villareal captain plays as a defensive midfielder and will be a free agent this summer.
7. Sammy Bossut:
Club – Zulte Waregem
Duration – 13 years 10 months
The 34-year-old Belgian goalkeeper signed for the Belgian Pro-League side in 2006. He has made 367 appearances since signing for the club. He also helped his club in winning the Belgian Cup in 2017. He's not the most famous Belgian player. He's never been called to play officially for the national team. Yet he's here, 7th in the list.
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6. Sergio Ramos:
Club – Real Madrid
Duration – 14 years 8 months
Real Madrid signed Ramos in 2005 from Sevilla. Since then he has made 640 appearances scoring 91 goals. Known as one of the best defenders of this generation, Ramos has also been for his goal-scoring abilities. In recent times, he has been the main penalty taker for Real Madrid. Of course, he's won everything with Real: La Liga four times; the Champions League four times; the Copa del Rey two times; the FIFA clubs World Cup four times.
The very definition of a legend.
5. Giorgio Chiellini:
Club – Juventus
Duration – 14 years 10 months
The 35-year-old Italian defender currently captains both Juventus and Italian National Team. He was signed by Juventus in 2005 from Livorno. Eight times Serie A winner, the defender is an experienced player playing at the highest level of the game. Chiellini has made over 509 appearances for Juventus and has been a key component for the Old Lady for almost 15 years. However, his contract is expiring this summer and he will be a free agent after this season.
4. Francesco Magnanelli:
Club – US Sassuolo
Duration – 14 years 10 months
The 35-year-old Italian midfielder has been a part of Sassuolo since signing for them in 2005. He holds the record for most appearances by a Sassuolo player. Throughout his stay he helped his team from Serie C2 to Serie A promotion, winning the Serie C2 and Serie B titles in 2008 & 2013 respectively. The hardworking defensive midfielder was rewarded with a contract extension in June 2017 for four seasons.
3. Lionel Messi:
Club – FC Barcelona
Duration – 16 years 4 months
Is there a need for his introduction? Arguably one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi is the live example of a one-club man. He has appeared 718 times for the Catalan giants and has scored 627 goals. He also has 261 assists. A veteran servant of the Blaugranas, the Argentine joined the club in 2001 and made his professional debut in 2004. Most BallonD’ors, most goals and in La Liga, most goals for Argentina, most Golden Boots, ten La Liga, six Copa, four Champions League are some of his individual & team honors. The little man is still one of the best players this season with most goals and assists in La Liga despite missing games due to injury.
2. Loic Perrin:
Club – St. Etienne
Duration – 16 years 10 months
Loïc Perrin has been a major French league player for more than 15 seasons now, playing only for his club AS Saint-Étienne, which he joined as a youth player in 1997. The French defender is one of Les Verts’ best players, having played nearly 469 competitive games with Saint-Étienne. The 34-year-old is in his 17th season with Les Verts, still rocking it as a center-back.
1. Igor Akinfeev:
Club – CSKA Moscow
Duration – 17 years 4 months
Former Russian goalkeeper and captain, Igor Akinfeev began his professional career in 2003 with CSKA Moscow, after being promoted from the youth ranks. The 34-year-old shot-stopper is a six-time Russian Premier League winner as well as a UEFA Cup winner in 2005. He also holds the record for the most number of clean-sheets in Russian football history with 269. The 31-year-old has been with CSKA Moscow for 17 years and counting and is first on the list of active one-club players. After a stellar performance in the 2018 World Cup, Akinfeev announced retirement from the national team.
