James Milner and Liverpool have committed to another year; it’s the absolute least that the elder statesman of English footballers deserves.
As they move into the latter stages of their careers, the influence of professional footballers can start to work in mysterious ways. Better training and conditioning have allowed them to last longer on the pitch than ever before, but the game itself continues to get quicker and quicker too, and the onward march of time can only be postponed for so long. Those who continue to flourish until well into their 30s have to bring something else to their clubs, and what they offer might not be immediately obvious from the outside.
The senior professional might not be as quick as they used to be, but what the legs have had to concede can be picked up by the brain. Years of accumulated experience can add an extra couple of yards in positional sense and anticipation. And it doesn’t end there. By setting an example of best practice in the dressing room and on the training ground, they can positively influence the behaviour of others just by being around.
The value of having these older heads in the changing room doesn’t seem lost on the very best coaches. At Manchester City, for example, Fernandinho leaves this summer at 37 after nine years with the club. His game time has become increasingly limited over the last couple of years, but his continuing place in the first-team squad has been ongoing evidence of the fact that sometimes what matters in terms of the dressing room can amount to considerably more than can be seen on the pitch. Compare and contrast the unity of purpose of Manchester City with the dishevelled look of Manchester United throughout the second half of last season and the constant leaking and rumours of factionalism within the dressing room there.
Forty-odd miles up the road from Old Trafford or The Etihad Stadium, a former City player whose influence upon the culture of a dressing room is unparalleled has…
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