Grandpa Osasuna

Osasuna, with an average age of 29.1 years, is the LaLiga Santander team with the highest average age in the championship.

According to Transfermarkt, the Navarran entity In this regard it surpasses the recently promoted Elche, and also Eibar, both with an average age of 28.8 years in their squads. On the other side of the scale are Barcelona (25.2), Valencia (25.5) and Real Sociedad (25.7).

Inside Osasuna, Rubén Martínez, 36 years old, is the oldest player in the squad, followed by captain Oier Sanjurjo (34) and Enric Gallego, a forward who has the same springs as the red number six.

To this veterancy and experience that these players bring is added the youth, the self-confidence and the illusion that others like Kike Barja (23), Juan Pérez (24) or Nacho Vidal (25).

Of the 22 red-legged athletes recorded by the famous website, there are 9 footballers aged 30 or over, 11 between 25 and 30, and 2 under 25.

The Osasuna coach, Jagoba Arrasate likes to have veteran players such as Oier, Roberto Torres (31), Íñigo Pérez (32), Adrián (32) or Roncaglia (33), while also making use of younger footballers such as Rubén García (27), Darko (28) or Calleri (27).

The famous database has stopped classifying the particular cases of players such as Jon Moncayola, Chimy Ávila and Brandon Thomas, who are not included in that ranking for various reasons.

The decision on Moncayola is due to the salary cap. Having a record from the second team makes it easier for Osasuna not to have problems to overcome this issue. Last year the same thing happened with Estupiñán at Osasuna or with Rodrygo Goes at Real Madrid.

For his part, the Balearic forward Brandon has his license canceled, since, due to his long-term injury, in no case could he play before the opening of the next registration period (January), so he does not count in this average either. old.

Something similar happens with Chimy Ávila. The Argentine was injured in the preseason, but it will not be until January when it is decided to discharge both players if the club considers that it has options to play in the final stretch of the campaign.

The average age of the Spanish League is 27.4 years, while in the Premier League it is 26.6, in Serie A it is 26.8, in the Bundesliga it is 25.4 and in Ligue 1 it is 25. 2 years.

Looking ahead to its centenary season, Osasuna has a squad with new names that will bring freshness to a group of veterans who endowed the team with the character and experience necessary to compete in a championship as complicated as LaLiga Santander.