LaLiga's grandparents

“I know that I'm 40 years old and I can't relax at no time “, admitted this same Wednesday Joaquin Sanchez. “I feel very satisfied and proud of being the oldest player in a club with 120 years of history, I will have done something good“, highlighted last week Diego Lopez. Phrases practically interchangeable between two players that are not only the oldest in the history of their respective clubs, Betis and Espanyolbut directly the grandparents of this League. And they will see each other this Sunday, at Benito Villamarín, without knowing if it will be this his last dance facing.

Only 105 days separate, between July 21 and November 3, the dates of birth of the end and the goalkeeper, the only ones from 1981 that resist in First. In fact, to give a dimension of their feat, they are only followed by a footballer from 1982 (Jorge Molina), another from 1983 (also Betic Claudio Bravo) and another from 1984 (Salva Sevilla). A lifetime in the elite for two players who have been measured in up to nine different teams: Diego has played against Joaquín in the goals of Real Madrid, Villarreal, Sevilla, Milan and Espanyol, while that of El Puerto de Santa María has done so on board Betis, Valencia, Málaga and Fiorentina.

And even though they have matched in 14 games –With six victories for Paradela, four for Joaquín and another four draws–, curiosity has wanted that the only goal from the end to the goalkeeper to date it has been produced abroad. In a Fiorentina-Milan of Serie A played at Artemio Franchi on March 16, 2015.

That what Joaquín scored his first goal in the First Division against Espanyol, on September 9, 2001. And that in front of his veteran rival in front, Diego López suffered his first injury playing in the elite, in a Betis-Real Madrid Cup, on January 18, 2006: he was injured in the 21st minute and had to be replaced by Iker Casillas.

So crossed are their paths that both have played only one season in the Second Division, but 20 years apart. In the silver category, Joaquín's head appeared already with the green-and-white shirt, in the 2000-01 season, and after Espanyol's relegation Diego renewed to play last season, 2020-21, and achieve a promotion that has allowed him, input, overcome a myth like Alfredo di Stéfano as the oldest player in parakeet history. The same milestone that the winger at Betis achieved four weeks ago, at exceed the record that Ángel Martín 'Saro' held since 1948.

Because Joaquín and Diego López are making history. And in it they continue. With games like this Sunday, in which only two players more than 80 years of experiences will accumulate on the field of play. Soccer. That add up to almost as many decades as the League itself. And that dignify it.