Israeli football has gained a key chapter in the sports’ history this Friday. A match for the fourth division of the national league became suddenly very important for the World of Football. The goalkeeper Isaak Hayik became there the oldest football player in the world. He entered for the Guinness Book, with 73 years old.
Born in Iraq, this player has moved to Israel when he was still a child and he has been living there since the age of 4.
The record has been broken during the match between Ironi Or Yehuda – the team in which he plays for – and the Tzeirey Taibe, this Friday. The match was not good to Hayik’s side once they lost by 5-1. However, the goalkeeper, with his distinctive white hair, still had some pretty good saves during the game. The ceremony organized by the Guinness Book’s representatives happened after the game. There he was officially recognize as the oldest player ever.
“I’m ready to play another match”, said Hayik, who is going to be 74 next week. “This is not only a source of pride for me but also to Israeli sports in general”, he completed.
The old record was held by the Uruguayan Robert Carmona, since 2015, when he played a match for Pan de Azucar with his 53 years old.
“I used to get tired before he did. He is incredible”, said the son of the world recordist, Moshe Hayik, talking about the time when he and his father used to play football.
The 73-year-old goalkeeper even said that he is still ready for other matches and that he feels pretty well playing. It is amazing to see such a senior keep on playing the game that he loves. And still being a professional with such an advanced age is amazing. We, football fans, hope to see this amazing person playing for another season… Or maybe even more.