The round leather game called football is a sport where loyalty is hard to come by in the modern day but there are still names who have devoted lengthy and dedicated years to their clubs and this article intends to reveal to you the longest serving players in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
From England to Spain, Germany, France and Italy there are players who are devoted to the course of their respective teams.
The lure of money, increased wages, and increase in player power have resulted in a lot of players turning their back on teams and coaches.
An image From Transfermkt has revealed 10 names of active players from Europe’s top 5 leagues who are the longest serving players currently.
Let’s dive right straight into the names on our list:
10) Hugo Mallo – 14 years
The 31-year-old has spent all his years at Celta De Vigo, a club which he graduated through the youth team and he has garnered over 400 competitive appearances including a club record of over 300 in the Spanish top-flight.
He has spent 14 years at Celta De Vigo and he is one of the longest serving players in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
9) Nacho Fernandez – 14 years
The Spaniard has spent all his years at Real Madrid and he also graduated from the Real Madrid castilla to the Senior team.
Nacho, 33, has spent 14 years at Real Madrid and made 310 appearances for Los Blancos.
8) Karim Benzema – 14 years
Benzema has spent 14 years at Real Madrid, joining from Olympique Lyonnais in 2009 and has gone on to make a staggering 640 appearances for the Spanish heavyweights.
The 35-year-old is 6th on the all-time appearance list for Real Madrid behind Raul, Ilker Casillas, Manolo Sanchis, Sergio Ramos and Santillana.
7) Seamus Coleman – 14 years
The 34-year-old arrived at Everton in 2009 and he has remained with the club ever since, making a total of 408 appearances in 14 years spent with the club so far.
He is also on our list of the longest serving players in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
6) Iker Muniain – 14 years
Muniain is from the Basque region and he is a Bilbao boy true and true. He has spent 14 years with Atletico Bilbao since he made the step up from the youth team in 2009.
The 30-year-old has made 530 appearances for the Spanish side since 2009.
5) Stefan Radu – 15 years
The Romanian has been amazing in spite of spending 15 years at Lazio. The Italian club wasn’t Radu’s first professional team.
Radu started his career at Dinamo Bucharest before joining Lazio in 2008.
But his loyalty to the team since signing in 2008 has never waivered. In 2021 he became the club’s all time highest appearance maker in all competitions, surpassing Giuseppe Favalli.
The 36-year-old has played over 400 games for Lazio and he definitely makes it to the list of the longest serving players in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
4) Anthony Lopes – 15 years
The 32-year-old goalie has been a mainstay in Olympique Lyonnais over the years and he has truly been a dedicated man.
The Portuguese has made 449 appearances in 15 years spent with the French side, he graduated from the cadet team of Lyon to the senior team.
3) Koke – 15 years
The 31-year-old has spent all his years as a footballer at Atletico Madrid and he has proceeded to make 579 appearances in 15 years so far with the Spanish giants.
2) Thomas Muller – 15 years
A devoted and dedicated man to the Bavarians course. Muller was also a player developed from the academy of Bayern Munich and he has gone on to blossom with the team.
The German attacker has spent 15 years with the Munich based club.
The 33-year-old has made 660 appearances for the German heavyweights.
1) Sergio Busquets – 16 years
According to Jewish proverb, “he who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure” and Barcelona found this devoted friend and treasure in 2007.
Busquets, 34, exemplifies loyalty and he knows what it means to fully dedicate his time to a team.
He has made 716 appearances for Barcelona in 16 years that he has been with the side.
The Spaniard also graduated from the Barcelona La Masia and he has had an illustrious football career.
Sergio Busquet is king in our list of the longest serving players in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
