Salute the legend
Record breaker Gareth Barry still going strong in EPL 19 years later
LONDON: Arsene Wenger was days away from winning the English Premier League for the first time as Arsenal manager. Michael Owen was English football’s latest player of the season. The original Ronaldo had a couple of months left as the world’s most expensive player.
It was May 2, 1998, and in a fairly nondescript occasion at Hillsborough, Gareth Barry – a 17yearold defender with floppy dark hair and already a cultured left foot – came on as a 49thminute substitute for Aston Villa in their 31 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
A remarkable, if understated, career was born.
More than 19 years later, Barry is still playing in England’s top division and, on Monday, will break the Premier League’s appearance record if selected by West Bromwich Albion for their away match at Arsenal.
It will be Barry’s 633rd appearance in the mostwatched league in the world, surpassing the record he held jointly with Manchester United great Ryan Giggs.
Of his current tally of 632, he has started 600 of them. It is a testament to Barry’s longevity, adaptability and quality that he has lasted so long in the fastpaced, bloodandthunder world of English football.
“It’s a huge number when you think about it,” Barry said ahead of his potentially recordbreaking game. “It’s gone so quickly.”
Barry played 365 league games for Villa, 132 league games for Manchester City, 131 league games for Everton and has featured in four league games for West Brom.
Having started out as a centreback equally comfortable at leftback, he is now an outandout holding midfielder – perhaps the best position on a football field for someone his age, as it involves a player using his head as much as his legs.
Barry credits his longevity to avoiding serious injury and to support from some nowretired former teammates.
“No one has said: ‘What are you doing still playing’?” the 36yearold Barry said.
“Everyone said: ‘Play as long as possible.’ You stop when you stop enjoying it and I’ll know when I’ve had enough and can’t keep up with the boys.”
That’s still not the case for Barry. Only last year, he was being hailed as “one of the best English players ever” by his thencoach at Everton, Roberto Martinez, who is admittedly prone to hyperbole, after a manofthematch performance against Manchester City in the League Cup semifinals.
He was also a muchcherished member of City’s Premier League titlewinning team in 201112, shoring up the midfield to allow Yaya Toure to rampage forward.
Then, he had turned down a move to Liverpool to join City.
Barry has slotted seamlessly into his new surroundings at West Brom, where he has replaced another veteran midfielder in Darren Fletcher, who has move to Stoke.
“They’re bastions of this sport,” West Brom manager Tony Pulis said.
“The young players at our football club, I hope they realise how lucky they are to see someone of that quality and that ilk.”
Barry has worn the captain’s armband for England on several occasions among his 53 caps for his country.
Globally, however, the most vivid image of Barry in an England jersey was in 2010 when he trailed in the wake of Mesut Ozil in the buildup to Germany’s final goal in their 41 win in the round of 16 at the World Cup.
Outside of the Premier League era that started in 1992, goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the appearance record for England’s top flight with 849 games. Former Chelsea defendermidfielder John Hollins has made more outfield appearances in the top flight than any other player, with 714. — AP