Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Wednesday, 29 April 2026, 22:39 / Updated Wednesday, 29 April 2026 22:52
CD Colunga, a team from the fifth division of Spain, announced that this weekend, the goal will be defended by Angel Mateos Gonzalez, a former goalkeeper who has reached the age of 70.
An unlikely milestone will be crossed at the weekend in professional football in Spain. The gate of CD Colunga, a team from the fifth league (Tercera RFEF), will be guarded by a 70-year-old man.
It is about Angel Mateos Gonzalez, former goalkeeper in the lower leagues. It is not a permanent 'transfer', with Mateos coming back into the game just for this match, in an attempt by the club to show their gratitude for 'a symbol of Asturian sport'.
This season, Mateos was a kind of goalkeeping coach at Colunga.
Record in Spain: returns to the field at 70 years old!
“We are not dealing with a record or an eccentricity. We are dealing with a recognition.
Mateos represents exactly what we stand for at CD Colunga: passion, perseverance, respect for football and a way of living the sport that transcends age.
We are talking about a person who was a miner, who dedicated his life to work and football and who helped our goalkeepers throughout the season. Mateos is not playing because he is 70 years old. He plays because he deserves it,” the club said.
Mateos Gonzalez, who he is 1.72 meters tall and weighs 69 kilogramstold the local newspaper Las Provincias that “I still feel agile”. He retired from football when he was 43, but continued to play for fun and tried to stay in shape.
“I have friends who now weigh 90 kilos, have big bellies, puff and smoke in bars; sport is healthy and gives you quality of life,” he joked in dialogue with El Pais reporters.
The match has no stake
But why now? There are only two stages left in the championship, and Colunga is no longer worried about relegation, being in the middle of the ranking, 11 points above the red zone. Sunday's opponent is next to her in the ranking, in the same situation.
Team manager Keith Thompson, a former Real Oviedo player, explained of Angel that “he couldn't play until now because we didn't want people to misunderstand or look like we're spoiling the competition”.
But now, “the team is saved and it's going to be a celebration, a tribute with free entry.”
