More and more 35-year-olds in the Eredivisie: what is their secret?

Nineteen players aged 35+ are under contract at Eredivisie clubs this season, with FC Utrecht's Nordin Amrabat (39) the oldest active player and Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer (43) the oldest contracted.

An increasing number of players over 35 are competing in the Dutch Eredivisie, defying traditional expectations about footballer longevity. This season, 19 players aged 35 or older hold contracts at top-flight clubs, representing 3.8% of all Eredivisie players.

FC Utrecht forward Nordin Amrabat, who will be 39 years and 222 days old on Sunday when his side faces NEC, is the oldest player with regular minutes. He attributes his longevity to "luck, genes and health", saying he feels 28 and remains injury-free. NEC midfielder Tjaronn Chery (38) is the second-oldest active player, while Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, turning 43 on Sunday, is the oldest contracted player in the Netherlands, though he is likely to be benched when Ajax visits FC Twente.

The trend reflects broader changes in professional football. Medical support has transformed dramatically over two decades, with modern players benefiting from nutritionists, physiotherapists, strength coaches and sleep management. KNVB team doctor Edwin Goedhart notes that while players inevitably lose pace after their peak years (24-28), experience and pattern recognition allow older players to compensate through better positioning and game reading. Seventeen of the 19 Eredivisie veterans saw action this season, with PEC Zwolle's Nick Viergever missing no minutes.