In an era where footballers often retire before their 40s, Jamie Cureton is the exception that defies all predictions. At 50 (he turns 50 in August), the former Premier League striker and current player-manager of Cambridge City has decided to register as a footballer for the 2025-26 season, with the aim of playing at least one match after his 50th birthday on August 28, writes A2 CNN.
Cureton's career is an extraordinary journey spanning 32 seasons, during which he has played for 22 clubs in nine different divisions of English football, from the Premier League to the Essex Senior League. He made his debut for Norwich City in 1994, when the Premier League was only two years old. Since then, he has been part of teams such as Reading, QPR, Colchester, Exeter and many others, and even had an adventure in South Korea with Busan I'Cons.
Cureton has made over 1,000 official appearances, a feat that puts him alongside legends such as Xavi and Raul. Although he no longer keeps an exact count, statistics show that he has played 1,075 matches and is ranked 25th globally for this record.
Alongside his playing career, Cureton has also embraced the role of manager in amateur football. After experience as a player-manager with Bishop's Stortford and Enfield, he now manages Cambridge City, a team with big ambitions to climb to the top flight. Under his guidance, the club are seeking a place in the play-offs for the new season.
As well as contributing on the pitch, he has also helped to develop young talent. Between 2017 and 2019, Cureton was a coach at Arsenal's academy, where he also trained current England star Bukayo Saka. "Football is everything to me. Without it, I don't know where I would have ended up," Cureton says frankly. "I would like to play one last game in the FA Cup before I hang up my boots."
With a rare passion and a career spanning nearly three and a half decades, Jamie Cureton remains an inspiring example for every generation of footballers. (A2 Televizion)
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