Football is a game full of passion from everybody involved in the sport. However, certain footballers have, over the years, shown great love for their clubs by remaining loyal to them, many for the majority of their playing careers.
Here are some of the most loyal players to have played at an elite level in football history:
Paolo Maldini (Played for AC Milan from 1984 until 2009)
The defender is part of what is now a long lineage at Milan, as his father, Cesare Maldini, also played for the Rossoneri, as well as Italy’s national team. Maldini’s sons Daniele and Christian both also came through the club’s youth system.
📅 On this day in 1985…
👦 A 16-year-old Paolo Maldini made his first of 902 appearances for #ACMilan ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/N0EmN9Njdh
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) January 20, 2024
Paolo Maldini’s Milan career from 1984 until 2009 was an incredible one, as he made 902 appearances for the Rossoneri in all competitions. During his illustrious career, amongst other silverware, he won the European Cup five times in its two different guises and also picked up seven Scudetto-winners medals.
He is still considered one of the finest defenders the game has ever seen and is a legend amongst Milan fans.
Ryan Giggs (Played for Manchester United from 1990 until 2014)
Giggs came through the Red Devils youth academy, making his first-team debut in the 1990/91 season. The Wales international made 963 appearances for the men from Manchester during his career in all competitions, scoring 168 goals.
His time with the Red Devils was certainly eventful on the pitch. He won numerous pieces of silverware with United, including the Champions League twice and the Premier League title thirteen times.
Giggs’ career is significant as no player in the English game has won more silverware than the former Wales international.
Paul Scholes (Played for Manchester United from 1994 until 2013)
Scholes was another player who came through United’s youth system, making his Red Devils debut in season 1994/95. Although he did retire briefly, the midfielder went on to represent the men from Manchester until 2013, when he officially retired for good.
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The former England international made 718 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions, scoring 155 goals. Like Giggs, Scholes was part of the United team that won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues while also finishing second in the latter on two occasions.
Francesco Totti (Played for Roma from 1993 until 2017)
‘ll Capitano’ as he was known at Roma, came through the Giallorossi’s youth system, making his debut in season 1993/94. Totti became a legend at the club he loved, making 786 competitive appearances and scoring 307 times during his long career.
Despite reported interest from elsewhere in his services, he served Roma with distinction until 2017, when he finally hung up his boots. He may have won more silverware and accolades elsewhere, but the Scudetto in season 2000/01 with the Giallorossi will have meant everything to the boy playing for his home city club.
Totti also helped the club from Italy’s capital to win the Coppa Italia in seasons 2006/07 and 2007/08. Incredibly, in October 20024, Totti revealed that Serie A clubs had called him over the possibility of him coming out of retirement, despite the former being 48 years of age.
Javier Zanetti (Played for Inter Milan from 1995 until 2014)
Although he started his career in his native Argentina with Talleres before a move to Banfield, Zanetti only really started making a name for himself with a move to Italian giants Inter Milan in 1995.
The versatile former Argentina international went on to make 858 competitive appearances for the Nerazzuri over 19 seasons. Amongst the trophies he won during his trophy-laden career were five Scudetto’s and one Champions League.
18/05/14
After a Record 858 Appearances for Inter
Javier Zanetti “El Tractor” Retires pic.twitter.com/3lTztZqfpi
— My Greatest 11 (@MyGreatest11) May 18, 2023
On retiring in 2014, Inter showed their appreciation for Zanetti’s services by retiring his number four shirt and giving him the role of vice-president, a role he held until the takeover by Chinese group Suning Holdings Group in 2016.
Steven Gerrard (Played for Liverpool from 1998 until 2015)
The former England midfielder is the epitome of the homegrown hero. Having come through the youth ranks at boyhood club Liverpool, he played for the Reds from 1998 until 2015 when he moved to the USA to end his career with a two-season stint with LA Galaxy.
Like many players on our list, he became a key player for his club, making 710 appearances for the Merseyside giants and scoring 185 goals.
The highlight of his playing career at Liverpool was playing a pivotal role in Liverpool winning the Champions League in season 2004/05. He also won the FA Cup twice and the League Cup on three occasions. However, the one winner’s medal missing from his collection was a Premier League winner’s medal.
Iker Casillas (Played for Real Madrid from 1999 until 2015)
Having been born in Spain’s capital, Casillas rose through the ranks at Real Madrid, eventually making his first-team debut for Los Blancos in season 1999/200. The goalkeeper went on to establish himself as a mainstay in the Real Madrid team for 16 seasons, making 725 appearances in all competitions before he left for FC Porto in 2015.
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During his time with Real Madrid, Casillas won La Liga on five occasions and the Champions League three times, amongst numerous other trophies during his distinguished career in Madrid.
Xavi (Played for Barcelona from 1998 until 2015)
The midfielder came through the club’s famous La Masia academy, making his first-team debut in season 1998/1999. He became a key player in the Blaugrana’s team, especially during the successful Pep Guardiola era at the Catalan club, when he was often described as a ‘Metronome’ in the centre of the pitch.
Xavi made 767 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions and scored 85 goals for the Catalan giants. His Barcelona playing career was full of silverware, with his most significant achievements being winning La Liga on eight occasions and the Champions League four times.
When Xavi retired from playing, he moved into management, returning to the Catalan club as head coach in November 2021. He continued his tradition of winning silverware with Barcelona by guiding the Blaugrana to the Spanish top-flight title in season 2022/23.
Xavi left his post as Barcelona’s head coach in the summer of 2024, having failed to retain the domestic title in his final season in charge of the team.