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#3 Marcelo: 15 years
One of the greatest left-backs of the 21st century, Marcelo has been pivotal in Real Madrid’s success across Europe. The Brazilian’s vigor on the flank has provided fans with entertainment for over a decade and a half. Marcelo joined the Los Blancos in 2007 from Fluminese and has been a regular feature of their starting XI.
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Marcelo has made 538 appearances for Real Madrid in an illustrious career that spans 15 years. Five La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, five Spanish Super Cups, and two Spanish Cups are just a few trophies the Brazilian has won.
Apart from terrific defensive awareness, Marcelo also has a knack of scoring goals. The Brazilian has scored 38 goals for Real Madrid in his career. Replacing a football great like Roberto Carlos is almost impossible, and if anyone has come close to doing so, it is Marcelo.
The 33-year-old is nearing the end of his football career and is considering retiring at the end of the 2021/22 season.
#2 Francesco Magnanelli: 16 years
Francesco Magnanelli’s footballing journey has been simply magical. The Italian played for four other clubs across the domestic system in Italy before joining Sassuolo. When he signed for them in 2005, Sassuolo were in the fourth tier of Italian football.
Magnanelli played a crucial part in their rise to Serie A. The Italian never lost hope and saw his side promoted to the Italian top-flight seven years after he joined. The 37-year-old has made 475 appearances for Sassuolo across a span of 16 years.
The club captain is on his last legs and has played less than 150 minutes in the league this season. Magnanelli has firmly established himself in the club’s folklore and will undoubtedly receive a legendary farewell once he decides to call it quits. The Italian’s contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 season.
#1 Giorgio Chiellini: 16 years
Giorgio Chiellini turns 38 this August, but he continues to put in world-class performances on the pitch. The Juventus captain has been one of the most consistent centre-backs ever since his club debut in 2005. The Italian is fiercely passionate about the club and has bravely led his team to glory.
After a whopping 551 appearances in 16 years, Chiellini has become synonymous with Juventus. The Italian has won nine Serie A titles, five Super Cups and five Italian Cups with the Bianconeri. Chiellini’s most recent triumph came at the Euros. The centre-back was a key figure for the Italians in their successful campaign.
After a shocking start to the season, Juventus are currently fourth in the league. Chiellini has another year left on his contract and he will hope that Juventus perform better in the upcoming campaign.
