"I work two days a week": meeting with Lee Casciaro, city policeman and oldest player in Europe ready to challenge the Blues

Lee Henry Casciaro is a name that at first glance does not mean much to football fans. But in his country, on the side of Gibraltar, he is a legend of football. It is not in the south of Andalusia, in its British overseas territory (owned by Spain until 1713) that he meets the men of Didier Deschamps, but in Estadio Do Algarve near Faro in the south of Portugal. At almost 42 years old, he will try everything to shake the nets of Mike Maignan's cage during his 56th selection (3 goals) this Friday, during the Euro 2024 qualifiers in Germany. His 42 years, he will celebrate them on September 29, offering him the possibility of becoming the oldest player to play a Euro in the event of his nation's qualification.

Attacker of Lincoln Red Imps FC (in the Gibraltar championship), the man with short salt and pepper hair is about to experience the most important moment of his career, against the 2018 world champions. challenge and an immense joy to be able to face Mbappé, Griezmann, Giroud, Camavinga… ”he confided amused to Figaro. The latter, born in October 2002, came into the world four years after the coronation of the band at Zidane against Brazil, but also and above all, four years after the start of Lee Casciaro's career. And even if he did not mention his name when asked which Gibraltar players were familiar to him, the Real Madrid player will have to be vigilant since the oldest of the team opposite could evolve in his area. “He is 41 years old but he is still moving forward (laughs). He is rather a good depth player and quite a good dribbler. He is really loved there,” admitted Ludovic Ehrad (31), a French player who played in the local championship at Mons Calpe then at Glacis United.

Lee Casciaro and Kyllian Mbappé have one thing in common. Apart from being an opponent on Friday, you shouldn't talk to them about age. “I don't think about retirement at all, I love football and I have a lot of time to devote myself to it”. Casciaro does not pay attention to it, both in his practice and in his approach with his younger teammates. “I'm a lovely person (laughs). I get on well with everyone in general so young or old, it doesn't make a difference”. It must be said that the workforce of Gibraltar has four players over 35, including two who are over forty.

The dean of Gibraltar loves what he does and does not intend to stop there, he who will have to fight as often in the preliminary round of the Champions League in July with his club. Working full-time as a policeman is not part of his short-term plans, as Casciaro swaps his red Lincoln Red Imps FC shirt for the uniform of a naval policeman with the Gibraltar Ministry of Defense every week. “I have a very particular rhythm, I work two days and two nights a week with four days off”. The two days he works (from 8 am to 8 pm), it is difficult to find time to train even if he manages to do so in the evening, proof of great discipline. The father of two young girls is living his dream, he who has always wanted to put on cleats and enforce the law.

Lee Casciaro is a bit like the Zlatan of Gibraltar. Not just because the two men were born three days apart, but rather because of the similarity of the two characters. “The only athlete in the world who inspires me is myself. At my age, I don't know many athletes who continue their careers. A colorful statement reminiscent of those of the Swede, but which is the work of the 1m78 man. Confident and sure of himself, the number 7 of Gibraltar has not planned to exchange his shirt with anyone either. "IF I exchange my shirt with a French player what am I going to do with it? It wouldn't be much use so I'm not going to trade it.

A fast and toned player drowned in an overflowing desire, he is the same on the field as in life. His speed of speech is reminiscent of his speed of execution when he gave his club the winning goal on a classy sequence for a historic victory in the preliminary round of the Champions League against Celtic Glasgow one evening in July 2016. , trained by a Brendan Rodgers who was making his debut that evening, were able to react at home in the return match (3-0) a few days later.