Iago Aspas and the secrets of his longevity before Celta Vigo v Lille in the Europa League | OneFootball

At 38, Celta Vigo captain Iago Aspas is still delivering, the second oldest Europa League scorer this season behind Olivier Giroud. He meets the 39-year-old on Thursday at 21:00 when LOSC visit Balaidos, and has four goals and four assists in 25 games.

According to L'Équipe, his longevity owes much to a clean medical record. Across 19 seasons he has avoided major injuries, the worst a right calf strain in December 2018 that brought a relapse and about 10 missed matches.

His brother and agent says he looks after himself and that smart game management matters. Claudio Giraldez and the club now regulate his minutes, down from 2,899 in 2020-21 to 1,801 in 2024-25.

A product of the Celta academy, he debuted in 2007-08 after rising through every age group. Outside Vigo he had short spells at Liverpool and Sevilla, and he has 20 Spain caps with six goals.

His Galician identity is central. In 2021 the club filmed him on a batea, and his family say he loves iron rich mussels, a detail they suggest could help explain his endurance.

Often now playing off the striker to the right of Borja Iglesias, who has 11 in 26, he drifts inside to combine while quicker wing backs attack the flank.

Celta and LOSC are on nine points in the Europa League and chasing play-off places. Out of contract in June, Aspas will decide his future, his agent says he would not accept bench time even with a good salary.

Source: L'Équipe