Here, Vodacom Soccer profiles some of the old lads that have managed to get a game or two at the highest level.

With the mental and physical pressures that come with being a professional athlete, there is no wonder why - in general - professional sport is considered a young man's game.

It should also come as no surprise, therefore, that all five of the oldest Premier League players in history are goalkeepers.

5. Mark Schwarzer (42 years, 159 days)

Mark Schwarzer spent the majority of his time in the Premier League with Middlesbrough and Fulham - but ended his career at Leicester City, where he became the fifth oldest Premier League player of all time.

He was first-choice for the vast majority of his time in England too - making 514 appearances in all. As an Australian, he is the highest-capped Premier League player not from Britain.

Towards the back end of his career, he was relegated down the pecking order - and played his final match in the Premier League in a 0-0 draw with Hull City in March 2015.

He was still with Leicester the following season when they won the league against all odds in that fever dream of a season - but he was never picked to play a game.

If he had been, he might have climbed as high as third on this list.

4. Brad Friedel (42 years, 176 days)

American Brad Friedel experienced a remarkable Premier League career that spanned 17 seasons - three short of a two-decade tenure.

He played for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur but ended his career at Spurs.

Interestingly, his opposite number stole the show in Friedel's final game in the Premier League - a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United at home - with Tim Krul making 14 saves to keep his side ahead.

The record stands to this day, although David de Gea did match the feat in 2017.

3. Steve Ogrizovic (42 years, 237 days)

Steve Ogrizovic played his entire Premier League career at Coventry City, a team he had joined in 1984. All told he played 601 times in all competitions for the Sky Blues - still the club record.

Despite over two decades passing since his retirement in 2000 passing, he is still considered one of the best goalkeepers to ever play for the club.

He went on to join the backroom staff at Coventry and even served as interim manager on two occasions.

2. Alec Chamberlain (42 years, 327 days)

There will be more than a few who contest Alec Chamberlain's place on this list as the final game for Watford was in the literal last minute of their season-ending game of a campaign in which they had already been relegated. He also retired just six days later.

Circumstances aside, Watford were paying homage to a club legend that had played a big role in their only other season in the Premier League at the time (in 1999-00).

The most interesting thing about this whole situation isn't just that it is officially registered as a Premier League appearance, it is also counted as one of just three caps in the Premier League in which he did not concede a goal.

1. John Burridge (43 years, 162 days)

John Burridge had a very, very long career as a professional goalkeeper, starting as a semi-pro in 1969 at Workington AFC and ending in 1997 as player-manager at Blyth Spartans.

Two years before his retirement, though, in 1995 when he was at Manchester City, he set the record as the oldest player ever to play in the Premier League.

Known as something of a mercenary later on in his career, he was happy to join clubs as cover and indeed was fourth-choice at Man City when he was signed - behind Tony Coton, Andy Dibble and Martyn Margetson.

However, a string of injuries and suspensions made the choice to keep a fourth goalkeeper in the squad seem genius - and Burridge got his chance to set a record that still stands to this day.

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