Retirement? I want to play until I reach 65, says evergreen Everton defender Distin

Everton's Peter Pan defender Sylvain Distin is older than fellow thirty-somethings Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, who all face the crossroads in their careers this summer.

Unlike them, Distin, 36, has already been awarded a contract for next season by manager Roberto Martinez in recognition of his outstanding form.

It is almost a freak of nature that a centre-half Distin’s age can continue taking on, and beating, most Premier League strikers in a straight foot race. He prided himself on keeping up with Everton’s 17-year-old academy players during pre-season training runs.

Evergreen: Sylvain Distin, 36, continues to impress for Everton despite his advancing years

Reward: Roberto Martinez handed Distin a new one-year contract as a reward for his fine form

Before the important game at Tottenham, Distin was happy to analyse why he has become the oldest outfield Premier League regular in 2014, denying the suggestion it is purely down to luck.

‘It is a mix of things. I started with good genes from my parents but I also made a big decision when I turned 30 to work hard to keep what I’ve got,’ he said.

‘Every summer, I take two weeks off my holiday to go to a training camp where I work two sessions a day, just to be ready physically when I come back to Everton for pre-season training.

‘During the season, I go to the gym every day unless we are playing or it’s the day before a game. Is that luck? It is more about the work that I put in and I am getting the rewards for it now.

‘I don’t do it for pleasure, that’s for sure. It is something you have to do if you want to keep up after you pass a certain age. Strikers now are bigger, stronger, faster. You can’t just cross your fingers and hope for the best against them.’

Regular: Distin is the oldest regular outfield player in the Premier League

As a result, on family holidays in his native France, Distin leaves in the morning to train and returns by six o’clock. ‘Then we all have a barbecue together,’ he said. ‘They understand what I need to do so we can continue a lifestyle football has given us. There aren’t many guys my age in the Premier League. Those who manage it like Ryan Giggs all have to work at it.’

The only concession to good fortune Distin will make is his parents, Bertrand and Ida.



‘My dad is from Guadeloupe, in the West Indies. Over there, you grew up outside,’ he said. ‘Fresh food was all around you; fish, vegetables, fruit. There was no need for processed food so he grew up in the right way, on a good diet.

‘He is going to be 74 soon and still plays basketball every Friday. I’ve always been active, I was always active as a kid growing up in France, whether it was football, basketball or even climbing trees.’

Anglophile: Distin has spent the majority of his career in England, winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008

Denied international football by the brilliance of Laurent Blanc and Marcel Desailly, Distin has become somewhat of an Anglophile over the past 13 years, playing for Newcastle Manchester City, Portsmouth and now Everton.

He has sometimes been in the wrong place at the wrong time, leaving Newcastle before their Champions League run under Sir Bobby Robson and City before the influx of Abu Dhabi money, but he won the FA Cup with Portsmouth alongside defensive partner Sol Campbell and is now key to Everton’s European hopes.

He has adapted to the transition from David Moyes to Martinez with surprising ease.



Transition: Distin and Everton have changed their style since the departure of David Moyes

‘I was really focused until now on my defensive duties. With this new manager, I feel a little bit like a No 10; Platini or Zidane,’ he smiled.

‘It’s not like we didn’t pass the ball at all last season but if the average was 20 or 30 passes at the back in every game, it’s 50 or 60 now; very different.

‘It isn’t easy, sometimes you aren’t as confident as other times but it’s a challenge. It is great for me, it shows things don’t have to be downhill at my age. There are plenty of things to learn in football.’

Challenge: Distin will face Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor on Sunday

He is aware of the threat from Sunday's opponent Emmanuel Adebayor. ‘Technically good, jumps well, doesn’t need 20 chances to score,’ he said.

He admits fear of failure drives him on. ‘I’m someone who doesn’t remember a win, more a tackle or header I missed. You can imagine how tough it was after the 2012 FA Cup semi-final (his mistake allowed Luis Suarez to score in Liverpool’s 2-1 win).’

While many players of Distin’s vintage have already started coaching badges, he is not ready yet to contemplate calling it a day. He would love to emulate Giggs by carrying on until he is 40, though he knows it is a big ask.

Longevity: Distin would love to play into his 40s - like Manchester United's Ryan Giggs - but knows it's difficult

‘It gets more difficult every year because of the strikers that are around. Look at Romelu (Lukaku, a team-mate). He is 20, taller than me, my weight, and he is naturally like that. I go to the gym every day to be like that. He doesn’t have to do anything.