Gareth McAuley’s age may suggest he could be nearing retirement, but he’s nowhere near done yet according to the man himself.
McAuley was the last of the summer signings that Steven Gerrard brought to the club. With over two decades of experience playing down in England, the move looks a shrewd one from the Rangers manager.
The one thing that many hold against McAuley, however, is his 38-year-old tag. The big Northern Irishman will be 39 in less than a month, and his future in the game has been called into question.
The former West Bromwich Albion man has rubbished any notion that he’s planning to hang up the boots, however. Speaking whilst on international duty with Northern Ireland, McAuley said this about his future:
“I’m 39 in two weeks. Years ago Sammy Morgan (Ipswich Academy Manager) said to me ‘never retire’. He said ‘eventually you get retired’. And that is something that has stuck with me for a long time.
“I still have the enthusiasm to do it. I like to train. Pulling up at Ibrox last weekend I felt like 18 instead of 38. As long as I feel fit and able to compete and able to train every day to the standard that’s needed, then I’ll continue to do it.”
The solution to a tiring problem?
One of the biggest pains for Rangers fans in recent weeks has been the situation regarding their defence. Nikola Katic and Joe Worrall are struggling for form, leaving Connor Goldson without a consistent partner.
McAuley was given the nod in the second half of the rout against Motherwell after a short cameo appearance in Moscow against Spartak. Whether the Rangers manager is trying to integrate McAuley into being Goldson’s partner is difficult to speculate.
The Rangers manager is a difficult gaffer to read when it comes to team selections. Regardless, his big Northern Irishman has terrific experience playing against some of the best players in the world. He’s helped put the shackles on players such as Phillipe Coutinho and Luis Suarez in the past.
Age, of course, is also just a number. If a player is performing to a high standard, then his age shouldn’t particularly matter. David Weir, for example, retired when he was 41-years-old. This was only after deciding against a move to Sheffield United to take up a role in coaching.
So long as McAuley brings some quality and solidity to the table, nobody is going to care about his age whatsoever. Rangers, however, will just be glad that their defender thinks likewise.
