Pepe Reina, a 41-year-old goalkeeper for Villarreal in the Europa League, not only continues to play football, but he is playing at a high level.
After spending almost a decade on Merseyside, Reina hasn’t played for Liverpool in more than ten years, yet he has maintained his position at the top.
After leaving Anfield, the great Spanish goalkeeper played for Napoli, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Aston Villa, and Lazio before coming back to Villarreal in 2022.
Despite losing his starting job in LaLiga to academy product Filip Jorgensen, a player 20 years his junior, after a season as the first choice, he is still the Europa League’s starting goalkeeper.
On Thursday night, when Villarreal hosted Rennes, it meant making a second straight start in the competition and recording his first shutout of the year.
The veteran goalkeeper Reina’s shutout came under dramatic circumstances, as he turned down a penalty in extra time to preserve a 1-0 victory.
After missing nine months due to an ACL injury, it started with the strange choice to give Martin Terrier the spot-kick honors nine minutes into his debut.
Terrier took a step forward, but Reina dove the right way to block his kick after a lengthy VAR check.
The Rennes winger then failed with a diving header on the rebound, giving Villarreal, who are currently second in Group F, the victory.
It was the 15th penalty save of Reina’s career, excluding shootouts, according Transfermarkt, with four of those coming against Liverpool.
At the end of the game, the World Cup winner, who was visibly overcome with emotion, pondered on his role as a backup goalie and acknowledged that his career has “very little left” and that “it’s time to enjoy it.”
When your labor pays off, it’s a different year when it’s time to give back and assist. He told the Spanish channel Movistar, “Filip is developing a lot.
“This win puts us in the running to stay there and changes the game.
“When your teammates tell you that you deserve it, it is the nicest thing.
“This job has its share of bad days, but today is the day to appreciate it. The thrill is overwhelming.
“I devote this time to everyone who has traveled with me on this adventure. My wife and kids come first in everything.
