THE OLDEST ROOKIE IN ITALIAN SERIE A

• Sep 16, 2025
• History Statistics

Picture : Luka Modric became the oldest rookie in Serie A !

Serie A’s oldest rookies

A distiction of this Serie A season is coming in the league several well-aged debutants. 
On 14 September, Luka Modrić has played his first game in the Italian top division for Milan at the age of 39 years 348 days.
Yesterday, Jamie Vardy followed him, appearing for Cremonese at 38 years 247 days. They both took the places in the historical podium of the league: Modrić became its oldest ever rookie and Vardy the 3rd oldest.
Ex-record holder Maurizio Pugliesi is now sandwiched between. The retired goalkeeper, a constant bench-warmer for Empoli in the season 2015-16, was given only one appearance in Serie A, and it just made him, for some time, the player who debutted at the oldest age (39 years 140 days).
Before Pugliesi’s accidental but historic appearance, the record stood untoucheable during no fewer than 85 years. It was held by Brazilian Amilcar Barbuy, who emerged for Lazio in 1931 at 38 years 206 days. 
Barbuy, a Lazio's coach, was forced to go to the pitch by himself due to a lack of players. His story as a Serie A player was also very short: only 2 games.
Here is the ranking with details.  
Some other “mature” rookies in the Serie A history among well known international players that are below this list:
Jerome Boateng, Rafa Marquez, Mats Hummels - all debutted at 35,
Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Anelka, Bruno Alves, Seydou Keita, Kevin De Bruyne (another league’s new star recruit, by Napoli) – all at 34.

*Meanwhile, Modric, having barely started his journey in Serie A, managed to break another ancient record there. 
The Croatian veteran, just turning 40, became on 14 September the 6th player in the league’s history to score at the age of 40+ and the first ever midfielder to do so. 
The feat came during Milan’s game vs Bologna at San Siro. Being 40 years 5 days old, Modric netted what turned out to be the winning goal (1-0). 
The oldest scoring midfielder in Serie A history before him was another Milan’s star Nils Liedholm, who scored in the derby vs Inter (2-1) on 26 March 1961 at 38 years 169 days. 
However, there are still couple of defenders who scored at older age than Modric: Alessandro Costacurta (41 years 25 days) and Pietro Vierchowod (40 years 47 days).