Ecuadorian veteran footballers keep playing past 40

Several Ecuadorian footballers have defied the usual retirement age of 30‑35 by continuing to play in professional leagues at ages 40 and above. Notable examples include Walter “El Conejo” Iza (44) of Señor Montúfar, Roberto “La Tuka” Ordóñez (41) of Deportivo Quito, and Damián “El Kitu” Díaz (40) who returned to Guayaquil City. Other players such as Facundo Martínez (41, Universidad Católica) and Gabriel Achilier (41, Orense) are also still active.

The athletes attribute their longevity to personal care, love of the game and a desire to motivate younger players. Their clubs have benefited from their experience, with Deportivo Quito recently winning the Segunda Categoría and earning promotion to the national tournament. The trend highlights a growing willingness among older players in Ecuador to extend their careers well beyond the typical peak years.