The Arsenal forward, once England’s key player, is only 30 but his confidence is shot and his career on a downward curveIn Rafa Benítez’s first season in English football, he rested Steven Gerrard for an FA Cup tie at Burnley, who were in the Championship. When Liverpool lost, there was a predictable backlash and, from certain quarters, derision as Benítez explained his rotation policy and the need to manage the number of minutes each player played.Social media being in its infancy, it wasn’t quite the culture war that it would have become today, but certain old-school football men clearly felt that players should just get on with it: hard work never hurt anyone. But at the same time a piece of ancient wisdom kept surfacing, usually from elderly coaches who had spent a lifetime in the game: as a rule of thumb, however much they play, whatever age they start, a player has 500 games in them. Continue reading...
Raheem Sterling's career has seen a notable decline since reaching his 500th senior appearance, with his confidence waning and performance slipping. At 30, he has struggled to regain form, particularly evident in his limited 24 minutes of play across Arsenal's last two games. His move from Manchester City to Chelsea and then Arsenal has been marked by inconsistent performance, with his World Cup appearance failing to halt his downward trajectory. The 500-game milestone, often seen as a career peak, coincided with a noticeable drop in his effectiveness, contributing to his current struggles.
