Stats: Which teams in the Top 4 European leagues have the oldest starting XIs?
A look at the average age difference between Manchester City and other Premier League clubs might tell you why the side is currently struggling. The players most used in the starting XI by City boss Manuel Pellegrini are much older than the other EPL sides – almost three years!
The squad from the blue half of Manchester has an average age of 29.2 while Manchester United are next with 26.8. Chelsea is a shade below on 26.7 while Arsenal have an average age of 25.7. Liverpool are close behind on 25.1 while Tottenham have the youngest playing XI with an average age of 23.5.
In La Liga, Atletico Madrid have the oldest XI with an average age of 28.5 followed by Barcelona (28), Sevilla (27.2) and Real Madrid (26.3). Other Spanish clubs include Valencia and Villarreal (both with 25.1).
In the Bundesliga, FC Augsburg have the oldest playing XI (28.8) while Bayern Munich and Schalke are tied at 26.5. Ligue 1’s oldest XI is PSG (28.5)
| RANK | CLUB | LEAGUE | AVG. AGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | EPL | 29.2 |
| 2 | FC Augsburg | Bundesliga | 28.8 |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | La Liga | 28.5 |
| PSG | Ligue 1 | 28.5 | |
| 5 | Barcelona | La Liga | 28 |
| 6 | St Etienne | Ligue 1 | 27.6 |
| 7 | Monaco | Ligue 1 | 27.3 |
| 8 | Sevilla | La Liga | 27.2 |
| 9 | Manchester United | EPL | 26.8 |
| 10 | Chelsea | EPL | 26.7 |
| 11 | Bayern Munich | Bundesliga | 26.5 |
| Schalke | Bundesliga | 26.5 | |
| 13 | Bordeaux | Ligue 1 | 26.4 |
| 14 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 26.3 |
| 15 | Marseille | Ligue 1 | 26.2 |
| 16 | Wolfsburg | Bundesliga | 26 |
| 17 | Arsenal | EPL | 25.7 |
| 18 | Borussia M'Gladbach | Bundesliga | 25.5 |
| 19 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 25.3 |
| 20 | Liverpool | EPL | 25.1 |
| Valencia | La Liga | 25.1 | |
| Villarreal | La Liga | 25.1 | |
| 23 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | 25 |
| 24 | Tottenham | EPL | 23.5 |