At 82, when most people slow down, one man still puts on his soccer shoes, showing that even a heart attack couldn’t sideline his love for the game.

Following a heart attack at 57, Leo Gottesman's cardiologist advised him to stop playing soccer, but his passion for the sport couldn't keep him away from the pitch for long. His remarkable dedication to longevity and fitness is why he is still a goalie at this age.

While talking to the BBC London, he admitted, "I stopped for about two or three months, but I love the game so much, I just had to continue." A businessman by profession but an athlete by passion, Gottesman has been managing a six-a-side soccer team and organizing soccer matches at Barnet since 1981.

The 82-year-old took up six-a-side soccer after retiring from playing regular soccer at age 35. He has been the only consistent player on his team ever since. He credits the sport for pushing him through hard times, like suffering multiple broken bones and his wife's illness.

Every day before playing, he makes sure to stretch properly to keep his body in the best condition. He plays as a goalkeeper for Powerleague Barne, and seems to be doing a pretty good job. His stunning feats include a full-length dive, a fingertip effort, and saving three penalties during a semi-final shootout despite being in his 70s.

However, in recent years, he’s found that age has started to limit his speed, leaving him unable to pull off a double save like he once did. Despite that, Leo has no intention to retire, much to his wife's despair, who worries that he will break something else in his body.

"I think I'm worth my place in the team. I'm still agile, and I'm still making saves, and when I get to the stage where I think I'm letting the side down, I will retire," he spoke about retirement.

Given that not every 82-year-old has a startling story like Gottesman's, fans couldn't resist expressing their thoughts on it after learning it.

How Did Fans React to Leo Gottesman’s Story?

Leo's discipline garnered praise from scores of fans. People called him everything from an inspiration to a legend. One Instagram user wrote a cheeky comment, "Well done, young man," while another one echoed the tone, writing, "Hope this is me when I’m that age. Go on, lad."

One user even dubbed him better than Chelsea FC's goalkeeper,  Filip Jorgensen. His comment read, "Better than Jorgensen."

Another eagle-eyed Arsenal fan found something interesting in the video, writing, "Dude is wearing a classic Arsenal gk kit …. Worth so much money."

A local football club had a proposal for Gottesman, as they stated, "Fancy a game against us?" while another user appreciated him saying, "This is amazing! We’d love to help him out with any goalkeeper gloves he needs!"

So, do you think that you will also have vitality like Gottesman at 82?

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Souvik Roy