SAN JOSE, Calif. — In terms of an average American’s lifespan, 34 is not even halfway to the end. In professional soccer, though, a 34-year-old field player is usually on the back slope of their career.
But San Jose Earthquakes captain Ramiro Corrales is defying the notion. Despite turning 34 last month, the defender is still at the top of his game and shows no signs of slowing down.
“He’s looking pretty good right now, isn’t he?” Quakes center back Brandon McDonald said of Corrales. “It’s all in your mind. Ramiro’s doing great for us this year, he finished well for us last year, and let’s hope he can go another two or three years.”
Corrales, who grew up in nearby Salinas, isn’t being kept around as a sop to local fans. He moved Saturday out of a first-place tie and into sole possession of the Quakes’ record for most career starts (172) by continuing to earn his spot as San Jose’s left back.
“He looks quick, still,” Quakes coach Frank Yallop said. “That, to me, is the sign that he’s still able and willing to play in this league. And he’s played well. I thought he had a great season last year. We miss him when he doesn’t play. That says a lot about Ramiro.”
[inline_node:333126]Corrales is the third-oldest player on San Jose’s roster. Of the two guys ahead of him, one – 37-year-old midfielder Andre Luiz – has missed almost a full year due to left knee surgery, and the other – Jon Busch, who turns 35 in August – is playing in goal, where careers routinely stretch until 40.
WATCH: Corrales nods home a header vs. Toronto in 2010
“I always wanted to come back [for the 2011 season],” said Corrales, who is just 236 minutes from reaching the 20,000-minute mark in MLS play. “As long as my legs are good, I want to keep playing until I can’t run anymore.”
Therein lies the rub. While Corrales’ attacking background – he played as a left midfielder during his earlier years – is tailor-made for the Quakes’ desire to see more deep runs from their outside backs, they also have to be careful not to overuse their captain.
Corrales missed a full third of last season due to a left knee injury, then was knocked out of the Quakes’ MLS Cup Playoffs finale with a hamstring injury suffered in San Jose’s first-round victory at New York. He needed a pain-killing injection in his back during preseason to deal with a disc problem that’s been recurring for years.
“We’re trying to manage his time in training,” Yallop said. “He had an extra day off this week just to give him a break from having to train the same as the young guys. I’m trying to do a better job for me this year of managing guys that have played a lot of minutes ... to make sure that they’re just ready to play on the weekends.”
For Corrales, that’s fine, as long as he’s not missing a chance to get on the field against live opposition.
“I want to contribute,” Corrales said. “Last year, I was playing well until I got injured, so I want to keep doing that. I just want to play well, be in that starting 11, play well and each week get better and better.”
Geoff Lepper covers the Earthquakes for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at sanjosequakes@gmail.com. On Twitter: @sjquakes
