Steven Caulker, Carl Jenkinson, Chris Smalling

11 Former England Internationals You May Not Know Are Still Playing Football

October 1, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

In football, the years pass quickly and the spotlight shifts just as fast. Heroes of yesterday are often assumed to have retired, yet some names from England’s past are still on the pitch. They may no longer play under the same bright lights of Wembley or in the Premier League every week, but their boots remain laced, their passion undimmed, and their careers ongoing in unexpected corners of the game.

This XI is a mix of nostalgia and surprise - men who once wore the Three Lions shirt and are still active, from the Premier League down to grassroots or faraway leagues. Each profile is a reminder of how careers can twist and turn, and how love for football can outlast fame.

John Ruddy

John Ruddy is 38 and still officially a Premier League player. For many, that fact alone is staggering. He was a fixture at Norwich City between 2010 and 2017, producing consistent performances that earned him an England cap in 2012 against Italy. Though his international career stopped at that single appearance, it was a reward for his reliability at club level.

After Norwich, Ruddy moved on to Wolves and Birmingham, still getting game time well into his 30s. Then came the shock move back to the Premier League in 2025 when Newcastle United signed him as an experienced backup. With Nick Pope and Martin Dúbravka ahead of him, Ruddy has not yet played for Newcastle, but his presence is valued for his professionalism and leadership.

His story is remarkable because very few keepers last this long at the top, especially ones who once seemed to have passed their peak. Ruddy may no longer be the star he was at Carrow Road, but he embodies longevity, patience and loyalty to the sport.

Carl Jenkinson

Carl Jenkinson, now 33, was once tipped as Arsenal’s next big thing. He even earned an England cap in 2012, playing in a generation where right-backs were in high demand. His Arsenal career never truly flourished, despite staying on their books until 2019, and he spent time on loan at West Ham and Birmingham.

Later came a permanent move to Nottingham Forest, but his career took a wild turn in 2022 when he moved on loan to Melbourne City and then permanently to Newcastle Jets in Australia. Fans thought that might be the final chapter, yet he stunned many by returning to England in 2024 to sign for Bromley in the fourth tier.

For a player once running down the Emirates touchline, it is surreal to see him playing in non-league. But Jenkinson’s resilience shows how far passion for football can take someone, even when the glamour is long gone.

Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling, at 35, is still going strong. He rose from Fulham to Manchester United in 2008 and stayed at Old Trafford for more than a decade. With over 300 appearances, two Premier League titles and 31 England caps, he has nothing left to prove. Yet he continues to play.

His time at United was polarising. Some fans saw him as solid, others mocked his errors. When he left for Roma, he found redemption, rebuilding his reputation in Serie A and even lifting the Conference League in 2022. In 2025 he moved again, this time to Al-Fayha in Saudi Arabia.

For many, it may be odd to picture Smalling in the Middle East. But he is still earning a living from football and proving his endurance. From Old Trafford to Riyadh, his career is proof of adaptation and persistence.

Steven Caulker

Steven Caulker, aged 33, has had one of the most unconventional paths. He scored on his England debut in 2012 against Sweden in a match best remembered for Zlatan’s overhead kick. It looked like the start of something big. Instead, his career turned into an odyssey.

He played for Cardiff, QPR, and Liverpool, even filling in as a striker under Jürgen Klopp. From there, he went abroad to Turkey with Alanyaspor and Fenerbahce, and later to Spain with Malaga. Along the way, he switched allegiance to Sierra Leone, collecting 18 caps.

Now, Caulker is still playing in Iceland for Stjarnan FC. Few would have predicted such a destination, but it illustrates his refusal to give up. He may no longer be a household name in England, yet his career proves how football can take you around the world if you stay committed.

Aaron Cresswell

Aaron Cresswell is 35 and still going, though no longer in claret and blue. For over a decade he was a loyal servant at West Ham United, making nearly 350 appearances after joining in 2014. His set pieces and consistency earned him three England caps, but he was never a regular at international level.

In 2025, he left West Ham for Stoke City. It was a free transfer but also a statement - Cresswell wanted to keep playing regularly. While the Championship lacks the glamour of the Premier League, it gives him minutes, and he remains a key figure.

Supporters may always link him to West Ham, yet his late-career decision to keep playing highlights his professionalism and hunger. Some fade away, but Cresswell continues to fight.

Andros Townsend

Andros Townsend’s name brings memories of spectacular long-range goals. His Puskás-nominated strike against Manchester City in 2019 was unforgettable. Today, at 34, he plays far from the Premier League spotlight - in Thailand with Kanchanaburi Power FC.

Townsend has 13 England caps and three goals for the national team. At club level, he played for Tottenham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Everton, before short spells with Luton and abroad. Now in Asia, he is still producing decisive moments, though for a far smaller audience.

His career proves that footballers can reinvent themselves. For fans in England, it may feel surreal that Townsend is still active, but his skill and leadership remain valuable. In Thailand, he is admired as much for his example as for his goals.

Gareth Barry

Gareth Barry is 44 and still playing. He is England’s ultimate ironman, with 653 Premier League appearances - more than any other player in history. He earned 53 caps for England from 2000 to 2012, and was a dependable midfield presence for Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton, and West Brom.

Today, he plays for Hurstpierpoint in the 12th tier of English football. That is village level, far removed from his glory days, yet he still pulls on the shirt. For Barry, it is not about fame but about passion.

It is almost unbelievable that a man who lifted trophies at the Etihad still plays Sunday-style football in his mid-40s. But Barry shows that football is not just a career - it is a lifetime commitment.

Jonjo Shelvey

Jonjo Shelvey, now 33, was one of the most technically gifted English midfielders of his generation. He played for Liverpool, Swansea, and Newcastle, and won six caps for England. His career has since taken him abroad.

After a short stint at Nottingham Forest, he moved to Turkey with Caykur Rizespor and Eyüpspor, before relocating to the UAE. There he captains Arabian Falcons, a third-tier side founded only two years ago. His role is to guide young teammates and bring professionalism to a growing club.

For English fans, it may feel strange to think Shelvey is still active. His reputation was always of a fiery, inconsistent player, but his longevity abroad shows another side - a leader willing to keep pushing himself long after leaving the limelight.

Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard is 32 and still playing, though far from Manchester. After leaving United in 2022, he tried his luck at West Ham and Nottingham Forest, but his biggest surprise move came in 2023 - to FC Seoul in South Korea.

Lingard, with 32 England caps and six goals, is now captain of the Korean side. He brings creativity and leadership, and has embraced the adventure of Asian football. Few expected him to end up there, but he has adapted and thrived.

He remains remembered in England for his flair, his social media presence, and his dancing celebrations. But in Seoul, he is respected as a professional and a leader. His career is a reminder that reinvention is always possible.

Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll, now 36, was once a record signing at Liverpool, a towering striker expected to dominate. Injuries stopped him from reaching that potential, but he still earned nine England caps and scored memorable goals for Newcastle and West Ham.

In recent years, Carroll’s career has taken him to Reading, then France with Amiens SC, and now back to England with Dagenham and Redbridge. His presence in the lower leagues is both nostalgic and surprising.

For fans, Carroll will always be linked to that shocking £35 million transfer. Today, he is still on the pitch, still battling defenders, and still a symbol of perseverance despite setbacks.

Jay Rodriguez

Jay Rodríguez — Silvi Photo / Shutterstock.com

Jay Rodriguez, at 36, is another survivor. Once a bright young talent at Burnley and then Southampton, his career was derailed by a serious knee injury in 2014. He still managed one England cap in 2013, but never hit the heights predicted for him.

After spells at West Brom and back at Burnley, he has now moved to Wrexham, the Hollywood-owned club making waves in Welsh football. Rodriguez plays a smaller role than before, but his effort remains constant.

Fans may have assumed he retired years ago, but Rodriguez keeps proving them wrong. His story is bittersweet - a great talent cut short by injury but sustained by love for the game.