In comparison to other professions, the career of a footballer is a short one, the average player will retire by the age of 35.
So you can forgive footballers for wanting to play as long as they can, especially when big financial gains can be made overseas.
In recent years top Premier League players have moved to China and the United States to use their high profile name, to earn huge amounts of cash and also help develop the sport in the region, but more importantly keep playing.
Once these players have made the move away from the Premier League, they become the forgotten men, so in this article we take a look at the players who once lit up the Premier League and are still playing in their golden years.
Tim Cahill
Now aged 38, Cahill rose to popularity thanks to his eight year spell at Everton, in which he scored 56 Premier League goals. The Australian made a return to his first British club, Millwall last season, playing 10 games, without a goal.
After representing Australia in 2018 World Cup finals, Cahill announced his international retirement, but is still hoping to get another deal to play domestic football.
Lucio
A World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, defender Lucio is remembered for being one of the hardest players of his generation. Since leaving Inter Milan in 2012, he has had a host of spells at different clubs in Brazil, and now plies his trade at Brasiliense at the tender age of 40!
Ilker Casillas
There is no other word for Ilker Casillas than legend. The former Real Madrid star left Spain in 2015 after making over 500 league appearances for the Galacticos.
He moved to Porto in a bid for first team football, and in May 2018 he renewed his contract for another year to play into his 38th birthday.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger moved to Man United in 2015, but never got the opportunities to showcase his talents he showed at Bayern Munich for 13 years.
So, in 2017 he made the move to Chicago Fire and is a season regular at the age of 33.
Dimitar Berbatov
Berbatov set the Premier league alight when he arrived at Tottenham in 2006, so much so Man Utd bought him for over £30 million in 2008 and he went on to score 48 league goals in four years.
As the Bulgarian entered his 30s he moved to Fulham for regular football in 2012, before securing a transfer to Monaco in 2014.
Now in 2018, he has just finished the season with Kerala Blasters in India, he left in March and is still actively looking for a club.
Michael Essien
Essien like Drogba is remembered for his incredibly successful time at Chelsea.
In 2018, the 35 year old midfielder has being playing in Indonesia for Persib Bandung.
Alexander Hleb
Alexander Hleb has Arsenal and Barcelona on his CV so you won't be surprised to hear that even at the age of 35, the midfielder is still in demand.
In 2018, he is currently contracted to Belrusian side BATE Borisov.
Asamoah Gyan
Gyan was Africa's hero at the 2010 World Cup as he helped Ghana reach the quarter-finals. Thanks to his performances he got himself a move to Sunderland but things didn't work out so well and he moved to UAE side Al-Ain.
After a number of other moves, in 2017 he transferred to Turkey to play for Kayserispor, where he has made nine appearances.
Diego Forlan
Forlan's stint in the Premier League ended 14 years ago! Since then he had successful spells at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid but now is Hong Kong playing for Kitchee.
Florent Malouda
It's been five years since Florent Malouda left Chelsea after making 149 appearances for the club.
Now in 2018, he is playing for Luxembourgish side FC Differdange O3.
Roy Carroll
Former Manchester United and Olympiacos goalkeeper Roy Carroll has enjoyed his latter career in his home country of Northern Ireland.
The 41-year-old has been Linfield's number one since his arrival in 2016.
Didier Zokora
Didier Zokora played over 130 games for Tottenham before going on to play for Sevilla in 2009 and then Trabzonspor in 2011.
Now, at the age of 37, the Ivorian was still playing regular football with Semen Padang in Indonesia until this year, but was released and is said to still be looking for a new club.
David Villa
David Villa's move to New York City in 2014 was a surprising one, many thought that he was settling down for one last big money contract.
Four years later, he's played 104 games for NYC and scored 71 goals. His hunger to improve the sport in the US is impressive.
Wesley Sneijder
Sneijder was consistently linked with a move to the Premier League throughout his 'peak' career years, but now at the age of 34, he is playing for Qatari club Al-Gharafa.
Although he hasn't officially retired from international football, it's hard to believe that he will impress the selectors playing in that league.
Ashley Cole
Chelsea and Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole had a turbulant career on and off the pitch in England.
When his performances started to decline, he was sold to Roma in search for regular football, but when LA Galaxy came calling he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
He is now captain of Galaxy in his third MLS season at the age of 37.
Phillipe Senderos
He may have been rocked by injuries but Phillipe Senderos is still playing professional football with MLS side Houston Dynamo.
The former Arsenal man has had his troubles but has scored four goals in six games this season.
Adel Taarabt
He flattered to deceive during his Premier League days at Tottenham and QPR, and it seems his reputation has followed him since.
Currently under contract with Benfica, the skilful midfielder has been told he will never play for the team again is currently looking for a move away, having had a relatively successful season with Genoa last year.
Eric Djemba-Djemba
One of Sir Alex Ferguson's worst signings as Man United boss, Eric Djemba-Djemba left Old Trafford after just two seasons and 20 appearances in 2005.
13 years later, at the age of 37, the midfielder is still playing and has been at Swiss fifth division club FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues since 2016.
Robbie Keane
38 year old Robbie Keane was a Premier League favourite for many years, making his debut for Wolverhampton Wanderers way back in 1997.
Keane played for five Premier League clubs and Inter Milan in his career before a move to LA Galaxy in 2011, where he scored tons of goals.
Most people would have his career to have ended there, but Keane is currently under contract with Atlético de Kolkata, in India.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor divided opinion during his four spells in the Premier League with Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
The Togo international left Palace in 2016 and has been playing his football in Turkey for Istanbul Basaksehir ever since, his performances have earned him a call-up for his country's next set of fixtures this month.
Rafael van der Vaart
When Rafael van der Vaart arrived at Tottenham in 2010, he had already had an incredible career with Ajax, Hamburg and Real Madrid. His stay only lasted until 2012, when he moved back to Hamburg.
Now at the age of 35, VDV has recently been playing his football for Danish side Midtjylland, but announced his retirement this November.
Claudio Pizarro
Many believed that Claudio Pizarro's 2007 move to Chelsea at the age of 29 was to be his last big transfer of his career.
However, 11 years late, at the age of 40, the Peruvian forward is still going strong and is playing for Werder Bremen in his fourth spell at the club.
His goal on October 28th against Bayer Leverkusen, means he has now scored at least one goal in the Bundesliga every year since 1999!
Joe Cole
Now here is a guy who could definitely still play for a Premier League club had he not struggled with injuries throughout his career.
At the age of 36, Joe Cole is was into his third season with Tampa Bay Rowdies, until he announced he has decided to officially retire and focus on coaching.
Didier Drogba
Chelsea fan favourite Dider Drogba won every trophy with at Stamford Bridge, most notably scoring the winner in the Champions League final in 2012.
After 11 years in London, Drogba moved to Montreal to play for the city's MLS team Montreal Impact in 2015. With 21 goals in 33 games, Drogba attracted interested from Brazilian team Corinthians but he declined a move and instead became Player-Owner of Phoenix Rising.
In November 2018, Drogba announced he was retiring from football by posting on social media a thank you message to all the players, managers and fans for a 'one of a kind journey'.