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With loyalty a scarce commodity in today's game, these 10 players have shown that their devotion to their current clubs is thicker than dollar bills
Despite football’s non-stop transfers and high-profile deals, a select few players have shown unmatched loyalty, sticking with one club through thick and thin.
Stars like Thomas Müller at Bayern Munich and Iñigo Lekue at Athletic Bilbao are redefining what it means to be true club legends. These are the top ten longest-serving one-club players, according to Transfermarkt, who prove that loyalty, passion, and pride can still thrive in modern football!
10. Jamie Vardy – Leicester City (12 years, 4 months)
The tale of Jamie Vardy’s rise from non-league football to Premier League champion with Leicester City is legendary.
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And after more than 12 years, 194 goals for Leicester, and seeing the highs of Premier League success and relegation to the Championship, Vardy is still with the Foxes and is a bona fide legend of the club.
9. Maximilian Arnold – VfL Wolfsburg (12 years, 10 months)
At Wolfsburg, Maximilian Arnold’s influence runs deep as it should after more than a dozen years with the Bundesliga side.
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Known for his precision, passing, and set-piece abilities, Arnold has been a midfield dynamo for Wolfsburg since making the first team in 2011. Arnold went from becoming Wolfsburg’s youngest-ever debutant to becoming the captain of the club and an icon after twelve years
8. Stefan Bell – Mainz 05 (12 years, 10 months)
Stefan Bell’s loyalty to Mainz is rare in today’s game. As a solid central defender, Bell has anchored Mainz’s backline and brought stability and experience to the Bundesliga club.
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Bell, who graduated from Mainz’ academy, has been with the club throughout his career, bar two loan spells to 1860 Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt and is also the club’s current captain.
7. Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich (13 years, 4 months)
It seems like an age ago that Manuel Neuer made the leap from Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich, but it has ‘only’ been 13 years and four months.
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Since arriving at Bayern Munich, Neuer has become a pivotal character not only at the Bavarian club but also in the world of goalkeeping, where his sweeper-keeper antics have revolutionised the position, making him one of the best in the world for the last decade or more.
6. Seamus Coleman – Everton (14 years, 5 months)
In 2009, Everton took a chance on a 21-year-old Seamus Coleman, paying Sligo Rovers £60,000 for the full-back.
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Coleman's dedication to Everton and defensive ability have made him a fixture at Goodison Park, where he is adored by the fans. The Irish full-back has played 424 matches for Everton, 365 of which have come in the Premier League.
4. Inigo Lekue – Athletic Club (15 years, 4 months)
Athletic Club's Basque-only policy has nurtured legends, and one of them is Inigo Lekue, yet another proud Basque talent in the club’s history.
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Lekue's loyalty to Athletic Club has earned him immense respect in Bilbao, as he represents the club’s philosophy with passion and pride.
4. Oscar de Marcos – Athletic Club (15 years, 4 month)
Joining Lekue on this list is his teammate Oscar de Marcos, who has made a career as one of the best players in Athletic Club’s history.
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De Marcos has become a part of Athletic Club’s identity, even though, unlike Lekue, he was not part of the Lions’ academy but instead joined them in 2009 from Alaves. Still, the recently crowned club captain is third on the all-time appearance list for Athletic Club.
1. Anthony Lopes – Olympique Lyon (16 years, 4 months)
At joint-top of the list is Lyon’s Portuguese goalkeeper, Anthony Lopes, who is now synonymous with the Ligue 1 club’s recent history.
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Lopes’ position on this list is made more remarkable because his loyalty has been tested in periods where he was not the first choice at Lyon, but he has persisted with the club for 16 years, eventually making 489 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants.
1. Koke – Atlético Madrid (16 years, 4 months)
Atletico Madrid's heartbeat, Koke, has been with the club his entire professional career, totalling 16 years and four months.
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Koke is one of the few players in football today who have only worn a second club jersey in their entire career. After graduating from Atleti’s academy to the first team in 2009, Koke has been the backbone of the Spanish giants, becoming captain five years ago.
1. Thomas Müller – Bayern Munich (16 years, 4 months)
Like Lopes and Koke, Thomas Muller has been at the same club for 16 years and four months, although the Bayern Munich legend has been a lot more successful in terms of trophies.
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Having made 722 appearances for Bayern Munich, Müller has been a vital part of the Bavarians’ most successful era, winning 12 Bundesliga title and two UEFA Champions League titles with the club of his youth.
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