Crystal Palace defender Brede Hangeland has admitted that in order for him to keep his fitness levels high enough to enable him to keep playing week in week out at Premier League level, he is forced to do extra work.
At 34-years-old, Hangeland is beginning to age in footballing terms, and the Norweigan fully acknowledges this and says he cannot push his body too far as the seasons continue.
It’s about eating right and then training – not too much but also not too little. I’ve got good experience of what I do and don’t need to do.
I do extra gym work and yoga, to get that flexibility in between games.
I’ve always been reasonably good on my diet.
The great thing about being at a Premier League club is that there are all sorts of resources available to you and a lot of good people – a doctor, physios and nutritionists – to teach you how to live your life in the right way.
But the flipside of that is the wear and tear – the loads and demands of the game is increasing year on year. Even just in my time in the Premier League a season is a lot harder then when I first came here in 2008.
The former Fulham stalwart has impressed for the Eagles this season, where his partnership with fellow central defender Scott Dann has been a key part of Palace’s good start to the 2015/16 campaign.
But Hangeland knows that as he reaches the end of his career, he cannot keep playing at such a high level until the day he finally hangs up his boots.
I’m very aware I want to be able to be healthy and happy for the rest of my life.
I wouldn’t push it too far in terms of playing too long.
It’s a case of one year at a time when you are in your mid-30s.
Crystal Palace face West Ham United later today at Selhurst Park – with Hangeland likely to start at the heart of the defence for Alan Pardew’s side, who look to continue their fine form and make it three wins on the bounce and six wins from a possible nine.
