On Wednesday morning in Seville, under the bright sun, and with the laughter of Luis de la Fuente filling the air, the national team gathered for their crucial qualifier against Scotland. The training session was about to begin, a match they had to win, and there, on the Jesús Navas stadium’s grass, stood the very man himself: Jesús Navas, still going strong.
The Spain coach playfully remarked to the players, “It’s got your name on it, and you’re still alive,” as they assembled on the field.
Fast forward to Thursday evening in Seville, the sun had set, and de la Fuente was celebrating. Around him, nearly 50,000 others were also celebrating. With just 15 minutes remaining, Navas was once again on the pitch at La Cartuja.
Spain’s captain, Álvaro Morata, shared after the game, “I knew he was going to deliver the perfect ball. All I had to do was be ready when it happened.” Morata made a diving header to break Scotland’s resistance, bringing Spain one step closer to another Euros qualification, thanks to Navas’ assist.
At 37 years and 325 days, Navas had just become the oldest player ever to provide an assist for Spain, despite winning a European Championship 11 years prior. He remains the only squad member from that victorious team and continues to make an impact. Navas, who started his career in the youth system at Sevilla, just 35 kilometers from his hometown of Los Palacios, now has a stadium named after him, a testament to his enduring success. This is a remarkable feat, considering the anxiety attacks and homesickness he battled as a young player, overcoming the challenges to go on and achieve numerous accolades, including two cups, four Europa Leagues, one league, two League Cups, a European Championship, and a World Cup.
Not too long ago, Los Palacios honored three players from their town who made it to the Spanish national team, with each player receiving their weight in local tomatoes. Fabián Ruiz, Gavi, and Navas were recognized, and Navas was awarded 65 kilos of tomatoes. Despite his slim and almost fragile appearance, Navas, at 5ft 7in, never bulked up, has overcome injuries, and now deals with a hip problem. Yet, he still manages to seem almost indestructible. With 925 games under his belt, he shows no signs of slowing down, even as he approaches his 38th birthday and with his Sevilla contract set to expire at the end of the season.
As Luis de la Fuente put it, “They always say football leaves you; football will never leave Navas.
When it comes to Navas, words aren’t often part of the equation. Yet, there’s something about him that transcends the narrative of an aging player who keeps going. His quiet demeanor might be a part of it, quietly going about his business on the field, not demanding attention, which makes the warmth and admiration for him all the more genuine.
Former Sevilla player Antonio Álvarez recently remarked, “He’s not God, but for us, he’s close,” a comment that Navas would likely cringe at. Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, summed it up succinctly by saying, “Navas? There’s no need for words.”
Perhaps it’s the feeling that he hasn’t really changed much. He may have transitioned from midfield to full-back, but he still performs the same tasks and continues to do so with a seemingly straightforward style—no flash, just football. There’s a comforting familiarity to it, a constant presence. He simply persists.
In a recent news conference, Navas talked about approaching football with the same enthusiasm he had on the very first day, as if it were the only thing he ever did. Álvaro Morata pointed out that what Navas does on the pitch is what they’ve been doing for years. “He’s a 38-year-old who trains and plays like an 18-year-old,” Morata quipped, adding, “We’re going to have to clone him for future Spain.”
Before the European Super Cup final against Manchester City, Pep Guardiola humorously admitted that he had made a big mistake by letting Navas go too soon when he was just 32. He was supposed to be past his prime, but here he was, still going strong, a Europa League winner yet again, his fourth title, two of them since his return to Sevilla. An impressive 17 years separated his first and most recent Europa League victories, and it remains to be seen if this is indeed his last.
Guardiola expressed fondness when speaking about Navas, and that sentiment echoed during Spain’s preparation in Seville, with the national team training at Sevilla’s ground, all of it happening while Navas is still an active player. This recognition is, in part, because he wasn’t supposed to still be around. His club and country are both honoring him in their own ways.
Ansu Fati, who grew up in Seville, referred to Navas as his “childhood idol” and considered it an “honour” to train at his place. Navas, once an idol, is now a teammate. Gavi, who hadn’t even been born when Navas made his senior debut, finds himself playing alongside him. Navas stands as the sole remaining member from the World Cup-winning team, and he, too, has seemingly defied the odds.
It had been two and a half years since he last featured in the Spain team, but at almost 38, Jesús Navas returned to the national squad in the same week they trained at a stadium bearing his name. They played in another where his name echoed in the chants of the crowd, and Navas did what he’s always done: he delivered.