December 8 – Manchester United Captain Bruno Fernandes is Europe’s most ‘active’ outfield player, according to the latest study conducted by the CIES Football Observatory.
The Portuguese international played 5,748 minutes spanning 66 matches in 2023, edging ahead of fellow European outfielders in Feyenoord’s Slovakian Dávid Hancko (5,248 minutes in 58 matches) and Real Madrid’s German Antonio Rüdiger (5,223 minutes in 63 matches).
Thirty-five-year-old Dušan Tadić (Serbia and Fenerbahçe) is the oldest player in the top 10 UEFA outfielders.
Fernandes has been a mainstay in Ten Hag’s side since the Dutchman took charge of Manchester United in 2022, even collecting the captain’s armband from England defender Harry Maguire due to his services to the team in a variety of positions. Since his debut for the club in 2020, no Manchester United player has played more minutes or contributed to more goals.
Other notable inclusions in the top ten include Manchester City’s utility defender Manuel Akanji (5,049 minutes, 61 matches), Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde (5,002 minutes, 63 matches) and 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeran, who played a staggering 5,015 minutes across 57 matches for Antwerp in 2023.
At the top of the overall worldwide rankings for playing time, Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gómez from the Brazilian club Palmeiras leads with 6,213 minutes across 70 matches. Also representing the newly-announced Brazilian Champions, goalkeeper Weverton Pereira holds the top spot among goalkeepers outside Europe, accumulating 6,150 minutes across 68 matches.
Meanwhile, the most active goalkeeper within UEFA associations is Luxembourg’s Anthony Moris, playing for Belgian side Union St-Gilloise, securing 5,590 minutes across 62 matches, leading ahead of Maarten Vandevoordt from fellow Belgian team KRC Genk.
To see the full data, click here.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734913338labto1734913338ofdlr1734913338owedi1734913338sni@g1734913338niwe.1734913338yrrah1734913338