AT the age of 38, Joaquin may be the sort of player Real Betis only bring on for the last 20 minutes.
But Joaquin is no ordinary veteran and became the oldest player to score a La Liga hat-trick with three goals in the first 20 minutes versus Athletic Club on Sunday.
Joaquin has made over 350 appearances for BetisCredit: Getty – Contributor
His first was a typical poacher’s finish in the second minute, loitering at the far-post as a counter-attack reached him to be swept home.
Soon enough it was 2-0 as he once again arrived at the right time to collect a pass and drive a shot into the bottom corner.
And Joaquin completed his hat-trick just before the 20-minute mark to break the record at the age of 38 years and 140 days.
Amazingly, it could have been four as the Spaniard lasted into stoppage time and had a one-on-one chance scuppered by Unai Simon’s parry.
REAL BETIS LEGEND
It mattered little for the record nor to his team, Betis claiming a 3-2 win after a Bilbao fightback.
Joaquin started his career with the Sevillan club at the turn of the century and, in his second spell with the side, has six goals in 2019/20.
That includes five in his last three as Betis claim three consecutive victories and 11th place in the table.
The association between club and player is immense, Joaquin even owning two per cent of his team after a £860,000 investment in 2017.
Real Betis supporters will never forget the winger after an illustrious careerCredit: Getty – Contributor
Earlier in the year, he told BBC Sport: “I joke about being the boss, but really I want my team-mates to identify with me.
“I try and make them feel the way I feel, to understand how much it means for so many people, and to give that little bit extra on the pitch.
“It didn’t take long for me to start loving these colours.
“It was a dream I had as a child to train and play for the team. When you’re lucky enough to make it, you love it forever.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
