Carl Piergianni says every year after turning 30 has been the best of his playing career. The Stevenage captain, now 34, is defying conventional expectations about ageing in football and remains a near-ever-present for the League One side.
The defender reflected on his remarkable consistency. "Every year after 30 have been the best years of my playing career, last year was probably the best of my playing career," Piergianni said. The centre-back is even setting new personal records for speed, a fact he takes pride in as he approaches his mid-thirties.
Career journey and mindset
Piergianni’s path to becoming a Stevenage stalwart was unconventional. A product of Peterborough United's academy, he made only one brief substitute appearance for them before embarking on a long spell in non-league football with Stockport, Corby Town and Boston United. During that time, he balanced football with a regular 9-5 job. His breakthrough came at 27 when he won National League promotion with Salford City in 2019, finally reaching the EFL.
That first season in the Football League with Salford was, by his own admission, probably his worst. But he never adjusted his ambition. "You can make yourself much better and become a completely different footballer from what you were five or ten years ago," Piergianni stated, a philosophy he has lived by. He sees many players stop wanting to improve in their mid-20s, but at 34 he is still focused on development.
Stevenage impact and recognition
The move to Stevenage in 2022 has been a career zenith. Piergianni has missed only a handful of games since arriving at Broadhall Way. He was instrumental in the club's promotion from League Two in the 2022-23 season, earning places in both the PFA and League Two Team of the Season. His influence has been recognised by supporters, who voted him Stevenage's Player of the Season in both 2023 and 2024.
He described the move as one that "could hardly have gone better." Now competing in League One, he insists his approach remains unchanged. "When I got to League One with Stevenage, I thought I would not change and would be as aggressive or more aggressive in the air," he said, priding himself on trying to win every single header. His commitment extends off the pitch, where he jokes about his recovery habits. "I always joke that I'm the best sleeper in the EFL," Piergianni remarked.
His leadership and form are central to a Stevenage side sitting 13th in League One with nine points from seven games. The team's recent form reads four wins and one loss from their last five outings, a run that includes a 2-1 victory over Leicester. They host 24th-placed Wigan Athletic this Saturday at Broadhall Way. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the squad is shaping up in the standings.
Piergianni’s story is one of persistence and self-improvement, proving that a footballer's peak can arrive on its own schedule. Stevenage will rely on his experience and aerial dominance as they look to climb the table, starting with this weekend's fixture against Wigan.
