7) Gareth Barry (35, Everton)
You can only truly excel at this level for 600 games if you a) look after your body and b) intelligently adapt your role. We should now add c) receive the gift-wrapped present of a ridiculously energetic central midfield partner, as Ronald Koeman certainly did the Englishman a massive favour with the purchase of Idrissa Gueye, who can do two-thirds of the running while Barry does a fair wedge of the thinking.
By the end of last season – with Roberto Martinez’s tactics leaving him exposed – he looked close to the knacker’s yard, and there were questions asked in pre-season about his place in Koeman’s plans. Now the Dutchman is predicting that one of the cleverest footballers he has ever managed could play on for another two seasons, by which time he will have amassed close to 1000 bookings.