Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is happy seeing his former players playing in competitions around the world.
The French tactician says he encourages his players to stay in the game for as long as possible.
He told Arsenal magazine: “You have two steps. Being completely at the top finishes when you are 34 at the latest. After that, you have different leagues like the MLS and the Indian league. I encourage players to play as long as possible if they really love it.
“Pires is 40 but he still plays and when he comes to training here, he’s still very good. They give a good image of the game. They can make football popular on different continents and in different countries, where it’s taking off. I think it’s fantastic.
“They are ambassadors of the game by playing on the pitch. The only thing I always say is that once you’re on the pitch, you give your best. Your age doesn’t matter – people can understand that you’re not as quick at 40 as you were at 30. Play with passion, with your heart and technical quality – that will be enough.”