World Football: 11 Veteran Players Who Need Bigger Clubs Next Season

As the new European seasons are nearing their opening weekends, we take a look at some of the players that have been around the block a few years, and could benefit from a move to a bigger club—or at least a change of scenery before they hang up their boots.

It is hard to quantify what is considered veteran status. It is not necessarily all based on an age barrier to say you are a veteran of a league. So instead, I have tried to look at players that have had at least three straight years of top flight action, are over the age of 25 and/or have reached the 30-year mark in age.

There is no particular order to the following 11 players because I feel they all equally deserve a move and could benefit greatly from making the right one in as they are in the final stages of the prime time of their careers.

Shay Given

Shay Given is the one player (so far) on the list that has gotten a move he deserved. For Given it was not necessarily the case of needing a bigger club, but a club where he could utilize his talents.

After a season of first team action at Manchester City, he was displaced by the much younger Joe Hart. Hart was deserving as he was an excellent 'keeper all season long for the Citizens.

However, Given still has plenty of time left and he has had success at the top and bottom of the league. As he did at Newcastle United, Aston Villa needed a veteran that has had that very experience of fighting to push back up the table.

Owen Hargreaves

Owen Hargreaves is in the same boat with Shay Given: loads of talent and history but a bad run as of late—in his case a huge run of bad luck more than anything else.

He has experienced the high life with multiple league titles and Champions League glory for both Manchester United and Bayern Munich. It would be hard for anyone in his state to get bigger than those two clubs.

What Hargreaves truly needs is a change of scenery and stroke of good luck to help him stay out of the medical center.

West Bromwich Albion were reportedly in the hunt for him, but those rumors have been squashed. However, he still could join a new team as his attempts to convince someone to take a chance with his YouTube training regimen might get him at least a sniff.

Clint Dempsey

If Dempsey is going to make a move, he needs to do it this summer or the next. The American became the all time leading goals scorer in the English Premier League for US players.

He was rumored to have been making a switch to Paris Saint Germain, but could be moving to any number of clubs as he has admitted to wanting Champions League action.

Deuce simply deserves a little bigger club to show he has what it takes after scoring 12 goals last season in the EPL and helping lead Fulham back to a top 10 finish under Mark Hughes.

Landon Donovan

Donovan is an icon of MLS as he has always been the heart of the LA Galaxy since he took center stage years ago. However, he is now in a similar situation as his fellow USMNT member Clint Dempsey.

He failed to impress in his first attempts to break into European football, but his most recent loan to Everton just over a year ago showed he has matured much as a player. That same maturity has been seen since the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Recent rumors have him possibly heading to AS Roma, since it recently has come under American ownership, and this could be a good move for the forward as he still has not truly proven he can handle the European leagues.

David Beckham

Becks is perhaps the most marketed footballer of his generation and he still continues to look on top of his game. He was praised by his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, when Manchester United recently defeated the MLS All-Stars.

His desire to compete at the highest level still appears to be there, and at 36 he could still have at least a year or two left. He would be a welcomed addition to several English or Italian clubs.

The veteran presence he brings to a club also could have a great affect on a team like Tottenham Hotspur, whom he trained with earlier in the year and are a team lacking a veteran to support the leadership cast of Ledley King, who is injured as often as he plays.

Diego

The up-and-down career of Brazilian center midfielder Diego has been an interesting story to watch unfold. Two years ago with Werder Bremen he was on top of the world. He looked to have hit a pinnacle of his career in Germany and made a highly praised move to Juventus.

However, a season later he was unceremoniously shipped back to the Bundesliga to VfL Wolfsburg. Another season down, and the once world renowned talent has been in the media more for his trade desires, than for his skills.

The problem is that his skills are still there, he just hasn't gotten to show them off lately. He could possibly make a move to the English Premier League to Aston Villa. That could be a blessing or a curse for the player, but it is definitely true that he needs a change of scenery to a more involved club.

Lukas Podolski

Few forwards are more dangerous internationally than Germany's Lukas Podolski. The Polish-born German has an astounding goal scoring record for his national team with 42 in 89 games.

However, he is yet to unlock that full potential at a club. When he was younger his first stint at FC Köln saw him score 34 goals in 86 games. He then joined Bavarian and German giants, Bayern Munich. But his time there would be split between the bench and occasional runs of starting performances.

In total he scored 26 goals in 106 games for the southern German team, and they shipped him back to FC Köln two years ago. Since his return he has began to regain his form. He only scored three goals his first season back, but last year he scored 14 goals in his best club season yet.

Arsenal were reportedly interested in him in the later months of last campaign, and he still could make a move. With his best season currently under his belt, he could do well to take a step back up the club ladder.

Christian Tiffert

Christian Tiffert is perhaps one of the most underrated midfielders in the game at the moment. The 29-year-old German midfielder had the fifth most assists in all competitions across the entire continent of Europe, with a total of 20.

He totaled 17 in league matches, second only to Lionel Messi of Barcelona with 18 in La Liga, and third to Sochaux star Marvin Martin who had 19.

He joined FC Kaiserslautern on a free transfer last summer, and has been ranked as one of the 10 best transfers last season. If he continues his success, he could very well seal himself a deal to a much larger club in the next 12 months.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane is an Irish Legend in everyone's eyes. He is an impeccable player on the international stage, and in many ways is an older version of previously mentioned Lukas Podolski. He has played for some major teams but has never truly gotten to peak out at the highest level.

At the age of 30 he still has a few years left to prove he truly has always been a top talent. Harry Redknapp is not expected to give him that chance, as the former Tottenham captain has been left to rot on the bench. But in loan moves, such as that to Celtic, Keane has proven he still is as big of a goal threat as ever.

He needs a good move and a true fresh start at a major club in Germany, or even possibly a move to a team like Newcastle United—a team that is in need of class veteran strike presence ever since the departure of Michael Owen.

Andrea Cossu

Cagliari midfielder Andrea Cossu has played three straight outstanding seasons with the lone Sardinian Serie A club. At the same club that gave the world the final showings of Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, another short and skillful Italian midfielder is building his reputation.

Cossu has had a good three years with the club. The 2008-09 season saw him record one goal and 10 assists in 33 games. He followed up that success in 2009-10 with three goals and 12 assists in 34 appearances. Last season he was even better, as his four goals and 13 assists in 36 games once again helped to keep Cagliari up and away from relegation.

At 31 years old he has one or two good years left in the tank at the least, and his skills could be utilized heavily at an upper mid-table club like Palermo, especially if Pastore leaves. Fiorentina's midfield is also in much need of creativity and even AS Roma and SS Lazio are possibilities, as both Roman clubs could do with bolstering their midfields.

Scott Parker

West Ham United midfielder and possibly want-away captain Scott Parker is at the time in his career where needs to make the move to a bigger club once more (if he wants to do so).

With Chelsea lurking around, it would be a good move for the player as he seeks to cement his place in the European championship side of England. However, a move to Aston Villa might be more beneficial, as he would most likely be on the pitch more often.

Parker has been partially displaced at Upton Park by the addition of Kevin Nolan, but if he does not leave, he has a chance of truly endearing himself to the fans if he can help bring the Hammers back up. But, an extremely successful season in the second tier may not be enough for a call-up.