Jagielka hails super Toffee Barry ahead of 600th game
Gareth Barry is within striking distance of a landmark achievement as he approaches his 600th Premier League appearance and Everton captain Phil Jagielka admits it’s a comfort having that sort of experience to call upon.
Now 35, Barry has been a fixture in the Premier League since the late 90s, and after spells with Aston Villa and Manchester City, he is now in his fourth season at Goodison Park.
If he features against Middlesbrough at the weekend, he will become only the third player to reach the 600-game barrier, following in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard.
And for Jagielka, Barry’s consistency is vital for the Toffees defensively.
“As captain, he is someone I can rely on all the time, especially as we are in close proximity on the pitch,” he said.
“It is always nice to have dependable people in and around you in the defensive unit, and we have had that in the past couple of years.
“Gareth is cool, calm and collected. He doesn’t speak too much but, when he does, people listen. It’s more of a case of showing people how to do things right on the pitch and off it. He is so professional and if you watch him play he is definitely a great role model.
“We are delighted for him to keep breaking as many records as he can.”
Referee Jonathon Moss talks to Gareth Barry and Phil Jagielka of Everton (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
Barry has already broken the record for most Premier League starts, overtaking David James’ previous mark of 571 at the end of last season.
And given the calibre of club he has played for, Jagielka believes it’s evidence of just how impressive Barry has been over his 19-year career.
“It’s not like he has played for any old team,” added Jagielka.
“It has been at the top level, and he has won trophies and he is still earning his place in a fantastic Everton team.
“Most of those appearances will be starts, and most will have been 90 minutes, so there is a lot of mileage gone in there. He has also picked up a fair few bookings in that time so he’ll get a bit of stick for that!
“It is testament to Gareth that he has kept himself fit, doing the right things and being a great footballer.
“Hopefully we both have a few more games to go, but for Gareth, 600 games in total is a fantastic amount, let alone in the best league in the world.”
