Leroy Lita, a UEFA Dream Team member who is a cult favourite in the Premier League, is still scoring hat-tricks at the age of 38.
Lita currently competes in the seventh tier of the English football pyramid after playing for Swansea City more than ten years ago. Fans were surprised that Lita was still playing football as he led the line for Ilkeston Town.
On Saturday afternoon, the ex-Reading player scored a hat-trick as Ilkeston defeated Needham Market 3-1 away from home. Lita has played five times for the Derbyshire team, but the three goals were his first for Ilkeston.
Leroy Lita, there’s a blast from the past, said one admirer in jest.
Leroy is well-experienced, and we think he provides another fantastic alternative for us, according to chairman David Hilton of Lita’s recent affiliation with Ilkeston. Despite having played for a team that has struggled all season, he is still towards the top of the scoring rankings.
“Since we have such incredible inventiveness, I’m delighted to see him comeback for us.”
In 2007, Lita was included in UEFA’s Dream Team for the U21 Europeans.
The Englishman was selected among potential players like Giorgio Chiellini, a Juventus and Italy great, Aleksandar Kolarov, a Premier League champion for Manchester City, and Alberto Aquilani, a former Liverpool player who is now the youth manager for Fiorentina.
»Leroy Lita scores hat-tricks 38«