The former Italian international left back, who had his birthday 10 days ago, started his second game of the season and lasted all 90 minutes of Valencia's 4-0 demolition of Espanyol.

"Carboni has been training well, I had no doubts he would perform well and he didn't let me down," said Valencia coach Quique Flores, who is barely two months older than the player his colleagues affectionately call 'Grandad'.

Sunday's game was Carboni's first in front of home supporters this season.

"But if it proves to be his last then it was a good game to look back on," added Flores.

Carboni's contract at the club where he has spent the last nine seasons comes to an end in June and it is unlikely to be renewed but Carboni himself has remained reticent about whether he actually intends to retire.

"I still feel in good shape. The big disappointment about this season is that I haven't played more minutes," said Carboni recently.

Among the honours that Carboni has rattled up in his amazing 22 year professional career are 18 Italian caps, two Spanish league titles and being part of teams that won the UEFA Cup and the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup.