Nice's 'commanDante' going strong at 40 | OneFootball

On Wednesday OGC Nice captain Dante blew out 40 candles on his birthday cake, but his footballing career shows no signs of extinguishing, even despite what looked like a career-ending ACL injury at the ripe age of 37.

670 matches in over 21 years - and counting. Dante, having won the Champions League and four Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, arrived in Nice seven years ago. After spells at Lille, Charleroi, Standard Liège, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Wolfsburg, Nice looked like the final stop on his not-so whistle-stop tour of Europe - an epilogue of sorts. "Lots of people thought I'd only stay two or three years when I arrived - me too by the way," said Dante, aptly nicknamed the 'commanDante', at the start of the season.

Whilst he hopes to finish his career with Les Aiglons, his time with the club has been less an epilogue, but rather a whole new chapter, or two.

Secrets to longevity

"Dante is a book," said his centre-back partner Jean-Clair Todibo after Nice's 1-0 victory over Metz earlier in October. "He writes it himself. He has so much experience and played at the top, top level," continued the France international.

Not many players make it to such an age, have the opportunity to write so many chapters. Dante has not reached this point through luck. In an interview with L'Équipe, he detailed his lifestyle choices, his secrets to longevity.

Dante is strict on his bed-time, only staying up past 23:00 for the big Champions League ties. He is also wary of making sure he eats early in the evening, 19:30 at the latest, in order for him to feel in optimal condition for training the next day. The Brazilian's lifestyle choices two days before a match are particularly meticulous. "Two days before matches, we have very short sessions, so you reduce everything. Not too much sugar, especially in the evening. It makes a huge difference," he said.

Whilst Dante admits that he will allow himself "a little glass of wine" before Saturday night's clash against Marseille, that is certainly the exception, not the rule. He has made sacrifices throughout his career, and his love for the game allows him to do so. "Apart from when I'm with my children, the moment I enjoy most in the day is on the pitch," says Dante. Beyond his lifestyle sacrifices, it is this love for the game that has taken him this far.

How many more chapters?

In the words of sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, the immovable Dante "reassures others." More than that, he has come to incarnate the identity of the club. "He brings us a lot of guarantees. He perfectly embodies the expectations and the identity that we want to impart on this team, and more globally, the expectations and the identity of the club," said Ghisolfi.

Speaking at the start of the season, Dante said he isn't approaching this season as if it is his last. "I'll make a decision after [the season]. I feel even better than in other years," said the Brazilian. Dante, however, has said that he won't play until 43, as his compatriot and former Lens, Marseille and Montpellier defender Hilton did. "I won't pass Hilton, that is certain, but I'd prefer to say that this isn't my final year," revealed Dante.

Last season, Dante started all but one of Nice's Ligue 1 Uber Eats fixtures, playing 4,440 minutes in all competitions for the club over the course of the campaign, and this season, he has played every single minute. For Dante, the years tick on, but his influence doesn't wane.

>> Dante's skillset 'a gift' says Nice coach Digard