Sam Hutchinson, who played under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea and was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2012, is still playing professional football at 37 years old. He currently plays for non-league side Farnham Town.
Hutchinson's early career at Chelsea was severely hampered by a chronic knee injury that nearly ended his playing days. Diagnosed with a chondral defect, he made the difficult decision to retire at 21 in 2010. This period was marked by depression, a struggle he has since spoken openly about seeking help for.
After receiving treatment and undergoing knee surgery, Hutchinson came out of retirement in December 2011 to re-sign with Chelsea. Despite further injury setbacks and limited senior appearances for the club, he went on to have a substantial career in the Championship, notably with Sheffield Wednesday, and also played abroad in the Netherlands and Cyprus, as well as for Nottingham Forest and Reading.
More recently, Hutchinson experienced a life-threatening health scare during a match for AFC Wimbledon in May 2025. While scoring a crucial play-off goal, he began experiencing chest tightness and dizziness. His condition worsened on the journey back to London, leading to an emergency diversion to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a heart attack. A subsequent angiogram revealed a 75% blockage in an artery, which was treated with a stent. Specialists indicated his condition was different from those requiring a defibrillator.
Despite this serious health event, Hutchinson continued to play, signing a contract extension with AFC Wimbledon and even attending their League One promotion celebrations at Wembley. However, after limited appearances in the 2025-26 season, he left the club at the age of 36.
He then signed a two-year contract with Farnham Town, a club that has achieved three consecutive promotions. Playing part-time football has suited Hutchinson given his health history. He continues to have regular heart check-ups and has been advised that further heart surgery will be necessary after he stops playing, but is cleared to continue for now. Hutchinson is currently preparing to play for Farnham Town in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, 19 years after his Premier League debut for Chelsea.