Tag: Greatest

Kylian Mbappe Named His Greatest 11 in Football History

When you take a look at who the biggest modern-day footballing superstars are, it’s hard to ignore Kylian Mbappe at the very top of that list. The 25-year-old has been at the forefront of the game ever since he was a teenager, breaking records and putting himself in Ballon d’Or contention for close to a decade already.

From lifting the World Cup at 19 to winning countless honours at Paris Saint-Germain prior to becoming the latest Galactico, Mbappe has turned himself into an idol for many with his blistering pace and exceptional skill. For this generation, he is probably a first-ballot inclusion in any all-time XI that they have ever seen.

However, back in 2017, the question was posed to Mbappe himself as to who he would include in his greatest starting eleven in history. Thanks to the interview he did with Foot Mercato, via Metro, we know the answer. With as many as four former teammates included, the Frenchman’s side might be very attack-heavy, but it would certainly cause any of Europe’s greatest ever teams plenty of problems.

Kylian Mbappe’s All-Time XI
GK	Gianluigi Buffon
DEF	Cafu
DEF	Sergio Ramos
DEF	Paolo Maldini
DEF	Roberto Carlos
MID	Zinedine Zidane
MID	Ronaldinho
FWD	Lionel Messi
FWD	Neymar
FWD	Ronaldo Nazario
FWD	Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi Named Ultimate 11 of Past Teammates

Messi included Andres Iniesta and Xavi in midfield, but there were a few surprises.

Goalkeeper and Defence

Gianluigi Buffon, Cafu, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos

Given that the midfield onwards boasts an incredible array of attacking talent, Mbappe had to pick a strong enough defence to let the attackers off the leash. Thankfully, he has managed to do just that, starting with Gianluigi Buffon in between the sticks. The Italian icon briefly joined Mbappe at PSG but is better remembered for his incredible domination with Juventus and his heroics en route to a World Cup triumph with Gli Azzurri. He remains one of the greatest players to never win the Champions League.

Either flank is propped up by Brazilian royalty in the form of Cafu and Roberto Carlos. Both men were pivotal in their country’s last World Cup triumph over 20 years ago but also found great success for AC Milan and Real Madrid, respectively. They are joined in the middle by another one of Mbappe’s former teammates, Sergio Ramos, and arguably the greatest one-club man in football history – that being Paolo Maldini.

Ramos is best known for his domineering years in the Spanish capital but did have a brief stint in Paris with Mbappe. Maldini also slots in centrally, where he played in the latter stages of his career despite being more of a left-back in his prime.

20 Best Defenders in Football History [Ranked]

From Paolo Maldini to Javier Zanetti, the 20 best defenders – past and present – in world football have been ranked in order.

Midfield

Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho

Imagine this duo running things in the middle of the park. Mbappe has opted for flair in the centre of the pitch but does have some steel in the form of Zinedine Zidane. The most defining player of the 1990s, the Frenchman also had a nasty side to his game, as was on display in the 2006 World Cup final.

Alongside him is a man who no doubt brought a smile to Mbappe’s face growing up, as he did to so many. Not only was Ronaldinho a world-class talent, but the Ballon d’Or winner treated playing football at the highest level with the spirit of someone who was enjoying playing at the park with their friends. The way football has evolved tactically only adds to the Brazilian’s mystique, as players like him have become few and far between.

Steven Gerrard, Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney.

Ronaldinho Named his All-Time British 11

The former Barcelona star named a very impressive XI of the finest British talents in history

Forwards

Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo

If the rest of the team wasn’t impressive enough, Mbappe has made sure to go all out at the top end of the pitch. On either wing are the other two men with whom he formed one of the most frightening attacking trios in Europe. The fact that PSG still couldn’t achieve their ultimate goal even with Lionel Messi and Neymar partnering the Frenchman is startling. However, they are worthy inclusions in the team nonetheless.

Down the middle, Mbappe has gone with two of the most explosive players ever seen. Ronaldo Nazario‘s legacy as one of the greatest is already cemented given his dominance and what he achieved, but had it not been for injuries, he may have reached the same heights as his namesake.

Mbappe’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo is well publicised, given that posters of the Portuguese icon used to be on his bedroom wall. So it’s no surprise that the man attempting to emulate the greatest goalscorer in football history at the Santiago Bernabeu has included him as the final piece to this astounding team.

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December 10, 2024

Game of Throws: Inside Darts review – captures all the jubilant anarchy of one of the world’s greatest sports | Television

Is darts the best sport in the world? If it isn’t, it’s certainly a heavyweight contender and it’s bang in form, with the coming of the current golden age confirmed during the extraordinary 2024 PDC World Championship. Game of Throws, a three-part reminiscence about those three dramatic weeks in London a year ago, successfully bottles the moment.

More of a collective mania than a game, darts asks participants to throw tiny metal spikes at targets the width of a fingertip from more than two metres away, a ludicrously difficult discipline that requires years of diligent practice. Wins and losses are measured in millimetres. So one might expect elite tournaments to take place in a reverential hush, like chess or snooker. But no: the major career landmarks of darts pros happen in cacophonous halls full of drunk punters in fancy dress.

Game of Throws correctly celebrates darts as a working-class festival, a supersize cartoon of the ideal British pub: somehow the blokes in the corner, playing a fiendish game to impossible standards, fit right in to a room stuffed with steaming revellers. The crowd at Alexandra Palace, home of the PDC, are silly and free, turning up to the party dressed as chickens, superheroes, penguins and Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses; uniquely in sport, the most popular chant, bellowed while the players are trying to concentrate, is “stand up if you love the darts”, a song for the shared experience rather than any particular player.

That this jubilant anarchy enhances the game rather than spoiling it is a miracle because, for the players, darts is unforgiving. Game of Throws starts by following Kevin Doets, a part-timer from the Netherlands who checks into a poky Airbnb not far from the venue before his first-round match, where defeat will mean the loss of his professional tour card. Victory, meanwhile, promises the sum of £15,000. Steeling himself as his anxious father and bullish mother look on, Doets wins.

Modern darts has been known to break its big stars. An admirably frank interview is given in the second episode by James “the Machine” Wade, whose diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder has helped to explain two occasions in televised matches where he clouded over, lost the will to throw and ended the game in tearful defeat. For Nathan “the Asp” Aspinall, problems with his wrist and back – darts may not look like a physical test, but you try leaning forward on one leg for hours at a time – have been compounded by “dartitis”, the sport’s equivalent of the “yips” in golf: a psychological condition where the brain refuses to let the hand release the dart.

Darts can be a dark place, although in a literal sense it’s a brightly lit place full of people in nun costumes carrying trays with 22 pints of beer on them. But the mental battles are what make it compelling. To throw without wavering demands total self-belief. Maintaining that is supremely hard, which creates a singular, lurching suspense, especially when the sport is blessed with a talented generation of players.

As the 2024 championship begins, the leader of the new generation is “Cool Hand” Luke Humphries, a mild-mannered 28-year-old from Crewe who has not won this title before, but has won every other big trophy in the season just gone. He lacks the outlandish charisma darts fans favour, but soon, Humphries is no longer the story. Among the unknown outsiders is Warrington’s Luke Littler, who is 16 years old at the time, a fact that becomes increasingly astounding as he progresses through the tournament, smashing established players to pieces.

With its juicy behind-the-scenes insights, Game of Throws is there for every small moment. Littler can be seen saying “wow” to himself the first time he looks out across a sea of happy, boozy people waiting for him to play. But his debut match has barely got going before the kid, having taken an unassailable lead, is putting on a show, waving in time to the “oy, oy, oy” of the crowd singing the darts anthem Chase the Sun, and celebrating hitting a double by miming heading a football into a net.

After the game, Littler’s dad, who spent years driving around Britain to youth competitions in the hope that his hunch about his son was correct, is as stunned as anyone: he knew his boy was good, but this is ridiculous. As Littler blazes towards his destined final against Humphries, beginning a rivalry that looks like it will define the sport for the next decade, we are there to see a superstar born – and to see darts take its game to a new level.

Game of Throws: Inside Darts aired on Sky Documentaries and is on Now.

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November 30, 2024
10 Greatest Bicycle Kick Specialists in Football History [Ranked]
Key Takeaways

Executing a bicycle kick requires exceptional skill & self-belief, making them rare & spectacular.

Players like Gareth Bale, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović have scored iconic acrobatic goals.

Pele, Diego Maradona and Hugo Sanchez have also mastered the art, marking them among the greatest bicycle kick specialists.
Perhaps the most spectacular way to score a goal, executing a bicycle kick to perfection is a sight to behold. The shere audacity needed to attempt to convert an aerial ball that is behind you into a shot on goal takes a considerable amount of self-belief, and pulling it off requires exceptional athleticism and skill.

Combine these factors which already make them rare, with the pressure to execute such actions in high leverage moments, and no wonder opposition fans have either famously applauded such efforts, or sat there in disbelief at what they’ve just witnessed. Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning acrobatic strike against Everton hushed Goodison Park, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s overhead kick for Real Madrid against Juventus was met with a standing ovation from the Turin faithful.

Such a unique skill, which demands such absurd athleticism, even the great Lionel Messi only successfully netted his first ever goal of this kind in 2022 for Paris Saint-Germain. However, some players have been able to master the art of the bicycle kick, performing it effectively on multiple occasions.

From Wayne Rooney to Ronaldo, here are the ten greatest bicycle kick specialists in football history.

10 Peter Crouch

Career Span: 1998-2019

Given his lanky figure and gangly movement, you may not have expected Peter Crouch to have flung himself about acrobatically on the pitch throughout his playing career. However, he used his two metres in height to do exactly that, reaching for balls most couldn’t get to with his long legs.

His effort against Galatasaray for Liverpool is perhaps his most iconic goal of this nature, meeting Steve Finnan’s cross with a mouth-watering overhead kick at Anfield in 2006. Citing Gianluca Vialli as an inspiration for his gymnastic exploits, Crouch claimed he practiced bicycle kicks as a child, and replicated his goal against the Turkish outfit for the Reds just months later, in a much less celebrated, but equally special, goal against Bolton.

9 Ramon Unzaga

Career Span: 1912-1923

Not a name many will be familiar with, Ramon Unzaga is rumoured by some to be the first ever player to use the bicycle kick in football history, or at least to a level of relative notoriety. Executing the move while playing for his club team in Chile in 1914, he amazed the spectators at the El Morro Stadium in Talcahuano, by launching himself in the air and reaching for a cross that had been played behind him, diverting it towards goal and finding the back of the net.

Repeating the feat in various Copa Americas for Chile, the signature move was initially dubbed ‘Chorera’, the name of the club Unzaga was playing for upon his first overhead attempt, and then labelled ‘la Chilena’ by the Argentine press. Being the founding father of the bicycle kick, and potentially the first person in history to think of pulling off such a bizarre action, certainly merits a place on this list.

8 Wayne Rooney

Career Span: 2002-2001

Perhaps responsible for the most iconic overhead kick in Premier League history, and one of the most iconic goals generally, Rooney earns his place as one of the bicycle kick specialists. With the Manchester derby poised at 1-1 at Old Trafford in 2011, and the title slipping from United’s grasp, Rooney delivered an extraordinary finish, swiftly adjusting his body to position himself to convert Nani’s deflected cross with power and precision.

Did he replicate this in a competitive fixture? Perhaps not, but he came close on a few occasions, and the significance of this goal in the overhead kick sphere means he warrants being included.

7 Carlo Parola

Career Span: 1939-1955

Similarly to Unzaga, Carlo Parola is a name many won’t be accustomed to, due to the era in which he was plying his trade. However, given he was literally nicknamed ‘Signor Rovesciata’ (‘Mr. Overhead Kick’), it would be disrespectful not to mention his name in this realm.

Unzaga may have pioneered bicycle kicks, but Parola popularised them in (slightly) more modern times. His athleticism meant he was able to execute impressive efforts of this kind on a consistent basis throughout the 1940s, with the Italians crediting him with the invention of the technique, something Chileans will dispute.

Parola’s bicycle kick legacy extends to popular football culture in the modern day, with the Panini Group adopting an image of the player attempting one of these efforts as their logo for over thirty years.

6 Gareth Bale

Career Span: 2006-2023

Like Rooney, Gareth Bale’s overhead kick record may not be extensive, but he’s the creator of perhaps the greatest and most iconic goal in this category of all time, and possibly the greatest ever Champions League final goal. With Liverpool and Real Madrid heading to penalties in Kiev in the prestigious continental competition’s final in 2018, Bale launched himself into the air and perfectly guided the ball beyond an outstretched Lloris Karius.

What a time to do it. Pandemonium set in as the Welshman delivered a statue-worthy moment for Los Blancos. Audacious, and requiring both astounding physical and technical quality, it was a hall of fame moment that is worthy of a mention in any overhead kick discourse.

Bale did score another sensational ‘bicey’ in his career for Real Madrid, against Villarreal, which aids his case in regard to being deemed a specialist, but that strike pales in comparison to the one on that night in Ukraine.

5 Diego Maradona

Career Span: 1976-1997

Small and diminutive, Diego Maradona was a different type of overhead kick specialist to the archetypal experts in this space. While most activated their physical power and size to reach wayward passes, the great Argentine used his elusiveness and agility to produce acrobatic efforts in small and more intricate positions.

While his exact output from bicycle kicks isn’t documented, Maradona is cited as one of the most notable performers of the technique during the last decades of the 20th century, in Michael Lewis’ book, Soccer for Dummies. He also produced possibly the most iconic acrobatic assist of all time, for Napoli against Bari in the 1989/90 season.

4 Pele

Career Span: 1956-1977

Also mentioned in Lewis’ book as an influential bicycle kick pioneer, Pele wrote in his autobiography of his regret that only ‘three or four’ of his 1,283 career goals were bicycle kicks. Well, this number significantly usurps 99.9% of footballers that ever lived, and thus immediately grants him a respectable spot on this list.

Similarly to Maradona, Pele wasn’t the tallest footballer, and thus most of his overhead endeavours were about him exploiting small spaces rather than flinging himself into the air and attacking the ball with venom. Few in the modern day can claim they witnessed the best of Pele, despite him being one of the greatest footballers of all time. So it’s difficult to measure just how much of a bicycle kick specialist he truly was, but he produced enough in this area to generate a two-minute compilation of his gymnastic efforts, so there’s that.

3 Hugo Sanchez

Career Span: 1976-1997

With a background in gymnastics, former Real Madrid striker Hugo Sanchez began working on overhead kicks at the age of four. Eventually becoming synonymous with acrobatic shooting, they ultimately became a defining feature of the Mexican’s illustrious career.

Scoring numerous bicycle kicks, Sanchez trademarked the eloquent overhead effort. His flamboyance and eagerness to showboat and express his unique talent, lent itself to a career of proving to be the overhead master.

With his early-age gymnastics said to have played a prominent role in enabling him to develop this skill, it does beg the question as to why more strikers don’t practice this other sport on the side, to also perfect acrobatic finishes on the pitch.

2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Career Span: 2002-Present

A man known for producing awe-inspiring moments, Ronaldo’s incredible overhead kick goal against Juventus in 2018 is one of the most memorable in this realm. Given his supreme ability in the air, with a staggering leap, it makes sense that this would translate to acrobatic efforts.

His bicycle kick exploits certainly aren’t limited to the strike against the Old Lady. The former Manchester United man has, in fact, a substantial catalogue of goals of this kind, with Bicycle Potential estimating that he’s scored more than 25 bicycle kicks throughout his celebrated career. An astonishing rate, given that most players who have found the back of the net from these scenarios are limited to one or two moments at best.

1 Zlatan Ibrahimović

Career Span: 1999-2023

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

A unique physical specimen, Zlatan Ibrahimović’s stature and power meant he was capable of scoring out-of-the-ordinary acrobatic goals. This is encapsulated by his FIFA Puskas award-winning strike against England for Sweden in 2012, possibly the greatest bicycle kick of all time.

Ordinarily, overhead kicks are scored within close range of the goal. Generating enough power to find the back of the net when mid-way through the air, with your back to goal and your body lopsided, and several yards outside the penalty area, is pretty unheard of. Ibrahimovic accomplished this with his distinguished goal against the Three Lions.

This alone is essentially enough to merit top spot, but he reproduced this skill on numerous occasions throughout his career.

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November 21, 2024

9 Greatest Strike Partnerships in Football History (Ranked)

Key Takeaways

Though rarer in modern football, strike partnerships were a key part of the game for many years.
Multiple duos on this list helped their teams win honours both domestically and in Europe.
One partnership on this list lasted for only 18 months, but still displayed a high level of quality.

The concept of strike partnerships is fairly uncommon in modern football. Many managers in the current era of the game prefer to play with a lone striker. Sometimes flanked by wingers, sometimes not, the use of a sole striker offers teams more bodies in either midfield or defence, allowing teams to have better control of possession, which is a particularly desired aspect of football in the 2020s.

That, however, is not to say that strike partnerships are not still used by some clubs, nor does it take away from the influence of the tactical idea in the past. Strike pairings were predominant in most teams for many years, with the strongest duos able to cause nightmares for any given defences in most matches and helping clubs win the highest honours available to them. With that being said, which strike partnerships have been the best in football history?

Ronaldo & Benzema, Cisse & Ba: 15 greatest strike partnerships of 21st century

A closer look at the greatest strike partnerships since 2000 including Rooney and Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez, and Henry and Bergkamp

Ranking Factors

Lists, as a concept, are subjective, with it being more than plausible that two lists on the same topic have different entrants depending on the writer’s opinion. With that being considered, this list has been ranked based on:

Longevity – How long did each strike partnership play with each other?
Quality – A simple question, how good was each player and how good was their partnership?
Honours won – To what heights did each partnership take their team?
Fan reception – How fondly remembered are these duos by the supporters of the team they played for?

9 Greatest Strike Partnerships in Football History
Rank	Names	Club	Years Active	Goals	Assists	Honours Won
1.	Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit	AC Milan	1987-1993	van Basten: 125 Gullit: 56	van Basten: 49 Gullit: 40	3x Serie A 2x European Cup 4x Ballon d’Or between them
2.	Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush	Liverpool	1980-1987, 1988-1990	Dalglish: 107 Rush: 234	Dalglish: 152 Rush: 77	5x First Division 2x FA Cup 2x European Cup
3.	Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke	Manchester United	1998-2001	Cole: 64 Yorke: 63	Cole: 19 Yorke: 30	3x Premier League 1x FA Cup 1x Champions League
4.	Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp	Arsenal	1999-2006	Henry: 216 Bergkamp: 49	Henry: 90 Bergkamp: 66	2x Premier League 2x FA Cup
5.	Hugo Sanchez and Emilio Butragueno	Real Madrid	1985-1992	Sanchez: 189 Butragueno: 107	Sanchez: 40 Butragueno: 82	5x La Liga 1x Copa del Rey
6.	Kevin Keegan and John Toshack	Liverpool	1971-1977	Keegan: 100 Toshack: 89	Keegan: 88 Toshack: 50	3x First Division 1x FA Cup 2x UEFA Cup 1x European Cup
7.	Ronaldo and Raul	Real Madrid	2002-2007	Ronaldo: 102 Raul: 76	Ronaldo: 34 Raul: 41	1x La Liga
8.	Hristo Stoichkov and Romario	Barcelona	1993-1995	Stoichkov: 35 Romario: 34	Stoichkov: 17 Romario: 14	1x La Liga
9.	Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi	Juventus	1997-2001	Del Piero: 55 Inzaghi: 86	Del Piero: 53 Inzaghi: 21	1x Serie A

9 Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi

1997-2001

Alessandro del Piero spent almost 20 years at Juventus, though it took just a handful of seasons for him to emerge as one of their best players. In the 1997 Ballon d’Or, he ranked sixth despite being in his early 20s and it was in that year that Filippo Inzaghi joined the club from Atalanta.

In their first season together, with Zinedine Zidane playing behind them, del Piero and Inzaghi fired Juventus to a Serie A title, with del Piero also finishing as that campaign’s top scorer in the Champions League. Despite such a promising start, however, del Piero and Inzaghi’s relationship soon grew strained, on and off the pitch, which contributed to their strike partnership losing the effectiveness they had at the start of their time together.

They won no further Serie A’s together and ultimately played together for just four years, until Inzaghi departed for AC Milan in 2001. Regardless of how it ended, however, the pair were one of the continent’s strongest attacking duos upon their formation.

8 Hristo Stoichkov and Romario

1993-1995

Hristo Stoichkov, arguably the best Bulgarian footballer of all time, joined Barcelona in 1990 after six years at CSKA Sofia. He was part of the Johan Cruyff-led Dream Team that won four-straight league titles for the Catalonian giants, going on to win the 1994 Ballon d’Or after a strong domestic campaign and helping Bulgaria reach the semi-finals in that year’s World Cup.

In 1993, Stoichkov was joined at Barcelona by Romario, the Brazilian having signed from PSV. Romario settled in well, scoring 30 goals in his debut season and reaching the 1994 Champions League final, which Barcelona would ultimately lose 4-0 to AC Milan.

Romario and Stoichkov each had an abundance of ability, but in the former’s case, controversy was never too far away. He was suspended for five games in 1994 after punching Diego Simeone and after an argument with Cruyff, he unexpectedly left the club in January 1995.

Though the pair were only together for around 18 months, they established themselves as one of Europe’s strongest-ever attacking partnerships.

7 Ronaldo and Raul

2002-2007

Raul rose through the ranks at Real Madrid, making his debut in 1994 and ultimately playing for the club until 2010. In 2002, Raul was joined by Brazilian superstar Ronaldo, who moved to the Spanish capital from Inter Milan having played for Barcelona earlier in his career, in the same year that he won the Ballon d’Or.

Unsurprisingly, it did not take long for Ronaldo and Raul to click as part of a Madrid team that boasted several superstars such as David Beckham and Luis Figo. Madrid were unfortunate in that Ronaldo struggled with several injuries across his time at the Bernabeu, which no doubt hampered what the duo could have potentially achieved.

Remarkably, in the five years that they played together, Ronaldo and Raul fired Real Madrid to only one La Liga title. They were not able to win any other major honour, despite their evident quality, prior to Ronaldo’s departure in 2007, but that does not remove anything from the fact that they are one of Europe’s most terrifying partnerships in football history.

6 Kevin Keegan and John Toshack

1971-1977

John Toshack made the move to Merseyside in 1970 after five years with Cardiff City in his native Wales. The following year, Kevin Keegan joined him at the club from Scunthorpe United and went on to form a brilliant duo with his Welsh counterpart, in what was a typical little and large style of partnership.

Working under the legendary Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, Toshack and Keegan helped Liverpool win a UEFA Cup, two FA Cups and three First Division titles. Most impressively though, the attacking pair helped the Reds win their first-ever European Cup in 1977, overcoming Borussia Monchengladbach in the final.

Keegan would depart following the European Cup victory, moving to Hamburg where he would pick up two Ballon d’Or honours. Toshack, meanwhile, spent a further year at Liverpool, ultimately leaving in 1978 for Swansea City after finding his playing opportunities at Anfield limited.

5 Hugo Sanchez and Emilio Butragueno

1985-1992

Emilio Butragueno rose through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, ultimately making his senior debut for the club in 1984. The following season, he was joined by Hugo Sanchez, the Mexican striker having made a name for himself in Europe with city rivals Atletico Madrid during four years with the club.

Over the course of the following seven years, Sanchez and Butragueno fired Madrid to numerous honours, including five-straight La Liga titles between 1985 and 1990 and a UEFA Cup victory in 1986. Sanchez was a lethal finisher in front of goal and while this was a quality that Butragueno possessed also, it was for his trickery and playmaking, particularly as a forward, that he was known for.

In 1992, after seven years with Real Madrid, Sanchez departed to return to his home country of Mexico. Butragueno would be at the club for just three further years until moving to the top flight in Mexico himself after the emergence of 17-year-old starlet Raul limited his game time at the Bernabeu.

4 Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp

1999-2006

Thierry Henry moved to Juventus in 1999 after five years with Monaco in his native France. After disputes with the management and being deployed in multiple positions that weren’t his own, he left Turin after just six months to move to North London, joining Arsenal and eventual strike partner Dennis Bergkamp.

Bergkamp had been at Arsenal since 1995 after two years with Inter Milan, though it was only with the appointment of Arsene Wenger as manager that he saw his form and importance in the team improve.

Bergkamp had established himself as a crucial cog in Wenger’s system prior to Henry’s arrival.

Despite Bergkamp’s increasing age over the seven years he had with Henry, the two formed a formidable attacking partnership, with Henry taking over the mantle of Arsenal’s leading striker and Bergkamp’s natural flair and creativity being of huge assistance to the team.

The pair are fondly remembered by Arsenal fans for the 2003/04 season, during which the Gunners infamously went unbeaten on their way to a Premier League title. Bergkamp and Henry were often deployed in a 4-4-2 formation, with Bergkamp playing as more of a second striker compared to Henry, an out-and-out forward. They had won a league title in the 2001/02 campaign also, as well as three FA Cups before Bergkamp’s retirement in 2006.

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3 Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke

1998-2001

The electric form that Andy Cole displayed across his two seasons with Newcastle United was of such a level that it led to Manchester United paying a British record transfer fee for the striker’s services in 1995. Cole helped the Red Devils to two Premier League titles and an FA Cup in the three years before the club signed Dwight Yorke from Aston Villa, who would join Cole in one of the best strike duos that English football has ever seen.

Man United deployed Cole and Yorke up front in the 1998/99 season, during which their combined 35 goals in the Premier League helped them to another top flight triumph, the first of their partnership. The pair also helped the club to an FA Cup and Champions League as the Red Devils completed a continental treble, a first for an English club.

Cole and Yorke only spent three years together before Cole departed Old Trafford in December 2001. Prior to that moment, the pair scored just under 130 goals together across three years and after their treble-winning campaign, helped the club win two further Premier League’s back-to-back before Cole moved to Blackburn Rovers.

2 Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush

1980-1987, 1988-1990

After the departures of Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, Liverpool were in dire need of new talents to lead their attacking line. Kenny Dalglish joined from Celtic in 1977, an experienced player that had won all there was to win in Scotland, while Ian Rush moved to Merseyside from Chester City in 1980, breaking into the first team the following year.

Dalglish and Rush played together for the bulk of the 1980s, helping Liverpool win five league titles and two European Cups within that decade. Rush actually joined Juventus in 1986, but would only spend two years with the Turin side, one of which on loan at Liverpool, before returning to Anfield permanently in 1988.

Even as Dalglish’s age advanced, he remained a pivotal cog in Liverpool’s attack, often occupying the space just behind Rush to create a chance for his strike partner to profit from. Dalglish retired in 1990, bringing an end to a brilliant duo, while Rush departed Liverpool for the second and final time in 1996, having become Liverpool’s all-time top scorer.

10-Greatest-Liverpool-Attackers-in-Football-History-[Ranked]

10 Greatest Liverpool Attackers in History [Ranked]

From Michael Owen to Mo Salah, the 10 greatest Liverpool attackers have been ranked

1 Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit

1987-1993

Towards the end of the 1980s, it had been almost two whole decades since AC Milan had enjoyed a period of glory in the 60s. Since then, fortunes at the club had stagnated somewhat, which was something club president Silvio Berlusconi hoped to change. In 1987, on the same day, the signings of Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit were announced.

Both had played in their native Netherlands until moving to Italy, van Basten having spent six years at Ajax and Gullit having spent time at HFC Haarlem, Feyenoord and PSV across eight seasons. The former had, in that period, established himself as one of the game’s deadliest marksmen, whereas Gullit had displayed a high level of ability in numerous positions.

van Basten struggled with injury in his first season with Gullit, making just 11 appearances as Milan won the league for the first time in eight years. 1988 saw the striker win the Ballon d’Or, with Gullit ranking second and Frank Rijkaard, who joined Milan that year, placing third, such was the calibre of this Milan side. Gullit also won the award the year prior.

Gullit’s versatility meant that he was often deployed as a second striker alongside, but just behind, van Basten. Under the management of Arrigo Sacchi, the duo’s form up front helped Milan win two successive European Cups after their Serie A triumph.

Despite Sacchi’s sacking in 1991, van Basten and Gullit would win two further league titles before van Basten’s 1993 injury that forced him to retire two years later without playing another game. Gullit, meanwhile, joined Sampdoria in 1993 on loan before making the move permanent the following term.

(All stats are from Transfermarkt and are correct as of 04/11/2024)

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November 9, 2024

10 Greatest Irish Managers in Football History [Ranked]

Key Takeaways

Ireland has produced excellent football managers like Mick McCarthy and Chris Hughton who have had success domestically and internationally.
Notable Irish managers, such as Dermot Keely and Stephen Kenny have achieved trophies and success in various leagues.
Iconic managers like Jack Kirwan and Patrick O’Connell have left a lasting impact on European clubs such as Ajax and Barcelona.

A nation whose international success has been rather limited, Ireland has been able to produce some excellent managers who have performed great jobs across the world.

Some of the nation’s best managers have had domestic success in the League of Ireland, as well as in the Premier League, EFL and abroad. A small nation which has been able to make a big impact on the world’s favourite game, Ireland have provided the sport with some fantastic managers. Below, we will be taking a look at their best, using the below ranking factors.

Ranking Factors

Success
Impact on the Sport
Reputation

10 Greatest Irish Managers in Football History [Ranked]
Rank	Manager
1	Mick McCarthy
2	Chris Hughton
3	David O’Leary
4	Joe Kinnear
5	Patrick O’Connell
6	Stephen Kenny
7	Pat Fenlon
8	Dermot Keely
9	Jack Kirwan
10	Brian Kerr

10 Brian Kerr

Notable Teams Managed: Republic of Ireland, Faroe Islands

The man with the best win percentage as manager of the Republic of Ireland, Brian Kerr, had a successful managerial career.

After realising from a young age he wasn’t going to become a player, Kerr opted to focus on coaching and got his first job in management in 1986 with St Patrick’s Athletic. He spent 10 years there, even putting in his own money to help the club avoid liquidation, and is still idolised at the club for this gesture, and his success at the club.

He left St Patrick’s Athletic to begin a role in the Ireland set-up, first working with several youth teams, including the under 16s, 18s, and 20s, before adopting the senior post in 2003. Despite having the best win ratio of any Irish manager in history, Kerr was never able to steer the boys in green to a major tournament during his two-year tenure.

Brian Kerr Ireland Managerial Statistics
Matches	33
Wins	18
Draws	11
Losses	4
Win Percentage	55%

9 Jack Kirwan

Notable Teams Managed: Ajax, Bohemians

An incredibly iconic manager, Jack Kirwan, was the first-ever professional manager of Ajax. A former Gaelic football player turned footballer, Kirwan was multi-talented and very successful. Winning the FA Cup with Tottenham during his playing days, the Irishman was triumphant everywhere he went.

As a manager, Kirwan laid the foundations for the club Ajax now are, as he guided them into the top flight for the first time. He went on to manage Bohemians, in his native Ireland, twice, as well as a short spell in Italy with US Livorno, but it was his Ajax spell which was the most impressive.

Jack Kirwan Managerial Statistics
Years Active	1910-1925
Promotions	1 (Ajax, 1911)

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8 Dermot Keely

Notable Teams Managed: Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Derry City

Winning four League of Ireland titles with three different clubs, Dermot Keely is one of the league’s most successful managers. Managing a total of 13 clubs in his managerial career, Keely enjoyed plenty of excellent days, with numerous promotions, league titles, and cup triumphs along the way. Even enjoying success in Champions League qualifiers with Shelbourne, Keely was able to deliver in almost all his managerial posts.

League titles with Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, and Shelbourne are perhaps his greatest achievements, but the fact that Keely did all of this whilst also being a Math and English teacher makes his success even more impressive.

Dermot Keely Managerial Statistics
Years Active	1983-2010
Trophies	6

7 Pat Fenlon

Notable Teams Managed: Shelbourne, Hibernian, Shamrock Rovers

A true winner, Pat Fenlon enjoyed a lot of success as a manager, particularly in his homeland. Winning five league titles in Ireland, three with Shelbourne and two with Bohemians, Fenlon is recognised as a legend of the League of Ireland. With an Irish Cup and Irish League Cup to go along with the league titles, the Irishman was a fantastic manager.

During his two-year spell with Hibernian in Scotland, Fenlon led his side to two Scottish Cup finals, although he was defeated in both. He is still one of the most successful managers in the Edinburgh-based club’s recent history.

Pat Fenlon Managerial Statistics
Years Active	2002-Present
Trophies	7

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6 Stephen Kenny

Notable Teams Managed: Derry City, Dundalk, Republic of Ireland

A manager who enjoyed endless success in his native Ireland, before a disappointing spell as his country’s boss, Stephen Kenny has had a fantastic managerial career.

His best days came whilst in charge of Dundalk, where he won four league titles, but he has also won silverware with Bohemians, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic. A manager who has been incredible in Ireland, Kenny was rewarded with the national team job, but he was unable to mirror his domestic success.

With a win percentage of just 27.5% during his time in charge of Ireland, his contract wasn’t renewed in 2023. Despite an underwhelming spell in charge of his country, Kenny’s success in the League of Ireland earns him a spot on this list.

Stephen Kenny Ireland Managerial Statistics
Matches	40
Wins	11
Draws	12
Losses	17
Win Percentage	27.5%

5 Patrick O’Connell

Notable Teams Managed: Real Betis, Barcelona, Sevilla

An incredible story, Patrick O’Connell is recognised as being the man who saved Barcelona. After a successful playing career, O’Connell took over as manager at Racing Santander, where he won five league titles before La Liga was formed. A spell at Real Betis followed before he was appointed as manager of Barcelona in 1935.

After club president Josep Sunyol was assassinated in 1936, O’Connell took Barcelona on tours of Mexico, Cuba, and the United States to raise funds to keep the club afloat. Due to the success of these tours, Barcelona cleared their debts and were saved, thanks to O’Connell.

A manager who enjoyed success in Spain, including a second-place finish with Sevilla after his time with Barcelona. O’Connell is truly iconic. In saving one of the biggest clubs in the world, his legacy will live on forever, and Spanish football will always remember him.

Patrick O’Connell Managerial Statistics
Years Active	1921-1949
Trophies	11

4 Joe Kinnear

Notable Teams Managed: Wimbledon, Luton, Newcastle

Perhaps best known for his spell with Wimbledon, Joe Kinnear enjoyed a fantastic career in management. Starting in Asia, first as assistant manager at Al-Shabab, then as manager of India and Nepal, Kinnear came to England for a very brief spell with Doncaster. He left after the club was taken over and was appointed as manager of Wimbledon, where his managerial career took off.

Consistently performing the unlikely and finishing in the top half of the Premier League, despite being on a small budget, Kinnear worked wonders at Wimbledon. Playing a style of football which is rarely seen in the modern game, with a lot of long balls and scrapping for possession, Kinnear masterminded some fantastic league finishes for the club.

Following a heart attack, he left Wimbledon, before returning to management with eventful spells at Luton and Newcastle, in an impressive and unique managerial career.

Joe Kinnear Managerial Statistics
Years Active	1983-2014
Matches	583
Wins	216
Draws	166
Losses	201
Win Percentage	37%

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3 David O’Leary

Notable Teams Managed: Leeds, Aston Villa, Al-Ahli

Best known for the wonders he produced at Leeds, David O’Leary had a successful career in management. When O’Leary was appointed by Leeds in 1998, his side was languishing towards the lower reaches of the Premier League, but this soon changed.

With a crop of young, talented players, playing high-tempo, attacking football, just a year later Leeds finished third in the Premier League, an incredible transformation. Taking the Yorkshire outfit to the semi-finals of the Champions League, O’Leary had a fantastic spell with the club, but after they had overspent significantly, and a falling out with the club’s hierarchy, he departed the club.

Stints with Aston Villa and Al-Ahli followed, but neither replicated the incredible time he had at Elland Road.

David O’Leary Managerial Statistics
Matches	341
Wins	151
Draws	84
Losses	106
Win Percentage	44.28%

2 Chris Hughton

Notable Teams Managed: Newcastle, Norwich, Brighton

With two Championship promotions under his belt, Chris Hughton has enjoyed a great managerial career in England. Taking Newcastle up to the Premier League in his first managerial role, before being controversially sacked in December of the following season, Hughton was a popular figure on Tyneside. He went on to have spells with Birmingham, and then Norwich, before spending five years with Brighton.

At Brighton, Hughton turned the club into promotion challengers, before eventually taking them up in 2017, where they have remained since. Hughton was sacked in 2019 by Brighton, despite keeping the club up, after a poor end to the season, which was again met with discontent from his club’s fans. Spells with Nottingham Forest and then the Ghana national team followed in a very successful managerial career.

Chris Hughton Managerial Statistics
Matches	512
Wins	199
Draws	144
Losses	169
Win Percentage	38.87%

1 Mick McCarthy

Notable Teams Managed: Republic of Ireland, Wolves, Ipswich

The greatest Irish manager in history, Mick McCarthy, enjoyed a fantastic career both in England and as Republic of Ireland manager.

Despite not playing the most attractive football, McCarthy enjoyed some great spells, including with Sunderland, Wolves, and Ipswich, where he enjoyed promotion and narrow relegation survival. With two Championship titles to his name, with Sunderland and Wolves, McCarthy is recognised as one of the division’s best managers.

He also enjoyed two spells in charge of his country, in 1996 and 2018, where he was able to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, but after a very public falling out with Roy Keane, McCarthy was always under pressure.

After 68 games in charge, McCarthy resigned in 2002 after a poor start to qualification for the 2004 European Championships. During his second spell, the Irish manager was more successful, and almost guided his side to Euro 2020, but resigned before the play-offs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A football legend, McCarthy is a great character and had great spells throughout his career.

Mick McCarthy Managerial Statistics
Matches	1,041
Wins	398
Draws	281
Losses	362
Win Percentage	38.23%

All statistics via Transfermarkt. Correct as of 03.10.2024.

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November 3, 2024

10 Greatest Chile Players in Football History [Ranked]

Key Takeaways

Chile have produced some of South America’s finest footballers.
As a national team, they most recently won Copa America in both 2015 and 2016.
Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal are two greats of the modern era.

South America has a reputation for producing some of the most talented footballers in the world. Nations in this region such as Brazil and Argentina live and breathe football and have had significant success on the international stage.

Outside these two dominant nations, Chile have had success and has produced footballers who have gone on to compete at the highest level for club and country. This historic country also hosted the 1962 World Cup where they finished third, their best performance in the competition to date.

Chile also enjoyed glory in recent times with two Copa America triumphs in both 2015 and 2016. One of the most notable names players in the modern era is Arturo Vidal, the midfielder has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world, such as Juventus, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He makes the top 10 list of the greatest Chilean players in football history, alongside nine other icons.

Greatest Chile Players in Football History
Rank	Name	Career Span	Chile Caps
1.	Alexis Sanchez	2005- Present	166
2.	Arturo Vidal	2006-Present	142
3.	Ivan Zamorano	1986-2003	69
4.	Marcelo Salas	1994-2009	70
5.	Claudio Bravo	2003-2024	150
6.	George Robledo	1946-1961	31
7.	Elias Figueroa	1962-1983	47
8.	Francisco Valdes	1961-1981	50
9.	Jaime Pizarro	1982-2000	53
10.	Gary Medel	2007-Present	161

10 Gary Medel

Career Span: 2007-Present

Gary Medel is a centre-back currently playing for Argentine Primera Division side Boca Juniors. The Chilean, who has played for a variety of teams in different leagues, can also operate as a defensive midfielder.

Medel started out at Universidad Catolica before representing teams such as Boca Juniors, Sevilla, Cardiff City, Inter Milan and Besiktas. After that, he returned to Italy to join Bologna in 2019. He has over 160 caps for the national team since 2007, representing his country at two World Cups, five Copa America tournaments and one Confederation Cup.

Medel was a key figure in the squad that won the 2015 Copa America and his efforts were recognized by him being named in the team of the tournament. Furthermore, he was part of the squad that won the Copa America Centenario in 2016. He was also selected in the squads that finished fourth at the 2019 Copa America and as the runners-up at the 2017 Confederations Cup.

9 Jaime Pizarro

Career Span: 1982-2000

2023 Sport Minister and President of Santiago 2023 Jaime Pizarro and President of Panam Sports Neven Ilic

Jaime Pizarro retired in 2000, having obtained 53 caps for the Chile national team between 1987 and 1993. Significantly, he featured in the 1987 Copa America final. The midfielder spent the majority of his career at Chilean club Colo-Colo, where he was crowned champion as both a player and as a coach. His last appearance on the international stage came against Peru at the 1993 Copa America tournament.

Pizzaro’s only goal for his nation came in a 1989 friendly match against Uruguay in Montevideo, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw. He also had a one-year stint as assistant manager of the Chile national team.

8 Francisco Valdes

Career Span: 1961-1981

Francisco Valdes is one of the most decorated midfielders in Chile’s history. He is the top scorer in the history of the Chilean league with an impressive 215 goals to his name.

He spent his entire career in the Chilean first-division league, surpassing Pedro Gonzalez’s 212 goal tally. Valdes also scored 179 goals in 353 matches during the Chilean national championship, as well as one goal in the Copa Libertadores tournament. The midfielder is the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores with 20 goals to his name in just 44 matches. He played 50 matches for the national team, scoring nine goals.

7 Elias Figueroa

Career Span: 1962-1983

Elias Figueroa was an incredible defender who starred for several careers throughout his long and successful career. He played for his hometown club Santiago Wanderers, Brazilian club Internacional and Uruguayan side Penarol. Figueroa won titles with both of these sides in the 1970s and his role in their success is outlined by the three successive South American Footballer of the Year awards he won between 1974-1976.

He made 47 appearances for Chile, appearing in three World Cups, in 1966, 1974 and 1982. The defender was an incredible athlete, who could make inch-perfect challenges in the most pressured situations. Figueroa was also named as Chile’s footballer of the 20th Century and was even included in the FIFA 100 in 2003.

6 George Robledo

Career Span:1946-1961

George Robledo played as a striker and is well known for the years he spent at Newcastle. During his time in England, he became the first non-British registered foreign player to become the top scorer in England.

Robledo was selected in the Chile squad ahead of the 1950 World Cup even though there was a language barrier considering he didn’t speak Spanish. He made his debut in the opening game against England. Later in the tournament, he found the back of the net in Chile’s 5-2 victory over the United States. He was included in his country’s squad for both the 1955 and 1957 South America Championships.

5 Claudio Bravo

Career Span: 2003-2024

Claudio Bravo, who has made 150 appearances for Chile, is the third-most capped player in the nation’s history, behind only Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel. His sensational saves and lightning-quick reactions have made him a Chilean icon. The goalkeeper also embraced the opportunity to captain his country, leading his team to victory at the 2015 and 2016 Copa America tournaments.

After moving from Real Sociedad to Barcelona in 2014, Bravo won the treble and Zamora Trophy in his first season at the club. He also lifted silverware in England at Manchester City, where he won several titles during his four-year stint in the Premier League. On the international stage, he represented Chile at two World Cups, one Confederations Cup and six Copa America tournaments.

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4 Marcelo Salas

Career Span:1994-2009

A truly delightful player, who got fans off their feet. Marcelo Salas was a left-footed wizard, who played primarily as a number nine. The striker spent the majority of his career in Argentina and Italy, winning titles with each club he played for. His most successful years came at Lazio and Juventus.

At Lazio, Salas played a crucial role in the side that completed the Italian Scudetto in the 1997-98 season. In this same season, his efforts were recognized as he was voted South American Player of the Year. He is second only behind Alexis Sanchez for goals scored for the national team. Salas scored 37 goals in 70 international appearances. Furthermore, he represented Chile at the 1998 World Cup in France, where he scored four goals in as many matches; he also played at two Copa America tournaments.

3 Ivan Zamorano

Career Span: 1986-2003

Ivan Zamorano playing for Real Madrid — Action Images

Ivan Zamorano is arguably Chile’s greatest striker ever. He is regarded as one of the most recognised players in the nation’s history due to his impressive goal-scoring record. As a regular member of the national team setup, Zamorano played in the 1998 World Cup and four Copa America tournaments. At club level, he excelled at some of the biggest sides in Europe, such as Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Sevilla.

His potent finishing is illustrated by the striker winning the Pichichi Trophy after scoring 28 goals in the 1994-95 season for Real Madrid. In addition to this, he won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan. The forward will be remembered for his impressive strength and ability in the air, which made him impossible to stop at times. His position on this list is further cemented by the fact that he was once selected in the FIFA 100, a list of the best football players in the world.

2 Arturo Vidal

Career Span: 2006-Present

Arturo Vidal epitomizes all the qualities of a modern-day midfielder. He is well known for his tenacious tackling and aggressive interceptions, which made him one of the best box-to-box players in football during his prime years. After making his debut in 2007, Vidal went on to earn 142 caps for the Chile national team and has represented his country at the Copa America tournament in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

He also played a crucial role in his nation’s successive Copa America victories in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore, he has also played in the Copa America Centenario, the 2017 Confederations Cup and in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. During his career, Vidal has won nine league titles for various European clubs. He was also named in the Bundesliga and Serie A Team of the Year, which coincided with him being named 2016 Chilean Player of the Year.

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1 Alexis Sanchez

Career Span: 2005- Present

Alexis Sanchez is often lauded as the greatest Chilean player of all time, due to his success with the national team, but also because of his personal achievements. The dynamic forward is able to play anywhere in the front line with his quick feet and lethal finishing, his best attributes.

The silky winger had successful spells with Barcelona, Arsenal and Inter Milan. His best years came at Arsenal, where he scored 80 goals and won two FA Cups. Significantly, he won the 2015 PFA Fans Player of the Year. On the international stage, he won the Golden Ball award in the 2016 Copa America, where he helped his country defend their title.

Sanchez holds the record for most appearances for the Chile national team, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players to emerge from this region.

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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 20/10/2024

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October 29, 2024

Greatest Right-Footed 11 in Football History

Key Takeaways

Right-footed players can excel at any position, from goalkeeper to striker.
Being right-footed doesn’t limit players like Cafu or Platini, their skill and versatility shine.
Best and Ronaldo demonstrate the strength and precision that can come from the right foot.

Some of the most legendary figures in world football are left-footed. The likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona have produced magical moments that have left fans stunned.

However, as we all know, most players are right-footed and this includes some of the greatest players to ever grace the game such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Pele. Zinedine Zidane is another example, however, the Frenchman was equally adept with both feet, making him a defender’s nightmare.

These right-footed maestros are some of the most inspirational players in the history of the sport, who have left their mark on the beautiful game in a variety of different ways. With that in mind, below is an XI of the best right-footed players in football history.

Greatest Right-Footed XI in Football History
Name	Position	Active Years	Total Appearances
Lev Yashin	Goalkeeper	1949-1971	406
Cafu	Defender	1989-2009	701
Franz Beckenbauer	Defender	1964-1983	665
Bobby Moore	Defender	1958-1979	824
Paolo Maldini	Defender	1985-2009	901
George Best	Winger	1961-1985	559
Michel Platini	Midfielder	1973-1987	630
Zinedine Zidane	Midfielder	1988-2006	798
Cristiano Ronaldo	Winger	1995-Present	1,240
Johan Cryuff	Striker	1964-1984	627
Pele	Striker	1956-1977	739

Goalkeeper

Lev Yashin

Arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Lev Yashin gets the nod in goal. The Russian was a very traditional number one, who wasn’t tasked with playing the ball out from the back like goalkeepers are asked to do in the modern game.

Nevertheless, Yashin used his stronger right foot to make incredible saves that no other keeper could make. The colossal goalkeeper was particularly acrobatic and was praised by many for his terrific leadership. The only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, he was known for his excellent work with his hands, but his personal accolades alone warrant his position in this star-studded team.

Right-Back

Cafu

Brazilian icon Cafu beat plenty of competition to rank as the greatest right-footed rightback in football history. The World Cup winner is not only regarded as one of the best Brazilian players to wear the yellow jersey, but also as one of the best fullbacks of all time.

Cafu, known for his pace and energy that he often used in the final third, used his right foot to evade challenges and dribble with great intensity. The defender would often get to the byline before producing inviting deliveries for the likes of Ronaldo.

Furthermore, Cafu was also brilliantly in the defensive scenario and would take the ball of opposition with ease using his stronger right-foot. As the most-capped player for the Brazil national team with 142 appearances, Cafu had to be selected ahead of other right-footed right-backs.

Centre-Back

Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer was a player ahead of his time. The aggressive centre-back fulfilled his typical duties as a defender such as making interceptions, flying into tackles and being superb in the air. However, the German also used his right foot to make accurate passes that many would associate with a midfielder.

Not only was his passing superior to those in his position, but his dribbling ability was also fantastic. Beckenbauer could glide with the ball at his feet and he would use his stronger foot to go on mazy runs, cutting through the opposition’s central midfield. The European Cup winner will go down as one of the greatest players ever, with Beckenbauer having significant success and personal accolades to back up his case as an all-time great.

Centre-Back

Bobby Moore

A historic footballing figure, who showcased some of the best defending in history. Bobby Moore was a defensive mastermind known for his ability to read the game. He was always one step ahead of the attackers and was able to distance himself away from being in difficult situations. Moore would use his preferred right foot to make quick interceptions and clearances.

The defender was described by Pele as the greatest defender he had ever played against, which is praise of the highest order. Moore has the success to further validate this argument, as he captained England to their last and only World Cup triumph in 1966 and will go down in history as one of West Ham’s best-ever players.

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Left-Back

Paolo Maldini

In an era where centre-backs are deployed as fullbacks and right-footed players are used at left-back, Paolo Maldini would be an invaluable asset in today’s game. The Italian played primarily as a left back, despite being right-footed and this was because his left foot was far from being considered weak in comparison to his stronger foot.

Maldini is one of the greatest defenders of all time, with the Italy international captaining both AC Milan and Italy for prolonged periods of time. The historic player held the record for appearances in Serie A until he was recently surpassed by Gianluigi Buffon in 2020.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic:
Maldini holds the joint record for most European Cup/UEFA Champions League final appearances (8) alongside Paco Gento.

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Right Midfielder

George Best

A skilful and dynamic winger, who made everything look easy, George Best was arguably the best player of his generation and will be remembered for his imaginative playing style that got fans off their seats. Best, as a winger, used his right foot to get through the tightest of spaces. The Northern Irishman could beat three or four players at once, dazzling the opposition with his impressive footwork and skills.

He spent the majority of his career at Manchester United and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968. Best scored some wonderful goals using his right foot and rightly beat off competition from wingers to earn his spot in this team.

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Central Midfielder

Michel Platini

Michel Platini had everything you want in a midfielder and his deadly right foot made him a set-piece specialist too. The Frenchman, who was named the best player in the world three times in a row, is mainly known for his impact in the final third.

Platini was a creative genius, able to carve open any defence in the world on his own. He could score from range, beat his man and dictate a game. What made him stand out from other contenders in this position, was his ability to use his left foot in certain situations. However, the midfielder is known mainly for his magical right foot which he used throughout his trophy-laden career.

Central Midfielder

Zinedine Zidane

Speaking of fantastic Frenchman, Zinedine Zidane partners Platini in central midfield in his XI. Despite being a right-footed player, Zidane would often shift the ball to his left before unleashing some lethal finishes.

The France international could do anything on the field. For example, he could control a ball that was zipped into him at any height. Zidane could manipulate the ball like a winger, turn like a midfielder and shoot like a striker. His extraordinary performances on the field were rewarded with a plethora of personal accolades. He won the 1998 Ballon d’Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003.

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Left Midfielder

Cristiano Ronaldo

Battling it out with Lionel Messi for the number one player of this generation, Cristiano Ronaldo just had to be included in this team. The Portuguese icon is known predominately for the incredible catalogue of goals he has scored.

Although he has found the back of the net with his weaker left and with his head, Ronaldo’s right foot might just be the best in world football. In his prime years, he used his right to skip past challenges in sensational solo runs.

His right foot still has unbelievable power and there’s no surprise that Ronaldo tops the list for the most official senior goals, most international goals and the most in Champions League history. Success has followed Ronaldo his entire career in various leagues, so his inclusion on the left flank is more than warranted.

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Johan Cruyff

A technical genius, who invented his own style of football. Johan Cruyff was a silky player, who used his spectacular right foot to jink past defenders and cooly slot the ball into the back of the net.

Cruyff is probably the greatest Dutch footballer of all time, which is an impressive feat in itself. The talented forward also won the Ballon d’Or on three occasions, in 1971, 1973 and 1974.

He was selected in the World Team of the 20th Century in 1998, the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002 and 2004 and was named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest players in world football. The variety of finishes he had in his locker ensured his position in the side ahead of Brazilian striker Ronaldo.

Striker

Pele

Completing this legendary side is Brazilian icon Pele. His incredible goal-scoring record illustrates just how good his right foot was. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which does take into account friendly matches, is a staggering record.

Pele is without a doubt one of the greatest players ever and his reputation increased significantly in the 1950s with his scintillating performances on the international stage. The forward thrived off pressure and scored majestic individual goals. Although he was unable to claim the Ballon d’Or, as the award was only given to those playing in Europe, Pele is an inspiration to the sport – and for some, the greatest ever.

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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – correct as of 25/10/2024

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October 27, 2024

10 Greatest British Set-Piece Specialists in Football History [Ranked]

There aren’t many things sweeter in football than a well-executed set-piece that sees the ball nestle into the back of the net and break the deadlock in a tight game. Every England fan will remember exactly where they were when Kieran Trippier’s immaculate free-kick opened the scoring against Croatia during the 2018 World Cup, and the same goes for Wales fans celebrating Gareth Bale’s opener from a dead ball situation against Slovakia at Euro 2016.

Teams that focus on perfecting the art of a set piece are often scoffed at and dismissed as playing ‘anti-football’, but in reality, it’s a facet of the game that can give you a major advantage if well worked on. Given British football’s reputation as a physical, blood and thunder game, it’s only right that the small island nation has produced some of the most effective set-piece specialists of all time, designed to feed the combative specimens crowing the box.

From Leighton Baines to David Beckham, here are the top ten greatest set-piece specialists in British football history.

British Football’s Greatest Ever Full-backs
Rank	Player	Career Span
1	David Beckham	1992-2013
2	James Ward-Prowse	2011-Present
3	Trent Alexander-Arnold	2016-Present
4	Frank Lampard	1995-2016
5	Steven Gerrard	1998-2016
6	Leighton Baines	2002-2020
7	Glenn Hoddle	1975-1995
8	Gareth Bale	2006-2023
9	Jamie Redknapp	1990-2005
10	Sir Bobby Charlton	1956-1980

10 Sir Bobby Charlton

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks and corners

The great Sir Bobby Charlton was perhaps one of the first real set-piece specialists, arguably making him a pioneer in this field. Renowned for his technical quality and powerful shooting, the Manchester United legend’s expert ability from free-kicks was an integral part of his repertoire, and a significant contributor to his elite output.

Scoring from five direct free-kicks in his illustrious career, at a time when the success rate from these situations was much lower, Charlton was more well-known for his inch-perfect delivery from corners and wide free-kicks. Generating several assists from these moments, the pace and accuracy of his dead-ball crosses from wide areas were a weapon for the dominant United side of the 1950s, creating chaos in opposition boxes.

9 Jamie Redknapp

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks

While injuries may have hindered much of his playing career, Jamie Redknapp developed a knack for curling the ball around the wall and into the back of the net from free-kicks around the area. The outspoken pundit did this nine times in the Premier League, a rate bettered by just two Brits in the division’s history.

Technically clean, Redknapp’s ball-striking was most vividly on display from dead-ball situations, when his fragile body had time to measure itself and connect sweetly with the ball. The bend the former Liverpool man was able to generate on his free-kicks was audacious, and may have been as well documented as the notorious Beckham Bend, had he been able to remain on the pitch for more of his career and showcase this unique ability more frequently.

8 Gareth Bale

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks and corners

A man whose supreme technical ability needs no introduction, but the quality of his set pieces went under the radar. Gareth Bale opened his North London Derby account for Tottenham with a sensational free-kick that caught Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia out at his near post in 2007. His second goal in professional football, it was a sign of things to come.

Developing a reputation as a ‘knuckleball specialist’, Bale netted 12 direct free-kicks throughout his prodigious career, most of which followed this distinctive technique. Also capable of whipping inviting corners into dangerous areas on a persistent basis, the serial Champions League winners’ deal-ball prowess was perhaps underrated due to the absurd quality he provided in other facets of the game, and due to Cristiano Ronaldo hogging the scenarios in his time at Real Madrid.

7 Glenn Hoddle

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks and corners

Glenn Hoddle playing for Tottenham Hotspur

Celebrated for his gracefulness and ability to glide across the pitch, which predated the era he was playing in, Glenn Hoddle’s eloquence extended to his set pieces. Scoring 14 free-kicks throughout his distinguished career, the Tottenham legend’s superpower from dead balls was actually his playmaking.

Swinging delightful balls into the mixer, with physical brutes battling for the ball in the box during the 80s, set-piece coaches of today’s jobs would be made a lot simpler if they had a player capable of the quality of deliveries Hoddle was able to produce. The ex-England manager’s innate ability to find a teammate in a congested penalty area from the corner spot was unparalleled in his time.

6 Leighton Baines

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks, corners and penalties

While Leighton Baines was certainly an astute defender and a very effective full-back on his day, it was set-piece mastery that set him apart from most players in his position. With free-kicks, corners and penalties all part of his repertoire, the Everton legend managed four seasons between 2010 and 2014 where he netted five times or more from left-back.

The majority of these goals were sourced by exceptional execution from dead-ball scenarios. Converting six direct free-kicks in the Premier League, 26 out of 29 penalties and numerous assists from corners, the marauding full-back was as deadly as anyone from these positions – and has the third-most assists as a defender in Premier League history. His abruptly powerful strike away at Newcastle in 2013, lacing through the ball, springs to mind as one of Baines’ most iconic goals.

Ranking the 9 Best Free-Kicks in Football History

GIVEMESPORT ranks the 9 best free-kicks in football history, featuring Messi, Almeida and Beckham.

5 Steven Gerrard

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks and penalties

Another who made his name on Merseyside and whose most notable free-kick goal was at St. James’ Park, Steven Gerrard’s sublime technique meant he was always likely to be effective in these situations, while his temperament and composure lent itself to specialising in penalty-taking. While aided by a minor tee-up from a teammate, Gerrard leathered the ball beyond Shay Given in one of the most venerated free-kicks in Premier League history on Tyneside in November 2007.

This wasn’t his only rodeo in this regard, as the legendary Liverpool midfielder mastered the art of the pile driver presented to him by short layoff into his stride, while he also perfected the cheeky curl around the wall to the goalkeepers near post. One of the most potent from 12 yards as well, Gerrard converted 46 of his 56 penalty kicks.

4 Frank Lampard

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks, corners and penalties

Frank Lampard celebrates scoring for Chelsea.

Perhaps not as pronounced in this realm as many, Frank Lampard’s superb ability from dead balls is evidenced in the numbers. Scoring nine direct free-kicks in his Premier League career, level with Redknapp and behind just two other Brits, the Chelsea hero managed to contact the ball in a way that deceived goalkeepers with unusual movement whilst in the air, on a consistent basis.

Not only that, but the England international’s delivery was so good, that he profited from wide free-kicks bypassing the melee in the box and going all the way in without a touch on numerous occasions. Also dependable from the spot, Lampard slotted home 60 penalties throughout his career, only missing eleven.

3 Trent Alexander-Arnold

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks and corners

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Liverpool

Possibly the most creative defender of all time, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s extraordinary technical quality and expansive passing range is like nothing we’ve seen before from a right-back. The modern-day Beckham, the 26-year-old has everything the glamorous superstar had – the crossing, the passing, the vision, and of course, the set-piece quality.

The defender with the most assists in Premier League history, Alexander-Arnold is capable of whipping a ball with frightening velocity and accuracy, and does so with ridiculous regularity. His sumptuous top bins effort at Stamford Bridge in Liverpool’s title-winning season is perhaps the most ‘postage stamp’ goal we’ve ever witnessed in the English top flight.

2 James Ward-Prowse

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks, corners and penalties

James Ward-Prowse might be the player that comes to mind for most in the modern day when asked to summon a name associated with being a set-piece specialist. The archetypal, ‘jack of not many trades, but master of one’, Ward-Prowse is certainly a good Premier League footballer, but his free-kick taking is arguably better than almost any other human on the planet.

Sound hyperbolic? Well, in January 2023, Ward-Prowse’s conversion rate from direct free-kicks (only including players who have attempted 35 free-kicks or more) was greater than any other player in world football. Not even Lionel Messi could match his 21.4% success rate. Taking 70 by this point, he’d netted 15, a sample size large enough to demonstrate that he can reliably get the ball past the goalkeeper from dead-ball scenarios.

Preventing him from taking top spot is the only British footballer to have scored more free-kicks than him in Premier League history…

10 Greatest Set Piece Specialists in Football History [Ranked]

From David Beckham’s curling free-kicks to Roberto Carlos’ dagger of a left foot, here are the greatest set piece takers in history.

1 David Beckham

Set-piece speciality: Free-kicks and corners

When you have a film title referencing your ability from free-kicks, it’s probably safe to say you were a specialist at said facet of the game. ‘Bend it like Beckham’ was not only a blockbuster hit, it was also a culturally significant term used in Britain throughout the former Manchester United star’s playing career, and for years after.

Evidently synonymous with bending the ball around a wall from dead-ball situations, Beckham was perhaps one of the first footballers who really, truly perfected the art of a free-kick. When opposition teams committed a foul in a dangerous position against a team containing Beckham, there was almost a resignation that they’d already conceded.

Carefully placed strikes, focusing on the accurate details relating to accuracy, were his trademark, and he finished his career with 18 direct free-kick goals in the Premier League. Aside from Trippier’s effort against Croatia, his strike against Greece in 2001 that sent England to the 2002 World Cup is comfortably the most iconic English free-kick goal of all time.

With the game poised at 2-1 to the Greeks, and England seconds from missing out on the major tournament, the maverick winger stepped up and… you know the rest.

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October 17, 2024

10 Greatest England Captains in Football History [Ranked]

Key Takeaways

Wayne Rooney’s tenure as England captain was marked by disappointment, but he remains one of the best goalscorers in history.
Harry Kane, the current skipper, is the most successful England captain in modern history, breaking records and leading the team to major finals.
Bobby Moore remains England’s greatest ever captain, being the only one to lead England to a major tournament victory.

Putting on the armband and leading your team is one of a footballer’s greatest honours, but doing so for your country is an even more significant feat.

Since 1872, there have only ever been 154 players to don the armband for the England National Team, which demonstrates the magnitude of what it means to be named skipper.

Some players have had far more successful tenures than others, but only one has ever led their country to a major tournament victory.

Here is GIVEMESPORT’s curated list of the top 10 greatest captains in English football history.

Key factors

Length of tenure
Win percentage
England success during that time
Individual performances

Greatest Ever England Captains
Rank	Player	Tenure as Captain
10	Wayne Rooney	2014-17
9	Kevin Keegan	1976-1982
8	Alan Shearer	1996-2000
7	John Terry	2006-10 & 2011-12
6	Steven Gerrard	2012-14
5	David Beckham	2000-2006
4	Bryan Robson	1982-91
3	Harry Kane	2018-Present
2	Billy Wright	1948-59
1	Bobby Moore	1964-73

10 Wayne Rooney

22 captaincies – 77% win percentage

Wayne Rooney arguably took over the England armband in one of their most difficult times in recent history, having taken over shortly after they were knocked out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the group stages.

He would go on to lead the team at Euro 2016 – one of the Three Lions’ most disappointing tournaments – which saw them put on a disasterclass against Iceland and get knocked out at the Round of 16 stage. His tenure as captain would come to an end in 2017, when he was replaced by Jordan Henderson, but England’s performances at that time are more of an indictment on the team as opposed to Rooney’s leadership itself.

As a player, though, he would wind up being one of England’s best goalscorers in history, netting 53 times in 120 appearances, surpassing the late Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record which had stood since 1970.

However, he now sits in second place all time after a certain striker-turned England skipper went on to surpass his record in even quicker succession.

9 Kevin Keegan

31 captaincies – 55% win percentage

Kevin Keegan played for England for a decade between 1972 and 1982, in which he notched 63 caps, scoring 21 goals.

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner would be skipper for almost half of his caps, recording 31 captaincies, in which they won 55 percent of those outings, though he would captain England at just two major tournaments – Euro 1980 where they were eliminated in the group stages, and the World Cup in 1980, reaching the quarter-finals.

England failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 tournaments under his leadership.

Later on in his career, he would briefly take on the managerial role for England, succeeding Glenn Hoddle in 1999, though he would resign toward the end of 2000 after coming under fire for winning just 38.9 percent of his games in charge.

8 Alan Shearer

34 captaincies – 47% win percentage

The Premier League’s greatest ever goalscorer, Alan Shearer, played for the Three Lions 63 times, and was handed the armband for 34 of those occasions, scoring 30 goals between 1992-2000.

His tenure began shortly after Euro 1996, where England had reached the semi-finals but had been knocked out by foes Germany on penalties.

He had a 47 percent win rate as skipper before he announced his international retirement at just 30-years-old, with his last appearance coming in the group stages of Euro 2000, where England were knocked out, along with Germany, after recording just one win and ultimately finishing third behind Portugal and Romania.

While his time on the international stage was relatively brief, he still recorded an impressive win rate before his retirement, and thus, deserves to be on this list.

7 Steven Gerrard

38 captaincies – 53% win percentage

Steven Gerrard took over the armband from John Terry after some off-the-field legal issues, and donned it for two years between 2012-14.

During that time, arguably one of the best ever central midfielders to lace up in the beautiful game led his country through two major tournaments. The first was Euro 2012, where England missed out on a place in the semi-finals after losing a penalty shootout against eventual finalists, Italy.

Two years later, he would captain England at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, though, it would be nothing short of a disaster, with them failing to record a single win and finishing plum last in a group that also featured Uruguay, Costa Rica and Italy.

Having captained the side in one of their worst-ever major tournaments, Gerrard was stripped of the captaincy, and would announce his retirement from international football shortly thereafter, finishing his career with 114 caps and 24 goals.

6 John Terry

34 captaincies – 65% win percentage

John Terry is the only name on this list to have two tenures as skipper, totalling almost six years leading from the front between 2006-12.

While his two separate allegations cannot be overlooked, he did have the highest win percentage as captain on this list, leading the team out 34 times, in which they won 65 percent of their outings.

One of the Premier League’s greatest ever defenders, Terry would never actually lead the Three Lions into a major tournament, which also means he never suffered the embarrassment the likes of Gerrard and Rooney did.

Nonetheless, the Blues skipper would finish his tethered international career lacing his boots up 78 times, in which he found the back of the net six times.

5 David Beckham

59 captaincies – 59% win percentage

David Beckham’s reign as captain of the National Team is perhaps one of the most well-documented, and it was a stroke of genius by then-manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, which panned out to better his career and reputation all around the world.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star would lead England through three successive major tournaments, and while under his leadership they would only reach as far as the quarter-final stages, he will always be most notably remembered for his 2002 strike from a free kick in stoppage time against Greece to send England to the Euro 2002 Finals.

In an international career which spanned from 1996-2009, Beckham remains the third-most capped player in England history with 115 appearances, 59 of which he featured as captain, racking up a 59 percent win-rate, and finishing with 17 goals.

4 Bryan Robson

65 captaincies – 49% win percentage

Sixty-five of Bryan Robson’s 90 international appearances came as captain, of which he had a 49 percent win rate, winning 32 of those contests.

Boasting the nickname ‘Captain Marvel’ for club and country, the former Manchester United midfielder was known for his threat posed in the opposition’s box, scoring 26 goals for the Three Lions.

However, thwarted by injuries throughout his international career, Robson was unable to showcase his potential as England skipper, and he would play his final game for his country in October 1991, 11 years after making his senior debut.

3 Harry Kane

76 captaincies and counting

Harry Kane to be handed England Golden Cap

Harry Kane recently earned his 100th cap for his country, in which he has an incredible 62 percent win rate.

He has made more appearances at major tournaments (29) than any other player in England’s history, while he also boasts the record for being the Three Lions’ record scorer at major tournaments, having racked up 15 goals.

He took over the captaincy in the Gareth Southgate era, beginning back in 2018, and has thus far made 76 appearances as skipper.

During this time, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker became England’s all-time top goalscorer, surpassing Rooney, and is widely considered as one of the best finishers of a football in English history.

He has also led his side to two major tournament finals – Euro 2020, where they lost on penalties to Italy, and Euro 2024, where they came up short against a strong Spanish side.

But, with all things considered, Kane is by far the most successful England captain in the modern era, and with no signs of international retirement any time soon, who knows how many more goals and appearances he will have made for his country when he decides to call time on his career.

2 Billy Wright

90 captaincies – 54% win percentage

Billy Wright is the oldest player on this list, with his international career spanning from 1946-1959.

The centre-half, who spent his entire club career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, in which he made 490 appearances, captained England 90 times, the first outing of which came two years after his debut, and he was the first player in England history to reach the century mark of caps, totalling 105.

During his reign as captain, he would lead his country through three successive World Cup finals – 1950, 1954, and 1958.

Furthermore, Wright holds an England record of 70 consecutive appearances for the Three Lions, while he is tied with Sir Bobby Moore for most captained games in English football history.

1 Sir Bobby Moore

90 captaincies – 63% win percentage

The only captain to lift a World Cup for England has deservedly cemented the late Sir Bobby Moore as the country’s greatest ever captain.

Tied with Wright for most captaincies with 90, Moore had the highest win rate of the two, winning 63 percent of those contests, while he would also earn three more caps than his compatriot, totalling 108 appearances, and scoring two goals.

Most known for his tenure with West Ham at club level, Moore was an integral part of England winning their only World Cup in 1966. To commemorate his legacy as an England legend and one of their best ever players, it is only fitting that there is a statue of him that sits directly outside the new Wembley Stadium looking out onto Wembley Way, with football fans from all over the world reminded of what he did for this country all those years ago.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBRef and WhoScored.com, and are accurate as of 09/10/2024.

England players pose for a team group photo before Finland match.

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October 11, 2024

10 Greatest Welsh Wingers in Football History [Ranked]
Wales have managed to produce some seriously talented footballers down the years. Midfielder greats such as Aaron Ramsey and Terry Yorath, and strikers including Ian Rush and Mark Hughes have all hailed from the British nation. Wales’ greatest ever players have come from all over the pitch, but on the wings is where they have produced some of their best talent.

Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs, two of the Premier League’s best ever wide men, are both from Wales and make this list, as we take a look at the 10 greatest Welsh wingers in football history.

Ranking Factors:
- Overall Ability – How gifted were they as footballers?
- Achievements – Did their talent translate into silverware?
- National Team Contribution – Could they do it in a Wales jersey?
10 David Giles

Career Span: 1974-1988

Few players have played for all of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, but David Giles is a man who has.

His best days came at Swansea, where he ended the 1979/80 season as the club’s top scorer, before departing across the border to Crystal Palace. Other than at the start of his career with Cardiff, Giles never spent more than two years at any of his clubs, frequently moving around both England and Wales.

Giles spent time with Birmingham, Newport, and Barry Town, where he was a fans’ favourite for his work rate and desire.

He went on to have a successful career in the media, regularly reporting on Cardiff and the Welsh national side, which enhanced his popularity in the country. He never quite delivered in a Wales shirt though, in comparison to some of the other names on this list.

David Giles Wales Stats

Appearances

12

Goals

2

9 Craig Bellamy

Career Span: 1996-2014

A man with a tattoo of Welsh hero Owain Glyndwr, and now managing the national team, Craig Bellamy is as passionate as they come.

A player as fast as anyone who would terrorise defences with his direct running, Bellamy enjoyed a great career, representing clubs such as Liverpool, West Ham and Man City. His career was unfortunately hampered by injuries, which prevented him from reaching the levels he maybe should have, but when he was fit and in full flight, he was a joy to watch.

A nightmare to play against, Bellamy was relentless, always moving and applying pressure on defenders. Criticised for not scoring enough goals, Bellamy’s finest hour in a Welsh shirt was when he struck the winner against Italy in 2002, in front of a full house at the Millennium Stadium.

Craig Bellamy Wales Stats

Appearances

78

Goals

19

Related

10 Greatest Wales Defenders in Football History [Ranked]

From Ashley Williams to Joey Jones, here are the 10 greatest Wales defenders in football history.

8 Mickey Thomas

Career Span: 1972-1994

Starting out at Wrexham, where he spent six successful seasons, Mickey Thomas is a legend of Welsh football.

Although he wasn’t prolific in front of goal, Thomas was a constant threat on the left wing, either going past his man or finding a killer pass to set up a teammate. Spending time at the highest level with Man United and Chelsea, Thomas enjoyed a brilliant career.

A great character with the talent to match, Thomas always played with a smile on his face, which endeared him to the 13 different clubs he played for. As well as possessing huge ability, Thomas was never afraid to dig in and work hard, which made him the ultimate team player, and a real favourite of the Welsh supporters.

Mickey Thomas Wales Stats

Appearances

51

Goals

4

7 Robbie James

Career Span: 1973-1998

During his career, Robbie James ended up representing nine different clubs, but his best days came at the start of his career with his hometown club, Swansea.

James was a key part of the Swansea side that remarkably rose up through the leagues, from the fourth to first division between 1978 and 1981. A talented winger, James was a threat from out wide, often chipping in with key goals, but not being afraid to contribute defensively. James scored 33 goals for the Swans between 1976 and 1978, as he helped them to shoot up the leagues and become a force among the sports elite.

The Welsh winger finished his career with 864 appearances, one of the highest in British football history, which highlights his ability and reliability during his 25 years as a professional. At Swansea’s ground is a bust of James, which indicates just how loved he is at the club, and his eternal legacy.

Robbie James Wales Stats

Appearances

46

Goals

7

Related

11 Greatest Wales Players in Football History [Ranked]

From Ryan Giggs to Gareth Bale, Wales have produced some legendary footballing names.

6 Alan Curtis

Career Span: 1972-1994

A teammate of Robbie James’ at Swansea, Alan Curtis helped his boyhood club to achieve the remarkable feat of rising up from Division four to one during the 1980s.

A pacey, skillful winger, with a venomous shot, Curtis was an excellent wide player, and is a club legend at Swansea. The Welshman had spells with both Leeds and Southampton, but both times he ended up back at Swansea soon after, which shows his love for the club.

Internationally, Curtis represented his nation on 35 occasions, scoring six times, which is slightly underwhelming for a player of his ability.

Alan Curtis Wales Stats

Appearances

35

Goals

6

5 Leighton James

Career Span: 1970-1989

A player who wouldn’t look out of place in today’s game, Leighton James was a genius.

With electric pace, and a direct style of play, James would terrorise opposing full-backs, as he burst past them, and usually provided a goal or assist at the end. James was incisive in front of goal and when presented with an opportunity, usually one he crafted for himself, he would rarely miss.

Coming through at Burnley, a club where he made over 300 appearances across three spells, James was recognised across the country as an excellent player. Captaining his nation on multiple occasions is one of the heights of his career, and in Wales he is truly remembered as one of the greats.

Leighton James Wales Stats

Appearances

54

Goals

10

4 Ivor Allchurch

Career Span: 1947-1968

A part of the Welsh team at the 1958 World Cup, Wales’ most recent appearance at the tournament until 2022, Ivor Allchurch was a special talent.

Scoring a goal in the play-off against Israel to qualify for the World Cup was most definitely his greatest moment in the Welsh red, but there were many fantastic days in his career. Described as the ‘Golden Boy of Welsh football’, Allchurch played for both Swansea and Cardiff during his career, in which he scored almost 250 goals.

In 1966, Allchurch was awarded with an MBE for his services to Welsh football, which shows how great he really was.

At one stage, he was the nation’s all-time leading scorer, and his legacy will forever live on as one of Wales’ finest players.

Ivor Allchurch Wales Stats

Appearances

68

Goals

23

Related

10 Greatest Wales Strikers in Football History [Ranked]

Wales have boasted many clinical strikers who have helped fire the Dragons to glory. Mark Hughes and Ian Rush are two of the top 10 in history.

3 Cliff Jones

Career Span: 1952-1971

Another player who scored in the 1958 World Cup play-offs against Israel, Cliff Jones was a cut above many of his teammates.

A player that would be a star in any side, Jones was a legend everywhere he played, including Swansea, Tottenham, and his national side. His best days came with Tottenham, particularly the 1960/61 season where he scored 19 goals as Spurs completed the League Championship and FA Cup double, before winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup and FA Cup again a year later.

Capable on both wings, Jones could do it all and was respected all across the world. Juventus wanted to sign the Welshman for a world record fee, but Tottenham refused, such was his importance to the side.

Cliff Jones Wales Stats

Appearances

59

Goals

16

2 Ryan Giggs

Career Span: 1990-2014

Few players can claim to be ‘one-club men’, but Ryan Giggs can.

Spending his entire playing career with Manchester United, and being one of the best players in the world during this time, Ryan Giggs is a true icon of the game. With pace, tenacity and a wand of a left foot, Giggs was a key part of the success United had during his time there. Winning 13 Premier League titles, and two Champions League titles, the Welsh winger had a career to match the very best.

Going on to manage the national team, Giggs was often criticised for not performing as well for Wales, and perhaps showing a lack of passion, with 12 goals for his country in 64 appearances.

His ability cannot be ignored, but his limited contribution for Wales is why Giggs doesn’t quite take top spot on this list.

Ryan Giggs Wales Stats

Appearances

64

Goals

12

Related

Ryan Giggs vs Bukayo Saka vs Eden Hazard Stats Comparison

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1 Gareth Bale

Career Span: 2006-2023

A player whose dedication and passion for his nation certainly cannot be questioned is Gareth Bale.

Bale is one of the greatest British footballers of all time. The Welshman was the focal point of the national side almost from the moment he broke into it in 2006, and continued to be their talisman until 2022.

He dragged Wales to their first major tournament since 1958 in 2016, when Wales’ incredible run to the semi-finals of the European Championships captured the hearts of the world. Bale did everything for the Welsh side, scoring unbelievable goals, helping out defensively, and leading on the pitch.

A player with extreme talent, who spent nine years at Real Madrid, winning five Champions Leagues along the way, Bale is a footballing legend. He possessed unique pace and technique which made him almost impossible to defend against. Unfortunately, he was cursed by injuries for a lot of his career, yet still managed to become one of the best players in the world, so we can only imagine how good he could have been without his injury problems.

Gareth Bale Wales Stats

Appearances

111

Goals

41

Related

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October 10, 2024

David Giles Wales Stats
Appearances	12
Goals	2

Craig Bellamy Wales Stats
Appearances	78
Goals	19

Mickey Thomas Wales Stats
Appearances	51
Goals	4

Robbie James Wales Stats
Appearances	46
Goals	7

Tag: Greatest

Lionel Messi Named Ultimate 11 of Past Teammates

Goalkeeper and Defence

Gianluigi Buffon, Cafu, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos

20 Best Defenders in Football History [Ranked]

Midfield

Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho Named his All-Time British 11

Forwards

Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo

Key Takeaways

10 Peter Crouch

Career Span: 1998-2019

9 Ramon Unzaga

Career Span: 1912-1923

8 Wayne Rooney

Career Span: 2002-2001

7 Carlo Parola

Career Span: 1939-1955

6 Gareth Bale

Career Span: 2006-2023

5 Diego Maradona

Career Span: 1976-1997

4 Pele

Career Span: 1956-1977

3 Hugo Sanchez

Career Span: 1976-1997

2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Career Span: 2002-Present

1 Zlatan Ibrahimović

Career Span: 1999-2023

Ranking the 20 Greatest Goalkeepers in Football History

Key Takeaways

Ronaldo & Benzema, Cisse & Ba: 15 greatest strike partnerships of 21st century

Ranking Factors

9 Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi

1997-2001

8 Hristo Stoichkov and Romario

1993-1995

7 Ronaldo and Raul

2002-2007

6 Kevin Keegan and John Toshack

1971-1977

5 Hugo Sanchez and Emilio Butragueno

1985-1992

4 Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp

1999-2006

Top 5 Dennis Bergkamp Premier League goals ranked

3 Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke

1998-2001

2 Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush

1980-1987, 1988-1990

10 Greatest Liverpool Attackers in History [Ranked]

1 Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit

1987-1993

Key Takeaways

10 Brian Kerr

Notable Teams Managed: Republic of Ireland, Faroe Islands

9 Jack Kirwan

Notable Teams Managed: Ajax, Bohemians

10 Greatest Ireland Players in Football History [Ranked]

8 Dermot Keely

Notable Teams Managed: Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Derry City

7 Pat Fenlon

Notable Teams Managed: Shelbourne, Hibernian, Shamrock Rovers

Why Declan Rice Chose to Play for England and Not Ireland

6 Stephen Kenny

Notable Teams Managed: Derry City, Dundalk, Republic of Ireland

5 Patrick O’Connell

Notable Teams Managed: Real Betis, Barcelona, Sevilla

4 Joe Kinnear

Notable Teams Managed: Wimbledon, Luton, Newcastle

9 Dirtiest Teams In Sports History [Ranked]

3 David O’Leary

Notable Teams Managed: Leeds, Aston Villa, Al-Ahli

2 Chris Hughton

Notable Teams Managed: Newcastle, Norwich, Brighton

1 Mick McCarthy

Notable Teams Managed: Republic of Ireland, Wolves, Ipswich

Key Takeaways