With Remembrance Sunday having just occurred a few days ago, we reflect on the men who gave their lives to their countries as well as giving their all on the football pitch. Their bravery on the field of play has been superseded by their courage and character on the field of battle even though some of them had little to no military education.

Here we commemorate and honour football’s top 20 war heroes in this list:

1. Bert Trautmann

The list starts with a goalkeeper as this shot-stopper enjoyed a very interesting career in England, particularly since he was WW II German soldier and he played there immediately after the Second World War. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1941 and he quickly gained promotion, firstly as corporal and then as sergeant of his unit. He earned 5 army badges for his superb work to the Germanic cause. However he was imprisoned by the British for his role against them in the war and he most of his sentence in Cheshire.

On his release, he farmed and played football part-time before eventually turning professional with St. Helens for a season. He then transferred to Manchester City in 1949, where he got a very mixed welcome  due to his role in the war. However 15 years later after leaving the Citizens, he etched his name into their history books as one of their finest ‘keepers ever.

He won both the FA Cup and FWA for Player of the year in 1956 on his way to making more than 500 appearances for the Manchester club. He also enjoyed spells in charge of Stockport County, Liberia and Pakistan before retiring from all footballing activities in 1983.

2. Alexander “Sandy” Turnbull

This Scottish striker etched his name into the hearts of the fans of both Manchester clubs in the early 20th century with his goalscoring skill. Having netted 143 goals in 230 Football League appearances, he had a sensational goal to game ratio.

Having won the FA Cup with Manchester City, he crossed the metropolis to join arch-rivals Manchester United where he enjoyed a golden period of success winning two First Division titles, but notably scoring the winner in the 1909 FA Cup final. However his career was cut short by the First World War as his last game came against Sheffield Wednesday in 1915.

He was also later found guilty of match-fixing and received a life-long football ban before joining the armed forces. Having risen to the ranks of Lance Sergeant in the Eight Battalion of the East Surrey regiment in the British Amry, he was killed on 3rd May 1917 in a battle in Arras, France. He was 32 but as a result of his heroic effort overseas, his ban was rescinded in 1919 after the war ended.

3. Eddie Latheron

Affectionately nicknamed ”Pinkie” on the terraces due his red hair and pale complexion, Latheron is remembered as a legend to Blackburn Rovers and a martyr for his country. The inside forward scored 94 goals in 258 appearances for his hometown club and it was this, coupled with his unselfish play that made him a firm fan favourite among the Lancashire faithful. The one-club man helped the Rovers conquer England twice during the 1911-12 and 1913-14 seasons as those First Division titles are his only silverware.

However the outbreak of the war in 1914 compelled him to enlist and within a week after his final game for Blackburn, he was a gunner on the front for the Royal Field Artillery. At 29 years of age, he was killed on 14th October 1917 at the Battle of Passenchendaele. Such is his legendary status, a group of Belgian Blackburn Rovers fans commemorated the striker on the 90th anniversary of his death at his grave located nears Ypres.

4. Vivian Woodward

Woodward was the Lionel Messi of his day when organised soccer began to gain prominence in Britain. Spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea proved fruitful as he yielded 93 goals in 238 appearances. Having also appeared for the English nation side, it was his participation with the Great Britain team in the 1908 and 1912 which garnered him great fame. He captained the team to the gold medal on each occasion.

Woodward enlisted in the army and missed a huge portion of Chelsea’s 1914-15 season. However he was given special leave to attend his team’s FA Cup final but unfortunately Sheffield United beat the Pensioners 3-0 on the day. Having returned to the front for a second spell, his leg was badly injured by a stray grenade in 1916 and thus had to return home for the final time, with his footballing careers also in tatters. Despite being maimed, Vivian lived on until he was 74 years of age in 1954 and he will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of the beautiful game.

5. Walter Tull

Tull was the inaugural man who broke so much new ground up until his premature death in 1918 at the age of 29. The second ever mixed-heritage football player to ply his trade professionally in the English First Division, after signing with Tottenham Hotspur. However he has a short and unhappy time there as racial abuse seriously affected him and thus he moved to Northampton Town for a ”substantial fee.” In 3 years, he accumulated 110 games with the Cobblers, scoring 9 goals in that time-span.

When war broke out in 1914, he was the first Northampton player to enlist in the armed forces. Despite even more racial problems in the British army, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, the first mixed-race men to do so. Having heroically fought through the Battle of the Somme, he met his end on 25th March 1918. He was gunned down in the Pas-de-Calais but his body was never recovered from that gruesome scene. Tull was recognised for his outstanding efforts to his country as he was posthumously awarded the military cross for his bravery on the front.

6. Fritz Walter

For anyone who thinks football’s a waste of time, tell them it saved this man’s life. Walter was enjoying a brilliant career with Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga before having been conscripted to join the Nazi forces in 1942, where the forward was to fight for Germany.

However near the end of the war, he ended up being a POW after being captured by Hungarian soldiers. He wowed the guards with his exceptional skill but the time then came for him to be moved to another camp in the Soviet Union, where life expectancy was just 5 years and the guards would be more brutal.

However a football-loving Hungarian guard intervened at the last second and saved his life by aiding him in getting him out of the transfer to the Union and thus being fortuitously released from prison.

On his return to football, he restarted his career with Kaiserslautern and he retired from them in 1959 having scored a mind-boggling 380 goals in 411 appearances. Walter also won the German championship twice with his hometown club.  He also captained West Germany to their first World Cup victory in 1954, ironically over Hungary, the same nation where the guards came from who let him free.

7. Harry Goslin

A folklore legend for Bolton Wanderers, Goslin was also a sensational patriot to his country when he gave his life to the Allies during the Second World War. On turning professional in 1930, he joined the northern club for just £25 and he enjoyed nine years with the club scoring 23 goals in 306 appearances despite playing as a defender all his life. Before war broke out in 1939, he announced Bolton’s entire team would be joining the army.

When it did, Goslin led his team-mates in the fight against the Germans and their allies.  Within three years, his leadership qualities on the pitch transferred onto the battle field as he became sergeant in 1942. He also played a pivotal role in the withdrawal of troops from Dunkirk in that same year. However while traversing through Italy, he was seriously wounded by a mortar explosion under a tree. He bravely battled to live on four days after suffering the injury but lost his life on 18th December 1943.

8. Fred Griffiths

This Welsh goalkeeper enjoyed a long and varied career having been on the books of 12 clubs as well as earning 2 caps for his country. Having the honour of playing for big London clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, he was renowned for being a reliable man to have between the sticks but unfortunately this never translated into any major trophies.

After his retirement, he spent his time training local teams near his home in Presteigne, Wales. And despite being one year above the conscription age, (41 was the conscription age at the time) he felt compelled to fight for his country’s future when he enlisted with the British army in 1915.

He became sergeant within his rank, the 15th Battalion of Sherwood Foresters, before dying at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 at the age of 44.

9. Lev Yashin

Widely regarded as the best goalkeeper all-time, Yashin made his name Dynamo Moscow and the old Soviet Union during a trophy-laden 20 year career with each team. At just 12 years of age, in 1941, he began helping the Soviet Union in the only way he could in the war effort. Too young to fight on the front, the teenager went to work in the factories manufacturing arms, vehicle parts and more.

Yashin was finally able to begin his professional footballing career as a 21-year-old with Dynamo Msocow in 1950. With them he won the Soviet Top League 5 times and the Soviet Cup 3 times. He also helped him national team to continental glory by winning the 1964 European Championship with them as well capturing gold at the Olympics.

He made 324 appearances at club level, 78 at international level and was known as the ”Black Spider” around the world due to his amazing ability to save virtually goal-bound shots. His death came prematurely in 1990 when during relatively simple surgery on his knee went wrong and he passed away due to complications.

10. Ferenc Puskas

The Real Madrid and Hungary legend was remembered as a goalscoring phenomenon during his footballing career. However due to Hungarian law, he was conscripted to join their army and although never participating in infantry work, he rose through the ranks to become major. It was a combination of his rank and his footballing prowess while playing in the armed forces that earned him his lifelong nickname ”The Galloping Major.”

Puskas is revered around the world for scoring an incredible 157 goals in just 182 appearances for Los Blancos, where he additionally won 4 Pichichi awards during his Spanish stay. And he also netted 84 strikes in 85 games for the Hungarian national team in a truly remarkable playing career.

Having taken various coaching positions ranging from North America, Asia, Europe and even Australia, he briefly coached his nation during a four game spell. Puskas died on 17th November 2006 at the age of 79.

11. Ted Drake

The diminutive English striker’s playing career began with Southampton but blossomed with Arsenal during his 14 years in football. Scoring a handsome sum of 47 goals in 71 games for the Saints, he captured the eye of the Londoners, who signed the forward in 1934. He scored 124 goals in 167 games while at Highbury, with his finest game coming against Aston Villa. Drake netted 7 times in that single match, which is a record that still stands today in England’s top flight.

As well as winning two First Division titles with the north London side, he added a FA Cup medal to his collection. After periods in management at the helm of Hendon and Reading, he took charge of Chelsea Football club and guided them to their first ever championship in 1956. The end of his time at Arsenal was severely disrupted due to his participation with the Royal Air Force which restricted him to a handful of games during the war years. His playing career was prematurely ended in 1945 due to a spinal injury.

12. Stan Mortenson

Although this particular striker managed to only garner one trophy in his 21 year career, he was the man who led his country during a very difficult post-war era as well as being ridiculously lucky to have been able to play the game once you learn his story. Before he became the prolific striker that he is famous for, he began his wartime efforts in 1939 as a wireless operator.

Mortenson was involved in a disastrous air crash that same year when every single passenger onboard was killed except Stan. However even despite the injuries he sustained, he managed to carve himself a career out of professional football in the post-war era. Stints at Southport, Bath City and Lancaster City followed a golden spell that he enjoyed with Blackpool.

He scored 197 goals in 317 games for the side in a 14 year period (the first four of those being slightly disrupted by war commitments.) He also netted a remarkable 23 goals in 25 appearance for England as he helped put a smile back on his nation’s face after a long, depressing war.

13. Willie Thornton

Considered to be one of the greatest Scottish players of all time, Thornton was a prolific striker for Rangers during his 18 year career at the club, which book-ended his involvement in World War II. Debuting for the Glaswegian giants in 1936 at just 16 years of age, the striker enjoyed adulation from fans for his lethal touch in front of goal.  However his fledgling career was brought to a temporary end in 1939 due to outbreak of the war.

He joined the Scottish Horse regiment and as a result of his “acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire,” he was awarded a Military Medal for helping to defeat Germany on the battlefield. By the time of his retirement in 1954, he was well-known throughout Britain and he finished his career with 138 goals in a mere 219 appearances. He then became a manager of Dundee United and Partick Thistle for 5 and 9 years respectively where he had modest success.

14. Wilf Mannion

”The Golden Boy” as he was known as in his native Middlesbrough due to his streak of blond hair, endured a mixed time on Teeside but nothing negative can be said about his commitment to the British cause during the Second World War.  The inside forward played more than 350 times for Boro, scoring 99 times in his long career there but went on strike and retired in a bid to finally leave the club.

Although the reasons for his discontent are unknown, his dedication while playing was second to none, as he was with England, netting 11 times in his 26 appearances for his nation. He joined the war effort in 1940 and he was a key solider in the Siege of Sicily that occurred in 1943. Shortly after that he was allowed to return home and continue his footballing career. After the war, he joined Hull City and Cambridge United and perhaps his finest moment was being a member of the English squad for the 1950 World Cup in a career particularly special due to it’s amazing 24 year longevity.

15. Frank Buckley

Buckley took a more unusual route as he created a unique career in the game. Having joined the army as a teenager, he left by the time he was 20 in order to forge a football life for himself. He played for Manchester United, Manchester City and Aston Villa before the outbreak of World War I. He was commander of the Football Battalion for a large of the war and thanks to his previous stint in the armed forces, he rose through the ranks rapidly and eventually became a major.

However he was badly injured in the Battle of the Somme and returned to restart his football career. With the war finished, he managed many football clubs including Leeds United where he introduced the legendary Jack Charlton to his first taste of professional action. Overall, he spent nearly 50 years in his long and distinguished life in football.

16. William Angus

The word hero was conjured up exactly for this incredible man. With his footballing career cut short due to the declaration of war in Europe in 1914, Angus wasted no time in signing up and he was immediately mobilised out to the action. Before his war efforts, he played once for Celtic but left them for lack of first team opportunities. He was the captain Wilshaw Thistle when war was announced and within weeks, he had joined the 8th Royal Scots regiment.

His finest hour came a year after joining when he saw a comrade lying in a trench within the range of their enemies. Angus fearlessly went to save his fellow soldier and received 40 wounds for his courageous act, losing his left eye and part of his foot being his most serious injuries. Two months later as he was recovering, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award possible for a British solider.

17. Bernard Vann

Another man who was equally brave in the face of danger, Vann was also a recipient of the prestigious Victoria Cross for his valiant accomplishments while defending his nation. His football career was all over by 1907 at the tender age of 20 but he made appearances for Burton United and Derby County in his brief time on the football field. He then ordained to become a minister from the famous-named Jesus College but his chaplaincy was cut short due to be called upon for the war effort.

Having become a Lieutenant General, he earned his Victoria Cross by leading his subordinate troops into the face of death as his leadership qualities shone through impeccably. Rushing up to the line of fire, he surprised several German soldiers and disarmed three of them as he led his regiment on a crucial advance on enemy territory. However Vann missed the end of the war by a mere 4 weeks as he was shot by a sniper rifle in France on 3rd October 1918.

18. Billy Gerrish

William ”Billy” Gerrish was yet another tragic story which began on the football field and ended when he was fighting the front. An extremely promising young striker for Aston Villa, he scored on his debut against Arsenal and added to that with an even more impressive achievement by claiming a hat-trick against Chelsea. In his first season with the club, he helped them to win the First Division.

However he failed to live up to his full potential when World War I broke out and he was to join the British army. Having enlisted in the Footballers Battaltion Middlesex regiment, he lasted less than two years abroad. He was killed on 8th August 1916. In all, there were 40 other Aston Villa players who died as a result of their participation in that war, one of the highest of all the clubs in Britain.

19. Charlie Buchan

This beanpole striker was another goalscoring phenomenon who had his magnificent career due to his country’s involvement in keeping the peace abroad. Despite missing a fair chunk of his 14 years on the books at Sunderland, he racked up an impressive 209 goals in 370 appearances with the Black Cats.

He enlisted in the war effort as soon as it began in 1914 and by the time of Britain’s victory in 1918, he had been promoted to second lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters regiment. He was also a recipient of the Military Medal. On his return to football, he rejoined Sunderland until 1925 when he transferred to Arsenal.

With them, he was equally prolific, scoring 49 times during the 102 games that he donned the famous red shirt. He wrote one of the first football manual’s, was a distinguished journalist and commentated on matches for the BBC for the remainder of his life up until his peaceful death in 1960.

20. Nikita Simonyan

This legendary Russian football man was too young to actively take part in World War II. However when the soldiers rolled into his town, he helped ease the pressure and stress of war life by organising football matches. The military personnel thoroughly enjoyed these breaks from the endless killings and Simonyan then realised football would become a focal point for the remainder of his life.

He has become one of the most successful Russian footballers of all-time by winning the golden boot in the Soviet Top League on three occasions.  He won the Soviet Top League seven times in total as a player and manager of clubs as well as on the victorious side of the Soviet Cup six times. His career reached its pinnacle when he was part of the Soviet Union team which won the 1956 Olympic gold medal in football. And just earlier this year, his efforts of nullifying tension between Russians and Armenians were rewarded by the President of Armenia during a ceremony.

You can contribute to this list in the comments below or by emailing us. If you like this list, you will find more football lists here.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

On Tuesday night Tottenham’s youngster, Kyle Walker, who made his debut on Saturday started his first England game. The promising defender is the 4th player named Walker to have a have represented his country.

This of course led to the inevitable question:

What surname has appeared on the England team sheet the most?

Smith – 19 Appearances

It is no surprise to see this traditional name at the top; however, the name has not proved to be that successful at International level. Despite a record number of appearances there were no Smiths in the 1966 or 1990 squads, England’s two best performances at a World Cup to date. The most recent Smiths were the two Alan Smiths. One of them an ungainly former Arsenal striker and the other a former Manchester United tough tackling striker/midfielder. Neither of whom set the international world alight.

Johnson – 9 Appearances

With two Johnson’s in the current squad it would be easy to forget the other far less successful members of this clan. There is the legendary, for all the wrong reasons, Seth Johnson. This tough tackling midfielder is one of the buys that typified Leeds United’s financial ruin. The former Crewe Alexander and Derby player cost ₤7million and was paid wages in excess of ₤30,000 a week, despite only asking for ₤10,000. There is also the Fulham man Andy with 8 caps, who quite scarily, looks like a bald and slightly uglier David Beckham.

Brown – 9 Appearances

For close to a generation not a single player had represented England called Brown, until former Manchester United defender, stumbled on to the scene. With 23 caps to his name he is the most capped Brown in English football history. What that says of all the other Brown’s, I leave for you to decide.

Wright – 8 Appearances

At Italia ’90, England were struggling and possibly facing elimination or the Germans in the 2nd round, that was until the ball struck the face of Mark Wright and England defeated Egypt 1-0. This Wright helped give England the tears, that volley, those missed penalties and thousands of “Where were you when Waddle smacked it out of the stadium?” stories. There have been some legendary Wrights over the years, the late great Billy Wright, Ian Wright, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Richard Wright. Right?

Jones – 7 Appearances

A name you would perhaps associate with Wales more than England, has appeared 7 times but failed to hit the heights. Until a couple of months ago the last Jones to feature for England was Rob, the former Liverpool full back. Now though, the name looks like it is on the up with Man United versatile man Phil Jones establishing himself as one for the future.

Roberts – 7 Appearances

With seven appearances it is interesting to note that a Roberts hasn’t played for England since 1984, when former Spurs man Graham represented the Three Lions. It is a poor return for such a common name. The stand out Roberts is without doubt the three cap wonder from 1890, the imaginatively named former West Brom keeper Robert Roberts.

Allen – 6 Appearances

This name has a mixed footballing tradition. Brought to prominence in the 80′s and early 90′s, by one family who spawned four professionals: Clive, Bradley, Martin and Paul, however, only of them, the legendary Spurs striker, Clive, went on to feature for England. He was the last Allen to represent England back in 1988.

Taylor – 6 Appearances

This name had a great tradition for England, but perhaps is now better known as a reference to a turnip and a San Marino goal. Interestingly, one Taylor who won 5 caps, went on to manage England for one game, former Leicester and Wycombe coach Peter. His claim to fame is that he was the first to give Beckham the captaincy, his other claim to fame was thinking Ade Akinbiyi was good enough for the English Premier League.

Lee – 5 Appearances

This surname boasts two players who captured the hearts of their club fans. Sammy Lee and Franny Lee, however, both represented England for only a short time. Since then the only other Lee to play for the Three Lions was Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee, who quite surprisingly knocked up 21 caps. How that happened remains a mystery.

Walker – 4 Appearances

On Saturday Kyle became the fourth Walker to represent England, and surprisingly the third in 23 years. Before him was defensive maestro Des and keeper Ian. The former Spurs keeper man collected four caps in an international career that spanned 8 years. The other Walker was Aston Villa legend, Billy. Many Villa fans believe he was their greatest ever player, when compared to Juan Pablo Angel, or Savo Milosevic that accolade doesn’t look too great.

For those of you interested, there is one Bastard to have represented England. That wasn’t this week, but back in 1880, when a Segar Bastard wore the Three Lions jersey.

Anthony Lombardi regularly contributes to Soccerlens. You can follow him on Twitter @arlombardi.

Also see: Funny Football Player Names | Funny Football Club Names.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It’s something that’s perhaps said almost as much in jest as it is in seriousness, but for some, the mark of a true manly man is all in the facial hair.

If you subscribe to that notion, then you may also be among the population that feels that football isn’t what it used to be, with finesse, flair, and frailty pushing physicality in the past, or at best compressed into several three-to-five minute Youtube compilations.

Is it a stretch to say that there’s a correlation between a change in style of play and a change in the style of the players? Maybe so, but it can be said that for the most part, today’s players are less creatively coifed about the face as they are up top, like the latest ‘next big thing’ of Brazilian football, the teenage, mohawked, goal-scoring sensation that is Neymar.

Then again, you could chalk it up to the natural changes that occur with the passage of time, from era to era and generation to generation. What was in a couple of decades ago isn’t now, and what’s in now won’t be in a couple of decades. While one generation had Pele, another Cruyff, another Maradona, another ‘old’ Ronaldo, and this one has Messi and ‘new’ Ronaldo, the next one will a legend or two to call their own, who some will almost certainly proclaim to be better than the ones of the previous eras combined. And some of those who sported legendary looks and locks during those days gone by will adopt a much different style, as is the case now.

Here are a few of the finest examples, some of whom are more well-known than others.

Sam Allardyce

In a playing career that lasted nearly 20 years, Big Sam played for nine different clubs, including two stints each at Bolton and Preston North End. But he’s more well-known by the masses for his managerial career, and he’s now on his seventh stop as a manager, trying to lead West Ham back to the Premier League, where he’s already been with Bolton, Newcastle, and Blackburn.

You could say he’s gotten around a bit, no?

And with this, shall we say, pimp-tastic look from his playing days, he does indeed look like a man who may have seen some places and done some things back in the day.

If you look at him now, you may not have expected that he’d have sported this look in his younger days, but he pulled it off well. He’s fully ditched the ‘stache now, but he did don one for charitable purposes several years ago, which shows that Big Sam has a big heart.

Sergio Batista

Batista earned 39 caps for Argentina and started all seven of their matches at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the last of which saw them edge out West Germany in a 3-2 thriller.

For some, their run will forever be tainted by Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in a quarterfinal win over England. Perhaps he didn’t have to look far for a little divine inspiration?

These days, he doesn’t have the exquisite beard, but he still has a head of hair that Wayne Rooney could only dream of having. Some people are just naturally blessed like that.

Leonardo Cuellar

Cuellar, who started all three games for winless Mexico in the 1978 World Cup, is perhaps the least-known name on this list, but he might have the most impressive ‘do. He spent most of his career with Mexican side Pumas, but he also had stints in the North American Soccer League with the San Diego and San Jose teams. However, he might have been made for Los Angeles.

This past summer, he coached Mexico in only their second appearance at the Women‘s World Cup, doing so with a decidedly more conservative ‘do than the one he sported in Argentina those 33 long years ago.

Raymond Domenech

The eccentric and controversial former France coach had a fairly accomplished playing career, earning eight senior caps for his country and playing in the top flight with Lyon, Strasbourg, PSG, and Bordeaux. He also had a fairly accomplished ‘stache, as you can see here.

These days, he might well be fondly remembered for having led France to within touching distance of unlikely World Cup glory in 2006…if things hadn’t gone so pear-shaped at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. Maintaining the moustache might not have prevented those two disasters, but if the rally ‘stache worked magic for coach Marc Lievremont in France’s recent run to the Rugby World Cup final, it might have worked for Domenech.

Most recently, he was linked with Cameroon, but it appears that he’s quite content with being just a spectator for the time being.

Alexi Lalas

Lalas, who earned more than 90 caps with the U.S. in the 90s and was the first modern-era American to play in Serie A, was no doubt an imposing presence as a defender at 6’3’’. But with the mass of hair he sported during his career, he looked more of a fit for a stage than a football pitch. In fact, he did have a ‘side gig’ as a musician while playing, and he still does.

Since retiring, he’s spent time as an executive for three MLS teams, but he’s now an analyst for ESPN/ABC, and he also has a regular MLS blog on Mirror Football. Fair to say that he’s toned it down a bit, if only because it’s hard to take someone too seriously when you see more hair than face.

Honorable mentions to Thierry Henry (he’s back with the ‘stache now that he’s no longer a Gillette spokesman), Mark Lawrenson (his ‘stache, while impressive, wasn’t impressive enough to make the cut), Graeme Souness (impressive enough past look to make the cut, but alas, I couldn’t find a recent and decent enough picture of him as he is now).

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

You can travel to just about any different city throughout the European continent and your footballing experience will differ in one way or another.

Here at Soccerlens we have conjured up a list of some of the best cities in Europe to indulge in a mix of football, culture, sightseeing and maybe a drop of alcohol.

So dust off your passport, get your travel insurance at the ready and discover what Europe and its football has to offer.

Barcelona

Where better to watch your football at the moment than at the Camp Nou among 90,000 screaming Catalans applauding the magnificence of Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona.

The city as a whole is a wonderful hotspot for those football addicts. The Camp Nou runs daily tours where you are granted all access, including a tour of the changing rooms, the press-box, the player’s tunnels and the infamous chapel beside it.

The city itself is full of culture and flair. You will find yourself immersed in the architecture and delights, including the famous Rambla which is bursting with bars, restaurants and shops.

Madrid

If you are more inclined to see the dazzling feet of Cristiano Ronaldo, then the capital of Spain is your prime destination.

Home to the global juggernaut that is Real Madrid, the Santiago Bernabeu is regarded as one of the world’s most theatrical sporting arenas. The stadium has a capacity of just over 81,000, and like their bitter Catalan rivals, they offer daily tours of the ground where you can feast your eyes on their nine European Cups.

With it having its very own metro system, it is easily accessible.

Atletico Madrid, one of Spain’s most prestigious entities also plays their trade in the capital within the 54,000 seater Vicente Calderon. However, there are plans in the pipeline for the club to move to the Estadio La Peineta

The city is the financial heartbeat of southern Europe. Its elegant architecture has been carefully mixed with the more brash and modern sights. It offers an array of museums including the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. So if culture and history is your sort of thing, you will not be disappointed.

Paris

Oui, the city of Paris needs no introduction. One of the world’s most fashionable and glamorous cities offers just the one solitary football club – Paris Saint-Germain.

Like Berlin, Paris is the only other European capital to behold just one club. PSG are making ripples in the transfer market with big lavish signings such as Javier Pastore – giving you all the more reason to visit their Parc des Princes and take in a game.

The city is renowned for its diverse cuisine and cafe bars, so you will have no problem indulging your appetite.

The infamous Eiffel Tower is the city’s most popular attraction and you must pay a visit to the world’s most famous avenue, the Champs-Elysées which has an array of luxury shops, cinemas and bars.

Munich

The capital of Bavaria is the home of Germany’s biggest football club Bayern Munich.

A city that is mixed with modern and traditional architecture, Bayern’s Allianz Arena is an attraction in itself due to its unique facade. It is made up of 2,874 panels that change colour depending on who is playing (White, Germany/Red, Bayern/Blue, 1860) providing a spectacular view at night.

It will play host to this season’s Champions League Final.

The city is renowned for its beer consumption and that will keep the majority of football fans occupied during their stay.

The famous Marienplatz (St, Mary’s Square) is in the heartbeat of the city where both the old and new town hall are erected.

If you’re a shopaholic, then the Viktualienmarkt will catch your eye. It has over 140 shops and stores selling just about anything from a Mario Gomez Bayern shirt to a sack of spuds. A lot of festivals and concerts also take place here.

Prague

A real haven for its nightlife, the Czech Republic capital makes a perfect venue for you to prolong your football experience.

Home to a bundle of clubs including Sparta and Slavia Prague, the city is known for its love of football . Trips to both the Generali Arena (Sparta) and Synot Tip Arena (Slavia) will not be regrettable.

The old town square is a lively hot point bursting with bars, cafes, restaurants and an array of medieval buildings.

Copenhagen

The Danish capital is regarded as being cool, modern and perfect for football.

Home to FC Copenhagen, its Parken Stadium is synonymous for generating ear splitting atmospheres.

Carlsberg beer is iconic within the city, leaving you in no crisis of being unable to find the nearest tavern.

Tivoli Gardens is a must see attraction, a theme park that gave Walt Disney his inspiration for the Disney resort in California.

There are an array of galleries and museums where you can see some of the work from the likes of Andy Warhol and Picasso.

Lisbon

The capital of Portugal is an historic yet charming city.

Home to two of Portugal’s biggest clubs, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, both can boast at having two of the most beautiful stadiums in Europe.

Benfica’s Estádio da Luz hosted the 2004 European Championship Final with Sporting’s Estádio José Alvalade also being a prominent venue during the tournament.

Lisbon boasts spectacular views and unique architecture. Its traditional continental facades blend in beautifully with the more modern concepts.

The Jeronimos Monastery is a world heritage monument that is a symbol of the country’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. This is the most popular landmark with tourists. Must see!

The Oceanarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums. It is filled to the brim with sea creatures– around 25,000 in total. If you love wildlife, then you will love this!

Milan

Italy’s focal point for the glitz and the glamour – and it’s football clubs certainly fit that description.

Milan and Internazioanle dominate the local sports culture in Milano, sharing the infamous San Siro Stadium. With a capacity of over 82,000, the ground has played host to a World Cup and a Champions League Final down the years.

Milan’s Fashion District provides some of the best shopping opportunities in Europe, especially those with exquisite taste. You cannot look one way or the other without seeing an Armani or Versace label.

For those who want a more leisurely experience, the Parco Sempione is the perfect place to stretch those legs and take in the riveting scenic views.

Rome

The Italian capital known for its gladiatorial history – much like its clubs AS Roma and Lazio.

Both clubs occupy the Stadio Olimpico, one of world football’s infamous stadia.

No city in the world boasts the history of the Eternal City. The Colosseum is a pivotal reminder as to just how influential this great city has been to the planet as a whole. Oozing with history and culture, Rome will leave you in awe of your surroundings.

The piazza di Spagna in particular is one of the most elegant squares in Europe and is perfect for social occasions. The steps are usually crowded due to its interest but a definite must see if you are within the city.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

We’ve looked at the world’s highest paying football clubs, but who are the world’s highest earning footballers (including bonuses and sponsorship income)? We’ve put together a short video to highlight the world’s top five highest earning footballers – who do you think makes the list?

Pick your own top five (make sure you factor in sponsorship income, as that’s a big part of players’ annual income), and then watch the video below to confirm how many you got right.

Here’s a hint – 3 of the top 5 currently play for the two clubs that pay the highest wages in world football, and 3 of these top 5 are currently playing or have formerly played for the most valuable club in world football.

Top Five Highest Earning Footballers (2011)

Also See: The World’s Most Financially Savvy Footballers.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The titanic four-game battle between Real Madrid and Barcelona has once more thrown up the seemingly inexhaustible comparison between Cristiano Ronaldo and an Argentinian chap whose name I have momentarily forgotten.

Every time I read about how Lionel Messi boasts so many more goals per game than Cristiano Ronaldo, or that Cristiano Ronaldo has winked so many times for each game Lionel Messi has gone without an assist, or Ronaldo’s girlfriends-to-goals ratio compared with Messi’s ejaculatory compliments from Diego Maradona, I begin to understand the righteous rage which prompts fully-grown Englishmen to hurl vitriolic abuse at televised images of Portuguese wingers who ‘go down too easily’.

It’s that burning sense of indignation, that awful sensation that although there are probably many who agree with me, it’s up to me to put the world to rights.

So here it is: Lionel Messi is not the best player in the world. Neither is Cristiano Ronaldo. It seems we’ve suddenly and violently dropped from the Mount Olympus of great playmaking Gods dictating the fates of the humble mortal players around them to the labyrinthine game of tactical chess, which encloses creativity in a relativistic prison of peak physical conditioning with bars forged from the finest steel of unapologetically awful television punditry.

So fast was our fall that we appear to have barely noticed the dramatic shift in our surroundings. No longer do we inhabit a Garden of individualistic Eden, whose harmony is held in perpetual balance by the vision of a Zidane or a Nedved; our brave new world is at once a monument to tactical and physical excellence reveling in elegant structure and preparation and a chaotic sprawl of competing egos, a formless void echoing with – yet in so doing, denying – the dissonant thunder of the great players who just five or six years ago bestrode the football globe.

Yet it is this juxtaposition between the tight harnessing of individual creativity by the combination of tactical nous and physical perfection with the resultant lack of definite hierarchy between individual players which leads us to search for an absolute resolution: we want to have a figurehead for our generation. We want a Zinedine Zidane.

What I want to argue is that, whilst we may well be over Zidanes in this day and age, the two players we look at as their equivalents are simply the wrong choices. By producing this list, my aim is to acknowledge the most talented players in the world fairly, both by considering them in the light of their peers and by judging them in the context of a football world which requires players to be more complete than ever before.

Rather than judging players by the irritating combination of base statistical analysis and pseudo-romance preferred by the mainstream football media, I believe we can decide who the best players in the world are by following the following simple criteria:

• How good would this player perform in a totally different context? Would Hulk’s ferocious pace and power be nullified by the Premier League”s physical style and high tempo compared with Portugal? Would Miroslav Klose thrive in Serie A? Why is Frank Lampard’s international record so mediocre considering his phenomenal exploits in the Premiership?
• Who are the other top players in this player’s position? How do they compare?
• What are this player’s weaknesses? How might they be exploited?
• What is this player’s relative importance? If he is absent, how easily might he be replaced by another player?

Rather than asking what players ‘do’, which inevitably leads us into the trap of asking what their goals and assists stats look like, we should ask what they don’t do, and what they can’t do that others can. In this way, we can compare the headline-grabbers with the players who lay the foundations to make their work possible.

In my next two articles, I will put forward an ordered list of the 25 best players, be they central defenders of center-forwards, in the world. Most will be among the usual suspects, but I hope to try to explain my choices within the context which I have just outlined here.

The point is simple: whilst history will remember the teams, the result and the goalscorers, we should keep alive the spirit of greatness which lies at the root of the game through the memory of the important players who contribute substance along with style.

I have not included goalkeepers in my list because their role is unique and separate from what goes on ‘in play’.

Beyond Lionel Messi: An Alternative List of the Best 25 Footballers in the World

For now, here is a list of players who do not make my list: Gennaro Gattuso, Frank Lampard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Lukas Podolski, Robinho, Fernando Torres, Samir Nasri, Rafael van der Vaart, Alexandre Pato, Gonzalo Higuain, Pedro, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ricardo Carvalho, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Essien, Diego Forlan.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted.

A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great playmaker – a natural human urge towards hierarchy and order expressed on the pitch by those players who, commentators love to remind us, ‘dictate the tempo of the match’ (Spain) or ‘make the difference’ (England) – has reduced the role of the fan to that of consumer.

Abandoning our reason, we channel our passions into the banal tunnels dug by sensationalist pundits salivating over inane comparisons, half-witted ‘match analysis’ and pure marketing hype.

We’re forgetting that the beauty of football lies in the sheer multiplicity of possibilities abounding on the field; the best player does not always run the fastest, score the most or tackle the hardest. They need not even play for the best teams.

Now, with the increasing tendency towards a more ‘total’ form of football, we can appreciate more than ever the sheer variety of players whom we can admire and applaud. Here’s the first part of a list of the best 25:

1. 25. Thomas Muller



A classic German international, Muller’s poise, pace and shooting mean he is comfortable in virtually any attacking position. A fine World Cup on the back of a remarkable breakthrough season at Bayern Munich got him noticed beyond the Bundesliga; Bayern’s struggles this year have kept him out of the international spotlight, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more efficient forward in world football today.

Video: Thomas Muller Best of 2009/2010 at Bayern Munich

2. 24. Robinho



The prodigious Brazilian’s troubled career appears to be settling, at last, in Italy. The forward’s movement and trickery appears, strangely, to flourish more in Serie A than either the English Premier League – where he was considered a flop at Manchester City – or La Liga.

Video: Robinho Highlights

3. 23. Radamel Falcao



The Colombian international is the focal point of a Porto attack which has swept all before it in the Portuguese Liga and the Europa League this season (he is the top scorer in both). The striker’s devastating scoring exploits are beginning to draw comparison with those of Mario Jardel; a player with good movement, excellent finishing, a good deal of power and sound decision-making, Falcao also boasts a frightening ability to score memorable back-heeled goals. Big offers are expected over the summer.

Video: Radamel Falcao Goals

4. 22. Arjen Robben



It has often been said that only niggling injuries has held Robben back from being recognised as one of the best wingers in history. Having played at Real Madrid and positively shone at times for Chelsea, one might be forgiven for thinking the Holland international has gone off the radar a little at Bayern Munich. Nothing could be further from the truth. The dazzling Dutchman is still one of the deadliest wide men in the game.

Video: Robben Still Has It

5. 21. Carlos Tevez



Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes Sir Alex Ferguson has made in recent years was that of the British public at large: namely, thinking that the combative Argentine is little more than a second option for Wayne Rooney. Cleverer and stronger in front of goal than the Englishman, Tevez has since flourished across at Manchester City, but appears to be hankering for a move back to Argentina. The Premiership will be that little weaker without him.

Video: Carlos Tevez 2009/2010 Manchester City Goals

6. 20. Ramires



After a slow start to his Chelsea career, the Brazil international is turning into an instrumental player for the London club. The fact that he seems to always get used as a foil for someone else in midfield (at former club Benfica, he was used to help an extremely attacking 4-4-2 function by combining the role of right-winger with defensive midfield) overlooks his ability to make timely runs into the box to score crucial goals, as well as good technical ability which has seen him stand out against nominally similar players like Michael Essien.

Video: Ramires vs Blackburn (15 Jan 2011)

7. 19. Luka Modric



The Croatian international sometimes gets left in the wake of Gareth Bale’s trailblazing runs or Rafael van der Vaart’s spectacular goals, but he is a fundamental component of the most exciting Spurs side in years. Bursting with flair and ingenuity on the ball, Modric epitomizes the importance of a player who can construct moves from deep, picking put the runs of more advanced forwards. The kind of player who makes things happen without always being noticed. The kind of player who belongs on this list.

Video: Luka Modric Compilation

8. 18. Fabio Coentrao



One of the most exciting prospects in Europe, Coentrao’s career began on the left wing. Manager Jorge Jesus controversially converted him to left-back early last season and since then, the Portugal international has blossomed. His ferocious pace and relentless desire to bomb forward at any opportunity are perfectly balanced by a never-say-die attitude which masks his (improving) technical shortcomings as a defender. With a sweet left foot and an eye for goal too, Coentrao is arguably the most complete full-back in the world.

Video: Fabio Coentrao: Marauding Left-Back

9. 17. Fernando Torres



Though this may seem like a strange time to be sticking Torres anywhere near a list of the best players in the world, greatness doesn’t vanish overnight. It doesn’t even disappear over the course of one season. Rather, what we are seeing with Torres is the combination of a) a gradual decline, which has perhaps come a couple of years earlier than you might expect for a player of his age; b) poor form, which has lasted, loosely, since the end of last season; and c) difficulty adjusting to new technical systems – this is a player who has had to endure the dismal tenure of Roy Hodgson, the shift to Kenny Dalglish and then a move to Chelsea all in one season. Expect him to recover, if gradually.

Video: Fernando Torres 2009/2010 Compilation

10. 16. Gareth Bale



Though the ‘Balemania’ earlier this season has thankfully subsided, the Welshman’s meteoric rise has to be recognized as one of the most exciting developments in English football this season. The PFA Player of the Year’s pace, power and unstoppable left foot have marked him out as one of Europe’s most sought-after players. Could he cut it abroad? Judging by the manner in which he sliced open Inter Milan, you’d have to imagine ‘yes’.

Video: Gareth Bale 2010/2011

11. 15. Sami Khedira



The German international is arguably the unsung hero at Jose Mourinho’s new-look Real Madrid – while Ronaldo hoards the acclaim with goals and Xavi Alonso gets the purists drooling with passes, Khedira’s all-round ability in midfield goes relatively unnoticed. Strong in the tackle, good on the ball and with a remarkable ability to read the game for a relatively young player, the German international is arguably the most important member of Madrid’s midfield. His versatility is particularly important when Mourinho adopts a more cautious, lopsided midfield diamond which relies heavily on a central midfield player being able to combine his role with that of a wide player (see also Ramires, number 20 on this list).

Video: Sami Khedira in 2010

12. 14. Nani



Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s a Portuguese winger who ‘goes down too easily’. Perhaps it’s because his name sounds reads like ‘Nanny’ to the English eye. Perhaps it’s because he isn’t Ronaldo. Who knows why the mercurial Manchester United wide man is not being universally lauded for a series of fine displays which have carried Manchester United towards the Premier League title.

True, the Portugal international does still have the occasional tendency to gallop around like a headless chicken but, for the most part, the ingenious trickery, pace and goal threat are now combined extremely effectively. More productive as well as more creative than Antonio Valencia, who appears to have shunted him to the left flank, Nani’s sheer unpredictability mark him out as a winger in the classic sense of the word.

Video: Nani 2008/2009

13. 13. Dani Alves



True to the spirit of a list which recognises players who are able to perform in more than one position at once, Alves does more than merely conjure images of Cafu. Having displaced Maicon at right-back for th Brazilian national team, the Barcelona man is now widely regarded as the best right-back in the world. His ability to defend the right flank yet appear to spend an entire game in the opponent’s half is a testament to the sheer pace and stamina of the man, whose phenomenal work ethic provides Barca with a vital outlet out wide.

Video: Dani Alves 2009/2010 Highlights

14. 12. Ezequiel Lavezzi



Arguably one of the most under-rated players in European football. Lavezzi’s combination of pace, power and trickery has finally been harnessed by Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, who allows the Argentinian a floating role coming in from the left flank. The sheer competition for places, combined with his until now uncertain role has kept him out of the national team’s first eleven, but Lavezzi – whose abundant skill is not always matched by great finishing – is the kind of rough diamond (see Riquelme, Veron, Ortega) who inspires the adulation of fans in his home country. Here’s a snippet of what the man can do:

Ezequiel Lavezzi: 2010/2011 Compilation

15. 11. Xavi



Not much needs to be said about the Barcelona and Spain playmaker. Allying superb vision to a sure touch and the battling spirit so typical of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, Xavi is arguably the one player able to distract the attention of pundits away from Lionel Messi to and extent which unfairly detracts from the merits of other members of the side. The mark of a great player.

Video: Best of Xavi Hernandez

And here are the The Top Ten

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Player transfer fees and their larger than life wage bills are a common topic of discussion for a football fan of today. From Wayne Rooney threatening to quit to oil-rich owners going on shopping sprees, the footballers have now become spoilt and they now know that their high demands will be met at their current club or the next.

It is especially easy to get a huge wage offer for those who possess skill and/or experience. Yaya Toure moved from Spain to England with a wage demand that even England’s best Rooney was not getting at the time.

For the smaller clubs, it has become far more difficult to move into the top-flight and pose a threat to the top teams in their own country, let alone go on a Euro trip.

We have taken the liberty to skim out the football clubs out of the ESPN’s 200 best-paying teams in the world and present a list to you of 66 best-paying football teams in the world.

If you’re gifted with football, this is who will show you the money:

The Leagues and Countries: Bundesliga (Germany), EPL (English Premier League, England), La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy) & SPL (Scottish Premier League, Scotland).

Also see: Best Paid Footballers By Country

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Football players are among the best paid athletes in the world at the moment and rightly so too. After all, football is the most popular game in the world and even though NBA has more money involved in it, football has a much larger following as a whole.

Here, we have compiled a list of best paid footballers of 112 countries of the world.

Not just that. We’re providing you with their current annual salary and the ‘Per Capita GDP‘ of the respective country to draw a comparison from. You won’t be surprised to see that most, if not all, footballers are paid a large multiple of the per capita income.

There you have it. Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest paid footballer in the world with a staggering $19.5 million dollar a year wage bill. Thanks to Carlos Tevez for being the highest paid footballer from Argentina, Lionel Messi does not make it to this list.

Also see: Highest Football Club Wages

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The old conundrum of player loyalty has somewhat been diminished by the flamboyance of modern day footballers wreaking havoc with their multi-million pound wages. Season after season, transfer windows here and there, it is somewhat impossible to envisage stars not flocking from club to club in mega coups where the benefits are reaped by both parties.

With player loyalty becoming more of a rarity nowadays, Soccerlens has decided to look at 20 of football’s most loyal one-club stars – past and present.

Ryan Giggs

(Manchester United, 1987-present)

At the ripe old age of 37, and yet still teasing Premier League defences with his articulate flamboyance and technical flair, Ryan Giggs is a credit to both himself and his club Manchester United. He has arguably established himself as The Red Devils’ greatest ever player and recently overtook the great Sir Bobby Charlton’s league appearance record against Liverpool – his 607^th appearance in the Premier League.

Matthew Le Tissier

(Southampton, 1986-2002)

Spanish superstar Xavi Hernandez, a player with the world at his feet, made a declaration in the summer of 2010 saying that Matthew Le Tissier was one of his idols growing up as a youngster back in Catalonia. Despite never fulfilling his potential at an elite entity, he orchestrated some of the most beautiful pieces of technical genius in the red and white stripes of Southampton. The attacker made a total of 540 appearances for The Saints and netted 210 goals.

Paulo Maldini

(AC Milan, 1985-2009)

The winner of five European Cups and umpteen Italian domestic titles in the black and red of AC Milan, Paulo Maldini has implemented his name into the club’s grand old history as one of its all time greats. He is an Italian icon who made over 900 appearances for the Rossoneri in his 24 years at the club. He was a marvel in his position and was taken under the wing by the great Franco Baresi who he helped mould into one of the greatest defenders of his generation.

Francesco Totti

(AS Roma, 1992-present)

The lion heart of AS Roma. The proclaimed Gladiator epitomises everything about the Giallorossi who wears his heart on his sleeve for the cause of his hometown club. He was an integral part of the side under the stewardship of Fabio Capello that captured the club’s first Scudetto for eighteen years in 2001. At 34-years of age he is currently adorning the captain’s armband having recently made over 600 appearances for the club.

Nat Lofthouse

(Bolton Wanderers, 1946-1960)

The recently deceased Nat Lofthouse will go down as one of English football’s most loved and revered centre forwards.  Nat spent his entire career at Bolton Wanderers where he netted a brace as captain in the 1958 FA Cup Final against Manchester United – their first cup since 1929. He also scored an impressive 30 goals in 33 appearances for his country in an eight year period.

Tony Adams

(Arsenal, 1983-2002)

The beloved Gooner made just fewer than 700 appearances for Arsenal Football Club in a career that was littered with honours and accolades. Despite his ups and down during his twenty-two years at the North Londoners, Adams established himself as one of the club’s most decorated and revered stars in its history. His goal in particular against Everton on the final day of their 1998 Premier League triumph at Highbury is seen as one of his most memorable moments as he succumbed to the embraced jubilation from his peers.

Alessandro Del Piero

(Juventus, 1993-present)

Arguably the greatest ever to adorn the black and white stripes of Juventus. Alex Del Piero has done it all for both his club and country with world and European honours as well as racking up a total of 680 appearances for the Old Lady and even contemplating a further year with the club at the age of 36. His role of playing off the shoulder of a talisman up top has seen him bag a staggering 280 goals in an eighteen year stint.

Xavi Hernandez

(FC Barcelona, 1998-present)

A man who is currently the orchestrator of two of the world’s most spectacular footballing sides, Spain and Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez is arguably the best in the world at what he does. A revered central midfielder whose passing matches that of a paint brush to a canvas, has spent the entirety of his career thus far at the Blaugrana. At 31-years of age he has made over 500 appearances for Barca and that number will undoubtedly get a whole lot bigger by the time he hangs up his boots.

Franco Baresi

(AC Milan, 1977-1997)

Undoubtedly Italy’s finest central defender, Franco Baresi spent the entirety of his beautiful career at the San Siro with AC Milan. With all the defensive attributes needed to stamp his name into the folklore of the sports rich history, Franco won just about everything and anything for the Rossoneri as well as his country.

He spent twenty years at the Milanese club and racked up over 700 appearances that included three European Cups and six Scudettos.

Giuseppe Bergomi

(Internazionale, 1979-1999)

Internazionale enjoyed beholding Giuseppe Bergomi for two decades between 1979 and 1999. The tough tackling central defender is the Nerazzurri’s record appearance holder having made 757 outings where he won a Scudetto and three UEFA Cups.

He was also part of Italy’s 1982 World Cup winning side.

Santiago Bernabeu Yeste

(Real Madrid, 1912-1927)

The name will be more familiar to younger fans of the infamous stadium where Real Madrid play their home games – correct. However the club didn’t just name their beautiful home after just anybody, Santiago Bernabeu’s role at the club in the early 1900’s helped transform The Whites into Spain’s most recognisable and successful institution in its domestic football.

Of course they would later go on to conquer the European Cup, a tournament that today is arguably the biggest in the world, the UEFA Champions League, which had its foundations laid by Santiago back in the fifties. He was a real pioneer of European football.

Billy McNeill

(Celtic, 1957-1975)

Scotsman Billy McNeill will not only go down as a legend in Celtic’s history but he will also be remembered as the first British player to lift the coveted European Cup where The Hoops beat Internazionale in 1967. ‘Cesar’ is loved by those affiliated to the club and was voted by the fans as their greatest ever captain.

He made just fewer than 800 appearances for the club in his eighteen playing years.

Thomas Schaaf

(Werder Bremen, 1978-1995)

Not only did Thomas Schaaf spend the entirety of his playing days at Werder Bremen, he has also been at the helm as their Coach since 1999 where he’s brought success just like he did as a player. The German won two Bundesliga titles whilst playing as a defender and also landed their latest league title in 2004 as Coach.

He is a true one club man.

Rogerio Ceni

(Sao Paulo, 1992-present)

One of the most flamboyant goalkeepers in the games modern history (then again he is Brazilian), Rogerio Ceni has made over 950 appearances for Sao Paulo. At the age of 38 he is still adorning his gloves and has incredibly scored 100 goals with a knack for netting free-kicks and penalties. He is a FIFA World Cup winner with Brazil and has won two Copa Libertadores with Tricolor Paulista.

Jack Charlton

(Leeds United, 1952-1973)

Brother of Sir Bobby, big Jack Charlton spent his entire playing days at northern giants Leeds United. He won a domestic league title along with an FA Cup at Elland Road and was an integral part of England’s 1966 World Cup triumph on home soil. He made over 600 appearances for The Whites and is renown as one of the club’s all time greats.

Jimmy Armfield

(Blackpool, 1954-1971)

His name will be forever known by the fans of Blackpool Football Club where he has a stand named after him at Bloomfield Road and rightfully so. Jimmy gave all seventeen years of his playing days for The Tangerines as a right-back, registering over 600 appearances.

He was part of England’s World Cup winning squad back in 1966 where he made 43 appearances for his nation.

Lev Yashin

(Dynamo Moscow, 1949-1971)

Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, ‘The Black Spider’ won the USSR championship five times whilst at Dynamo Moscow. His cultural impact on the sport as well as his country has been monumental. He is possibly the greatest ever in his position with his performances for the Soviet Union in three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966) catching the gazing eyes of the world.

A true football icon.

Paul Scholes

(Manchester United, 1994-present)

Technically gifted Paul Scholes is possibly England’s most talented midfield man of his generation. With his hawk like vision and passing prowess being of the highest calibre, Scholes’ traits have seen his club Manchester United reap the benefits. The 36-year old has been an integral figure in the club’s rise to the top of English football in the last two decades and continues to mesmerise his adversaries on the pitch with his match winning outings.

Gary Neville

(Manchester United, 1992-2011)

Much like his former Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes, the recently retired Gary Neville spent the entirety of his career at Manchester United. He is possibly the greatest right-back in Premier League history. He formed a wonderful understanding with David Beckham down the right-hand for the Manchester side before the aforementioned moved to Real Madrid in 2003.

Neville made just over 600 appearances and won nineteen major honours.

Billy Wright

(Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1939-1959)

Billy will be infamously remembered by those outside of Wolverhampton as the first player to reach 100 international caps for his country. He also captained England a record 90 times and along with Bobby Moore he is considered his country’s greatest skipper. He spent the entirety of his career at Wolves who have a statue of the great man outside Molineux. He made 541 appearances for the club and won the FA Cup as captain in 1949.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News