- published: 08 Jan 2013
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Belgrade
Belgrade (
/ˈbɛlɡreɪd/; Serbian: Београд; [beǒɡrad] (
listen); names in other languages) is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. Its name in English translates to White city. The city proper has a population of over 1.1 million, while its metropolitan area has over 1.6 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Southeast Europe.
One of the largest prehistoric cultures of Europe, the Vinča culture, evolved around the area Belgrade in the 6th millennium BC. In antiquity, Thraco-Dacians inhabited the region, and after 279 BC Celts conquered the city, naming it Singidūn. It was conquered by the Romans during the reign of Augustus, and awarded city rights in the mid 2nd century. It was settled by the Slavs in the 520s, and changed hands several times before it became the capital of King Stephen Dragutin (1282–1316). In 1521 Belgrade was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and became the seat of a the Sanjak of Smederevo. It frequently passed from Ottoman to Habsburg rule, which saw the destruction of most of the city during the Austro-Ottoman wars. Belgrade was again named the capital of Serbia in 1841. The north of Belgrade remained a Habsburg outpost until 1918, when it was merged into the capital city. As a strategic location, the city was battled over in 115 wars and razed to the ground 44 times. Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia (in various forms of governments) from its creation in 1918, to its final dissolution in 2006.
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Brazil
Brazil
i/brəˈzɪl/ (Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw]), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil, listen (help·info)), is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people. It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military coup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824. Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a Federal Republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.
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Brussels
Brussels (French: Bruxelles, pronounced [bʁysɛl] ( listen); Dutch: Brussel, pronounced [ˈbrʏ.səɫ] ( listen); German: Brüssel, pronounced [ˈbʁyː.səl]), officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region (French: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (help·info), Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (help·info)), is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, comprising 19 municipalities, including the municipality of the City of Brussels, which is the de jure capital of Belgium, in addition to the seat of the French Community of Belgium and of the Flemish Community.
Brussels has grown from a 10th-century fortress town founded by a descendant of Charlemagne into a metropolis of more than one million inhabitants. The metropolitan area has a population of over 1.8 million, making it the largest in Belgium.
Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a main centre for international politics. Hosting principal EU institutions as well as the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the city has become the polyglot home of numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants.
wn.com/Brussels -
Casablanca
Casablanca (Arabic: الدار البيضاء ad-Dār al-Bayḍāʼ, original name in Berber: ⴰⵏⴼⴰ Anfa) is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.
Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture of Casablanca and 3,631,061 in the region of Grand Casablanca. Casablanca is considered the economic and business center of Morocco, while the political capital city of Morocco is Rabat.
Casablanca hosts headquarters and main industrial facilities for the leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco. Industrial statistics show Casablanca retains its historical position as the main industrial zone of the country. The Port of Casablanca is one of the largest artificial ports in the world, and the largest port of North Africa. It is also the primary naval base for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
The Latinized name of the city is a Spanish word combination meaning "White House" (blanca "white", casa "house"). It is thought that the Spaniards adopted the name from Portuguese Casa Branca. The city is now nicknamed Casa by many locals.
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Catalonia
Catalonia (English /kætəˈloʊniə/, /kætəˈloʊnjə/; Catalan: Catalunya [kətəˈɫuɲə] or [kataˈluɲa]; Spanish: Cataluña [kataˈluɲa]; Occitan: Catalonha [kataˈluɲɔ]) is an autonomous region of Spain in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, with the official status of a "nationality". Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona which is the second largest Spanish city by population after Madrid. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an official population of 7,535,251. Its borders essentially reflect those of the former Principality of Catalonia. It borders France and Andorra to the north, Aragon to the west, the Valencian Community to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east (580 km coastline). The official languages are Catalan, Spanish and Aranese (Occitan).
The name Catalunya (Catalonia) began to be used in the late 11th century in reference to the group of counties that comprised the Marca Hispanica. The origin of the term is subject to diverse interpretations. A theory suggests that Catalunya derives from the term "Land of Castles", having evolved from the term castlà, the ruler of a castle (see castellan). This theory therefore suggests that the names Castile and Catalonia have the same etymology.
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Clairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre (English: Fernand Sastre National Technical Centre), commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine ("Institut national du football de Clairefontaine"), INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players. The academy is one of twelve élite academies located in and around France that are supervised by the French Football Federation (FFF). Only the best players from the Île-de-France région train at the Clairefontaine academy. The eleven other academies are situated in Castelmaurou, Châteauroux, Liévin, Dijon, Marseille, Ploufragan, Vichy and Reims, Réunion, Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, and Talence.
Clairefontaine opened in 1988 and is named after Fernand Sastre, the president of the FFF from 1972–1984. The academy is located 50 km southwest of Paris at Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines and is one of the best known football academies in the world. It has a high reputation of producing some of the most gifted French players including Nicolas Anelka, Louis Saha, William Gallas, Jérôme Rothen, and national team top scorer Thierry Henry. The academy is also used to house the national football teams of France and the centre drew media spotlight following its usage as a base camp by the France team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
wn.com/Clairefontaine -
Coimbra
Coimbra (Portuguese pronunciation: [kuˈĩbɾɐ]) is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world.
According 2001 Census, provided by the Portuguese Instituto Nacional de Estatística (English: National Institute of Statistics), the city proper had a population of 101,069. The city of Coimbra is one of the most important urban centres in Portugal (after the much larger cities of Lisbon and Porto), playing a central role in the northern-central littoral and interior of the country. It is the principal centre in the Centro region, the District of Coimbra and the Baixo Mondego subregion.
There are many archaeological structures which date to the Roman era, when Coimbra was the settlement of Aeminium, such as its well-preserved aqueduct and cryptoporticus. Similarly, buildings from the period when Coimbra served as the capital of Portugal (from 1131 to 1255) still remain. During the Late Middle-Ages, with its decline as the political centre of the Kingdom of Portugal, Coimbra began to evolve into a major cultural centre, helped by the university finally established there in 1537. The university, one of the oldest in Europe, apart from attracting many European and international students, is visited by tourists for its monuments and history.
wn.com/Coimbra -
Dublin
Dublin ( /ˈdʌblɨn/; locally /ˈdʊbᵊlən/; Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, meaning "town of the hurdled ford", pronounced [blʲaˈklʲiə] or Áth Cliath, [aː klʲiə], occasionally Duibhlinn) is the capital and most populous city of Ireland. The English name for the city is derived from the Irish name Dubhlinn, meaning "black pool". Dublin is situated near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and the centre of the Dublin Region.
Originally founded as a Viking settlement, it evolved into the Kingdom of Dublin and became the island's principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century; it was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire and the fifth largest in Europe. Dublin entered a period of stagnation following the Act of Union of 1800, but it remained the economic centre for most of the island. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, the new parliament, the Oireachtas, was located in Leinster House. Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State and later the Republic of Ireland.
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Essonne
Essonne (pronounced: [ɛ.sɔn]) is a French department in the region of Île-de-France. It is named after the Essonne River.
It was formed on 1 January 1968 when Seine-et-Oise was split into smaller departments.
The Essonne department was created on 1 January 1968, from the southern portion of the former department of Seine-et-Oise.
In June 1963 Carrefour S.A. opened the first hypermarket in the Paris region at Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois (although the word "hypermarche" was first used only in 1966). Based on the ideas put forward by the American logistics pioneer Bernardo Trujillo, the centre offered on a single 2,500 m2 (26,909.78 sq ft) site a hitherto unknown combination of wide choice and low prices, supported by 400 car parking spaces.
In 1969, the communes of Châteaufort and Toussus-le-Noble were separated from Essonne and added to the department of Yvelines.
Essonne belongs to the region of Île-de-France.
It has borders with the departments of:
All of northern Essonne department belongs to the Parisian agglomeration and is very urbanized. The south remains rural.
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France
France (Englishi/ˈfræns/ FRANSS or /ˈfrɑːns/ FRAHNSS; French: [fʁɑ̃s] ( listen)), officially the French Republic (French: République française [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is the largest western European country and it possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world, covering 11,035,000 km2 (4,260,000 sq mi), just behind that of the United States (11,351,000 km2 / 4,383,000 sq mi).
Over the past 500 years, France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military and political influence in Europe and around the world. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America and Southeast Asia; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest colonial empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
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Glasgow
Coordinates: 55°51′29″N 4°15′32″W / 55.858°N 4.259°W / 55.858; -4.259
Glasgow (i/ˈɡlɑːzɡəʊ/, locally /ˈɡlazɡo/, GLAZ-goh; Scots: Glesga listen (help·info); Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu ([ˈkɫ̪as̪əxu] listen (help·info))) is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands.
Glasgow grew from a small rural settlement on the River Clyde to become one of the largest seaports in Britain. Expanding from the medieval bishopric of Glasgow and the later establishment of the University of Glasgow in the 15th century, it became a major centre of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th century. From the 18th century the city also grew as one of Britain's main hubs of transatlantic trade with British North America and the British West Indies. With the Industrial Revolution, the city and surrounding region shifted to become one of the world's pre-eminent centres of heavy engineering, most notably in shipbuilding and marine engineering industry, which produced many innovative and famous vessels. Glasgow was known as the "Second City of the British Empire" for much of the Victorian era and Edwardian period. Today it is one of Europe's top ten financial centres and is home to many of Scotland's leading businesses. Glasgow is also ranked as the 57th most liveable city in the world.
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GSP Stadium
The Pancyprian Gymnastic Association Stadium (GSP Stadium) (Greek: Στάδιο Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος "Τα Παγκύπρια") is a football stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus. Although small by international standards, it is the largest stadium in Cyprus, with a capacity of 22,859 and was built in 1999. It serves as the home stadium for the Nicosia Clubs of APOEL, Olympiakos Nicosia and Omonia. The Cyprus national football team has also played home games there in the past. It was also the name of the old GSP Stadium which was at the centre of Nicosia with capacity of 12,000.
The new GSP Stadium opened for use on 6 October 1999. The complex has three arenas: a football stadium, an athletics stadium and an auxiliary football pitch intended for training. The stadium is owned by the Pancyprian Gymnastic Association. With an official seating capacity of 22,859 the new GSP is the largest football venue in Cyprus. It is located at the entrance to Nicosia (as approached from the A1 highway) and was inaugurated in 1999 by the then President, Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop Chrysostomos I. The first game held on 6 October 1999 and there was a friendly match between APOEL and Omonia, which ended 3-3.
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Guadeloupe
Coordinates: 16°15′N 61°35′W / 16.25°N 61.583°W / 16.25; -61.583
Guadeloupe ( /ɡwɑːdəˈluːp/; French pronunciation: [ɡwadəlup]; Antillean Creole: Gwadloup) is a Caribbean island located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres (629 sq. mi) and a population of 400,000. It is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. Its departmental code is "971". As the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also an integral part of the Republic. Besides Guadeloupe island, the smaller islands of Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the Îles des Saintes are included in Guadeloupe.
As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the European Union and the Eurozone; hence, as for all Eurozone countries, its currency is the euro. However, Guadeloupe is not part of the Schengen Area. The prefecture and the capital of Guadeloupe is Basse-Terre. Christopher Columbus named the island Santa María de Guadalupe in 1493 after the Virgin Mary, venerated in the Spanish town of Guadalupe, in Extremadura.
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Hampden Park
Hampden Park (often referred to simply as Hampden) is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland. It is the home venue of the Scotland national football team and amateur Scottish Football League club Queen's Park and hosts the latter stages of the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup competitions. It is also used for music concerts and other sporting events.
There were two 19th century stadiums called Hampden Park, built on different sites. A stadium on the present site was first opened on 31 October 1903. Hampden was the biggest stadium in the world when it was opened, with a capacity in excess of 100,000. This was increased further between 1927 and 1937, reaching a peak of 150,000. The record attendance of 149,415, for a Scotland v England match in 1937, is the European record for an international football match. Tighter safety regulations meant that the capacity was reduced to 81,000 in 1977. The stadium has been fully renovated since then, with the most recent work being completed in 1999.
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Hampstead
Coordinates: 51°33′15″N 0°10′28″W / 51.5541°N 0.1744°W / 51.5541; -0.1744
Hampstead (/ˈhæmpstɪd/ or /-stɛd/), commonly known as Hampstead Village, is an affluent area of London, England, 4 miles (6.4 km) north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. It has some of the most expensive housing in the London area. The village of Hampstead has more millionaires within its boundaries than any other area of the United Kingdom.
The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words ham and stede, which means, and is a cognate of, the Modern English "homestead".
Although early records of Hampstead can be found in a grant by King Ethelred the Unready to the monastery of St. Peter’s at Westminster (AD 986) and it is referred to in the Domesday Book (1086), the history of Hampstead is generally traced back to the 17th century. Trustees of the Well started advertising the medicinal qualities of the chalybeate waters (water impregnated with iron) in 1700. Although Hampstead Wells was initially most successful and fashionable, its popularity declined in the 1800s due to competition with other fashionable London spas. The spa was demolished in 1882, although a water fountain was left behind.
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Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle /ˈhaɪklɪər/ is a country house in the Jacobethan style, with park designed by Capability Brown. The 1,000 acre (405 hectare) estate is in the English county of Hampshire, about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the boundary with Berkshire, and 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Newbury. It is the country seat of the Earl of Carnarvon, a branch of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family. It is the main setting for the British television period drama Downton Abbey.
The castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which was built on the foundations of the medieval palace of the Bishops of Winchester, who owned this estate from the 8th century. The original site was recorded in the Domesday Book. Since 1679 the castle has been home to the Carnarvon family.
In 1692, Robert Sawyer, a lawyer and college friend of Samuel Pepys, bequeathed a mansion at Highclere to his only daughter, Margaret, the first wife of the 8th Earl of Pembroke. Their second son, Robert Sawyer Herbert, inherited Highclere, began its picture collection and created the garden temples. His nephew and heir Henry Herbert was created Baron Porchester and 1st Earl of Carnarvon by King George III.
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Jan Breydel Stadium
Jan Breydel Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Sint-Andries, Bruges, Belgium. The city-owned stadium is the home stadium of two top-flight association football clubs, Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge. It is used mainly for football matches, which cost between €5 and €60/seat/match. The stadium was built in 1975. It currently has 29,472 seats. It is named after Jan Breydel, an instigator of the Bruges Matins, the insurgency that led to the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Prior to 1999 and the Euro 2000 Championship the stadium was known as Olympiastadion, the Olympic stadium in Dutch, and had 18,000 seats.
The average season attendances from league matches held at the Jan Breydel for Cercle Brugge and Club Brugge.
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Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv (Ukrainian: Київ [ˈkɪjiw] ( listen); Russian: Киев) is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press.
Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural centre of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions and world-famous historical landmarks. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including the Kiev Metro.
The name Kiev is said to derive from the name of Kyi, one of four legendary founders of the city (brothers Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv, and sister Lybid). During its history, Kiev, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, passed through several stages of great prominence and relative obscurity. The city probably existed as a commercial centre as early as the 5th century. A Slavic settlement on the great trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople, Kiev was a tributary of the Khazars, until seized by the Varangians (Vikings) in the mid-9th century. Under Varangians rule, the city became a capital of the Rus', the first East Slavic state. Completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1240, the city lost most of its influence for the centuries to come. It was a provincial capital of marginal importance in the outskirts of the territories controlled by its powerful neighbours; first the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, followed by Poland and Russia.
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Kuching
Kuching ( /ˈkuːtʃɪŋ/ KOO-ching; Chinese: 古晋）), officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. The city covers an area of 719 sq miles (1,863 km²) and and has an estimated population of 1 million of 2012.
Kuching is one of the two subsets of the Kuching Proper subdistrict, the other subset being part of the Padawan municipality. Kuching Proper is one of the three subdistricts in the Kuching District, which is one of the three districts in the Kuching Division.
More than 150 years ago, Sarawak was essentially Kuching. Kuching was known as Sarawak first, then the word Proper, was added to Sarawak, thus Sarawak Proper, so as to distinguish it from the larger Sarawak which, in 1841, consisted of only the area between Tanjung Datu, and the Samarahan River. On 12 August 1872, Sarawak Proper was given its present name, Kuching, under the rule of the second Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Brooke.
Kuching was named after a tidal stream called Kuching River (Sungai Kuching) that ran between the present-day Tua Pek Kong Temple, and Chinese History Museum. The stream originated from Cat's Eye Hill (Bukit Mata Kuching) where there was an abundance of a local fruit called Green Longan (Isau, Dimocarpus longan ssp malesianus), vernacularly known as Cat's Eye (Mata Kuching). In 1928, the stream was filled up to make way for the construction of Temple Street (Lebuh Temple), and thus the city's expansion eastwards.
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Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road (Irish: Bóthar Lansdúin, IPA: [ˈbˠoːhəɾˠ ˈl̪ˠan̪ˠsˠd̪ˠuːn̪ˠ]) was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts. The stadium was demolished in 2007 to make way for the construction of the Aviva Stadium, which opened in 2010.
Lansdowne Road took its name from the adjacent street.
The stadium was situated in the neighbourhood of Ballsbridge in the city's Dublin 4 area. The stadium had convenient public transport links as the Lansdowne Road station of the Dublin Area Rapid Transit rail system is adjacent to the site and passed directly underneath the West Stand.
The stadium was named after the nearby road, which in turn was named after William Petty-FitzMaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne. The Marquis was also the Earl of Shelburne, and nearby Shelbourne Road is also named after him.
The stadium had a total capacity of 49,250, with 25,000 seats. However, competitive international football matches could not use the entire capacity because the stands at both ends of the ground (North and South) were standing-only terraces. FIFA and UEFA both mandate that international matches be played in all-seated venues. A temporary capacity of 36,000 was the result for competitive soccer. The International Rugby Board does not impose this restriction on international rugby venues. For non-competitive international football matches (friendly matches), the FIFA/UEFA all-seated mandate does not apply.
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Les Ulis
Coordinates: 48°40′56″N 2°10′11″E / 48.6822°N 2.1698°E / 48.6822; 2.1698
Les Ulis is a commune in the Essonne department located in the southwestern suburbs (banlieue) of Paris, France. It is 23 km (14 mi) from the center of Paris.
Inhabitants of Les Ulis are known as Ulissiens.
Les Ulis is a new town located in the Île-de-France, in the south-west of the Parisian agglomeration and in the north-west of the Essonne department. It sits on the Cortabœuf plateau which dominates the Yvette valley, also known as the Chevreuse valley. It is 23km to the south-west of central Paris, 20km north-west of Évry and 14km to the south-east of Versailles.
The town is laid out in the form of a U, approximately three km by two km, and covers 680 hectares. Over 65% of the area is built-up, 17% is semi-rural and 16% is either rural or comprises communal green space. The French Institut Géographique National gives the co-ordinates of the town as 48°40'58" N and 02°09'55" E at the central point.
The source of the minor river Rouillon (river) is in the neighbouring town of Villejust, close to the communal border. The lowest point of the town, at the point where it meets Bures-sur-Yvette, is at an altitude of 87m. Most of the town is situated at an average altitude of over 150m. Its highest point is at 170m. The land on which it is built consists of clay, sand and millstone.
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Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles (also known as the Caribbees) are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America. The Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles compose the Antilles, which are in turn part of the West Indies along with the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The islands of the Lesser Antilles are divided into three groups. The two main groups are the Windward Islands in the south and the Leeward Islands in the north. The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds blow east to west. The trans-Atlantic currents and winds that provided the fastest route across the ocean brought these ships to the rough dividing line between the Windward and Leeward Islands.
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Lyon
Coordinates: 45°45′35″N 4°50′32″E / 45.7597°N 4.8422°E / 45.7597; 4.8422
Lyon (French pronunciation: [ljɔ̃] ( listen), locally: [lijɔ̃]; Occitan: Lion [liˈu]; Arpitan: Liyon [ʎjɔ̃]; English: /liːˈɒn/), traditionally spelt Lyons in English, is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located approximately 470 km (292 mi) from Paris, 320 km (199 mi) from Marseille, 420 km (261 mi) from Strasbourg, 160 km (99 mi) from Geneva, 280 km (174 mi) from Turin. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais.
The city of Lyon has 483,181 inhabitants. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the largest conurbation in France outside Paris with a population estimated to be 1,422,331; its overall metropolitan area was estimated to have a population of 2,118,132. Its urban region represents half of the Rhône-Alpes region population with 2.9 million inhabitants. Lyon is the capital of this region, as well as the capital of the smaller Rhône département.
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Marseille
Coordinates: 43°17′47″N 5°22′12″E / 43.2964°N 5.37°E / 43.2964; 5.37
Marseille ( /mɑrˈseɪ/; also Marseilles in English; French: [maʁsɛj], locally: [mɑχˈsɛjə]; Occitan: Marselha [maʀˈsejɔ, maʀˈsijɔ]), known in antiquity as Massilia or Massalia (from Greek: Μασσαλία), is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of 240.62 km2 (93 sq mi). The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of 1,204 km2 (465 sq mi). 1,530,000 or 1,601,095 people live in the Marseille metropolitan area, ranking it third among French metropolitan areas after Paris and Lyon. Located on the southeast coast of France, Marseille is France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and largest commercial port. Marseille is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, as well as the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Its inhabitants are called Marseillais.
Marseille is the second largest city in France after Paris and the centre of the third largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon. To the east, starting in the small fishing village of Callelongue on the outskirts of Marseille and stretching as far as Cassis, are the Calanques, a rugged coastal area interspersed with small fjords. Further east still are the Sainte-Baume, a 1,147 m (3,763 ft) mountain ridge rising from a forest of deciduous trees, the town of Toulon and the French Riviera. To the north of Marseille, beyond the low Garlaban and Etoile mountain ranges, is the 1,011 m (3,317 ft) Mont Sainte Victoire. To the west of Marseille is the former artists' colony of l'Estaque; further west are the Côte Bleue, the Gulf of Lion and the Camargue region in the Rhône delta. The airport lies to the north west of the city at Marignane on the Étang de Berre.
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Martinique
Martinique (French pronunciation: [maʁtinik]) is an island in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of 1,128 km2 (436 sq mi). Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados. As with the other overseas departments, Martinique is one of the twenty-seven regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic. The first European to encounter the island was Christopher Columbus in 1502.
As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, and its currency is the Euro. Its official language is French, although many of its inhabitants also speak Antillean Creole (Créole Martiniquais).
The island was occupied first by Arawaks, then by Caribs. It was charted by Columbus in 1493, but Spain had little interest in the territory. It was claimed by France in 1635 and, despite several interludes of British occupation, once during the Seven Years' War and twice during the Napoleonic Wars, has remained a French possession. In 1946, the French National Assembly voted unanimously to transform the colony into an overseas department.
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Montbéliard
Coordinates: 47°30′37″N 6°47′56″E / 47.5103°N 6.7989°E / 47.5103; 6.7989
Montbéliard (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃.be.ljaʁ]; archaic German: Mömpelgard) is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.
Mentioned first in 985 as Mons Beliardae, it became a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the 11th century. In 1397 the town, known in German as Mömpelgard, passed by marriage of Henriette, heiress of county to Eberhard IV, Count of Württemberg, to the House of Württemberg . In 1524, ten years earlier than in Württemberg, duke Ulrich and reformer William Farel made Mömpelgard Protestant (specifically Lutheran). From 1598 to 1608, the architect Heinrich Schickhardt built several landmarks of the city, like St. Martin, a castle, a bridge, a college and several hotels.
After the French Revolution, it was briefly incorporated into the Rauracian Republic.[citation needed] In 1793 the town was annexed to France, which was confirmed in 1796 and by the German Mediatisation of 1806, when Württemberg was compensated with other areas, and became a kingdom.
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Montpellier
Coordinates: 43°36′43″N 3°52′38″E / 43.6119°N 3.8772°E / 43.6119; 3.8772
Montpellier (French pronunciation: [mɔ̃.pe.lje]; Occitan: Montpelhièr; Catalan: Montpeller) is a city in southern France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, as well as the Hérault department. Montpellier is the 8th largest city of the country, and is also the fastest growing city in France over the past 25 years.
Montpellier is one of the few large cities in France without any (Gallo-)Roman heritage and also one of the few cities in southern France without a Greek foundation.
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Nantes
Coordinates: 47°13′05″N 1°33′10″W / 47.2181°N 1.5528°W / 47.2181; -1.5528
Nantes (French pronunciation: [nɑ̃t]) (Breton: Naoned, Gallo: Naunnt) is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants.
Nantes is the capital city of the Pays de la Loire region and Loire-Atlantique département. Together with Vannes, Rennes and Carhaix, it was one of the major cities of the historic province of Brittany, and the ancient Duchy of Brittany. Culturally, Nantes is a Breton city.
In 2004, Time described Nantes as "the most liveable city in Europe". In 2010, Nantes was named a hub city for innovation in the Innovation Cities Index by innovation agency, 2thinknow. The city was ranked 36th globally from 289 cities and 4th overall in France, behind Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg for innovation across multiple sectors of the economy.
The name Nantes, pronounced [nɑ̃t] in French, derives from that of its pre-Roman-era inhabitants, the Gaulish tribe known as the Namnetes, who founded a town there around 70 BC. The city was called Portus Namnetum during the Roman occupation that began in 56 BC. The inhabitants of Nantes are known in French as Nantais ([nɑ̃tɛ]).
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Nicosia
Nicosia (/ˌnɪkəˈsiːə/ NIK-ə-SEE-ə), known locally as Lefkosia (Greek: Λευκωσία, Turkish: Lefkoşa), is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Nicosia remained the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line. It is located near the center of the island, on the banks of the Pedieos River.
Nicosia is the capital and seat of government of the Republic of Cyprus. The northern part of the city functions as the capital of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a disputed breakaway region whose independence is recognized only by Turkey, and which the rest of the international community considers as occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus since the Turkish Invasion in 1974.
Despite the division Nicosia has managed to become a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city, rich in history and culture that combines its historic past with the amenities of a modern city.
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North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South London. However, it is also often used in comparisons with Central London, East London and West London.
The River Thames divides Greater London into two parts. The northern part includes most of the historic central areas including the City, the East End and the West End; and the majority of the London Underground network.
This area is made up of the City of London and the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, and Westminster. This definition is used by the Boundary Commission for England. The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames includes sections on both sides of the River Thames. The boundary commission class the entire district as part of South London.
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Paris
Coordinates: 48°51′24″N 2°21′03″E / 48.8567°N 2.3508°E / 48.8567; 2.3508
Paris (i/ˈpærɨs/; French: [paʁi] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of France. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region (or Paris Region, French: Région parisienne). As of January 2008 the city of Paris, within its administrative limits (the 20 arrondissements) largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,211,297 and a metropolitan population of 12,089,098, and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe. Paris was the largest city in the Western world for about 1,000 years, prior to the 19th century, and the largest in the entire world between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. It hosts the headquarters of many international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce or the European Space Agency. Paris is considered one of the greenest and most liveable cities in Europe. It is also one of the most expensive.
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RheinEnergieStadion
The RheinEnergieStadion (German pronunciation: [ˌʁaɪ̯n ʔe.nɛɐ̯.ˈɡiː ˌʃtaː.di̯ɔn]) is a football stadium in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was built on the site of the two previous Müngersdorfer stadiums. It is the home of the local Bundesliga team, 1. FC Köln. The stadium was one of the 12 hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The stadium's name comes from a contract with the local power supplier RheinEnergie AG.
Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the fortifications of Cologne were removed, thus allowing for the building of a new structure in the surrounding area. The new construction enabled the city to create 15,000 jobs. The new stadium was called the Müngersdorfer Stadion or the Kölner Stadion. This allowed Cologne not only to help stabilize the country but also to gain prestige and economic benefits for the city. The cost was tallied at 47.4 million Deutsche Mark.
Following the completion of the stadium the city began to rise in sport prominence. Many major football matches were held at the stadium in front of huge crowds. The first international match was held on 20 November 1927, when the German national football team drew 2-2 with the Netherlands. Since then, the German team has played 19 times at the stadium, and only one of those matches resulted in a loss. Another notable match was the first post-war game, which saw 1. FC Nuremberg beat 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2-1, in front of a crowd of 75,000.
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Sarawak Stadium
Sarawak Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kuching, Malaysia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a capacity of 40,000 spectators. It was built in 1995 for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship. The stadium is adjacent to the old stadium, the State Stadium (Stadium Negeri) that was previously used to stage various tournaments and championship.
The stadium is the home of Sarawak FA, a Malaysian Premier League football team.
The stadium was completed on April 1997, and is one of Asia's world-class stadiums. It consists of 4 levels, with an electronic multimedia scoreboard, manila grass football field with patented drainage and synthetic running track. It also has a VIP driveway, 320 parking lots, stadium office, gymnasiums, changing and massage rooms, workshops, canteen, security control centre, dope testing area, medical clinics, saunas and prayer room. It also provides excellent facilities for the disabled and VVIPs.
Since its opening, the stadium has staged various memorable football matches such as the quarter-final between Brazil and Argentina during the FIFA World Youth Championship, the 1998 Charity Shield match between Sarawak FA and Selangor FA as well as the second round of the 1999 Asia Cup Winner's Cup between Sarawak FA and eventual winners, Kashima Antlers of Japan.
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Stade Auguste Bonal
Stade Auguste Bonal is a multi-purpose stadium in Montbéliard, France. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is the home ground of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. The stadium is able to hold 20,025 people. Initially constructed in 1931, it has undergone multiple renovations, most recently in 2000.
Coordinates: 47°30′44.70″N 6°48′40.32″E / 47.512417°N 6.8112°E / 47.512417; 6.8112
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Stade Mohamed V
Stade Mohamed V (Arabic: مركب محمد الخامس) is part of a big athletic complex situated in the heart of the city of Casablanca, Morocco, in the western part of Maarif district. It was inaugurated March 6, 1955, and currently has a capacity of 55,000..
Sheltering often the games of the national team Moroccan of soccer, the stadium Mohamed V is equally known to be the home of the Raja Casablanca and Wydad Casablanca.
Inaugurated on March 6, 1955 under the name of Stade Marcel Cerdan, the stadium had a capacity of 30,000 places. The following year, after the independence of Morocco, it took the name of Stade D'honneur.
At the end of the 1970s, in preparation for the 1983 Mediterranean Games which were held in Casablanca, the stadium was closed for a major renovation; with an increase of the seating capacity, installation of the electronic panel, and construction of the gymnasium and covered swimming pool around the stadium, it reopened in 1981 under its current name, Stade Mohamed V, and with an 80,000 capacity.
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Turkey
Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye), known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (help·info)), is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia (mostly in the Anatolian peninsula) and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan (the exclave of Nakhchivan) and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus are to the south; the Aegean Sea is to the west; and the Black Sea is to the north. The Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles (which together form the Turkish Straits) demarcate the boundary between East Thrace and Anatolia; they also separate Europe and Asia.
Turkey is one of the six independent Turkic states. The vast majority of the population are Muslims. The country's official language is Turkish, whereas Kurdish and Zazaki languages are spoken by Kurds and Zazas, who constitute 18% of the population.
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Tórshavn
Tórshavn (IPA: [ˈtʰɔuʂhaun]; Danish: Thorshavn) is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the 347-metre (1,138 ft) high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the 350-metre (1,150 ft) high Kirkjubøreyn. The city proper has a population of 13,000 (2008), and the greater urban area a population of 19,000.
The Vikings established their parliament on the Tinganes peninsula in 850 CE, thus Tórshavn was made capital of Faroe Islands and has remained so ever since. All through the Middle Ages the narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea made up the main part of Tórshavn. Sources do not mention a built-up area in Tórshavn until after the Protestant Reformation in 1539. Early on, Tórshavn became the center of the monopoly trade, thereby being the only legal place for the islanders to sell and buy goods. In 1856, the trade monopoly was abolished and the islands were left open to free trade. The town has grown rapidly ever since the turn of the 20th century into the undisputed administrative, economic and cultural center of the Faroes.
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Tórsvøllur
Tórsvøllur is a football stadium on the sport site Gundadalur in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. The stadium holds 6,040 people and was built in 1999 to become the country's national stadium and provide a grass surface in the capital Tórshavn on which international football matches could be played. Previously, the Faroe Islands national team played its home matches in the town of Toftir at the Svangaskarð stadium.
In August 2011, floodlights were introduced, these were officially used for the first time at the football match between Faroe Islands and Italy on 2 September 2011.
Coordinates: 62°1′9″N 6°46′41″W / 62.01917°N 6.77806°W / 62.01917; -6.77806
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Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt (English: The City) in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,966. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's principal administrative district. However, Valletta, like many historical city centres, forms part of a larger continuous urban agglomeration; this is often referred to as "Greater Valletta."
Valletta contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. The city is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas, though World War II left major scars on the city. The City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.
The city is named for Jean Parisot de la Valette, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565. The official name given by the Order of Saint John was Humilissima Civitas Valletta — The Most Humble City of Valletta, or Città Umilissima in Italian. The bastions, curtains and ravelins along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima — 'Most Proud'.
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Abedi Pele
Abedi Ayew ( /æˈbeɪdɪ/ /æˈjjuː/ a-BAYDI a-YEW), known professionally as Abedi Pele (born 5 November 1964) is a former Ghana International football player and captain. Having been given the nickname "Pelé" in recognition of his superior ability that evoked comparisons to Brazilian great Pelé, he found fame in France's Ligue 1 with Lille OSC and Olympique Marseille.
Three of his sons, Ibrahim, André and Jordan also became Internationals for Ghana, in which Ibrahim and André were selected for the FIFA World Cup 2010.
Abedi Ayew was born into a family in a small village called Kyebi near Dome at the northern outskirts of Accra.
Abedi Pele was one of the pioneers of African football in Europe. One of the first great African players to make an impact on European club football, he played for teams in Switzerland, Germany, Italy and most famously France where he was very instrumental in Marseille's prominence in the European Champions League during the early 1990s. Amongst his international accolades, he was often included in FIFA "All-star" selections and captained the African all-stars in their victory over their European counterparts in the Meridian Cup of 1997.
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Abou Diaby
Vassiriki Abou Diaby (French pronunciation: [abu djabi]; born 11 May 1986), commonly known as Abou Diaby, is a French footballer who plays for English club Arsenal in the Premier League and the France national team. He primarily plays as a box-to-box central midfielder, as he is adept in both attack and defence, and is described as a player who is "languid, elusive, and athletic" that can either "dribble past opponents or slip passes to team-mates". Of Ivorian descent, Diaby also possesses "superb touch" and "excellent close control", however on the negative front, he often struggles with repetitive injuries, a common inconsistency that has existed since his time in France. His physical appearance and positional preference have evoked comparisons to Arsenal legend and compatriot Patrick Vieira.
Diaby was born in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, but was raised in the Parisian commune of Aubervilliers. He began his football career playing for hometown club CM Aubervilliers. In 1998, he joined Red Star Paris. A year later, Diaby was selected to attend the Clairefontaine academy. He spent four years at the academy while simultaneously training with Red Star. A year before departing Clairefontaine, Diaby moved to professional club Paris Saint-Germain. Following an administrative error by club officials which made Diaby a free agent, he joined the academy of Auxerre. He spent two years in the club's youth academy before making his professional debut in the 2004–05 season. Diaby also played in the UEFA Cup with the club. After spending the fall portion of the 2005–06 season with Auxerre, in January 2006, Diaby signed with English club Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut with the club that same month and scored his first goal three months later against Aston Villa. Since joining Arsenal, Diaby has struggled with injuries, which included suffering a severe ankle fracture five months after joining the club.
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Aimé Jacquet
Aimé Étienne Jacquet (born November 27, 1941) is a French football coach and former player, and manager of the France national football team when they won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Aimé Jacquet was born in Sail-sous-Couzan, Loire. He began his career as an amateur player for his local club, US Couzan, while working in a factory. Scouted by Saint-Étienne, he joined Les Verts in 1959 and signed his first professional contract in 1961. One of the most successful soccer clubs of the time, Saint-Étienne, won an impressive 5 league titles and 3 French Cups in his 11 years with the club. He also played for the national side, but his international career failed to take off because Les Bleus performed poorly during his years on the team. In 1973, he left Saint-Étienne for bitter regional rivals Olympique Lyonnais , where he ended his career as a player.
Jacquet worked as a manager for clubs around France and gained an impressive list of accolades for Bordeaux during the 1980s, leading them to 3 league titles, 2 French Cups, 2 European semi-finals and 1 quarter-final. Dismissed by President Claude Bez, he left Bordeaux to hone his managerial skills with more modest teams like Montpellier and Nancy.
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Alain Boghossian
Alain Boghossian (born 27 October 1970 in Digne-les-Bains, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) is a retired French-Armenian football player and now assistant coach for the French national team.
After a sole season in the French league with Olympique de Marseille, Boghossian moved to Italy, and played in Serie A with S.S.C. Napoli, U.C. Sampdoria and Parma F.C., where he had his most successful years, alongside compatriot Lilian Thuram.
Dogged with injury several times, Boghossian's career ended in June 2003, after just five La Liga appearances with RCD Espanyol.
An international with France since 1997, Boghossian won the 1998 World Cup with France, but was injured the day before Euro 2000 started. He also appeared at the 2002 World Cup, and in total made 26 international appearances, scoring 2 goals.
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Alain Giresse
Alain Giresse (born 2 August 1952 in Langoiran, Gironde) is a retired French international footballer who played as a midfielder. He was French footballer of the year in 1982, 1983 and 1987. Nominally an attacking midfielder or central midfielder, Giresse was an intelligent playmaker who possessed fine agility and acceleration due to his short frame.
He played for the France national football team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup (fourth place) and the 1986 FIFA World Cup (third place). He was a member of the Euro 84 winning team, and alongside Michel Platini, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana formed the legendary "Carré Magique" (Magic Square) in midfield.
He has been in charge of Toulouse and the Georgian national team, among others. Giresse worked as the Head Coach of the Gabon national football team, and was named a few months after the 2010 African Cup of Nations the Mali national football team manager.
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Alain Roche
Alain Roche is a former French association football defender. He spent significant time at the Paris Saint-Germain where he notably won the European Cup Winners' Cup (C2). He earned his first cap on 19 November 1988 against Yugoslavia in a 3–2 loss.
He played for Bordeaux, Marseille, Auxerre,Paris SG and Valencia.
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Alan Mullery
Alan Patrick Mullery MBE (born 23 November 1941, Notting Hill, London) is a former English football player and manager. After enjoying a successful career with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur in the 1960s and 1970s, he became a manager working with several different clubs. He is now employed as a television pundit. He is also famous for being the first ever England player to be sent off in an international match.
Mullery was a tough but quick central midfield player who came through the ranks at Fulham as a youngster, making his debut in 1958. Within a year he was made captain after an injury to Johnny Haynes, though the special day turned into a nightmare when he scored an own goal.
After one game short of 200 for the Cottagers, Mullery joined Tottenham in March 1964 for £72,500 and settled quickly into the team. He was awarded his first England cap in Amsterdam as England drew 1-1 with Holland in December of that year.
Mullery was an experimental choice by manager Alf Ramsey and didn't feature in subsequent England squads, nor was he selected for the final 22 who competed at the 1966 World Cup. But at Tottenham, his reputation as a strong midfield general and natural leader was beginning to emerge.
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Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL (born 13 August 1970) is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team. He is considered by some as one of England's best strikers, being both Newcastle's and the Premier League's record goalscorer. After retiring as a player in 2006, Shearer worked as a television pundit for the BBC. In 2009 he briefly left his BBC role to become Newcastle United's manager in the last eight games of their 2008–09 season, in an unsuccessful attempt to save them from relegation.
A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, Shearer made his professional debut with English top-flight club Southampton in 1988, scoring a hat-trick in the process. During several years on the south coast, he became known for his classic style of play, strength and goalscoring ability; he soon received an international call-up along with a transfer to Blackburn Rovers in 1992. Shearer established himself as a player in northern England; he became a regular in the England squad, and his 34-goal tally helped Blackburn secure the Premier League title in 1994–95. He was named Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 1994 and won the PFA Player of the Year award in 1995. The 1995–96 season saw Shearer make his first Champions League appearances and finish as the top scorer in the Premier League with 31 goals. He was also top scorer at Euro 1996 with England, scoring five goals, and in the 1996–97 Premier League, with 25 goals. He scored 283 league goals in his career, including a record 260 in the Premier League, and a total of 422 in all competitions including international at all levels. Shearer has amassed a goals to game ratio of 0.667 throughout his career at every level.
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Alessandro Del Piero
Alessandro Del Piero (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandro del ˈpjɛːro]) Ufficiale OMRI (born 9 November 1974 in Conegliano, Veneto) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays for Juventus. He will be a free agent from 30 June 2012. Del Piero was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations. Del Piero was also voted in the list of best European players for the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. In the year 2000, Del Piero was the world's best-paid football player from salary, bonuses, and advertising revenue.
Along with three awards in Italy for gentlemanly conduct he has also won the Golden Foot award, which pertains to personality and playing ability.http://www.channel4. May com/sport/football_italia/sep3q.html Del Piero usually plays as a supporting-striker and occasionally between the midfield and the strikers, known in Italy as the "trequartista" position. Del Piero's playing style is regarded by critics as creative in attacking, assisting many goals as well as scoring himself, as opposed to just "goal poaching." His free-kick and penalty taking is also highly regarded. Del Piero has become famous over the years for scoring from a special "Del Piero Zone"("Gol alla Del Piero"), approaching from the left flank and curling a precise lob into the far top corner of the goal.
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Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta, Ufficiale OMRI (born 19 March 1976 in Rome), is an Italian World Cup-winning professional footballer who currently plays for AC Milan. Considered by many as one of the best centre backs to have ever played the game, he is a four-time member of the annual UEFA Team of the Year.
Nesta was raised in the Cinecittà area of Rome. He attended the Margherita Bosco primary school where he first started playing football. His older brother, Fernando, was advised to play a sport because of a back problem and enrolled at the local football club. Alessandro threw a tantrum until his father gave in and enrolled him as well, thus marking the beginning of his career.
Nesta's talent was first discovered by Francesco Rocca, then a scout for Roma, but Nesta's father, a Lazio fan, turned down the offer. In 1985, he joined Lazio's youth academy, where he rose through the ranks playing in various positions, including striker and midfielder, before settling in defence. His international career first showed signs of growth when he played for Italy's under-15 and under-16 sides. He was promoted to Lazio's senior squad in 1993, and first came to the attention of fans for being involved in a training ground accident that broke teammate Paul Gascoigne's leg.
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Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé(born 4 July 1926 in Barracas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He is most associated with Real Madrid and was instrumental in their domination of the European Champions' Cup during the 1950s, a period in which the club won the trophy in five consecutive seasons from 1956. Along with Francisco Gento, he was one of only two players to play a part in all five victories. Di Stéfano played international football mostly for Spain, but he also played for Argentina and Colombia.
Di Stéfano, nicknamed "Saeta rubia" ("blond arrow"), was a powerful forward with great stamina, tactical versatility, and vision, who could also play almost anywhere on the pitch. He is currently the 4th highest scorer in the history of Spain's top division, and Real Madrid's 2nd highest league goalscorer of all time, with 216 goals in 282 league matches between 1953 and 1964.
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Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson (born June 7, 1975) is an American professional basketball player, playing both the point guard and shooting guard positions. Iverson attended Bethel High School and was a dual-sport athlete; he earned The Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both football and basketball, and won the Division AAA Virginia State Championship in both sports. After high school, Iverson attended Georgetown University for two years, where he set the school record for career scoring average (22.9 points per game) and won Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards both years.
Following two successful years at Georgetown, Iverson declared eligibility for the 1996 NBA Draft, and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season. Iverson is an eleven-time NBA All-Star which includes winning the All-Star MVP award in 2001 and 2005.
Winning the NBA scoring title during the 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2004–05 seasons, Iverson was one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, despite his small stature (listed at 6 feet, 0 inches). His regular season career scoring average of 26.7 points per game ranks sixth all-time, and his playoff career scoring average of 29.7 points per game is second only to Michael Jordan. Iverson was also the NBA Most Valuable Player of the 2000–01 season and led his team to the 2001 NBA Finals the same season. Iverson represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He also played for the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and the Memphis Grizzlies, before returning to the 76ers for part of the 2009–10 season.
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Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch "Ally" McCoist, MBE (/məˈkɔɪst/); 24 September 1962) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the manager of Rangers in Scotland.
McCoist began his career with St Johnstone before moving to Sunderland in 1981. He returned to Scotland two years later and signed with Rangers. At Rangers, McCoist became the club's record goalscorer, netting 355 goals. In addition to this McCoist holds the Rangers records for number of league goals scored, number of Scottish League Cup goals scored and the most goals scored by a player in European competitions with 251, 54 and 21 respectively. McCoist is also third in the all-time appearance table for Rangers, having made 581 appearances for the club.
He is second in the Scottish top tier league's all time leading goalscorer having netted 282 times for St. Johnstone, Rangers and Kilmarnock between 1979 and 2001.
Largely thanks to his career at Rangers, McCoist was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame, having gained 61 international caps.
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Alou Diarra
Alou Diarra (French pronunciation: [alu djaʁa]; born 15 July 1981 in Villepinte) is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, but can also deputized as a centre back if necessary. Diarra is described as a player who is "strong, athletic and very powerful" and possesses a "combative edge" similar to former French international Patrick Vieira. Diarra is also known for his leadership ability and has served as captain of both Bordeaux domestically and France internationally.
Diarra began his career playing for clubs based in Seine-Saint-Denis, such as CSL Aulnay and hometown club FC Villepinte. In 1997, he joined Louhans-Cuiseaux and made his professional debut with the club in the 1999–2000 season while the club was playing in the second division. In 2000, Diarra was recruited by German club Bayern Munich. He spent two years playing on the club's reserve team, Bayern Munich II. In 2002, he was signed by compatriot Gérard Houllier as part of the manager's French Revolution to play for English club Liverpool. Diarra's stint at the club was deemed a disappointment as he spent both years at the club on loan in France playing for Le Havre, Bastia, and Lens.
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Andrew Cole
Andrew Alexander Cole (born 15 October 1971 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire), more commonly known by the name Andy Cole (by which he was universally known in the 1990s), but in 2000, he allegedly asked to be known as Andrew Cole. is an English former professional footballer and coach at Football League One side Huddersfield Town.
As a player he was a striker from 1988 to 2008 and is mostly notably remembered for his time in the Premier League with Manchester United, where he spent six years of his career and winning numerous trophies in the process. He also played in the top division of English football for Arsenal, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth and Sunderland, as well as in the Football League for Bristol City, Birmingham City, Burnley and Nottingham Forest.
A former England international, Cole is the second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history; in his career, Cole has scored a total of 187 Premier League goals, placing him behind Alan Shearer who has 260 goals. Cole has the distinction of being one of the few players in England to have swept all possible honours in the English game, including the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as the coveted UEFA Champions League title. Cole was also capped fifteen times for England between 1995 and 2001, scoring once, against Albania in a World Cup Qualifier.
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Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko (Ukrainian: Андрі́й Микола́йович Шевче́нко; born 29 September 1976) is a Ukrainian footballer who currently plays as a striker for Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukraine national team. He is the third-highest scorer in the history of European club competition with 67 goals as of 10 March 2011, behind Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raúl. With 175 goals scored with Milan, Shevchenko is the second most prolific player in the history of the club, and is also the all-time top scorer of the Derby della Madonnina (derby between Milan and their local rivals Internazionale) with 14 goals, as well as for the Ukrainian national team with 46 goals.
Shevchenko's career has been highlighted by many awards, the most prestigious of which was the Ballon d'Or in 2004 (becoming the third Ukrainian, after Oleg Blokhin and Igor Belanov, to receive it). He won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 with Milan, and he has also won various league and cup titles in Ukraine, Italy, and England.
In his illustrious international career, the striker led Ukraine as captain to the quarter-finals in their first ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 2006. He is capable of playing centre-forward or attacking from the left wing and is effective with set-pieces and penalties.
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André Lerond
André Lerond (born 6 December 1930 in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime), is a retired French football defender. He was part of the French national teams of the 1950s.
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Anthony Réveillère
Anthony Réveillère (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃tɔni ʁevɛjɛʁ]) (born 10 November 1979) is a French footballer. A pure product of the Rennes youth academy with whom he débuted professionally, he plays as an attacking right-back with Olympique Lyonnais and France national team. He is known for his speed and ability to play offensively if the team style allows it. He can play on both the left and right sides and is technically sound.
Réveillère made his Ligue 1 debut on 3 February 1998 playing for Rennes. After spending six years with Rennes, he made a winter move to the Spanish side Valencia CF. After half a season there, Réveillère made the move back to his birth country signing with then first-time champions Olympique Lyonnais. Since his signing, Lyon have won 5 straight Ligue 1 titles.
To those not following the Olympique Lyonnais, Réveillère's claim to European fame, rather than many of his great performances in the Champions' League including a fantastic assist to Sylvain Wiltord in his club's 3–0 defeat of the Real Madrid in 2005, is his duel with A.S. Roma's Mancini, who performed six step-overs before blasting past the bewildered defender to double Roma's advantage during the UEFA Champions League last 16 round against the French Champions. The eventual 2–0 victory for Roma was Lyon's first defeat at home in the Champions League for five years.
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Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑrjən ˈrɔbə(n)]; born 23 January 1984) is a Dutch footballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards (inside position) as a winger, and he is also known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate long-range shot. He is also a part of the Netherlands national team and has appeared at Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008 and at the 2010 World Cup.
Robben first came to prominence with Groningen, for whom he was player of the year for the 2000–01 Eredivisie season. Two years later he signed for PSV, where he became the Netherlands' Young Player of the Year and won an Eredivisie title. The following season Robben's signature was pursued by leading English clubs, and after protracted transfer negotiations he joined Chelsea in the 2004 close season.
Robben's Chelsea debut was delayed through injury, but upon returning to fitness he helped Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles, and was the FA Premier League Player of the Month in November 2005. After a third season in England which was punctuated by injury, Robben moved to Spanish club Real Madrid for €35 million. In August 2009, Robben transferred to Bayern Munich for a fee of around €25 million, scoring two goals on his debut. In his first season in Munich, Bayern won the league title, Robben's fifth league title in eight years, and got to the Champions League final. After his first season with the Bavarian club, the player was also named Footballer of the Year in Germany.
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Arsen Avetisyan
Arsen Avetisyan (Armenian: Արսեն Ավետիսյան, born 8 October 1973 in Yerevan) is an Armenian footballer. He currently plays for Gandzasar. He is a former member of the Armenian national team.
Avetisyan has played for numerous clubs during his career. In 2006, he returned to Armenia to play for his former club Pyunik and became the main forward for the team. In 2008, he transferred to Kapan to play for Gandzasar after his contract with Pyunik had expired.
Avetisyan made his debut for Armenian national team in 1992, gaining 25 caps and scoring one goal. He announced his retirement from international football in 1998.
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Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE (French pronunciation: [aʁsɛn vɛŋ(ɡ)ɛʁ]; born 22 October 1949) is a French former professional footballer, who is currently the manager of English Premier League side Arsenal. He is the club's longest serving manager and most successful, winning eleven major honours since 1996. Wenger is credited for revolutionising football in England in the late 1990s, primarily by introducing changes in training methods and player diets and implementing a philosophy of organising his teams to play entertaining football.
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Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole (born 20 December 1980) is an English footballer who plays for Chelsea and the England national team. He plays as a left back.
Cole began his career with Arsenal in 1999, going on to make 228 appearances and scoring nine goals. With Arsenal he won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, was part of the "Invincibles" team of 2003-04 and was also a UEFA Champions League runner-up. In August 2006, after a protracted transfer saga, he completed a move to rival club Chelsea. Cole won further honours with Chelsea, including another Premier League title, four more FA Cups, a League Cup and a UEFA Champions League. He has won the FA Cup seven times, more than any other player in history.
Cole has been an England international since 2001 and played at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, as well as Euro 2004. He was voted England Player of the Year in 2010. As of 2012 has won 93 caps, making him England's most capped full back and most capped black player.
Cole married singer Cheryl Cole (née Tweedy) in July 2006. They separated in February 2010; she divorced him in September 2010 after claims he had cheated on her with over five women.
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Bacary Sagna
Bacary Sagna (French pronunciation: [bakaʁi saɲa]) (born 14 February 1983) is a French footballer who plays for Arsenal and the France national football team. His cousin Ibrahima Sonko also plays in England, for Ipswich Town. Sagna is called Bac by the majority of his teammates.Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has described him as the 'best right back in the Premier League.
Sagna started his career at FC Sens. Sagna made 87 Ligue 1 appearances for Auxerre and was part of the squad that won the French Cup in 2005. He also played in the UEFA Cup in each of his three seasons with the club's first team, making a total of 17 appearances in the competition. He was also voted into the Ligue 1 team of the season for his outstanding displays at the right back position. He played in the same Auxerre team as Abou Diaby, a future Arsenal team-mate, and Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Younès Kaboul.
He has established as one of the league's best full backs and as recognition of this he is known as Mr. Reliable by fans.
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Bafétimbi Gomis
Bafétimbi Gomis (French pronunciation: [bafetimbi ɡɔmis]; born 6 August 1985) is a French footballer who currently plays as a striker for Lyon and the French national team.
Bafétimbi, also known as Baby Drogba, made thirteen appearances for Saint-Étienne in his first season with the club, scoring two league goals. In the next season, he made six goalless appearances for the club before going on loan to Troyes AC in a successful six-month loan deal, where he scored six goals in 13 games. The 2005–06 season was not as successful as the previous season as he made 24 league appearances for Saint-Étienne, scored only two league goals.
The 2006–07 season was when Gomis established himself with Saint-Étienne, scoring ten goals in 30 appearances. Gomis continued this form into the 2007–08 season where he scored an impressive 16 goals in 34 appearances.
On his future with Saint-Étienne, he said: "I am very happy to play for Saint-Étienne, but I don't know if I will still be there next season. The coach did his best for me to stay last summer, and he has improved me a lot. I am very happy with him at the helm. His stay at the club will be an essential factor for my future". He was watched by Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, and was thought to be on his transfer list in the summer preceding the 2008–09 league season. However, a move never materialized and Gomis remained at Saint-Étienne.
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Benoît Pedretti
Benoît Pedretti (born 12 November 1980 in Audincourt, Doubs) is a French association football midfielder playing for Lille. He is a deep lying playmaker well known for his wide range of passing.
He started his professional career at Sochaux, and played there from 1999 to 2004. He then played for Marseille for one season. Following his brief stint with Marseille he joined Lyon before moving once again to the club he now plays for, Auxerre. He has gained 22 caps for France.
Pedretti began his career at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 1999 at the clubs youth system and in the same year, Pedretti played his first professional match. During this season, Sochaux fails to place on the podium but the following season, becoming Pedretti, despite his inexperience, the mainstay of the team so that he takes part in all matches and D2 becomes champion in 2001 and captain of training York Return. He became a regular first team player in the 2002-2003 season when he made 35 league appearances and scored 3 goals. The team also had a strong cup run that year, reaching the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, but losing 4-1 to Monaco. Pedretti also featured in the UEFA Cup with Sochaux the following year as they defied all expectations to qualify for European football. However they struggled to make any significant impact on the competition.
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Bernard Bosquier
Bernard Bosquier (born 19 June 1942 in Thonon-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie) is a former French international footballer who played defender.
Bernard Bosquier came up from Olympique Alès, and signed with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 1961, where he became an excellent defender playing at Right Back before moving to Centre Back later at Olympique Marseille.
He quickly earned his first cap for France on 2 December 1964, aged 22, against Belgium. He was then part of France squad at the FIFA World Cup 1966 in England playing in all France's games.
Coming back from the World Cup he signed with AS Saint-Étienne, where he won his first titles and was widely regarded as the best French footballer of the 1960s, winning the French player of the year award in 1967 & 1968.
He surprisingly left Forez for Olympique Marseille along with goalkeeper Georges Carnus in 1971 winning the "double" with Olympique Marseille in his first season. He finished his football career at FC Martigues eventually making 354 appearances in 11 seasons. His goalscoring record of 43 goals in very good for a defender and was helped by his great free-kick prowess.
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Bernard Diomède
Bernard Diomède (born 23 January 1974 in Saint-Doulchard) is a retired French footballer of Guadeloupean descent. He played as a winger.
Diomède's career began with AJ Auxerre. After playing at the youth level for the Burgundy club, he made his Ligue 1 début in 1992. He played in the first team during eight years, under Guy Roux Auxerre won the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 1996. The winger scored 30 goals in 175 Ligue 1 matches for Auxerre.
In June 2000, Diomède was signed for £3m by then Liverpool F.C. manager Gérard Houllier. Making his debut against Sunderland, Diomède appeared to have scored with an overhead kick, but the goal was not given even though replays showed that the ball had crossed the line. However, he did not settle in England, and only played five games for Liverpool. In January 2003 he was loaned out to AC Ajaccio, newly-promoted in France's Ligue 1, until the end of his contract. After his spell at Liverpool had come to an end, he joined the Ligue 2 team Créteil, and then Clermont Foot in the Championnat National (3rd division). As of 18 January 2008, Bernard Diomede has announced his retirement after being without a club for the past 18 months.
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Bernard Lama
Bernard Pascal Maurice Lama (born April 7, 1963) is a French football coach and former goalkeeper. He was born in the Indre-et-Loire département but grew up in French Guiana. He spent a number of years in goal for Lille and Paris Saint-Germain. He was also a member of the France national team that won the 1998 World Cup and the Euro 2000.
Lama left Guiana in 1981 to come to metropolitan France, without his father's consent but determined to become a professional footballer, where he was first signed by Division 1 club Lille. He was loaned to Abbeville in 1982, where he failed to make a single appearance, and he returned to Lille after just one year, only to be loaned again to Besançon. He did get some play time that year, and his performances were convincing enough for Lille to agree to keep him for the following season. From then on, Lama played regularly, and even scored a goal (a penalty kick during the 8–0 win over Laval on May 31, 1989), but was never the indisputable number 1 keeper he aspired to be, and so he decided to leave. He spent one year in Metz, and then took part in Brest's last season in first division. Lama actually played every single league game during those two seasons. He then spent one year with RC Lens, where his performances attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, who offered him a five-year contract.
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Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann, OBE (born 22 October 1923) is a German former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper. He fought on the Eastern Front for three years, earning five medals including an Iron Cross. Later in the war he was transferred to the Western Front, where he was captured by the British as the war drew to a close. One of only 90 of his original 1,000-man regiment to survive the war, he was transferred to a prisoner-of-war camp in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire. Trautmann refused an offer of repatriation, and following his release in 1948 he settled in Lancashire, combining farm work with playing as goalkeeper for local football team St Helens Town.
Performances for St Helens gained Trautmann a reputation as an able goalkeeper, resulting in interest from Football League clubs. In October 1949 he signed for Manchester City, a club playing in the highest level of football in the country, the First Division. The club's decision to sign a former Axis paratrooper sparked protests, with 20,000 people attending a demonstration. Over time he gained acceptance through his performances in the City goal, playing all but five of the club's next 250 matches.
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Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner (9 December 1942 – 7 December 1997) was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road. He has also been included in the Football League 100 Legends and is a member of the English Football Hall of Fame. Bremner was voted Footballer Of the Year in 1970, and was also voted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame as one of its first inductees in 2004,. He is on the Scotland national football team roll of honour due to having won more than 50 caps for Scotland.
Bremner, a diminutive but hard midfield player, was scouted by Leeds while playing schoolboy football in Scotland and signed for the Elland Road club in 1959, the day after his 17th birthday. He was brought up in the Raploch area of Stirling where he attended the Catholic junior school, St. Mary's. He had previously been rejected by Arsenal and Chelsea for being too small, as he was only 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) tall.
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Bixente Lizarazu
Bixente Lizarazu (Basque pronunciation: [biˈʃente lis̻aˈɾas̻u]), initialy registered as Vincent Lizarazu, (born 9 December 1969 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz) is a former football left defender who played most notably for Bordeaux and Bayern Munich, as well as the French national team.
Lizarazu (nicknamed "Liza"), of Basque descent, has been capped 97 times for France (for the first time on 14 November 1992 against Finland), scoring two goals, and helped them win the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000. He has won six Bundesliga championships with Bayern Munich, as well as five German Cups, the Champions League, and the Intercontinental Cup. During his second spell with Bayern Munich in 2005 and 2006, Lizarazu wore the shirt number 69. Clarifying that it wasn't a lewd gesture, he said this was because he was born in 1969, his height is 1.69 m and he weighed 69 kg.
Before moving to Germany, Lizarazu played for Girondins de Bordeaux, where he played in the 1996 UEFA Cup Final against Bayern; and Athletic Bilbao. He said he would leave Bayern in the 2004 offseason, and eventually signed with Olympique Marseille. However, six months after signing with Marseille, he returned to Bayern Munich in January 2005.
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Bobby Charlton
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is an English former professional football player, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. A member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966. He played almost all of his club football at Manchester United, where he became renowned for his attacking instincts and passing abilities from midfield and his ferocious long-range shot. He was also well known for his fitness and stamina, allowing him to dominate the pitch. His elder brother Jack, who was also in the World Cup-winning team, is an ex-defender for Leeds United and manager.
He began to play for Manchester United's first team in 1956, and over the next two seasons gained a regular place in the team, during which time he survived the Munich air disaster of 1958 after being rescued by Harry Gregg. After helping United to win the Football League in 1965, he won a World Cup medal with England in 1966 and another Football League title with United the following year. In 1968, he captained the Manchester United team that won the European Cup, scoring two goals in the final to help his team be the first English side to win the competition. He has scored more goals for England and United than any other player. Charlton held the record for most appearances for Manchester United (758), but this was surpassed by Ryan Giggs on 21 May 2008 (the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final). Charlton also held the club record for most league appearances (606) until this too was overtaken by Ryan Giggs on 6 March 2011.
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Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE (12 April 1941 – 24 February 1993) was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and was cited by Pelé as the greatest defender that he had ever played against.
He won a total of 108 caps for the England team, which at the time of his international retirement in 1973 was a national record. This record was later broken by 125-cap goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Moore's total of 108 caps continued as a record for outfield players until 28 March 2009, when David Beckham gained his 109th cap. However, unlike Beckham, Moore played every minute of every one of his caps.
Moore attended Westbury Primary School and Tom Hood School, Leyton.
He played for both schools.
Moore joined West Ham United as a player in 1956 and, after advancing through their youth set-up, he played his first game on 8 September 1958 against Manchester United. In putting on the number six shirt, he replaced his mentor Malcolm Allison, who was suffering from tuberculosis.
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Brad Friedel
Bradley Howard "Brad" Friedel (born May 18, 1971) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
He played 82 games for the United States national team between 1992 and 2005, and represented his country at three FIFA World Cup tournaments. He is the current holder of the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 304 (as of 10 March 2012), a feat he achieved during spells at Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur.
He is also officially Aston Villa's oldest ever player, a record he achieved on 1 February 2011 by playing in the club's Premier League fixture away at Manchester United. Friedel's age of 39 years and 259 days surpassed the previous record held by Ernie Callaghan who last played for Villa against Grimsby Town in April 1947, aged 39 years and 257 days. Friedel's last appearance for Villa was on 22 May 2011 in a 1–0 home win against Liverpool, aged 40 years and 4 days.
Born Bradman Friedel in Lakewood, Ohio, Friedel grew up in Bay Village, where he attended Westerly Elementary School, Bay Middle School and Bay High School. Growing up, Friedel played several sports, including soccer, basketball and tennis and excelled in all three. He earned Bay High's Outstanding Athlete of the Year award in 1989. As an All-State basketball player in Ohio, he was invited to try out as a walk-on for UCLA's basketball team in 1990. He began as a forward on his youth soccer team before moving into goal. Friedel graduated from Bay High in 1989. In 2007, he was inducted into the Bay High Hall of Fame.
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Brandon Barklage
Brandon Barklage (born November 2, 1986 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American soccer player who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
During Barklage's youth career he primarily played for Lou Fusz S.C. In 2004 he led Scott Gallagher to a USYSA national championship. Barklage played college soccer at the University of New Mexico and at St. Louis University. He earned first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors and was named to the NSCAA All-Far West Region third team in his second year at New Mexico in 2006, and was named to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Season, the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team and the Second-team All A-10 Conference in his second year at St. Louis in 2008. During his college years he also played with Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.
Barklage was drafted in the third round (36th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United. He made his professional debut on 28 March 2009, coming on as a late substitute for Christian Gomez in DC's game against Chicago Fire. After struggling for playing time due to serious injury, D.C. United opted not to renew his contract at the end of the 2010 MLS season.
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Brian Laudrup
Brian Laudrup (born 22 February 1969) is a Danish former football player and current football commentator, pundit and analyst on TV3+. Along with former international goalkeeper Lars Høgh, Laudrup manages a football academy for marginalized youth. He is widely regarded alongside his brother, Michael, as one of the greatest Danish football players in history.
During his playing career, Laudrup represented a number of European clubs. He started with Danish club Brøndby, winning two Danish championships in the late 1980s. He then played for German and Italian clubs, winning the 1994 Serie A as well as the 1994 UEFA Champions League title with AC Milan. He was a vital part of the Rangers team which dominated the Scottish Premier League in the 1990s, winning three championships among others. He won the 1998 UEFA Super Cup with English club Chelsea, had a brief stint with FC Copenhagen in Denmark, before ending his career with Dutch club Ajax in 2000. He played 82 games and scored 21 goals for the Danish national team, and was a vital part of the Danish teams who won the Euro 1992 and 1995 Intercontinental Cup tournaments.
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Cafu
Marcos Evangelista de Moraes (born 7 June 1970), better known as Cafu, is a former Brazilian footballer. He is the most internationally capped male Brazilian player and also made history playing for São Paulo, Roma and Milan. He is the only player ever to have appeared in three World Cup finals, having won two, 1994 and 2002.
Cafu was named by Pelé as one of the 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. He is best known for his tireless overlapping runs.
One of six children, Cafu was raised in the Jardim Irene favela of São Paulo. He was an average student as he soon discovered his love for football and preferred playing over studying. At the age of seven, he was able to attend a football academy and soon moved up to the junior sides of Nacional-SP, Portuguesa and Itaquaquecetuba. He also played futsal for two years.
In the early 1980s, he could not get his foot in the door as he was rejected from the youth squads of Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos, Atlético Mineiro, and Portuguesa. It was not until 1988 that he made the youth squad of hometown club São Paulo, and subsequently won the Copa São Paulo youth tournament that year, but he warmed the bench the next season as São Paulo won the 1989 Campeonato Paulista.
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Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez (born Carlos Alberto Martínez on 5 February 1984) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City. He has previously played for Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United and Manchester United. He transferred to Manchester City from United in the 2009 summer transfer window, becoming the first player to move between the two rival clubs since Terry Cooke in 1999. His energy and goal scoring rate has since made him an indispensable player for the club in the eyes of fellow players and media alike.
His was promoted to captain at the beginning of the 2010–11 season by manager Roberto Mancini. In 2011, Tévez sought a transfer away from Manchester, citing family reasons and Sergio Agüero was drafted in as a replacement. However he remains a City player after his family moved back to Manchester with manager Roberto Mancini believing Tévez will stay for the foreseeable future. His career has been dogged by a long-standing relationship with Media Sports Investments, the company which owned the rights of Tévez, and several other players and coaches. This eventually resulted in West Ham United being fined over issues regarding third-party ownership. He has made 59 appearances for the Argentina national team, scoring 13 goals.
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Cesc Fàbregas
Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas Soler (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsɛsk ˈfaβɾəɣəs]; born 4 May 1987) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.
Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16. Following injuries to key midfielders in the 2004–05 season, he went on to establish himself as Arsenal's starting central midfielder, playmaker, and captain. He broke several of the club's records in the process, earning a reputation as one of the best young players for his position. In 2011, he returned to Barcelona for an initial fee of £29m (€34m) with a further £4m (€5m) in variables.
In international football, the Spaniard's national career began when he represented the Under-17 side at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. As a result of his club performances, he was called up to the senior squad in 2006. He has played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and 2010 FIFA World Cup, helping Spain to become eventual winners in the two most recent tournaments.
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Chris Sutton
Christopher Roy "Chris" Sutton (born 10 March 1973) is an English football manager and former player.
In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues. He was capped once by England.
Sutton played principally in midfield or attack, although usually in the latter role as a striker. A very physical player, Sutton was a fairly prolific goalscorer throughout his career and was joint top goalscorer (with Dion Dublin and Michael Owen) in the FA Premier League 1997–98 season. He is also known as being one of the foremost exponents of the glancing header. He scored many a goal with this technique which made him particularly effective from set-pieces.
In September 2009, Sutton was appointed manager of Lincoln City, but he resigned due to personal reasons twelve months later.
Sutton was born in Nottingham, the son of Mike Sutton, formerly a footballer with Norwich City. His younger brother John also became a footballer, and played for a number of clubs in both England and Scotland. As of February 2007, Sutton was married with five children.
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Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland "Chris" Waddle (born 14 December 1960 in Felling, Tyne and Wear) is a former footballer from England. During his professional career he played for clubs including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday in England, and Olympique de Marseille in France. Waddle earnt 62 caps for the England national football team between 1985 and 1991, and was a member of England's squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, where he missed a penalty in England's shoot-out defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.
Waddle currently works as a co-commentator for ESPN's Premier League football coverage, and for BBC 5 Live.
Waddle began his footballing career with Pelaw Juniors, moving on to Whitehouse SC, Mount Pleasant SC, HMH Printing, Pelaw SC, Leam Lane SC and Clarke Chapman before joining Tow Law Town before the start of the 1978-79 season. He worked during the day at Skipton Financial Services.[citation needed]
While working in food processing, Waddle had unsuccessful trials with Sunderland and Coventry City. He joined Newcastle United in July 1980 for £1,000.
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Christian Karembeu
Christian Karembeu (born 3 December 1970 in Lifou, New Caledonia) is a retired French international footballer and current scout for Arsenal Football Club. He is also part of a Paris-based consortium to expand the A-League with a Pacific Island team.
During his career Karembeu played for Nantes (1990–95), Sampdoria (1995–97), Real Madrid (1997–2000), Middlesbrough (2000–01), Olympiakos (2001–04), Servette Genève (2004–05), Bastia (2005). With Real Madrid, he won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000, starting in the former but remaining on the bench for the latter. He last played midfield for Bastia in the French Ligue 1. He announced his retirement on 13 October 2006, although he added that he would "be having a kickabout from time to time". The France legend also took part in a friendly competition for Kettering Town FC with Gianfranco Zola, Les Ferdinand and Gus Poyet.
Born in the French territory of New Caledonia, he was a vital player in the French team that won the 1998 World Cup. In Euro 2000, he was on the squad as well but played only one game. He compiled 53 caps in his career, earning his first one on 14 November 1992 against Finland in a 2–1 victory.
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Christian Vieri
Christian Vieri (born 12 July 1973 in Bologna) is a retired Italian footballer who played as a centre forward.
Vieri was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations. For a number of years he was regarded as one of the finest strikers in Europe, leading to him becoming the world's most expensive footballer in 1999 when Internazionale paid Lazio £32 million for his services. This record has since been broken only a handful of times.
Somewhat of a footballing nomad, Vieri played for no fewer than 12 clubs throughout his career. Most notable were his spells at Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Lazio and Inter; with the latter he hit the net on more than 100 occasions. Vieri has often been described as an old fashioned centre forward, due to his physical presence and outstanding aerial ability, he is the all time top scorer of headed goals in Italian league history.
As well as picking up several winners medals during his career, Vieri also claimed many individual honours including the Pichichi and Capocannoniere (top scorer) titles in Spain and Italy and Italian Footballer of the Year twice. He is one of Italy's highest ever World Cup scorers with 9 goals from 9 matches at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups respectively.
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Christophe Dugarry
Christophe Jérôme Dugarry (born 24 March 1972) is a former French international footballer. His clubs include Bordeaux, Milan, Barcelona, Marseille, Birmingham City and Qatar SC. He was also a member of the France team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Dugarry came through the youth ranks at Bordeaux alongside future France teammates Bixente Lizarazu and Zinedine Zidane. Dugarry spent eight years at Bordeaux, hitting 34 goals in 187 appearances. His two goals against AC Milan in the 1996 UEFA Cup quarter finals helped to seal a move to the Italians for the 1996–97 season.
Dugarry managed just 5 goals in 27 appearances for Milan, before joining Barcelona the following season. After just seven appearances he returned to France, having spells with Marseille and returning to Bordeaux, where he played another 65 games, scoring 9 goals. In 2003, he joined Birmingham City on loan. After a run of 5 goals in 5 matches cemented the club's Premiership status, Dugarry joined the club on a permanent deal but could only manage a single goal in 15 appearances before leaving the club by mutual consent, citing family reasons. He signed a one-year contract with Qatar SC, where he made no appearances. Following this, he retired from football in 2005. He has since been inducted in to Birmingham City's Hall of Fame.
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Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Clyde Seedorf OON (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈklɛ.rəns ˈseɪ̯.dɔrf], born 1 April 1976 in Paramaribo, Suriname) is a Dutch professional footballer who is currently a free agent. Seedorf is the first player to have won the Champions League four times and with three different clubs – Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2003 and 2007.
Seedorf started his career as a right midfielder for Ajax during the early 1990s. He made his professional debut on 29 November 1992 against Groningen at the age of 16 years and 242 days, making him the youngest debutant for Ajax ever. In his early career, he played a role in Ajax's Eredivisie winning years of 1994 and 1995. He was also a key member during Ajax's 1995 UEFA Champions League winning campaign. After making his name in the Ajax side, Seedorf had one season with Sampdoria, scoring three goals.
Seedorf moved to Real Madrid in 1996, where he was "virtually ever present in the Blancos team for the first three seasons". In his first season he helped that team regain the La Liga title; in his second season (1997–1998), he played a major role in the team's Champions League success, as Real Madrid secured a 1–0 victory over Juventus in the final. It was the second Champions League title of his career.
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Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélelé Sinda (French pronunciation: [klod makelele]; born 18 February 1973) is a retired football player and coach who is currently assistant coach of Carlo Ancelotti in Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Prior to joining Paris Saint-Germain, Makélélé played for Nantes, Olympique de Marseille, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea. In homage to Makélélé, many fans and pundits alike have dubbed the defensive midfield position as the "Makélélé Role."
Makélelé was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). "Makelele" means "noises" in Lingala, one of the languages spoken in Congo DR.
He moved to Savigny-le-Temple, a suburb of Paris in Seine-et-Marne, in 1977, when he was four years old. His father, André-Joseph Makélelé, was also a football player. He represented the Congo DR, and ended his career in the Belgian First Division.
Makélélé had never left Savigny-le-Temple until the age of 16, when he joined the training centre of Brest-Armorique in Brittany. According to him, it wasn't easy to adapt to the new life in Brest. The training academy life was tough, especially as it was the first time he was far from his family.
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Cliff Bastin
Clifford Sydney Bastin (14 March 1912 – 4 December 1991) was an English football player.
Born in Heavitree near Exeter, Bastin started his career at Exeter City, making his début for the club in 1928, at the age of 16. Despite only playing 17 games and scoring 6 goals in his time at Exeter, he was spotted by Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman in a match against Watford; Chapman was attending to keep tabs on a Watford player, but the 17-year-old Bastin's ability was so evident that Chapman decided to sign him at the end of the 1928-29 season.
Bastin played the rest of his career at Arsenal, and formed an integral part of the side that dominated English football in the 1930s. He scored 178 goals in 395 games, which made him Arsenal's all-time top goalscorer from 1939 until 1997, when his total was surpassed by Ian Wright. In 2005 Thierry Henry passed both Bastin and Wright's totals, thus meaning Bastin is currently (as of May 2012) Arsenal's third-top goalscorer of all time. His record of 150 league goals for Arsenal stood for slightly longer, until it was equalled by Thierry Henry on 14 January 2006 and surpassed on 1 February.
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Clive Allen
Clive Darren Allen (born 20 May 1961) is a retired English footballer, a prolific scorer for a number of clubs.
Allen is the son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Les Allen, who was a member of the legendary team which won the First Division title and FA Cup "double" in 1961 (the Cup success occurred exactly two weeks before Allen Jnr's birth). He is the brother of former footballer Bradley Allen and cousin of football manager Martin Allen and ex West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paul Allen. He holds the unique distinction of playing for more London based football clubs than any other footballer in history.
A fearfully accurate centre forward, Allen joined Queens Park Rangers as a youth player, making his debut in 1978 at the age of 17. Allen scored a hat trick on his full debut against Coventry City in a 5-1 win, but QPR were relegated at the end of that season and Allen became a first-choice striker in their quest to return to the top flight, scoring a phenomenal 28 goals in 1979-80, though QPR failed to win promotion. This prompted Arsenal to make a bid of £1,250,000 for him in the summer of 1980, which QPR accepted. At the time, it was the highest fee to be paid for a teenager by any British club.
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Colin Todd
Colin Todd (born 12 December 1948) is an English football manager and former player. As a player, he made more than 600 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sunderland, Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Luton Town, and also played in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He won two Football League titles with Derby County during the 1970s, and won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1975. He was capped by England on 27 occasions.
He has managed English league clubs Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, Swindon Town, Derby County, Bradford City, Darlington and Danish Superliga side Randers FC. He took Bolton Wanderers to the Division One title with 98 points and 100 goals, although he was unable to establish them in the Premier League.
The young Todd had opportunities to sign for Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, but chose Sunderland "because of their tradition for youth". He played a major part in the Sunderland youth team's 1967 victory in the FA Youth Cup, led by coach Brian Clough. By then Todd was already a first-team regular. He made his debut as substitute for Charlie Hurley in a 1–1 draw away against Chelsea in the First Division on 10 September 1966, and by mid-season had established himself in the starting eleven. He missed only three league games in the next three seasons, at the end of which Sunderland were relegated from the top flight. After 191 appearances and three goals in all competitions for Sunderland, Todd rejoined Clough at Derby County in February 1971.
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Connor Lade
Connor Lade (born November 16, 1989 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American soccer player currently playing for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.
Lade attended Morristown High School and received numerous accolades during his high school career. In December 2007 he joined the New York Red Bulls Academy and in 2008 decided to attend St. John's University. Lade was a four year starter for St. Johns and helped the Red Storm to the 2011 Big East tournament title.
During his time in college he remained with the Red Bulls Academy and was a member of the New York Red Bull NPSL squad.
Lade was signed by New York Red Bulls as a Homegrown Player on 5 December 2011. Lade made his professional debut for New York on 14 April 2012 in a 2-2 draw with San Jose Earthquakes. On 29 May 2012 Lade scored his first goal for New York in a 3-0 victory over the Charleston Battery in the third round of the US Open Cup.
During his college years Lade earned a call-up to the US U-20 national team camp, however he did not make any appearances for the team.
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Corey Hertzog
Corey Hertzog (born August 1, 1990 in Reading, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer player currently playing for Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Professional Division on loan from New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Hertzog attended Antietam Middle Senior H.S. scoring 107 career goals before enrolling at the Pennsylvania State University in 2008. He started 5 games and played in 17 his freshman year. In 2009, during his Sophomore year he played in all 22 games for the Nittany Lions, starting 17 and notching a team high 11 goals. His performance in his junior year led him to receive national attention by Major League Soccer. In 2010 he was the NCAA leader in goals (20), points (46), and points per game (2.09).
Hertzog played with Reading United in the USL Premier Development League during his 2010 collegiate off-season.
On December 22, 2010 Hertzog announced his intention to forgo his senior year at Penn State and become eligible for the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. He also announced that he signed a Generation Adidas contract. Generation Adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. According to Soccer By Ives, Philadelphia Union tried to sign Hertzog to a Homegrown Player contract but were unsuccessful. Instead Hertzog decided to enter the draft. He was drafted 13th overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls. He made his professional debut on March 26, 2011 in a 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew On June 28, 2011 in his first start for New York, Hertzog scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 victory over FC New York in the US Open Cup.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro,OIH, (born 5 February 1985), commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer worth £80 million (€93.9 million/$131.6 million). In addition, his contract with Real Madrid, in which he is paid €12 million per year, makes him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, and his buyout clause is valued at €1 billion as per his contract.
Ronaldo began his career as a youth player for Andorinha, where he played for two years, before moving to C.D. Nacional. In 1997, he made a move to Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal. Ronaldo's precocious talent caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who signed him for £12.24 million (€15 million) in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honour, the FA Cup. He also played at Euro 2004 with Portugal and scored his first international goal in the opening game of the tournament against Greece, in addition to helping Portugal reach the final. He was featured in the UEFA Euro All-Star Team of this competition.
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Cédric Carrasso
Cédric Carrasso (French pronunciation: [sedʁik kaʁaso]; born 30 December 1981) is a French footballer, who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Bordeaux, and the French national team.
Carrasso joined the Marseille youth system at the age of thirteen and, despite leaving for Avignon for one year in 1998, it was there that he signed his first professional contract. Before he had a chance to play for the first team, he was loaned out to Crystal Palace for the 2001–02 season, where he only got to play one match. Upon his return to Marseille, Carraso made his debut for Marseille in a 2-0 win over Montpellier on 2 November 2002, where he got his first clean sheet in his professional debut and later on he replaced Vedran Runje for a couple of games, but seriously injured himself in an exhibition match against France 98 and was sidelined for the whole of the 2003–04 season. He was then loaned out again, this time to Guingamp, for the following season, and there he became the number one keeper for the first time in his career.
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Dane Richards
Dane Richards (born 14 December 1983 in Montego Bay) is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Richards was a member of the youth system of Jamaican National Premier League side Seba United and while attending Cornwall College in Montego Bay, where he won the DaCosta Cup and Oliver Shield. He moved to the United States to play college soccer in 2003.
Richards played two years at San Jacinto College in Houston, where he scored a record 45 goals in two years, including a school-record 25 as a sophomore.
He then moved on to Clemson University, where he led the team in scoring as a junior with 12 goals and nine assists. Richards scored the game-winning goal in three NCAA Tournament matches and scored in Clemson's 2-1 loss to New Mexico in the College Cup semifinals. As a senior in 2006, Richards had 11 goals and nine assists in 19 games, as Clemson lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Richards was named a second-team all-American.
Richards was drafted in the second round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls, establishing himself as the first team right winger for the club. On 5 May 2007, Richards scored his first MLS regular season goal in a 3-3 tie at Real Salt Lake. He concluded his first MLS season appearing in 28 matches, including 27 starts, in which he managed two goals and six assists. His assist total was second on the club and led all league rookies. At the conclusion of the season Richards was selected as one of three nominees for league rookie of the year honors.
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Daniel Passarella
Daniel Alberto Passarella (born 25 May 1953 in Chacabuco, Buenos Aires province) is a former Argentine football centre back and former manager of the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams. He was captain of the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup. He is the current President of River Plate after winning the elections by a very close margin in December 2009.
Passarella started his career at Sarmiento of Junin, Buenos Aires province. From there he joined River Plate, then Fiorentina of Italy and briefly, Internazionale. After his successful spell in the Serie A, he returned to River Plate, where he played until his retirement.
He was called "El Gran Capitán" (the Great Captain, nickname of Argentine Independence heroe José de San Martín) or "El Kaiser" (an allusion to Franz Beckenbauer) because of his leadership ability, his passion, and his organisational prowess on the field. He was a defender who often joined the attack, and helped generate and finish offensive plays. At some point, he became football's top scoring defender, with 134 goals in 451 matches (that record was since broken by Dutch defender Ronald Koeman).
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Danny Blanchflower
Robert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower (10 February 1926 – 9 December 1993) was a former Northern Ireland international footballer and football manager, and journalist who captained Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during its double-winning season of 1961. He was ranked as the greatest player in Spurs history by The Times in 2009. He is remembered as one of the great tacticians in the history of the game, renowned for his passing, and as an outstanding right-half.
Blanchflower was born on 10 February 1926 in the Bloomfield district of Belfast. His mother had played as a centre-forward on a women's football team. He was educated at Ravenscroft public elementary school and was awarded a scholarship to Belfast College of Technology. His younger brother, Jackie, played for Manchester United, and was one of the survivors of the Munich air disaster.
He left early to become an apprentice electrician at Gallaher's cigarette factory in Belfast. He also joined the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) and in 1943 lied about his age in order to join the RAF. As a trainee navigator he was sent on a course to St Andrews University (where he acquired a lifelong love of golf) and in the spring of 1945 was posted to Canada for further training. By 1946, aged 20, he was back in Belfast, back at Gallaher's, and building a reputation as an outstanding footballer.
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Darko Pančev
Darko Pančev (Macedonian: Дарко Панчев [ˈdarkɔ ˈpantʃɛf] ( listen); born 7 September 1965 in Skopje) is a retired Yugoslav and Macedonian footballer, and winner of the Golden Boot award in 1991.
Pančev was the highest scorer in top-division European football in the 1990–91 season with 34 goals, and should have won the European Golden Boot award. However, UEFA decided to make the competition unofficial for the season because of suspect scoring sprees in Cyprus. Pančev did not get the prize at the time, but received it fifteen years later on 3 August 2006 in Skopje. The Golden Boot was presented at a special gala by Michel Platini, Dragan Stojković and Dragan Džajić.
His playing career started in 1982 at Vardar Skopje where he quickly developed into one of the most feared strikers in the Yugoslav First League, becoming league top scorer in the 1983-84 season. The skill and seeming ease of his goal scoring exploits in Skopje made him a target for bigger Yugoslav clubs.
During summer 1988, Pančev was snapped up by Red Star Belgrade, which beat cross-town rivals FK Partizan to the twenty-two-year-old's signature. Another talented youngester Dejan Savićević also arrived to the club during the same transfer window, but both promptly got sent to serve the mandatory Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) stint that kept them off the pitch for the entire league season.
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David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE (born 2 May 1975) is an English association footballer who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy. He has played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, and the England national team for which he holds the appearance record for an outfield player.
Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United, making his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17. During his time there, United won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He left Manchester United to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, where he remained for four seasons, clinching the La Liga championship in his final season with the club. In January 2007, it was announced that Beckham would leave Real Madrid for the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy, signing a five-year contract with them on 1 July 2007. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with Milan in 2009 and 2010. On 20 November 2011, he joined an elite group of players to have won three league titles in three different countries, when Los Angeles won their third MLS Cup.
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David Dein
David Barry Dein (born 7 September 1943) is the former vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club and former vice-chairman of the Football Association. He was also the President of the G-14 group of European football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA and UEFA including UEFA's Club Competition Committee and Executive Committee. In August 2007 he sold his shares in Arsenal F.C. to London-based, Russian-owned business company Red and White Holdings. He was also the International President of England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.
He was Vice-Chairman of Arsenal between 1983 and 2007. He was appointed when he bought a 16.6% share of the club for £292,000 (he later sold a significant proportion to co-director Danny Fiszman) At the time of Dein's purchase of the shares in Arsenal back in 1983, Peter Hill Wood Arsenal's Chairman described Dein as "crazy" to invest his money in the club stating that "to all intents and purposes it's dead money". Dein built up his shares until he owned 42% of the club in 1991. During his time at the club, he was responsible for football matters taking an active role in the transfer of players and contract negotiations where he was able to use his extensive network of football contacts. Dein was behind the appointment of the then little known Arsène Wenger to the manager's job in 1996; under Wenger Arsenal have won the FA Premier League three times and the FA Cup four times, and Dein strongly backed him and his transfer wishes throughout.
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David Ginola
David Desire Marc Ginola (English pronunciation: /ˈdʒɪnəlɑː/) (born 25 January 1967) is a French former international football player who has also worked as an actor and model.
Ginola was born in Gassin, Var. He played football for ten seasons in his native France before moving to England in 1995, when he signed for Newcastle United. He stayed in the country until retiring seven years later, having also turned out for Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton. Since his retirement from the game in 2002 he has become involved in several new pursuits, including acting.
Ginola played at club level for Toulon (1985–88), Racing Levallois 92 (1988–90), Brest (1990–92), Paris Saint-Germain (1992–95), Newcastle United (1995–97), Tottenham Hotspur (1997–2000), Aston Villa (2000–2002) and Everton (2002).
Ginola made his first senior appearance for Sporting Toulon as an eighteen year-old in a 1985 2–0 victory away at Metz. He played fourteen times in his first season, and by 1986 he was a regular in the Toulon line-up.
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David Trezeguet
David Sergio Trezeguet (French pronunciation: [david sɛʀʒjo tʀezeˈɡɛ]) (born 15 October 1977) is a World Cup winning French-Argentinian international footballer who plays for hometown club River Plate.
He previously played for Juventus in the Italian Serie A for ten years and for the French national team. He is the highest scoring non-Italian ever to play for Juventus. He is perhaps most famous for scoring the golden goal in the Euro 2000 final against Italy, which gave France a 2–1 win in extra time.
Trezeguet was born in Rouen, Upper Normandy, France, and grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the son of former French-Argentine footballer Jorge Trezeguet, who now works as his agent. David and his wife Béatrice have two children together: Aaron and Noraan. His wife is from Alicante, Spain.
At club level, Trezeguet played for Club Atlético Platense and Club Atlético River Plate in the Argentine Primera División, AS Monaco in Ligue 1, Juventus in Serie A and Hércules CF in La Liga.
In 1998, Trezeguet scored the fastest ever goal in terms of velocity in UEFA Champions League history in a quarter-final match against Manchester United. The shot that resulted in a goal was clocked at 97.6 mph (157.3 km/h).[citation needed] With AS Monaco, he won Ligue 1 twice and was named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year in 1998. He scored a total of 60 goals in 113 appearances for the French club and it was here that he made his name as a potent goalscoring poacher.
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Davor Šuker
Davor Šuker listen (help·info) IPA: [dâʋɔr ʃǔːkɛr], (born 1 January 1968 in Osijek) is a retired Croatian footballer. He played as a striker for a number of European clubs as well as the Croatian national team, where he is the all-time top goal scorer with 45 goals.
Šuker was born in Osijek. His parents came there from village of Lištani in Livno municipality. Šuker began his footballing career in his hometown, playing for the local first division team Osijek as a 16-year-old. During his final season there, he became the league's top goal scorer. He signed for a bigger club, Dinamo Zagreb in 1989. The war in Croatia halted a promising season for the 21-year-old, eventually resulting in Šuker's move to Sevilla in 1991.
In La Liga Šuker was highly regarded, showing consistent form with Seville and being amongst the top goal scorers for consecutive seasons. He signed with Real Madrid 5 years later, and was again amongst the league's top scorers, which helped Madrid claim the La Liga title, the Supercup trophy and win the Champions League during his tenure there.
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Dax McCarty
Dax McCarty (born April 30, 1987 in Winter Park, Florida) is an American soccer player who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
McCarty played college soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2004-05. He appeared in 45 games in two years, scoring 4 goals and assisting on 11. In 2005 he was named the All-ACC first team. He also played in the USL Premier Development League for his hometown club, Ajax Orlando Prospects.
Opting to forego his last two years at North Carolina, he was drafted in the first round, 6th overall, of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. McCarty made his MLS debut in the 85th minute in a 3-0 loss against Chivas USA on July 1, 2006. Dax had his best season as a professional in 2007 making his first start against the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-1 victory on April 12, 2007. He also scored his first career MLS goal against the Galaxy on September 23, 2007 He finished the 2007 regular season leading the team with seven assists. In 2008, McCarty appeared in 17 games making eight starts for FC Dallas while recording two assists. Dax underwent sports hernia surgery in Germany on May 15, 2008. McCarty played an important role in the FC Dallas 2009 season, sitting in central midfield as a deep playmaker. During the 2010 season McCarty was once again a key player for FC Dallas helping the club reach MLS Cup 2010.
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Demetrio Albertini
Demetrio Albertini (born 23 August 1971) is a former professional Italian football midfielder who spent most of his career with AC Milan of the Italian Serie A, winning five Serie A titles and three UEFA Champions League titles with that club. He also played for FC Barcelona in the Spanish League before retiring winning La Liga that year.
Also a member of the Italian national team, Albertini was part of the squads that competed at the World Cups of 1994 and 1998, as well as the 1996 and 2000 European Championships.
Albertini, born in Besana in Brianza, province of Milan, emerged as a product of AC Milan's youth system, and went on to spend 14 highly successful years with the club after debuting as a 17-year-old in 1989. He spent part of the 1990/91 season on loan at Padova Calcio, but established himself in the Milan side in 1991/92 and went on to make almost 300 appearances for the club, claiming three successive Serie A titles between 1992 and 1994 and further scudetti in 1996 and 1999. In addition, he made 41 Champions League appearances, helping the Rossoneri reach three consecutive finals between 1993 and 1995, lifting the trophy in 1994. He also won three UEFA Super Cups.
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Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Bergkamp (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdɛnɪs ˈbɛrχkɑmp] ( listen); born 10 May 1969) is a Dutch former professional footballer who is the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. Originally a wide midfielder and subsequently a main striker, he was deployed as a second striker, where he remained throughout his playing career. Bergkamp has been described by Jan Mulder as having "the finest technique" of any Dutch international and a "dream for a striker" by teammate Thierry Henry.
The son of an electrician, Bergkamp was born in Amsterdam and played as an amateur in the lower leagues. He was spotted by Ajax at the age of 11 and made his professional debut in 1986. Good form led to an international call-up a year later, attracting the attention of several European clubs. Bergkamp signed for Italian club Internazionale in 1993 where he had two disappointing seasons, before joining Arsenal in 1995. It was at Arsenal where Bergkamp rejuvenated his career, helping the club to win three Premier League titles, four FA Cup trophies and reach the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, which marked his last appearance as a player. With the Netherlands national team, Bergkamp surpassed Faas Wilkes's record to become the Netherlands' top goalscorer of all time in 1998, later surpassed by Patrick Kluivert.
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Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter ( /ˈdʒiːtər/; born June 26, 1974) is an American baseball shortstop who has played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. A five-time World Series champion, Jeter has been a central figure of the Yankees during their success of the 1990s and 2000s due to his clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning. He is the Yankees' all-time career leader in hits (3,155), games played (2,472), stolen bases (342), and at bats (10,066). His accolades include twelve All-Star selections, five Gold Glove Awards, four Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and the Roberto Clemente Award. Jeter is the all-time MLB leader in hits by a shortstop, and the 28th player to reach 3,000 hits.
The Yankees drafted Jeter out of high school in 1992, and he debuted in the major leagues in 1995. The following year, he became the Yankees' starting shortstop, won the Rookie of the Year Award, and helped the team win the 1996 World Series. Jeter continued to contribute during the team's championship seasons of 1998–2000; he finished third in voting for the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1998, recorded multiple career-high numbers in 1999, and won both the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP Awards in 2000. He has consistently placed among the AL leaders in hits and runs scored for the past ten years, and since 2003 has served as the Yankees' team captain.
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Didier Deschamps
Didier Claude Deschamps (French pronunciation: [didje deˈʃɑ̃]; born 15 October 1968 in Bayonne) is a retired French footballer and current manager of Marseille. He played as a defensive midfielder. As an international, he assisted France with victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Deschamps captained France to victory in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil. After a short passage at rugby in the Biarritz Olympique Deschamps started his football career at an amateur club, Aviron Bayonnais whilst still at school. His potential was spotted by scouts from Nantes, for whom he signed in April 1983. Deschamps made his league debut on 27 September 1985. Transferred to Marseille in 1989, Deschamps spent a season with Bordeaux in 1990 before returning to Marseille. In this second spell with Marseille Deschamps gained his first honours.
Receiving his first international call-up from Michel Platini on 29 April 1989 against Yugoslavia, Deschamps started his international career in what was a dark time for the French team as they failed to qualify for the World Cup in both 1990 and 1994. When new team coach Aimé Jacquet began to rebuild the team for Euro 1996, he initially selected Eric Cantona as captain. After Cantona earned a year-long suspension in January 1995, the make-up of the team changed dramatically, with veterans Cantona, Jean-Pierre Papin, and David Ginola being dropped in favour of younger players such as Zinedine Zidane. Deschamps, as one of the few remaining veterans, was chosen to lead what would later be called the "Golden Generation". He first captained France in 1996 in a friendly match against Germany as a warmup for Euro 96. During that tournament, held in England, he led them all the way to the semi-finals, their best finish in an international tournament since the 1986 World Cup. In 1998, Deschamps captained France as they won 1998 World Cup on home soil in Paris, holding an integral role in the team.
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Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily (French pronunciation: [didje dʁɔɡba]; born 11 March 1978) is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a centre forward for Chelsea. He is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team (Ivory Coast). He has scored more goals for Chelsea than any other foreign player and is currently Chelsea's fourth highest goal scorer of all time. His key attributes include his physical strength, ability in the air, and his ability to retain possession of the ball.
After playing in youth teams, Drogba made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans. A late bloomer, he signed his first professional contract aged 21; it was not until the 2002–03 season that he realized his potential, scoring 17 goals in 34 appearances in Ligue 1 for Guingamp. During the same season he made his first international appearance for Côte d'Ivoire, in September, and scored his first international goal the following February. He moved to Olympique de Marseille in 2003 for £3.3 million. His scoring success at Olympique de Marseille continued, finishing as the third highest scorer in Ligue 1 with 19 goals and helped the club to reach the 2004 UEFA Cup Final.
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Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo foɾˈlan]; born 19 May 1979) is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.
Forlán was born into a family of footballers; his father Pablo having played for São Paulo (1970–1975) and Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 World Cups and his maternal grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazo, for Independiente in Argentina.
Forlán joined Independiente himself after rising through their youth team, and after a successful four-year spell, he signed for Manchester United of England's Premier League. His form for United was not as successful as at Independiente, although he won the Premier League in 2003 and the FA Cup in 2004. In the Summer of 2004 he moved on to La Liga side Villarreal.
In his first season in Spanish football with Villarreal, Forlán scored 25 league goals and won the Pichichi Trophy. After two more successful seasons with Villarreal, Forlán joined Atlético Madrid, where he once again became the league's top scorer, and became the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice since Ronaldo achieved this feat in 2003–04. Forlán scored in Atlético's 2010 Europa League final victory against Fulham. In 2011 he joined Internazionale of Italy's Serie A.
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Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona Franco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo maɾaˈðona]; born 30 October 1960) is a retired Argentine football player, and current manager of Al Wasl FC in Dubai. Many experts, football critics, former and current players consider Maradona the greatest football player of all time. He won FIFA Player of the Century award which was to be decided by votes on their official website, their official magazine and a grand jury.
He is the only player in football history who set world-record contract fees twice. The first, when he was transferred to Barcelona for a then world record £5m and the second, when he was transferred to Napoli for another record fee £6.9m. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys. In his international career, playing for Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals.
He played in four FIFA World Cup tournaments, including the 1986 tournament, where he captained Argentina and led them to their victory over West Germany in the final, winning the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player. In that same tournament's quarterfinal round, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history, though for two different reasons. The first goal was via an unpenalized handball known as the "Hand of God", while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted "The Goal of the Century" by FIFA.com voters in 2002.
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Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov (Bulgarian: Димитър Иванов Бербатов, [diˈmitɐr bɛrˈbatɔf]); born 30 January 1981) is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of wins by Hristo Stoichkov.
Born in Blagoevgrad, Berbatov started out with home-town club Pirin before joining CSKA Sofia as a 17-year-old in 1998. He was signed by Bayer Leverkusen of Germany in January 2001 and played in his first Champions League final 18 months later, coming on as a substitute in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final, which Leverkusen lost 2–1 to Real Madrid. After five-and-a-half years with Leverkusen, he joined English club Tottenham Hotspur in July 2006, where he spent two years before moving to Manchester United. He played in his second Champions League final in 2009, during his side's 2–0 defeat against FC Barcelona. Berbatov is the first non-Englishman in Premier League history to have scored five goals in a single match, having done so in Manchester United's 7–1 win over Blackburn Rovers in November 2010.
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Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff (born February 28, 1942 in Mariano del Friuli) is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.
Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the history of the sport among the very best in this role, being named the 3rd greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS behind Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks. He holds the record for the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1142 minutes) set between 1972 and 1974. With 112 caps, he is the fourth most capped player for the Azzurri. In 2004 Pelé named him as one of the 125 greatest living footballers.
After retiring as a footballer, Zoff went on to become coach for the Italian national team and several other Italian clubs.
Dino Zoff was born in Mariano del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy), and was elected in a poll by the IFFHS as the third best goalkeeper of the 20th Century - after Lev Yashin (1st) and Gordon Banks (2nd).
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Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin (born 22 April 1969 in Leicester, Leicestershire), is a retired English footballer. He was capped four times for England. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City, but made his name at Cambridge United as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an accomplished defender. He had spells with Norwich City (twice), Cambridge United, Manchester United, Coventry City, Millwall, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Celtic.
Away from football, Dublin is also an accomplished amateur percussionist. He invented a percussion instrument, which he called "The Dube", and in 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene in a gig at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich.
Whilst at school in Leicestershire, Dublin played for Wigston Fields; the local team in a small South Leicester Town. Dublin then went on to begin his professional footballing career with Norwich City after leaving school in 1985, but he never made a first team appearance and was released from the club in 1988.
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Djalma Santos
Djalma Pereira Dias dos Santos known simply as Djalma Santos (also spelled Dejalma Santos, born 27 February 1929 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a former Brazilian footballer who started for the Brazil national team in four World Cups, winning two, in 1958 and 1962. Santos is considered to be one of the greatest right-backs of all time. While primarily known for his defensive skills, he often ventured upfield and displayed some impressive attacking skills.
Along with Franz Beckenbauer, he is one of only two players to be included into three FIFA World Cup All Star teams (in 1954, 1958 and 1962). He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.
Santos started his career in his hometown with Portuguesa. He initially played in the centre of defence, but was later moved to the right side of defence. In 1959, he moved to Palmeiras. He played almost 500 games for the club, winning several league and cup titles. He left the club in 1968, joining Atlético Paranaense for a short spell before retiring in 1970.
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Djibril Cissé
Djibril Cissé (French pronunciation: [dʒibʁil sise]; born 12 August 1981) is a European Cup winning French international footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a striker. He is well known for his speed and acceleration. Since 2005, he has held the title of Lord of the Manor of Frodsham. Cissé started his career at AC Arles in 1989 at the age of eight. After seven years at the club, he had a six-month spell at Nîmes Olympique before moving to Auxerre joining the club's youth system. Cissé spent two years in the system before graduating to the first team in 1998. Having had a move to Liverpool delayed once, he moved to the Merseyside-based club in 2004, after playing for Auxerre for six seasons, scoring 90 goals in 166 appearances.
During his time at Anfield, he played 79 games, scoring 24 times. He had a loan spell to Marseille, scoring 15 goals in 25 appearances before the deal was made permanent. Cissé returned to the Premier League in 2008 with a loan spell at Sunderland, scoring 11 goals in 39 appearances. On 25 June 2009, he signed a four-year contract with Greek side Panathinaikos. In the summer of 2011 he secured a move to Serie A side Lazio. On 31 January 2012, Cissé signed for Queens Park Rangers for a reported £4 million, scoring in his debut in a 2–2 draw with Aston Villa.
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Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, (10 July 1927 – 26 May 1989), was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United (1961–1974) he managed England from 1974 until 1977. He later managed in the Middle East at international and club level.
Revie was born in Middlesbrough on 10 July 1927. He signed as a footballer for Leicester City in 1944. Leicester City originally thought him not good enough to turn professional, but he was taken under the wing of Leicester player Sep Smith who began to mentor Revie on many of his ideas about the game. He also learned the rudiments of the bricklaying trade outside football. From there he went on to play for Hull City in 1949 (transfer fee £20,000), Manchester City in 1951 (£25,000), Sunderland in 1956 (£22,000) and Leeds United in November 1958 (£12,000). The combined transfer fees paid over his career were at the time (1958) a record in English football.
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Dudu Georgescu
Dudu Georgescu (born 1 September 1950) is a retired Romanian footballer.
He began his career at Progresul Bucureşti. He currently holds the record for the most goals in Romania's Divizia A with 252 goals, as well as Dinamo Bucureşti's club goalscoring record, with 207.
He won the European Golden Shoe (for top scorer in Europe) twice, in 1975 and 1977.
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Dwight Yorke
Dwight Eversley Yorke (born 3 November 1971 in Canaan, Tobago) is a Trinidad and Tobago former football player and assistant coach of the Manchester United reserve side. He played for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sydney FC and Sunderland. He was the assistant manager of the Trinidad and Tobago national team until the completion of the qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Along with Russell Latapy and Pat Jennings, Yorke holds the record number of participations in different World Cup competitions, including qualifying stages – six in total (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010). Yorke was nicknamed The Smiling Assassin because of his goal scoring abilities and his constant smile.
Yorke was first discovered by Graham Taylor, at the time the Aston Villa manager, on a tour of the West Indies in 1989. Yorke appeared in a team that played a friendly match against Aston Villa, Taylor was impressed and offered Yorke a trial at Villa. Yorke was subsequently given a permanent contract and he made his First Division debut for Aston Villa against Crystal Palace on 24 March 1990: Crystal Palace won the game 1–0. During his time with Aston Villa, from 1989 to 1998, Yorke played initially as a right winger until the 1995–96 season, he then switched to centre forward and quickly established himself as one of the Premiership's top strikers.
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Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard (born 7 January 1991) is a Belgian international footballer who currently plays for French club Lille in Ligue 1 and the Belgium national team. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger. Hazard is known for his creativity, speed, and technical ability and is described as a "fearless, explosive attacking midfielder who can change the game with a turn of pace or a dribble". He has also been described as "a defender's nightmare" and has earned critical acclaim for his playing style, which has led to the media, coaches, and players drawing comparisons to FIFA World Player of the Year winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hazard is the son of former Belgian footballers and began his football career in Belgium playing for local clubs Royal Stade Brainois and Tubize. In 2005, he moved to France joining first division club Lille. Hazard spent two years in the club's academy and, at the age of 16, made his professional debut in November 2007. In his first full season as a starter, he won the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Young Player of the Year award becoming the first non-French player to win the award. In the 2009–10 season, Hazard captured the award again becoming the first player to win the award twice. He was also named to the league's Team of the Year. Since making his debut in 2007, Hazard has become an integral part of the club under manager Rudi Garcia racking up over 190 appearances. In the 2010–11 season, he was a part of the Lille team that won the league and cup double and, as a result of his performances, was named the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year becoming the youngest player to win the award. Hazard was also given the Bravo Award by Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo for his performances during the 2010–11 season.
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Edgar Davids
Edgar Steven Davids (born 13 March 1973) is a retired Dutch footballer. After beginning his career with Ajax, he subsequently played in Italy for Milan and Juventus before a loan spell with Barcelona. He went on to play for Internazionale and Tottenham Hotspur before returning to Ajax. Having struggled with injuries for two years, Davids returned to competitive football during a brief spell with Crystal Palace before retiring at the age of 37.
He was capped 74 times by the Netherlands at international level, scoring six goals, and represented his country at the FIFA World Cup (once) and the UEFA European Football Championship (three times). His dreadlocked hair and protective goggles – which he wore due to glaucoma – made Davids one of the most recognisable players of his generation. A combative and creative midfielder, Davids was nicknamed "the Pitbull" by Louis van Gaal because of his marking ability. He was one of the players chosen by Pelé to feature in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living footballers. He was born in Suriname to an African father and Jewish mother. His cousin Lorenzo is also a footballer.
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El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf (born 15 January 1981 in Dakar, Senegal) is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers. He can play on both wings as well as in attack. He has also garnered a large amount of notoriety for a series of controversial incidents.
Diouf came from a Serer background of the noble Diouf family. His father, who was also a footballer, left when he was 8 years old. Raised by his grandparents, Diouf was reunited with his father after 22 years absence. Although they did not see each other for many years, Diouf is reported to have said his father is someone he loves very much and was happy to see him again in spite of not growing up with him.
Diouf started his career in France with Sochaux-Montbéliard. He made his debut appearance in a 2–1 win against Bastia on 12 November 1998, before moving to Rennes for the 1999-00 season. He moved to Lens the following season, spending two years at the Pas-de-Calais club before moving to English club Liverpool in 2002 for a fee of £10millon.
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Elías Figueroa
Elías Ricardo Figueroa Brander (born October 25, 1946 in Valparaíso) is a former football player from Chile. He is considered the best Chilean footballer of all time, as well as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game.
He played for several clubs during his long career, notably his hometown club Santiago Wanderers, Brazilian club Internacional and Uruguayan club Peñarol. He also represented Chile 47 times, appearing in three world cups, in 1966, 1974, and 1982.
Figueroa was noted for his elegant style of play, his calmness in the centre of defence and his ability to cut out opposition attacks and immediately launch counterattacks from the back. He was also praised throughout his career for being a gentleman on and off the pitch. He was twice awarded the Bola de Ouro, the Brazilian Player of the year award whilst playing for Internacional in 1972 and 1976. He was also awarded the South American Footballer of the Year three times in a row by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo in 1974, 1975 and 1976. He was designated Best Player in Uruguay in 1967 and 1968 and Best Player in Chile in 1977 and 1978. He has subsequently been voted into the world's 125 best living soccer players and was also voted 8th best South American and 37th best player in the world of the 20th Century by the IFFHS in 1999.
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Emilio Butragueño
Emilio Butragueño Santos (born 22 July 1963 in Madrid) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker.
He was best known for his spell with Real Madrid. Nicknamed El Buitre (The Vulture), he was a member of the legendary Quinta del Buitre, along with Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza.
Butragueño amassed La Liga totals of 341 games and 123 goals for his main club, in 12 seasons, and represented the Spanish national team in two World Cups (being the second top scorer in the 1986 edition) and as many European Championships, scoring 26 international goals for his country, a record that stood for several years.
In 1981, skilled Butragueño joined Real Madrid's youth system, and played first for its reserve side, before being given his senior debut by Alfredo Di Stéfano on 5 February 1984 against Cádiz CF. He made an instant impact, scoring twice and assisting for the third goal in a 3–2 away turnaround, after Real trailed by 0–2. On 12 December that year, he made his European competition debut, contributing to a 6–1 home triumph against R.S.C. Anderlecht for the UEFA Cup third round (after a 0–3 loss in Brussels), as the Merengues went on to win the competition.
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Emlyn Hughes
Emlyn Walter Hughes, OBE (28 August 1947 – 9 November 2004) was an English footballer who captained both the England national team and the much-decorated Liverpool F.C. team of the 1970s.
Emlyn Hughes, was the son of Fred Hughes, a Great Britain, Wales, Barrow, and Workington Town rugby league footballer. After being refused a trial by local side Barrow, Hughes joined Blackpool, who were then a top-flight side. He made his début for Blackpool in 1964 and played alongside the likes of Jimmy Armfield and Alan Ball. Hughes was then an inside forward, but Blackpool turned him into a left-half, and as such he made his début for them in the 1965–66 season.
In February 1967, after just 28 appearances for Blackpool, he signed for Liverpool in the February for £65,000, (based on average increases in earnings, this would be approximately £1,770,000 in 2009). Manager Bill Shankly was stopped in his car by the police as he drove Hughes to Liverpool for the first time and said: "Don't you know who I've got in this car? The captain of England!" The policeman peered through the window and said that he didn't recognise the man, to which Shankly replied: "No, but you will!" In the future Hughes did indeed go on to captain his country.
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Emmanuel Petit
Emmanuel Laurent "Manu" Petit (born 22 September 1970) is a French retired footballer, who played club football for Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea. He represented France at international level, and scored the third goal in France's 3–0 victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final.
Petit was born in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime. He began his career at minor club ES Arques-la-Bataille, before being signed by Arsène Wenger's AS Monaco at the age of 18. He made his debut soon after and played in the 1989 French Cup final. Petit became a regular at Monaco, at left back or centre back; in 1991 he won the Cup with Monaco, and also played in the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup final (which Monaco lost to Werder Bremen). In 1996–97, his final season at Monaco he captained his side to the Ligue 1 title.
Despite interest from Rangers[citation needed], Petit joined Arsenal in June 1997 £2.5m, where he was reunited with his former Monaco manager, Arsène Wenger. Wenger switched Petit from centre-back to defensive midfielder, and partnered him with fellow Frenchman Patrick Vieira. The French duo formed a midfield partnership which brought instant success, as Petit won the Double with Arsenal in his very first season, clinching both the Premier League title and the FA Cup. Altogether, in the three seasons in his Arsenal career, Petit made 118 appearances and scored 11 goals, including a stunning drive from outside the area against Derby County (which was also the winning goal), during the 1997–98 season.
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Emre Belözoğlu
Emre Belözoğlu (Turkish pronunciation: [emˈɾɛ beˈløzoːɫʊ]; born 7 September 1980 in Istanbul) is a Turkish football midfielder who plays for Atlético Madrid. Having also played for clubs Galatasaray, Internazionale, Newcastle United and Fenerbahçe, Emre has been a part of the Turkey national team at the 2002 World Cup and at Euro 2008 among other tournaments. Pelé named Emre in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations.
Emre's inspiration came from his father, who introduced him to football at the Zeytinburnuspor training ground. Emre's mother had seen the problems that her husband had faced through his football career, and thus did not want his son to become a professional football player. His father, however, urged and inspired Emre to embark on a career. The fans of Zeytinburnuspor quickly took an interest in Emre, stating his wonderful control with his left foot. Trainer Salih Bulgurlu noticed his talent and started giving him special training. Salih looked after Emre for four years, teaching him all the basic techniques, improving and harnessing his fitness and stamina dramatically. Emre was quickly discovered by former Galatasaray legend Bülent Ünder, a close friend of legendary Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim. Bülent Ünder pleaded to Salih Bulgurlu that Emre join Galatasaray: Wait and see. In two years, this teenager will be playing proudly within the battlegrounds of Europe.
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English people
The English (from Old English: Englisc) are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens. Their ethnonym is derived from the Angles, a Germanic people originally from Northern Germany who migrated to Britain.
Historically, the English population is descended from several genetically similar peoples—the earlier Britons (or Brythons), the Germanic tribes that settled in the area, including Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons, who founded what was to become England (from the Old English Englaland), and the later Danes, Normans and other groups. Following the Act of Union in 1707, in which the Kingdom of England became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain, English customs and identity became closely aligned with British customs and identity.
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Enzo Francescoli
Enzo Francescoli Uriarte (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɛntso franˈtʃeskoli]; born November 12, 1961 in Montevideo) is a former Uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. An elegant and highly skillful dribbler, passer, and goal-scorer, Francescoli was nicknamed El Príncipe ("The Prince" in Spanish) or Le Prince (in French). He played 72 times for the Uruguay national team between 1982 and 1997, making him the most capped outfield player in Uruguayan international football.
His official debut was with the Uruguayan team Montevideo Wanderers. He played several years for River Plate of Argentina where he won five league titles and the Copa Libertadores in 1996 in his two spells with the club.
He also played for the French Racing Club de Paris (Matra Racing Paris at the time), Olympique de Marseille, and the Italian teams Cagliari and Torino.
Francescoli played 73 times for the Uruguay national team scoring 17 goals, between 1982 and 1997. He made appearances at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups. He won the Copa América three times with Uruguay in 1983, 1987 and 1995, he also played in the 1989 and 1993 editions of the tournament.
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Eric Cantona
Éric Daniel Pierre Cantona (French pronunciation: [kantɔna]) (born 24 May 1966) is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in five years and two League and FA Cup Doubles.
Cantona is often regarded as having played a key role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing force and he enjoys iconic status at the club. He wore the number 7 shirt at United, which was previously worn by George Best and Bryan Robson, and subsequently worn by David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Cantona is affectionately nicknamed by Manchester United fans as "King Eric", and was voted as Manchester United's greatest ever player by Inside United magazine. Set against his footballing achievements was a poor disciplinary record throughout his career, including a conviction for assault on a fan in 1995.
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Erik Solér
Erik Francisco Solér (born 6 August 1960) is a former Norwegian football player, a former football agent and currently General Manager/Sporting Director of New York Red Bulls as well as a football commentator for Champions League and national team games on Norwegian TV on a part time basis. He is educated as a psychologist.
Solér started his career in Lillestrøm, playing as a midfielder the first few years and later as a right back. He left the club for a short stay in Eik-Tønsberg, until he was transferred to the German club Hamburger SV. After one and a half season in HSV, he returned to Norway, signing for SK Brann. In 1988 he became Danish Cup winner playing for AGF Aarhus, scoring a decisive goal in the final. His short stay in Denmark was followed by a second stay in Lillestrøm. Upon his return to Lillestrøm SK he helped the side capture the Norwegian First Division title in 1989, before retiring in 1990.
Solér has 39 caps for the Norway national football team. He made his debut with Norway in 1982. He earned his last cap for his country on July 28, 1988 in a famous 1-1 draw in Oslo against Brazil.
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Erwin Vandenbergh
Erwin Vandenbergh (born 26 January 1959) was a Belgian footballer. Between 1981 and 1991, he finished six times topscorer of the Belgian First Division, with three different clubs (the first three with Lierse, the following two with Anderlecht, and the last one with Gent). In 1981 he was European topscorer with 39 goals out of 34 games. As a Belgian national team regular Vandenbergh scored a memorable victory goal against Argentina in the opening game of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Vandenbergh also played for the French club Lille with his Belgian national team partner Filip Desmet under the management of another fellow Belgian Georges Heylens. His son, Kevin Vandenbergh, has also become a football striker and he currently plays for KV Mechelen in Belgium.
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Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, GCIH, GCM (Portuguese pronunciation: [ewˈzɛbiu dɐ ˈsiɫvɐ fɨˈʁɐjɾɐ]; born 25 January 1942), commonly known simply as Eusébio, is a retired Mozambican-born Portuguese football forward. He is considered one of the best footballers of all-time by the IFFHS, experts and fans. He helped the Portuguese national team reach third place at the 1966 World Cup, being the top goalscorer of the tournament with nine goals (six of which were scored at Goodison Park) and receiving the Bronze Ball award. He won the Ballon d'Or award in 1965 and was runner-up in 1962 and 1966. He played for Benfica for 15 years out of his 22 as a footballer, thus being mainly associated with the Portuguese club, and is the team's all-time top scorer with 638 goals scored in 614 official games. There, he won 11 Primeira Liga titles (1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1974–75), 5 Portuguese Cup titles (1961–62, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1969–70 and 1971–72), 1 European Cup title (1961–62) and managed to help them reach three additional European Cup finals (1962–63, 1964–65 and 1967–68). He was the European Cup top scorer in 1965, 1966 and 1968. He also won the Bola de Prata (Primeira Liga top scorer award) seven times (a national record) in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1973. He was the first ever player to win the European Golden Boot award, in 1968, a feat he later replicated in 1973.
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Fabien Barthez
Fabien Alain Barthez (born 28 June 1971 in Lavelanet) is a former French footballer goalkeeper who won honours with Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets with Peter Shilton, with 10. In club football he won the Champions League as well as several Ligue 1 and Premier League titles.
Born in Lavelanet, France, Barthez made his first division debut for Toulouse on 21 September 1991, against Nancy. He joined Marseille in 1992, and won both the French championship and the Champions League at the end of his first season in Marseille. The 1993 victory made him the youngest goalkeeper to win a Champions League title until Iker Casillas did so in 2000. However, Marseille would be stripped of their domestic title, though not of the Champions League crown, due to their involvement in a domestic match fixing scandal, and a year later (1994) would suffer a forced relegation to the second division due to a related financial bankruptcy. He stayed with the club in Division 2 for the 1994–95 season despite many offers from elite French clubs.
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Fabio Cannavaro
Fabio Cannavaro, Ufficiale OMRI (born 13 September 1973 in Naples) is a retired Italian footballer. He is considered one of the greatest defenders of his generation and was given the name "Muro di Berlino," which means "The Berlin Wall," by Italian supporters. He spent the majority of his career in Italy. He started his career at Napoli, before spending seven years at Parma, with whom he won two Coppa Italias and the 1999 UEFA Cup. After spells at Internazionale and Juventus, Cannavaro transferred along with manager Fabio Capello from Juventus to Real Madrid, with whom he won consecutive La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008. After returning to Juventus for one season in 2009–10, he joined Al-Ahli in Dubai. He retired from professional football in 2011 due to an injury troubled season in Al-Ahli.
Cannavaro has also achieved success with the Italian national team. He was part of the Italy team that won consecutive Under-21 European Championships in 1994 and 1996. After earning his first senior cap in 1997, he eventually became captain. Cannavaro led Italy to victory in the 2006 World Cup, and in 2009 overtook Paolo Maldini as the most capped player in the country's history. He announced his retirement from international football on 25 June 2010 following Italy's failure to qualify for the knock-out stages of the 2010 World Cup, having amassed 136 caps and scored two goals for the senior national team.
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Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈfɛrɛnt͡s ˈpuʃkaːʃ]; born Ferenc Purczeld; 1 April 1927 – 17 November 2006) was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954. He won three European Cups (1959, 1960, 1966), 10 national championships (5 Hungarian & 5 Spanish Primera División) and 8 top individual scoring honors. He is regarded as the best Hungarian football player ever and one of the best football players of all time.
Puskás started his career in Hungary playing for Kispest and Budapest Honvéd. He was top scorer in the Hungarian League on four occasions, and in 1948, he was the top goal scorer in Europe. During the 1950s, he was both a prominent member and captain of the Hungarian national team, known as the Mighty Magyars. In 1958, two years after the Hungarian Revolution, he emigrated to Spain where he played for Real Madrid.
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Florent Malouda
Florent Johan Malouda (French pronunciation: [flɔʁɑ̃ maluda]; born 13 June 1980) is a French footballer who plays as a left winger for Chelsea and the France national football team.
A street footballer in his teen years, Malouda gradually developed into an interesting, new football talent, able to penetrate defences with his technical skills and imaginative play.
Malouda soon attracted the interest of scouts from French club Châteauroux and he soon moved to Paris to join the club. Despite the difficulties of living far away from his family home in French Guiana, Malouda was able to continue his studies and play professional football. Malouda played 57 games for Châteauroux, making his senior debut at the age of 16 in the French Ligue 2. He also got sent off in his second game for the club.
Malouda was then signed by top division side Guingamp following Châteauroux's inability to secure a Ligue 1 berth. It was in Guingamp where his talent was showcased in French top-flight football. Under the tutelage of coach Guy Lacombe, Malouda demonstrated his ability and formed a combination with then team-mate Didier Drogba.
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Florian Maurice
Florian Maurice (born 20 January 1974) is a French retired footballer. He played as a striker, and most notably won the 1998 Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue with French team Paris Saint-Germain. He played six games and scored a single goal for the France national football team.
Born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, Rhône, Florian Maurice started playing youth football with local top-flight team Olympique Lyonnais in 1986. A great hope in French football, Maurice was touted as the new Jean-Pierre Papin. He was included in Lyonnais' senior squad for the Ligue 1 championship in the 1991-92 season, but did not make his Ligue 1 debut until August 1992. His national breakthrough came during the 1994-95 season, when he scored 15 league goals. In the 1995-96 season, he scored 18 league goals for Lyonnais and took part in both the 1996 European Under-21 Championship and 1996 Summer Olympics tournaments.
He made his debut for the French national team in August 1996, under national manager Aimé Jacquet. However, Maurice's progress was halted during the 1996-97 season, when he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon and went through several months of recovery. In the summer 1997, he moved from Lyonnais to league rivals Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer deal worth FF 41 million. He was a part of the Paris SG team which won both the 1998 Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue trophies. He played a single season at Paris SG, scoring seven league goals, before he moved on to Olympique de Marseille in the summer 1998.
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Francesco Toldo
Francesco Toldo (born 2 December 1971) is a retired Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
In a professional career which spanned two full decades, he mainly represented Fiorentina and Internazionale (eight and nine seasons respectively), winning a total of 15 titles combined – in his last five years, however, he was solely a backup for the Nerazzurri.
For Italy, Toldo appeared in five international competitions, being a starter in Euro 2000.
Born in Padua, Veneto, Toldo started his career with A.C. Milan; however, he never played a game with the club, being loaned during his link, successively to Hellas Verona FC, Trentino Calcio 1921 and Ravenna Calcio.
He then joined ACF Fiorentina, and became the Viola club's starter for eight seasons, winning the Coppa Italia twice, and playing in one edition of the UEFA Champions League. One year before Fiorentina faced bankruptcy, in 2001, Toldo transferred to F.C. Internazionale Milano, where he was the number one until the summer of 2005, when Brazilian Júlio César relegated him to the bench, after he had elected to sit out Inter's summer friendly match tour of England.
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Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, (born 27 September 1976 in Rome) is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most capped player in the club's history. He is considered as one of the finest players in his generation, and also Roma's greatest player ever.
A 2006 World Cup winner and Euro 2000 finalist, Totti was selected in the All-Star team for both tournaments. He has won many individual awards, including a record five Italian Footballer of the Year awards and two Serie A Footballer of the Year awards. He was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé as a part of FIFA's centenary celebrations. In 2011, Totti has been recognized by IFFHS as the most popular footballer in Europe.
Often referred to as Il Bimbo d'Oro (The Golden Boy), Er Pupone (The Big Baby), and Il Gladiatore (The Gladiator) by the Italian sports media, Totti is currently the top active Serie A goalscorer and fifth all-time in league history with 215 goals.
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Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃k ʁibeʁi]; born 7 April 1983) is a French international footballer who plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and for the France national team. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and an excellent dribbler" who "has great control with the ball at his feet". Since joining Bayern, he has been recognised on the world stage as one of the best French players of his generation. The previous talisman of French national team, Zinedine Zidane, has called Ribéry the "jewel of French football".
Ribéry's career began in 1989 as a youth player for local hometown club Conti Boulogne. He left the club after seven years to join professional outfit Lille, but departed the club after three years after having difficulties adjusting. In 1999, Ribéry joined US Boulogne, where he played for two years. After spending two more years in the amateur divisions with two different clubs (Alès and Brest), in 2004, Ribéry earned a move to Ligue 1 club FC Metz. After six months with the club, Ribéry moved to Turkey in January 2005 joining Galatasaray where he won the Turkish Cup. After six months at Galatasaray, he departed the club in controversial fashion in order to return to France to join Marseille. Ribéry spent two seasons at the club helping the Marseillais reach the final of the Coupe de France in back-to-back seasons. In 2007, Ribéry joined German club Bayern Munich for a then club-record fee of €25 million. With Bayern, he has won the double on two occasions; in the 2007–08 and 2009–10 seasons. In 2010, Ribéry contributed to the team that reached the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final, but was unable to participate in the match due to suspension.
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Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi (born 8 May 1960 in Travagliato, Italy) is an Italian football youth team coach and former player. He played as a sweeper and spent his entire career with Serie A club AC Milan. Baresi was nicknamed "Piscinin", Milanese for "Little one". In 1999, Baresi was voted AC Milan Player of the Century and is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of all time.
He is also the younger brother of Internazionale legend and current vice coach Giuseppe Baresi.
Baresi was brought by his older brother Giuseppe for a trial in Inter's youth team, but was rejected. Despite this setback, Baresi refused to give up his dream and tried out for the Milan youth team, where he was accepted.
Baresi led the Milan team and its defence for the best part of a decade. During that time, the back four consisting of him, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti gained a reputation for being of the meanest defenses in Europe. He is also one of the few players who spent his entire career at one club, AC Milan, for whom he played 719 games, scoring 33 goals. Unconventional for an Italian defender trained in the catenaccio tradition, Baresi was an attacking defender who often assisted the team in counterattacks but without neglecting his defensive duties.
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Frank de Boer
Franciscus "Frank" de Boer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfrɑn.sɪs.kʏs ˈfrɑŋk də ˈbur]) (born 15 May 1970 in Hoorn, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch former professional footballer, and the younger twin brother of Ronald de Boer. Since 6 December 2010 he is the Manager of AFC Ajax.
De Boer began his career as a left back at Ajax before switching to centre back, a position he made his own for many years in the national team. He won both the UEFA Cup and Champions League while at Ajax. However, after signing a 6-year contract extension with Ajax for the 1998–99 season, he and his twin brother Ronald took successful legal action to have it voided. Ajax had agreed orally that if a lucrative offer for one brother came by, he would be released provided the other stayed. However Ajax apparently backed down on that agreement after floating the club on the stock market and pledging to shareholders that it would hold both of the de Boers and build around them a team to recapture the UEFA Champions League.
Both de Boers then joined FC Barcelona for 22 million pounds. However, they were unable to repeat his earlier triumphs and Frank suffered the ignominy of testing positive for the banned substance nandrolone. De Boer was suspended but he was reinstated after a successful appeal.
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Frank Lampard
Frank James Lampard (born 20 June 1978) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side. He is considered to be one of the best English footballers of his time, and is widely regarded to be one of the best midfield players of his generation. Lampard is best described as a box-to-box midfielder known for "his work-rate, range of passing and goalscoring ability."
Lampard began his career at West Ham United, for whom his father Frank Lampard, Sr. had also played. He had secured a place in the first team by the 1997–98 season, and the following year helped the team finish 5th in the Premier League, their highest-ever Premier League placing. In 2001, he moved to rival London club Chelsea for £11 million.
From his debut onwards he was ever-present in the Chelsea first team, setting a record 164 consecutive Premier League appearances. He established himself as a prolific scorer at the West London club and was a key part of the sides which won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004–05 and 2005–06 and a domestic cup double in 2007. He signed a new contract in 2008, becoming the highest paid Premier League footballer at that time, and scored in his first Champions League Final that same year. He won the FA Cup for the second time in 2009, scoring the winning goal in the final. In the 2009–10 season, Lampard won the Premier League title and FA Cup (domestic cup double) and also had his most prolific season with Chelsea, scoring 22 league goals and 17 league assists. In the 2011-12 season, Lampard captained Chelsea to their first UEFA Champions League title.
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Frank Leboeuf
Franck Alain James Leboeuf or Lebœuf (born on 22 January 1968) is a former French international footballer who played as a defender. With the French national team, Leboeuf won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
After starting his career in 1986 in the lower divisions of the French league, Leboeuf moved to Laval in 1988. In 1991, he moved to Strasbourg and played there until 1996, when he made a switch to English club Chelsea for £2.5m.
He played over 200 games for the club and scored 24 goals, mainly from penalties and set pieces. With Chelsea, he won two FA Cups, one League Cup and one Cup Winners' Cup. He left in 2001 for his hometown club Olympique Marseille, before finishing out his career in Qatar.
For France, Leboeuf was capped 50 times, scoring four goals. Although he was mainly a substitiute in the 1998 World Cup, he stepped in for red carded Laurent Blanc to play in the final, a 3–0 win against Brazil, a match in which he famously man-marked Ronaldo. In the final Ronaldo only was able to do a couple of his trademark runs thanks to an almost flawless defensive performance by Leboeuf.
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Frank McLintock
Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE (born 28 December 1939) is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.
Born in Glasgow and brought up in the Gorbals, McLintock started his career in the Scottish Juniors with Shawfield, before moving to Leicester City in 1957 as a wing half, making his debut for them in 1959. He spent seven years at Filbert Street, where he forged a celebrated half-back partnership with Colin Appleton and Ian King and was part of the revered "ice kings" team which chased the double in 1962-63. With Leicester he reached, but lost, two FA Cup finals (1961 and 1963) and a winning League Cup final (1964).
During this time he also made his debut for Scotland, against Norway on 4 June 1963, and in his third appearance for Scotland, against Spain on 13 June 1963, scored one of the goals in a 6–2 win. He made a total of 168 Football League appearances for Leicester.
In October 1964, he was signed by Arsenal for a then club record £80,000 and went straight into the first team. McLintock spent the next nine seasons with the Gunners, moving from midfield to centre half. He was a first-choice player throughout, and became the club's captain in 1967, and would go on to skipper the club during their period of success under Bertie Mee. He reached another two League Cup finals (losing both, in 1968 and 1969), and became so disheartened he handed in a transfer request in 1969. Arsenal manager Bertie Mee managed to persuade him to stay, and McLintock went on to win three major trophies in the space of two years.
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Frank Rijkaard
Franklin Edmundo "Frank" Rijkaard (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfrɑŋk ˈrɛi̯.kaːrt], born 30 September 1962, in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side, Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona and Galatasaray. He currently manages the Saudi Arabian national football team.
In 2010 Rijkaard was described by The Daily Telegraph as having been "a stylish player of faultless pedigree".
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Franky Van der Elst
Franky Van der Elst (born 30 April 1961) is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current manager.
During a 21-year professional career, he played mainly with Club Brugge, being regarded as a legend there, and briefly coaching the team in the 2000s (decade). Also, he was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers, in March 2004.
Van der Elst won 86 caps for the Belgian national team, representing the country in four FIFA World Cups, and retiring from football at nearly 40 years of age.
Born in Ninove, Van der Elst started his professional career at R.W.D. Molenbeek, earning his first call-up for Belgium in 1982. Two years later, he moved to Club Brugge K.V. and stayed there until he finished his career in 1999, going on to total over 500 overall appearances with the side (462 in the league alone). During four seasons, he often partnered in midfield his namesake Leo - no relation.
Van der Elst won the Golden Shoe twice in his career, an accomplishment for an eminently defensive-minded player. He also appeared in four FIFA World Cups, from 1986 to 1998. Only having scored once for his country in nearly 90 matches, against Norway, he reacted with astonishment upon its realization.
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Frans Thijssen
Frans Thijssen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfrɑns ˈtɛi̯.sə(n)]) (born 23 January 1952 in Malden, Gelderland) is a former international Dutch footballer. He started his professional career in 1970 with NEC Nijmegen. In 1973 he moved to FC Twente, where the midfielder played for nearly six seasons.
Thijssen won fourteen caps for Holland between 1975 and 1981.
In 1979, he moved to England to sign for Ipswich Town, and in 1981 was voted English Footballer of the Year as he helped Ipswich Town win the UEFA Cup, scoring one goal in each of the two legs of the final. He played a big part in their run to the semi finals of the FA Cup, and they also finished second in the league that season. He helped them finished second again the following year, but a year later he departed from Portman Road after four years to sign for Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, but he was not nearly as successful at the City Ground as he had been in East Anglia, and he had left the club within months.
He also had a stint in the NASL with the Vancouver Whitecaps. In 1984 he returned to his native country, to play for Fortuna Sittard (1984–1987), FC Groningen (1987–1988) and Vitesse Arnhem (1988–1991).
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Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer [fʁants ˈbɛkənˌbaʊ̯ɐ] (born 11 September 1945 in Munich) is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" (reminiscent of the Austrian emperors), and his dominance on the football pitch. He is generally regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time and one of the greatest and most decorated footballers in the history of the game. Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder but made his name as a defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper or libero.
Twice selected the European Footballer of the Year, he appeared 103 times for West Germany and played in three World Cups. He lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager in 1990. With the club Bayern Munich, he won three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976, and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1967. He is one of only two footballers, along with Brazil's Mário Zagallo, to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a coach. Beckenbauer is one of two players (along with Carles Puyol) to captain three European Cup winning sides. He went on to become coach and president of the institution. He is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
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François Clerc
François Clerc (born 18 April 1983 in Bourg-en-Bresse) is a French footballer who plays as a right back for OGC Nice.
He joined Lyon as a youth player, but spent the 2004–05 season on loan at Toulouse FC before playing a league game for Lyon. Upon his return in 2005, Clerc broke into the first team and made 19 appearances in the domestic league and in Europe. Clerc battled with Anthony Réveillère for the right-back spot at Lyon, although Clerc has also filled in on occasion as a right sided midfielder/winger in the team's 4–3–3 formation, with limited success. He scored his first Ligue 1 goal for Lyon on 2 December 2007 against Strasbourg. He was banned for four matches because of an improper transfer agreement to Olympique de Marseille. Clerc left Lyon in the summer of 2010 after his contract expired.
As of 1 September 2010, Clerc was training with OGC Nice with an eye to earning a year-long contract.
He was a member of the France U-21 team that participated in the European Under-21 Football Championship finals in 2006, making two appearances.
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Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Omar Batistuta (born 1 February 1969), nicknamed Batigol, is a former professional footballer. The prolific Argentine striker played most of his club football at Fiorentina in Italy, and is the tenth top scorer of all-time in the Italian Serie A league, with 184 goals in 318 matches. On the international level, he is Argentina's all-time leading goal scorer, with 56 goals in 78 national team matches, and represented his country at three World Cups. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100 list of the "125 Greatest Living Footballers". With an all-round game with clinical finishing, heading and free-kick taking abilities, he is known as one of the most complete strikers of his generation.
When his club Fiorentina was relegated to Serie B in 1993, Batistuta stayed with the club and helped it return to the top-flight league a year later. A popular sporting figure in Florence, the Fiorentina fans erected a life-size bronze statue of him in 1996, in recognition of his performances for Fiorentina. He never won the Italian league with Fiorentina, but when he moved to Roma in 2000, he finally won the Serie A championship to crown his career in Italy. He played his last professional season in Qatar with Al-Arabi before he retired in 2005.
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Gareth Bale
Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team as a winger.
Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left back, earning acclaim as a free kick specialist. Since transferring to Spurs in 2007, managerial and tactical shifts have seen him transform into a more offensively-oriented player. Recently, Bale has played an integral role in Tottenham's success domestically and in the Champions League.
Bale was born in Cardiff to parents Frank, a school caretaker, and Debbie, an operations manager; he attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch. He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike. It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at age nine, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club. Growing up his football hero was fellow Welshman and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.
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Garth Crooks
Garth Anthony Crooks OBE (born 10 March 1958 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire) is a retired English football player of Jamaican ancestry. He played principally for Stoke City and Tottenham, with whom he was a prolific goal scorer and an FA Cup winner at Wembley in 1981. Throughout his career he was an active member of the Professional Footballers' Association and was elected the first black chairman of the union. He currently works for the BBC as an expert and outspoken pundit, and presents the occasional political programme.
Crooks began his career at hometown club Stoke City, scoring 48 goals in 147 appearances. He became most famous following a high-profile transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 1980, where he formed a successful striking partnership with Steve Archibald. With Crooks leading the line, Spurs won two FA Cups and the 1984 UEFA Cup, won against Anderlecht (he was an unused substitute in the final's second leg). Crooks is frequently credited as the first black player to score in an FA Cup final for his equalising goal in a 3–2 win over Manchester City in 1981, though this was pre-dated by Mike Trebilcock in 1966. He later went on loan to Manchester United and had spells at West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic before a knee injury forced his retirement in 1990.
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Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE (born 30 November 1960), is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live. He remains England's top scorer in the FIFA World Cup finals, with ten goals.
Lineker began his football career at Leicester City and became known as a prolific goalscorer; despite failing to score in his first ten games, he finished as the First Division's joint top goalscorer in 1984–85 and earned his first England cap. He then moved to League Champions Everton where he remained a clinical finisher, scoring 40 goals in 57 games. His first team honours came at Barcelona, where he won the Copa del Rey in 1988 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1989. He returned to England in 1989, joining Tottenham Hotspur, and over three seasons he scored 67 goals in 105 games and won the FA Cup. Lineker's final club was Nagoya Grampus Eight and he retired in 1994 after two seasons at the Japanese side.
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Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville (born 18 February 1975) is an English former footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years.
Neville spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford, making him a rare one-club man. At the time of his retirement in 2011, he was United's second longest serving player in the squad, behind his long-time team-mate Ryan Giggs. He made his international debut in 1995 and was first-choice right-back for club and country for more than ten years.
He is the older brother of Premier League footballer and Everton captain Phil Neville, who was also a Manchester United player (from 1993 until 2005). His sister Tracey Neville plays netball for England, his mother Jill is a receptionist for Bury.
Since retiring from football at the end of the 2010-11 season, Neville has gone into punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sports. On 14 May 2012, Neville was appointed as a coach at England by new manager Roy Hodgson.
The older of the Neville brothers joined Manchester United as an apprentice upon leaving school in 1991, and captained the youth side to FA Youth Cup glory in his first season. He made his senior debut for United in September 1992 against Torpedo Moscow in the UEFA Cup. Neville emerged as part of Alex Ferguson's youth-oriented side of the 1990s (nicknamed Fergie's Fledglings, an updated take on the 1950s equivalent Busby Babes) that included his brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. In the 1994–95 season, he became first-choice right-back when Paul Parker was ruled out by injury, and remained so until his retirment, although in his first season as a regular player he often found himself on the sidelines as Denis Irwin was switched to right back with Lee Sharpe (normally a winger) filling the left-back role.
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Gary Pallister
Gary Andrew Pallister (born 30 June 1965) is an English former professional footballer, sports television pundit and operations director of Conference National side Darlington.
As a player he was a defender from 1984 to 2001 and is most noted for his nine-year spell at Manchester United from 1989 until 1998. He also played for Middlesbrough and Darlington and was also capped 22 times by England between 1988 and 1996.
His footballing career started at non-league Billingham Town, but at the age of 19, he joined his boyhood heroes Middlesbrough as a defender, making 156 League appearances over nearly five seasons (helping them win promotion to the Football League Second Division in 1987 and First Division in 1988), with a seven-game loan spell at Darlington in 1985, before he moved to Manchester United on 29 August 1989 for £2.3 million, by which time Middlesbrough were back in the Second Division after relegation.
It was the national record for a defender at the time, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs and the second highest fee to be paid by a British club – second only to Ian Rush's return to Liverpool from Juventus a year earlier.
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Gaël Clichy
Gaël Clichy (French pronunciation: [ɡaɛl kliʃi]; born 26 July 1985) is a French footballer who plays for Manchester City and the France national football team. Though initially right-foot dominant, he primarily plays as a left back that is also capable of playing as an offensive-minded wingback. Clichy is described as a player who possesses "almost unrivaled stamina" that is "quick in the tackle and willing to drive forward". He was a member of Arsenal's famous Invincibles team before leaving the club in 2011.
Clichy was born in the city of Toulouse and began his football career playing for a host of amateur clubs in the Haute-Garonne département such as JS Cugnaux, AS Muret, and Tournefeuille. In 2001, he moved to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region to play for professional club Cannes. Clichy made his professional debut for the club in the 2002–03 season while the club was playing in the Championnat National, the third level of French football. After three seasons with Cannes, in 2003, he was convinced by manager and countryman Arsène Wenger to join Arsenal in England.
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Gaël Givet
Gaël Givet-Viaros (born 9 October 1981) is a French footballer who plays as a defender for Blackburn Rovers. Givet is a left-footed centre back who can also play left-back.
Born in Arles, France, Givet started his professional career at AS Monaco as a left back before moving to centre half. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Guingamp in December 2000. He played for Monaco between 2000 and 2007, making 178 league appearances and scoring a respectable 8 goals. The highlights of his time at the club were winning the French League Cup in 2003 and reaching the UEFA Champions League Final in 2004, where he missed out on a winner's medal with a 3–0 defeat against Jose Mourinho's FC Porto. He played a pivotal role in their success, making 13 Champions League appearances during the campaign. He made a name for himself in the 2003/04 season where he blossomed in the Monaco defense with the likes of Manchester United's Patrice Evra, Olympique de Marseille's Julien Rodriguez and Arsenal's Sébastien Squillaci.
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George Best
George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a winger for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. In 1968 he won the European Cup with United, and was named the European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. He is described by the national team's governing body, the Irish Football Association, as the "greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland".
Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Best began his club career in England with Manchester United, who had spotted his talent at the age of 15. He went on to see success with United scoring 179 goals from 470 appearances over 11 years. His playing style combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders. Best unexpectedly quit United relatively early in 1974 at age 27, but returned to football for a number of clubs around the world in short spells, until finally retiring in 1983, age 37. In international football, he was an automatic choice when fit, being capped 37 times and scoring nine goals from 1964 to 1977, although the team's performance never allowed his talent to be displayed in the finals of a European Championship or World Cup.
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George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah (born October 1, 1966) is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting. In the 2011 election he ran for vice president on Winston Tubman's ticket.
He also spent 14 years of his professional football career playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England, and won trophies in each of these three countries. In 1995, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year, and African Footballer of the Year.
George Tawlon Oppong Ousman Weah was born on October 1, 1966 in the Clara Town slum of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Little did his parents know at the time that their baby boy would one day rise to become their country’s most famous son.
Raised largely by his grandmother, Weah studied hard at school although it was apparent from a young age that he was destined for football stardom. Little George Weah was prodigiously talented with a football at his feet but this aptitude wouldn’t truly become evident until he made the move overseas.
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Georges Bereta
Georges Bereta (born May 15, 1946 in Saint-Étienne) is a former French football striker of Polish descent.
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Georges Carnus
Georges Carnus (born 13 August 1940 is a former French international footballer who played as goalkeeper.
He was selected in France for FIFA World Cup 1966 in England but remained Marcel Aubour's substitute.He later signed with AS Saint-Étienne, winning his first titles.His successes with les Verts and his talent as a goalkeeper allowed him to take Marcel Aubour's titular spot in France's goal after the FIFA World Cup 1966.In 1971, he surprisingly left AS Saint-Étienne, along with teammate Bernard Bosquier for Olympique Marseille.Their combination in l'OM's defense was full of success, and Marseille won French championship and Coupe de France in 1972.
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Georgi Slavkov
Georgi Slavkov (Bulgarian: Георги Славков) (born 11 April 1958 in Musomishte near Gotse Delchev) is a former Bulgarian football player.
He scored 61 goals in 112 games for Botev Plovdiv between 1976 and 1982. In 1981 he won the France Football's Golden Boot award. With CSKA Sofia he played between 1982 and 1986, scoring 48 goals. Then he was transferred to the French club AS Saint-Étienne. He finished his career in Portugal in 1992.
Between 1978 and 1983, he won 37 caps for Bulgaria and scored 11 goals.
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Gerd Müller
Gerhard "Gerd" Müller (German pronunciation: [ˈɡɛɐt ˈmʏlɐ]; born 3 November 1945 in Nördlingen) is a former German football player and one of the most prolific goalscorers of all time.
With national records of 68 goals in 62 international appearances, 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games, he was one of the most successful goalscorers of his era. Müller is now 8th on the list of all time international goalscorers despite playing fewer matches than every player in the top 15. His nicknames are “Bomber der Nation” (the nation's Bomber) and “kleines dickes Müller” (short fat Müller; this name was given to him by Čik Čajkovski, his first coach at Bayern Munich. Čajkovski was Yugoslavian and got the German declension wrong).
In 1970 Müller was elected European Footballer of the Year after a successful season at Bayern Munich and scoring 10 goals at the 1970 World Cup. Müller held the all-time goal-scoring record in the tournament with a 14-goal total, a record that stood for 32 years until it was broken by Brazil's Ronaldo against Ghana in the Round of 16 of the 2006 World Cup. In 1999, he was voted ninth place in the European player of the Century election held by the IFFHS and he was voted thirteenth in the IFFHS' "World Player of the Century" election.
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Gervinho
Gervais Lombe Yao Kouassi (born 27 May 1987), better known as Gervinho, is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a forward or winger for English Premier League club Arsenal. He is known for his pace and finishing.
Gervinho was born in Anyama, Cote d'Ivoire. He began his career in the famed ASEC Abidjan youth academy, where he spent five years. At ASEC Abidjan, he was given the Brazilian Portuguese style nickname "Gervinho", derived from his first name Gervais.
Following this, he moved to Ivorian Deuxieme Division Zone Four side Toumodi F.C., where he turned professional.
Gervinho played for two seasons at Belgian side Beveren, where he made 61 appearances for the club and scored 14 goals.
At the end of the 2006–07 season Gervinho moved to French Ligue 1 side Le Mans, where he played alongside Ivorian international midfielder Romaric. He scored two goals in his debut season in Ligue 1, with one of them coming against AS Nancy. Gervinho scored 9 times in 59 Ligue 1 appearances over 2 seasons with the French side.
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Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈɡe̯orɡe ˈhad͡ʒi] ( listen); born 5 February 1965 in Săcele) is a former Romanian footballer. He was one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time.Galatasaray fans called him 'Commandante' (The Commander) and the Romanians called him 'Regele' (The King).
Nicknamed "The Maradona of the Carpathians", he is considered a hero in his homeland. He has won his country's "Player of the Year" award six times, and is regarded as one of the best football players of the 20th century.
He played for the Romanian national team in three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998, as well as in three European Football Championships in 1984, 1996 and 2000. He won a total of 125 caps for Romania, being ranked second after Dorinel Munteanu, and scored 35 goals, being ranked first.
In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Romania by the Romanian Football Federation as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years. Hagi is one of the few footballers to have played for both the Spanish rival clubs Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
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Giacinto Facchetti
Giacinto Facchetti (Italian pronunciation: [dʒaˈtʃinto fakˈketti]; 18 July 1942 – 4 September 2006) was an Italian football player. From January 2004 until his death, he was President of Internazionale, the club for which he played for his whole career during the 1960s and 1970s, playing 634 official games and scoring 75 goals. He played for the Internazionale team remembered as “Grande Inter”. Facchetti is remembered as one of the first truly great attacking-full backs, and one of the best ever in his position.
Born at Treviglio, in the Province of Bergamo (Lombardy), Facchetti began his career with his hometown club, Trevigliese, as a forward. He was soon noticed by Helenio Herrera, then manager of Internazionale, who launched him in Serie A in the late 1960–61 season as a full back. The change of role was a good choice, and eventually Facchetti developed into one of the most effective defenders of Italian football.
With his club, Facchetti won four scudetti in 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1971; one Italian Cup in 1978; two European Cups in 1964 and 1965; and two Intercontinental Cups in 1964 and 1965.
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Giampiero Boniperti
Giampiero Boniperti (born 4 July 1928 in Barengo, Piedmont) is an Italian former football player who played his entire career at Juventus between 1946 and 1961. He also played for the Italian national football team. After retirement from professional football, Boniperti has been a president of Juventus and a deputy to the European Parliament.
With 182 goals in all-competitions, Boniperti was the highest goalscorer in Juventus' history for more than 40 years, until his record was bested by Alessandro Del Piero (who was himself signed by Boniperti in 1993) on 10 January 2006. Del Piero also broke his appearance record on 14 February 2010 when he played his 445th Serie A game. Notably, Boniperti is the eleventh-highest goalscorer of all-time in Serie A and was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.
Boniperti signed for Juventus at age 16, he had already built himself a reputation prior to this at youth level, as he scored 11 goals in one match.
The youngster played his first match for the Old Lady in Serie A on 2 March 1947 against A.C. Milan, unfortunately for Boniperti it ended in a 2–1 defeat. His first goal for them in the league was three months later, against Sampdoria. Juventus ended the Serie A 1946-47 season as runners-up to local rivals Torino, Giampiero ended the season with 5 goals in 6 games to his name.
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Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola, OBE,Ufficiale OMRI (Italian pronunciation: [dʒanˈfranko ˈdzɔla]; born 5 July 1966 in Oliena, Italy) is a retired Italian footballer and manager, who most recently managed West Ham United from 2008 to 2010, after having been assistant manager of the Italy U-21 under Pierluigi Casiraghi. He spent the first decade of his career playing in Italy, most notably with Napoli, alongside Diego Maradona and Careca, and at Parma, before moving to English side Chelsea, where he was voted Football Writers' Player of the Year in 1997 and Chelsea's greatest ever player. He was capped 35 times for Italy.
Zola signed his first professional contract with Sardinian team Nuorese in 1984. In 1986, he moved to Torres from Sassari, the oldest club in Sardinia, where he spent three seasons. In 1989, he signed for Napoli in Serie A. The young and talented Zola scored two goals as understudy to Diego Maradona as Napoli won the Serie A title in 1990. Maradona would prove to be a big influence on Zola's career. The two would spend hours practising free kicks together after training and Zola later said that "I learned everything from Diego. I used to spy on him every time he trained and learned how to curl a free-kick just like him." He helped Napoli to win the Supercoppa Italiana in 1991 and he made his debut for the Italian national side under coach Arrigo Sacchi in the same year, winning his first cap against Norway in November. In 1993, Zola left Napoli and joined fellow Serie A side Parma. He won the UEFA Cup with Parma and the Italian Cup in 1995. It was with the blue and yellow club that he cemented his reputation as a creative player. Ironically, manager Carlo Ancelotti came to see Zola as a "square peg" unable to fit into his rigid system. Zola was played out of position and ultimately made available for transfer and moved to Chelsea.
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Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, Ufficiale OMRI (born 28 January 1978 in Carrara, Italy), is a FIFA World Cup-winning Italian goalkeeper who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. He is widely considered by experts to be one of the most dominant and successful goalkeepers in history. Buffon was declared by Pelé to be one of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world. He has been named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record eight times. Also, he has been named the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) goalkeeper of the year four times and was named goalkeeper of the 21st Century by the same organisation.
Buffon began his career with the youth system of Parma in 1991 at the age of 13. He graduated from the youth squad in 1995 and at the young age of just 17, Gianluigi made his Serie A debut for Parma in a 0–0 home draw against Milan on 19 November 1995. He went on to make 8 more first team appearances that season. In 1996, his second full season with the club, Buffon was named as the starting goalkeeper and would go on to make well over 200 appearances for his club in all competitions. In his fourth season with the club, he won the UEFA Cup. He was by this time, already considered a major prospect and in the summer of 2001, he was snatched up by Italian giants Juventus for a world-record goalkeeper's transfer fee of a reported £32.6 million, with part of the transfer fees paid via the transfer of Jonathan Bachini to Parma.
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Gianni Rivera
Giovanni ("Gianni") Rivera (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒanni riˈvɛra]; born 18 August 1943 in Alessandria) is an Italian former football midfielder, mostly as an offensive playmaker, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, in 1969. He played the majority of his career with Serie A side A.C. Milan. Internationally, he represented Italy, 60 times scoring 14 goals, at four World Cups (1962, 1966, 1970, and 1974) as well as being part of the first Italian side to win the European Football Championship in 1968.
Rivera is considered as one of the greatest Italian footballers ever and as one of the greatest passers of all time. He was a creative midfielder with offensive ideas, often at odds with the proponents of the classic Italian defensive schemes. Rivera was known for his classy, elegant and aesthetic style of play, known for his impeccable dribbling and distribution.
After retiring from football, Rivera has gone into politics and currently is a Member of the European Parliament for the Uniti nell'Ulivo party. He has been appointed as the President of the educational youth sector by the FIGC for the Italy national football team, along with Roberto Baggio and Arrigo Sacchi under head coach Cesare Prandelli.
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Giuseppe Bergomi
Giuseppe "Beppe" Bergomi (born 22 December 1963) is a retired Italian footballer who spent his entire career at Internazionale, being equally at ease as a central or right defender.
He held the record of most appearances for the club for several years, while also being the side's longtime captain. He was affectionately referred to as "Lo zio" ("the uncle") because of the impressive moustache he wore even as a youngster.
Bergomi won more than 80 caps for the Italian national team, appearing in four World Cups - including the 1982 edition which ended in triumph - and Euro 1988.
Born in Milan, Bergomi begun training with F.C. Internazionale Milano's first team at the age of only 16, and made his professional debut in the 1980–81 season, the following year. The 20 Serie A seasons he went on to spend with his sole club were often in the shadow of A.C. Milan, as he only won the Scudetto once, in 1989 (he did conquer the UEFA Cup on three occasions). For a moment in his career, he held the records for both the most appearances in European competition by an Italian player and the most Milan derbies played, both broken by Paolo Maldini.
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Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE (born 30 December 1937) is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin (1st) and ahead of Dino Zoff (3rd).
Banks was a member of the England national team that won the 1966 World Cup. In March 2004 Pelé listed Banks as one of the 125 greatest living footballers. His most famous moment occurred in the 1970 World Cup against Brazil, where he pulled off a stunning save from a goalbound header from Pelé, which is often regarded as arguably the greatest save ever. Banks' consistent performances in goal led to the re-wording of a common English idiom to "Safe as the Banks of England".
Banks, born in Sheffield, was a careful student of goalkeepers during childhood. Banks played in local colliery football as a boy and was offered an apprenticeship by Chesterfield after initially going to work as a coal bagger and then as a bricklayer on leaving school. After performances in the youth and A teams gained him promotion to the reserves, Banks was posted to Germany with the Royal Signals on National service, winning the Rhine Cup with his regimental team. On his return he was offered a full-time contract by the Chesterfield manager, Teddy Davison.
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Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE (born 9 February 1957) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough, Strachan managed Coventry City, Southampton and Celtic. In club football, he played 626 games scoring a total of 138 goals, playing 21 of 25 career seasons in either the English or Scottish top flight. In international football Strachan earned 50 caps, scoring 5 goals and playing in two FIFA World Cup final tournaments, Spain 82 and Mexico 86. Strachan retired from playing in 1996 at age 40, setting a Premier League record for an outfield player.
A right-sided midfielder, Strachan made his senior debut in 1974 with Dundee before moving on within Scotland, to spend seven seasons at Aberdeen. He first played for the Scotland national team in 1980. While at Aberdeen Strachan won multiple domestic league and cup honours in the early 1980s, as well as the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup and 1983 European Super Cup. Moving to England, Strachan won the 1985 FA Cup Final in five seasons with Manchester United, before spending the next seven seasons as club captain at Leeds, winning the 1991–92 First Division league title. He played his last game for Scotland in 1992 while still at Leeds, and then moved to Coventry in 1995 for a final three seasons, as a player-coach.
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Grégory Coupet
Grégory Coupet (born 31 December 1972) is a retired French association football goalkeeper who last played for Paris Saint-Germain. He has played for clubs such as Saint-Étienne, Lyon, Atlético Madrid. He has also played for the France national team.
Coupet began his club career with hometown team Club Olympique Le Puy, before going pro with Saint-Étienne in 1994. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 26 March 1994 in a 2–0 victory against Angers. After three seasons, he surprisingly moved to league rival Lyon (the two cities are only 80 kilometers apart, and are long-time local and national rivals). His gamble paid off as Lyon have regularly dominated Le Championnat since 2002 and are also a regular fixture in the UEFA Champions League.
Coupet performed a memorable double save against Barcelona during an UEFA Champions League 2001–02 match, when he first acrobatically headed an unintended lob by a defender to his own crossbar, and then immediately parried a close header by the arriving Barcelona striker Rivaldo.Video of Coupet meorable save against FC Barcelona UCL 01/02
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Hans Backe
Hans Backe (born 14 February 1952) is a Swedish former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
He has coached clubs in several countries, and achieved his greatest successes in Denmark at FC Copenhagen and Aalborg BK.
Backe had a brief playing career in the 1970s, mostly in the Swedish lower divisions, including one stint with Brommapojkarna in 1977–1978.
Backe began his managerial career with Djurgårdens IF in his native Sweden from 1982–84, compiling a record of 38 wins, 20 draws and only 12 losses, which included a first place finish in the 1982 Division 2 Norra. Following his early success with Djurgårdens IF he went on to manage Molde FK, Hammarby IF, Östers IF, AIK and numerous other top Scandinavian clubs. In 1989 he led Öster to a first place finish in Division 1 Södra in which the club ended the season unbeaten in all 26 league matches and gained promotion to the Swedish Allsvenskan.
He enjoyed his greatest success in Denmark, having won four Danish titles with FC Copenhagen and Aalborg BK. In his first season in Danish football Backe led Aalborg BK to the 1998-99 Danish Superliga title. He also helped guide the club to consecutive Danish Cup finals in his two years at the club. During the 2001 season Backe returned to Denmark to lead top side FC Copenhagen. During his time at the club the Danish side would enjoy one of the clubs most successful spells. During this period Backe led Copenhagen to three Danish Superliga titles, one Danish Cup title, and two Danish Super Cup titles, which included a treble winning season during the 2003-04 season.
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Hans Krankl
Johann "Hans" Krankl (born 14 February 1953 in Vienna) is a retired Austrian footballer. He was manager of LASK Linz.
A prolific striker, Krankl is regarded by many as the greatest ever Austrian player. He started his professional career at Rapid Wien and stayed there for 8 years, apart from a year at Wiener AC. He won the European Golden Boot at Rapid Wien in 1978, attracting the interest of Barcelona. His spell at Barcelona was successful, winning the Copa del Rey in his first season as well as the Cup Winners' Cup (scoring in the final itself), and picking up the top goalscorer's award in La Liga that season with 29 goals. He returned to Rapid Wien in 1981, captaining the side and again hammering in the goals for them over the next 5 years. He played a major part in the most successful of Rapid teams in the 1980s, claiming the League crown twice and most prominently losing the Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1985 against Everton. In 1986, he moved to become player-manager at Wiener Sport-Club.
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Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa (Arabic: حاتم بن عرفة; born 7 March 1987) is a French footballer who plays for English club Newcastle United in the Premier League. He plays as a winger and an attacking midfielder. Ben Arfa has been described as "one of the best-rated talents in France", but has been criticized by the media and players alike for lacking discipline.
Ben Arfa started his career throughout various clubs in the Île-de-France region, having trained at AC Boulogne-Billancourt and Versailles. In 1999, he was selected to attend the Clairefontaine academy. Ben Arfa spent three years at the academy and, upon leaving, signed with Lyon, where he won four Ligue 1 titles. In his early career at Lyon, he played as a centre forward, but moved into a winger role during the 2007–08 season. In the summer of 2008, Ben Arfa signed with rivals Marseille for €11 million through a move which required the intervention of the Ligue de Football Professionnel. With Marseille, he won the 2009–10 league title, his fifth overall, as well as the Coupe de la Ligue in 2010. After two years at Marseille, Ben Arfa joined English club Newcastle United on loan for the 2010–11 season with a view to a permanent deal. In January 2011, the loan deal was made permanent.
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Heath Pearce
Heath Gregory Pearce (born August 13, 1984 in Modesto, California) is an American soccer player who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and for the United States men's national soccer team.
Pearce played college soccer at the University of Portland, where he was an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention selection. In his final year at Portland, he started all 20 games, scoring two goals and racking up five assists.
During his college years he also played for the Bradenton Academics in the USL Premier Development League.
Pearce signed with Nordsjælland and began his professional career in the 2004–05 Danish Superliga season. He made 75 league appearances and scored 2 goals for club in his two and a half seasons there.
After stating that he would leave Nordsjælland after the 2007 season with a goal to be signed by a team in Germany, Scotland, or the Netherlands, Pearce signed a two-year contract with Hansa Rostock on July 16, 2007. Near the end of the 2007–08 season, Pearce was briefly suspended for being late to return to the club from international duty, but was eventually allowed back on the team.
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Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhɛnrɪk ˈlɑːʂɔn]; born 20 September 1971) is a retired Swedish footballer and current manager of Landskrona BoIS. He was a striker whose main attributes were good pace and the ability to turn and shoot in tight areas.
Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they won promotion to the Allsvenskan in 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before leaving for Celtic in 1997. He won four league titles in seven years with Celtic, scoring 242 goals in 315 competitive matches, before moving to FC Barcelona in 2004, where he won two league titles and the 2006 Champions League. Following the expiration of his contract at Barcelona, Larsson returned to his hometown club of Helsingborg, and joined Manchester United on a brief loan spell between January and March 2007. He announced his retirement from football on 20 October 2009.
Larsson played for Sweden in three World Cups and three European Championships and is a former captain of the national team. Larsson ended his international career with 37 goals in 106 matches.
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Hernán Crespo
Hernán Jorge Crespo (born 5 July 1975) is an Argentine footballer who is currently out of contract. Crespo has scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 18 years. His honors include an Olympic Games silver medal, a Copa Libertadores, an English Premier League title and three Scudettos. He was topscorer in the 2000–01 Serie A with 26 goals, while playing for Lazio. Crespo once held the world record in transfer fee, when he was bought by Lazio from Parma in July 2000.
Crespo made his debut with River Plate during the 1993–94 season, scoring 13 goals in 25 league appearances as River Plate won the Apertura league title. In 1996, Crespo helped River win the Copa Libertadores, scoring twice in the home leg of the final in Buenos Aires.
Crespo left River Plate for Parma on 14 August 1996 after he won the silver medal with Argentina at the 1996 Summer Olympics and finished as the top scorer with six goals. He failed to score in his first six months at the club and was routinely booed with head coach Carlo Ancelotti coming in for much criticism for keeping faith with the selection of Crespo. His faith was, however, vindicated: the young Argentine went on to score 12 times in 27 matches in his first Serie A season and Parma finished runners-up to Juventus. The turning point was the standing applause he received for his brace against Calcio in March 1997. Parma won the 1998–99 Italian Cup and he scored the opening goal in Parma's 3–0 UEFA Cup final victory over Olympique de Marseille. He had scored 80 goals in four seasons.
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Hervé Revelli
Hervé Revelli, (born 5 May 1946, in Verdun, Meuse) is a French former footballer. He is well known for having won the French Championship the equal most amount of times of any player (7, equal with Jean-Michel Larqué). He is the brother of another footballer, Patrick Revelli.
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Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata, Cavaliere OSSI (中田 英寿, Nakata Hidetoshi?, born January 22, 1977 in Yamanashi Prefecture), is a retired Japanese football player. He was one of the most famous Asian footballers of his generation.
Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with A.S. Roma in 2001, played for Japan in three FIFA World Cup tournaments (1998, 2002 and 2006) and played in the Olympics twice (1996 and 2000). In 2005, he was made the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, one of Italy's highest honors, for improving the country's image overseas. Nakata has also been involved in fashion, regularly attending runway shows and wearing designer clothing.
Nakata announced his retirement at age 29 on July 3, 2006 after a ten-year career that included seven seasons in the Italian Serie A and a season in the English Premier League. In March 2004, Pelé named Nakata in his FIFA 100, a list of the top living footballers at the time.
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Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov (Bulgarian: Христо Стоичков Стоичков), sometimes Stoitchkov; born 8 February 1966 in Plovdiv) is a retired Bulgarian footballer. He is regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation and the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. Nicknamed The Dagger (Камата), The Dog (Кучето), The Modern Left (Модерния ляв). At Barcelona he earned the Spanish nickname 'El Pistolero' which translates to 'the gunslinger'. He was a member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth at the 1994 World Cup. Apart from his footballing talent, he was notable for his on-pitch temper. He was honoured as European Footballer of the Year in 1994. He was named by Pelé as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony in 2004.
Dr.H.C.Hr.Stoichkov began his career in his hometown, moving to Hebros in 1984. The next year he went to CSKA Sofia. There, he was involved in a fight during the final of the 1985 Bulgarian Cup which resulted in an original lifelong ban, which was eventually reduced to a month suspension. After he was brought back to football, he managed to win the European Golden Boot with CSKA by scoring 38 goals in 30 games. He then moved on to FC Barcelona, where he was part of Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team', Stoichkov helped Barcelona to one of the most successful eras of the club, winning the Primera Division four years in a row between 1991 and 1994 and the European Cup after defeating Sampdoria in 1992. During his stay in Barcelona, he had become an idol for the club's fans, and was Barça's most popular player at the time, having earned a place in the supporters' hearts much like Johan Neeskens and Diego Maradona in the past. In Barcelona Stoichkov played in tandem with Romário.
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Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris (French pronunciation: [yɡo lɔʁis]; born 26 December 1986) is a French international footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for French club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. He is also a French international and is currently the first-choice goalkeeper for both club and country. He also serves as the first-choice captain of the national team. Lloris is described as a goalkeeper who "boasts lightning reflexes and good decision-making" and is "a formidable opponent in one-on-one situations". Lloris also "commands his box well". He is a three-time winner of the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Lloris began his career with hometown club OGC Nice. He made his debut as a teenager in October 2005 and started in goal during the team's run to the 2006 Coupe de la Ligue Final. After excelling at the club for three seasons, Lloris moved to seven-time Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais, amid interest from several other clubs, notably Milan. Lloris won several domestic awards in his first season with Lyon and, in his second season, earned award nominations at European level for his performances in the UEFA Champions League, which saw Lyon reach the semi-finals for the first time.
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Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez Márquez (born July 11, 1958), popularly nicknamed Pentapichichi, or Hugol, is a Mexican football coach and former striker. He played for four European clubs, including Real Madrid. He was also a member of the Mexico national team, and participated in three World Cups. He is currently manager of Pachuca of the Primera División de México.
As a coach, he won two championships as head coach of the club Pumas de la UNAM and briefly with Club Necaxa, both teams in the Mexican Primera División. He also had a sixteen-month stint with the Mexican national team, but was fired on March 31, 2008. Hugo Sanchez has signed up to start coaching again, now in Europe, for UD Almería [1] from the Spanish First Division starting December 29, in an attempt to save the team from descending to the 2nd Division by the Summer. He has succeeded in keeping UD Almeria free from relegation from La Liga for the 2009–2010 season.
In 1999, the IFFHS voted him the 26th best footballer of the 20th century, and the best footballer from the CONCACAF region.
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Héctor Yazalde
Héctor Casimiro Yazalde (born 29 May 1946 – died 18 June 1997) was an Argentine footballer who played as a striker.
Nicknamed Chirola, Yazalde scored 46 goals in one single season with Sporting Clube de Portugal, being awarded that season's European Golden Shoe.
Born in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province, Yazalde's beginnings in football were hazardous; he was visiting a friend who played with Piraña, an amateur club in the Argentine capital. He asked to join in the training session, immediately causing a stirring impression and signing the very day. From there, he signed with Club Atlético Independiente, going on to help the side help two national championships.
In 1971–72, Yazalde signed with Sporting Clube de Portugal, helping the Lisbon outfit to the 1974 league title, during which he scored 46 goals in just 29 games, both a domestic and European record, and the 1973 Portuguese Cup. The following campaign, with the Lions finishing third, he netted 30, league's best and Europe's second.
As a prize for the European Golden Shoe, he received a Toyota car, which he sold, then sharing the money with his teammates. After his Portuguese spell, Yazalde successively represented Olympique de Marseille, Newell's Old Boys and Club Atlético Huracán, retiring in 1981 and becoming a player's agent, in Argentina.
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Ian Callaghan
Ian Robert Callaghan MBE (born 10 April 1942 in Toxteth, Liverpool) is a former Liverpool footballer who holds the record for most appearances for the club.
A Liverpool supporter as a child, Callaghan joined the club as an apprentice on 28 March 1960 and made his debut on 16 April in a 4-0 win against Bristol Rovers at Anfield.
A right-winger, Callaghan was a regular in the team from 1961 onwards. The club was promoted from the Second Division as champions in 1962 under the management of Bill Shankly, having spent spent eight years in the second tier and coming close to promotion on occasion under both Shankly and previous manager Phil Taylor. Callaghan appeared twenty three times that season and also managed to score his first goal for the club which came in the 56th minute of the game against Preston North End at Deepdale on 4 November 1961.
Callaghan became a major part of the side which finished 8th in their first season back in Division One. The following year, 1963-64, Liverpool won the League championship by four points over north-west rivals Manchester United and five over Merseyside rivals and reigning league champions Everton.
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Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, (born 20 October 1961 in Flint) is a Welsh former footballer. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Wrexham and Sydney Olympic. Rush made 73 appearances for the Wales national football team and he remains the record goalscorer for Wales with 28 goals between 1980 and 1996.
Since retiring as a player in 1999, Rush has had a stint as manager of Chester City (2004–05), and has worked as a television football pundit. He was also very well known for his moustache.
Rush's reputation was enhanced by scoring for Chester in a shock 2–0 FA Cup third round win at Second Division giants Newcastle United in January 1980, with Chester equalling their best run by reaching the last 16 where they narrowly lost to Ipswich Town two rounds later. His last game for Chester was a 2–1 win over Southend United at Sealand Road on 26 April 1980 in which he did not score.
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Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a former English professional footballer turned television and radio personality and currently part-time first-team coach of Milton Keynes Dons
Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major domestic trophies, and the European Cup Winners Cup. He played 581 league games, scoring 387 goals for seven clubs in Scotland and England and earned 33 caps for the English national team.
He also played in the Premier League for West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, the Scottish Premier League for Celtic and the Football League for Burnley.
After retiring from the game he has been active in the media, usually in football related TV and radio shows. His son, Bradley and stepson, Shaun are both professional footballers.
Wright came to professional football relatively late. Despite having had trials at Southend United and Brighton during his teens, he was unable to attract sufficient interest to win a professional contract offer. Reverting to playing for amateur and non-league teams, he was left disillusioned about his chances of a career as a professional footballer.
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Iván Zamorano
Iván Luis Zamorano Zamora (born January 18, 1967 in Santiago) is a retired Chilean football striker. Along with Marcelo Salas and Elias Figueroa he is regarded as one of Chile's most recognized footballers.
He was a member of the Chilean national team and played in the 1998 World Cup. He played for several clubs, notably Spanish clubs Sevilla and Real Madrid C.F. as well as Italian club Internazionale. He won the 1994-95 La Liga title and was the season's top scorer with Real Madrid. He also won the UEFA Cup with Internazionale.
In 2004, Zamorano was selected among the FIFA 100, a list of the best living football players in the world compiled by Pelé.
Zamorano started his career at the club Trasandino then he moved to Cobresal in Chile in 1985. In 1988, he moved to Europe to Swiss team FC St. Gallen, scoring 34 goals in 56 matches in three seasons. In 1991 Zamorano debuted in the Spanish Primera División with Sevilla, where he would play 59 matches and score 21 goals before he was sold to Real Madrid for $5 million.
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Jaap Stam
Jakob "Jaap" Stam (born 17 July 1972 in Kampen) is a retired Dutch football player who was twice voted best defender in the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League. He played for several European clubs including PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, S.S. Lazio, A.C. Milan and AFC Ajax before retiring in October 2007. Stam is currently the assistant manager of Art Langeler at his former club FC Zwolle.
Stam started his career with local amateur football club DOS Kampen. On 15 August 1992, Stam made his professional debut for FC Zwolle in a 1–1 draw against SC Heracles in the Eerste Divisie. He became a first team regular right away and moved to Eredivisie side Cambuur Leeuwarden for the following season, but relegated in his first season which brought him back into the Eerste Divisie. Two seasons at Cambuur earned him a transfer to Eredivisie side Willem II. At Willem II he impressed at the Eredivisie level straight away, which meant his final breakthrough. A shock 1–0 home victory over Ajax led to Stam's transfer to PSV Eindhoven in the same season in which they eventually won the KNVB Cup, his first professional trophy.
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Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL (born 8 May 1935 in Ashington, Northumberland) is an English former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup. He is the brother of former Manchester United and England footballer Bobby Charlton.
Charlton was a part of the successful Leeds United side of the 1960s and 1970s, winning a league championship (1969), an FA Cup (1972), a League Cup (1968) and two Fairs Cups (1968 and 1971) and made a club record 773 appearances. He won 35 England caps and played in every game of the successful 1966 World Cup campaign. In 2006, Leeds United supporters voted Charlton into the club's greatest ever XI.
Charlton later became a manager of both domestic and international sides. In his first season as a manager, he led Middlesbrough to the Second Division title, for which he was voted Manager of the Year in 1974. He later took charge of the Republic of Ireland national team, and led them to their first ever World Cup in 1990, where they reached the quarter-finals.
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Jack Wilshere
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere (born 1 January 1992) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team.
Wilshere came up through Arsenal's youth academy and impressed from an early age. He made his first team debut in 2008, at the age of 16, and was Arsenal's youngest ever league debutant. In his short career thus far Wilshere has earned a number of accolades including the PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Team of the Year, and Arsenal's Player of the Season as voted on by the fans for his performances in his first full campaign for Arsenal during the 2010–11 season.
Wilshere was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and currently lives in Hitchin, where he grew up, attending Whitehill Junior School and The Priory School. He captained The Priory School Football team to County Cup and District Cup glory from Year 7 through to Year 10, and also added the Under 15s National Cup to his list in Year 8, playing alongside Leyton Orient's Jake Argent-Martin and Jack Reeves.
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Jacques Santini
Jacques Santini (born 25 April 1952 in Delle, France) is a former football player and manager. He played for Saint-Étienne during the 1970s, and reached the European Cup final with them in 1976. He has coached both Tottenham Hotspur and the French team AJ Auxerre.
Jacques Santini is one of the most accomplished football managers - coach in France. Together with Jean Michel Aulas and Bernard Lacombe he was involved in the transformation of Lyon into a French football giant. From 1997 to 2000 he was Sports' director, helping lay the foundation which resulted in Lyon becoming the best football club in France. As manager of Lyon from 2000-2002 he was winner of French League Cup in 2001, and in 2002 he won the French Championship.
Santini was chosen as "The best French coach " on 2002 by France Football and World's The Best National Coach of the Year on 2003 by International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Santini replaced Roger Lemerre as France manager in 2002. He had already resigned from the position before Euro 2004, where France surprisingly lost to Greece in the quarter-final.
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Jamie Carragher
James Lee Duncan "Jamie" Carragher (born 28 January 1978) is an English footballer of Irish descent, who plays as a defender for Premier League side Liverpool. He is the current vice-captain and is one of the club's longest-serving players; he made his 666th appearance for Liverpool in all competitions on 9 May 2011, thus placing him second on the club's all time appearance list.
Carragher started his career with the Liverpool youth team. He made his professional debut in the 1996–97 season and became a first team regular the following season. He gained his first senior honours in 2001, winning a cup treble of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup. Having initially played as a full back, the arrival of manager Rafael Benítez in 2004 saw Carragher move to the centre back position and that season he won his greatest honour to date—the UEFA Champions League. In the next season, he won the FA Cup and was selected in the PFA Team of the Year. Carragher set a record for the most appearances in European competition for Liverpool in 2007.
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Jan Ceulemans
Jan Anna Gumaar Ceulemans (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjɑn ˈkøːləmɑns]; born 28 February 1957 in Lier, Belgium) is a Belgian former football player who played as a midfielder.
He is his country's most capped player with 96 international appearances. Most of his time with Belgium took place under the guidance of Guy Thys. This period saw the Belgium squad record some of their finest results, which include reaching the final of Euro 80 and fourth place at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Ceulemans' first of three World Cup appearances was at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Belgium beat the defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the opening game of the tournament at Nou Camp en route to reaching the second round. Among one of Ceulemans' finest achievements was captaining his national side to fourth place in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament including a beautiful diving header against Spain in the quarter-finals. His performance earned the nickname "Captain Courageous".[1]. He retired from international competition after the 1990 FIFA World Cup; Jan scored the 3rd goal in a 3-1 win over Uruguay but Belgium was eliminated by England in the round of sixteen, with the winning goal being scored by David Platt in the 119th minute in extra time. Jan had struck the post during the game.
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Jan Gunnar Solli
Jan Gunnar Solli (born 19 April 1981 in Arendal) is a Norwegian footballer currently playing for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and the Norway national football team.
He played as a right winger for most of his career, but also plays defensive midfielder and right back. He currently plays in the latter position for Red Bulls.
Solli made his senior debut for Odd Grenland in the 2000 Tippeligaen season and made five appearances, all as a substitute, in his first season. In total, he played 54 league games for the club over three and a half seasons – but failed to score – and helped Odd reach the 2002 Norwegian Cup final, where they were beaten 1–0 by Vålerenga. His play with Odd Grenland led to interest from various European clubs including Aston Villa, and AC Milan, with which he had a training stint.
Solli joined Rosenborg BK of Trondheim in the summer of 2003 and made four starts and ten substitute appearances in the second half of that season as the club won a 12th consecutive league title. During his first season with Rosenborg he scored his first-ever league goal against Viking FK on 23 August 2003, in his fifth full season as a professional footballer. He was also a regular in the ensuing European campaigns for Rosenborg BK and scored an important first-leg goal against Maccabi Haifa F.C. in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in August 2004. He also played an integral role in helping Rosenborg win the 2004 and 2006 league title.
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Jan Halvor Halvorsen
Jan Halvor Halvorsen (born 8 March 1963 in Bamble) is a former Norwegian football player, who is currently an assistant coach with New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Halvorsen started his youth career in Pors, debuting at the age of fifteen and a half. He has also played for clubs like SK Brann, Rosenborg BK and Hertha BSC. In 1992 he became Danish cup winner playing for AGF Aarhus.
Halvorsen has five caps for the Norwegian national team.
Since 1996 Halvorsen has worked as football manager, managing top teams from Norway and Sweden. In 1999 he took over as manager for IK Start and led the club to promotion to the Norwegian Premier League. In 2000 he led the recently promoted side to the semi-finals of the Norwegian Football Cup. After being relegated to Adeccoligaen, he once again led the club to promotion back to the Norwegian Premier League in 2001.
In 2003 he joined Sogndal and helped the club to an 8th place finish in his first season in charge of the Norwegian Premier League side. In November 2005, he signed a contract with Notodden FK, bringing them up from the Norwegian Second Division up to Adeccoligaen, the second highest level in Norway. He remained with Notodden FK thru 2009.
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Javier Saviola
Javier Pedro Saviola Fernández (born 11 December 1981) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in Portugal, as a striker.
Known for his speed, he represented both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid during his career (amongst others), and was named, as the youngest player, to Pelé's FIFA 100 list of the 125 greatest living footballers. Due to his Spanish ancestors, he also holds Spanish nationality since 2004.
An Argentine international in the 2000s, Saviola represented the country at the 2006 World Cup and the 2004 Copa América.
Nicknamed El Conejo (The Rabbit), Buenos Aires-born Saviola made his debut for Club Atlético River Plate at the age of 16, and went on to be a prolific goalscorer for the club.
He helped River to the 1999 Apertura and 2000 Clausura championships, and earned the 1999 South American Footballer of the Year award. Still only 18, he gained a reputation as a phenomenal prospect.
In 2001, aged 19, Saviola moved abroad to play for FC Barcelona in a £15 million transfer. He obtained Spanish citizenship shortly after, thereby not being restricted by the Spanish league maximum on the number of non-European Union citizens allowed in each club. Under coach Louis van Gaal, he scored 17 goals in his first season, finishing third best scorer in La Liga.
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Javier Zanetti
Javier Adelmar Zanetti (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈχaβ̞je̞ɾ saˈne̞ti]; born 10 August 1973 in Dock Sud, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Serie A club Internazionale. Javier Zanetti has played for Inter since 1995, taking the captain's armband from 29 August 1999. Known for his versatility, he is adept on both the left and right wing, having played on both flanks as a fullback as well as a winger. He slots into several midfield positions with ease, particularly as a defensive or central midfielder. Internationally, he holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Argentine national team and has played in the 1996 Olympic tournament and in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002.
Known as "Pupi" in Argentina, Zanetti was born in Buenos Aires, picking up the nickname "El Tractor" (The Tractor) soon after his move to Italy where his strength, resilience, stamina, and his ability to run past opposing defenders when joining the attack from his right back position earned him notoriety. More recently, he plays in the right midfield. He ended a 4-year goal drought when he scored on 5 November 2006. In the national team, he is deployed as a right back but is able to switch between defense and attack easily.
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Jean Petit
Jean Petit (born September 25, 1949 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne) is a former football midfielder from France, who earned twelve international caps (one goal) for the French national team during the late 1970s. Petit played most of his professional career for AS Monaco, with whom he won the French title in 1978. He was a member of the French team in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
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Jean Tigana
Jean Amadou Tigana (born 23 June 1955 in Bamako, Mali, previously named French Sudan) is a former French international footballer, having played in midfield and managed professional football extensively throughout France, including 52 appearances and 1 goal for the France national football team during the 1980s. He most recently coached Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.
Tigana started his professional career as a player at Toulon, having been spotted fairly late playing part-time while employed in a spaghetti factory and then as a postman. He moved to Lyon in 1978 and then to Bordeaux in a $4million transfer. He was part of the French national football team that won the European Championship in 1984, defeating Spain in the final. In Bordeaux's midfield for eight years, Tigana helped them to three league titles and three French cups, as well as taking them close to European glory on two occasions, losing in the semi-final of the European Cup and Cup Winners' Cup in 1985 and 1987 respectively.
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Jhonny Arteaga
Jhonny Alexandre Arteaga (born 24 November 1986 in Cali) is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Arteaga grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where he attended Westhill High School before playing college soccer at Dominican College (New York). In 2005, 2006, 2007, Arteaga received All CACC Honors & NSCAA All Region Honors in 2006, & 2007. During his Senior Year, Arteaga Led the CACC in Points (38) & in Goals (16). Following his Senior Year, Arteaga was Honored CACC Player of the Year, Daktronic’s 1st Team All Region and 1st Team All American.
During his college years, Arteaga also played with the Albany BWP Highlanders in the USL Premier Development League.
Arteaga turned professional in 2008 playing with the Western Mass Pioneers in the USL Second Division, and made his professional debut on 19 April 2008 in the Pioneers' 3-0 opening day defeat to the Richmond Kickers. He left the club mid-season, and briefly played back in the PDL for Westchester Flames, before leaving for Europe to attempt to secure a professional contract.
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Jimmy Adamson
James "Jimmy" Adamson (4 April 1929 – 8 November 2011) was an English professional footballer and football manager. He was born in Ashington, Northumberland. He made 476 appearances for Burnley ranking him sixth in their all-time appearance list.
Adamson, a right-half, joined Burnley in January 1947 after playing non-league football in his native Ashington and working as a miner. His early career was interrupted by National Service, which he completed with the Royal Air Force, meaning his debut had to wait until February 1951, when Burnley played away to Bolton Wanderers. He played once for the England B team, but never made the full England side.
He was an ever-present as Burnley won the 1959-60 Football League Championship and captained the side to the 1962 FA Cup Final which they lost against Tottenham Hotspur. He was also named Footballer of the Year in 1962.
Adamson formed a midfield partnership with inside-forward Jimmy McIlroy, around which much of Burnley's creative play was centred.
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Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta i Estruch (Catalan pronunciation: [ʒuˈan ɫəˈpɔrtə]; born June 29, 1962) is a Spanish politician and former president of Futbol Club Barcelona between 2003 and 2010.
Laporta is a lawyer (he graduated from the University of Barcelona) with his own firm, Laporta & Arbós, which has important firms as clients. Laporta was married to Constanza Echevarría and has three sons, Pol, Guillem and Jan. He is currently serving as MP in the Parliament of Catalonia.
He started his involvement with Barcelona leading the "Elefant Blau" (Blue Elephant), a group which opposed former president Josep Lluís Nuñez and which, in 1998, tried, unsuccessfully, a vote of no confidence against him.
In the 2003 elections, Laporta did not start as the favourite, but his charisma grew during the electoral campaign and he finally won against the expected victor, publicist Lluís Bassat, in part because of a widely published (and ultimately unfulfilled) promise to bring David Beckham to Barcelona. Laporta had the support of other young businessmen of Barcelona, such as Sandro Rosell. Laporta quickly became a media star, even more than some of the players.
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Joe Cole
Joseph John "Joe" Cole (born 8 November 1981) is an English footballer who plays for Liverpool, and the England national football team as midfielder. He started his career with West Ham United where he played more than 100 games during five years, until he left for Chelsea in 2003. Cole won a number of trophies with Chelsea, including three Premier League titles and two FA Cups before leaving on a free transfer in July 2010 to join Liverpool. He is described as "a technically gifted player with the creativity to unlock a defence".
Cole was born in Paddington, London and lived there until he moved to Camden at the age of six. He was educated at St. Mary's Primary School, Bryanston Square in Marylebone along with brother Nicky and sister Charly. He also attended Haverstock School in Chalk Farm, Camden and St. Aloysius RC College in North London. As a youngster Joe Cole supported Chelsea. Joe Cole is a patron for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
A child prodigy who received national media attention as a schoolboy, Cole famously scored seven of the eight goals the England youth team scored against Spain in one match. Cole is a product of the West Ham United youth system. He was long touted as the hottest prospect in English football with Manchester United reportedly offering to pay £10 million for his services as a 16-year-old. Playing in a mould similar to former England favourite Paul Gascoigne, he quickly progressed through the West Ham ranks before making his first-team debut at the age of 17. In 1999 Cole was part of West Ham's victorious FA Youth Cup winning squad (alongside Michael Carrick), defeating Coventry City 9–0 on aggregate in the final. In January 2003 Glenn Roeder, then West Ham United manager gave Cole the club captain's armband at the age of 21. The club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of that season. Cole won the "Hammer of the Year award" for 2003.
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Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE (9 August 1914 – 9 August 1990) was an English football player and manager.
Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack during the Great War, while his son was only 12. In later life, after his footballing career was over, Joe Mercer junior became a regular attendee at Tranmere Rovers due to his father's involvement.
Joe Mercer, a left-half, first played for Ellesmere Port Town. He was a powerful tackler and good at anticipating an opponent's moves. He joined Everton in September 1932 at the age of 18 and claimed a regular first team place in the 1935–36 season. Mercer made 186 appearances for Everton, scoring two goals and a winning a League Championship medal in the 1938–39 season. While playing for Everton he gained five England caps between 1938 and 1939.
Like many players of his generation, Mercer lost out on seven seasons of football due to the Second World War. He became a sergeant-major and played in 26 wartime internationals, many of them as captain. The Everton manager Theo Kelly accused Mercer of not trying in an international against Scotland, but in reality Mercer had sustained a severe cartilage injury. Even after consulting an orthopaedic specialist, the Everton management refused to believe him and Mercer had to pay for the surgery himself. During the war Mercer guested for Chester, making his debut in a 4–1 win over Halifax Town in September 1942.
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Joel Lindpere
Joel Lindpere (born 5 October 1981 in Tallinn) is an Estonian professional footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. He plays as a midfielder.
Lindpere made his first-team debut for JK Nõmme Kalju at the age of 15 in 1997. He then moved to Lelle SK, and scored 5 goals in 23 appearances with the club. After two seasons he moved to FC Flora Tallinn, Estonia's biggest club, in 2000. A year later Lindpere joined to FC Valga on loan, playing 20 games and scoring 17 goals. After his impressive goal scoring display with FC Valga he moved back to FC Flora Tallinn during the 2002 season. Upon his return to FC Flora Tallinn, Lindpere became one of the top players in the Estonian Top Division and helped lead his club to league titles in 2002 and 2003.
At the age of 22, Lindpere moved abroad to play for CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria, but after one season he moved back to FC Flora Tallinn. In September 2006, he was kicked off the club after an incident with the 4th referee in a Cup match against FC Levadia Tallinn. In January 2007, Greek club Panetolikos F.C. offered Lindpere a contract, but eventually he refused. In February 2007, he signed a 3-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen club Tromsø IL. His first goal for Tromsø IL came against Molde in a training match only a few days after he had signed his contract. In 20 August 2009 Lindpere scored against top Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in a 3–2 loss in a UEFA Europa League match played at San Mamés Stadium.
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Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON (Dutch: [ˈjoˑɦɑn ˈkrœy̆f]) born 25 April 1947 in Amsterdam), known as Johan Cruyff, is a former Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Lionel Messi. Cruyff was one of the most famous exponents of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in association football.
After his retirement from playing in 1984, Cruyff became highly successful as manager of Ajax and later FC Barcelona; he remains an influential advisor to both clubs. His son Jordi has also gone on to play football professionally.
In 1999, Cruyff was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the IFFHS, and came second behind Pelé in their World Player of the Century poll. He came third in a vote organised by the French weekly magazine France Football consulting their former Ballon d'Or winners to elect their Football Player of the Century. He was named as the greatest football player of all time by the Bleacher Report for the combination of his skill and his revolutionary application of Rinus Michels's total football to the sport.
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Johan Micoud
Johan Micoud (born 24 July 1973) is a retired French footballer who played mostly as an attacking midfielder.
Left-footed, he was considered a skilled midfielder and a dead-ball expert; during a 16-year professional career, he played professionally, other than in his country, in Italy and Germany.
Micoud gained nearly 20 caps for France, and represented the nation at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2000, winning the latter tournament.
Born in Cannes, Micoud was a youth product of local AS Cannes' youth system, becoming the side's playmaker after Zinedine Zidane's departure to FC Girondins de Bordeaux. He helped the club to promotion from the second division in 1993 and UEFA Cup qualification the following season.
In 1998–99, two years after also moving to Bordeaux, Micoud played a pivotal role as the club were crowned Ligue 1 champions, and helped it to the following season UEFA Champions League's second group stage.
In 2000, he was seduced by the attraction of playing abroad, initially joining Parma AC, where he stayed for two seasons. Micoud then moved to Germany, signing for SV Werder Bremen, where he enjoyed a successful four-year stay, the peak of which being a major force in the league and cup double in 2004, as he netted 10 league goals, the highest for a midfielder alongside Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Bernd Schneider.
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Johan Neeskens
Johannes Jacobus "Johan" Neeskens (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjoʊ̯.ɦɑ.nəs ja.ˈkoʊ̯.bʏs ˈjoʊ̯.ɦɑn ˈneɪ̯s.kəns]; born 15 September 1951 in Heemstede, Netherlands) is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. As a player, he was an important member of the Dutch national team that finished as runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. Former England manager Alf Ramsey said Neeskens was "as good as any player" in the tournament. He was the assistant coach to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona but was sacked along with Rijkaard as the end of the 2007–08 season. He was the head coach of the Dutch B national team until June 2009, at which date he has been appointed as the assistant coach to Frank Rijkaard at Galatasaray SK.
Neeskens, a native of Heemstede, Noord-Holland, started his career at RCH Heemstede in 1968, before being spotted by Rinus Michels and signed for Ajax in 1970. The youngster impressed at right-back, playing in that position for Ajax in the 1971 European Cup Final win against Panathinaikos. During the 1971–72 season, Neeskens took up more of a central midfield role, in support of Johan Cruijff. He adapted well to his new central midfield role because he was a tireless runner, had great technical skills and scored his fair share of goals. Ajax completed a hat-trick of European Cup wins between 1971 and 1973, and Neeskens moved on to FC Barcelona in 1974 to join Cruijff and Michels. There he was nicknamed Johan Segon (Johan the Second).
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John Terry
John George Terry (born 7 December 1980) is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League. He was also captain of the England national football team, holding the post from August 2006 to February 2010, and from March 2011 to February 2012.
Terry was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year in 2005, 2008 and 2009.PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2005, and was included in the FIFPro World XI for four consecutive seasons, from 2005 to 2008. He was also named in the all-star squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the only English player to make the team. He wears the number 26 shirt for Chelsea.
Terry is Chelsea's most successful captain, having led them to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups since 2004. He is one of five players to have made over 500 appearances for Chelsea and is also the club's all-time highest scoring defender. In 2007, he became the first captain to lift the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium in Chelsea's 1–0 win over Manchester United, and also the first player to score an international goal there, scoring a header in England's 1–1 draw with Brazil.
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John Wark
John Wark (born 4 August 1957) is a Scottish former footballer who spent most of his playing time with Ipswich Town. He won a record four Player of the Year awards before becoming one of the four inaugural members of the club's Hall of Fame. Wark had long spells at the club, which bookended his career, and a third, brief interlude dividing his briefer periods at Liverpool and Middlesbrough. A versatile player, Wark played most of his professional games as a midfielder, although he sometimes played as a central defender and on occasion as a striker.
Born in Glasgow, Wark represented Scotland in international football, winning 29 caps and scoring seven goals. This included selection for Scotland in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in which he made three appearances and scored twice.
During his playing career, Wark appeared in the film Escape to Victory. Since retiring as a professional player in 1996, he has continued to work for Ipswich Town—since April 2009 in the corporate hospitality department. His autobiography, Wark On, was published in 2009.
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Johnny Carey
John Joseph "Johnny" Carey (23 February 1919 in Dublin, Ireland – 22 August 1995 in Macclesfield, England), also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953. He was also a dual internationalist, playing for and captaining both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI. In 1947 he also captained a Europe XI which played a Great Britain XI at Hampden Park. In 1949 he was voted the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year and in the same year captained the FAI XI that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home. Carey was also the first non-UK player and the first Irishman to captain a winning team in both an FA Cup Final and the First Division. Like his contemporary Con Martin, Carey was an extremely versatile footballer and played in nine different positions throughout his career. He even played in goal for United on one occasion.
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Jonathan Borrajo
Jonathan Borrajo (born June 2, 1987 in Clifton, New Jersey) is an American soccer player who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Borrajo attended Clifton High School in New Jersey, where he was named his team's Best Defender and MVP. He finished his high school career with 109 points (29 goals and 51 assists), and was named to the All-State and All-County teams as a junior and senior.
Borrajo played four years of college soccer at George Mason University, where he was named to the All-CAA and All-CAA Tournament team as a senior in 2008. He received the Fred Thompson MVP in 2007 and the Dennis Hamlet Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008, as well as captaining the team his sophomore thru senior years and leading them to an CAA Championship and a NCAA final tournament appearance in his last season.
During his college years Borrajo was a player for the New York Red Bulls' youth development system, and also played for the New Jersey Rangers in the USL Premier Development League.
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Josef Masopust
Josef Masopust (born 9 February 1931 in Střimice near Most) is a Czechoslovak former football player and coach. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1962. In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of the Czech Republic by the Football Association of the Czech Republic as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years. He played as midfielder and was an indispensable player for Czechoslovakia. He capped 63 times, scoring 10 goals for his country.
He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.
In 1962, Masopust led the Czechoslovakia team that reached the 1962 FIFA World Cup final, losing to Brazil. He scored in the Final and Czechoslovakia took the lead, Brazil however came back to win 3-1. Because of his performance at the World Cup Finals, he was named European Footballer of the Year in 1962. Overall, he was capped 63 times for his country, scoring ten goals (he also played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup). In Europe, he took Czechoslovakia to third place at the 1960 UEFA European Football Championship.
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Josip Skoblar
Josip "Joško" Skoblar (born 12 March 1941) is a Croatian former football player and manager. He was primarily a forward, and also capable of playing on both wings.
Skoblar was born in Privlaka near Zadar (at the time in the Banovina of Croatia, Kingdom of Yugoslavia). He started his career with NK Zadar (1957–58). He got spotted there by OFK Beograd goalie Perica Radenković who was serving his mandatory army stint in Zadar. Radenković recommended Skoblar to club management and the 19-year-old was soon on his way to Belgrade. With OFK Beograd Skoblar won the Yugoslav Cup in 1962 and 1966. In Germany he played for Hannover 96 (1967–70). In 57 games in Bundesliga, he scored 30 goals.
He was willing to play in Marseilles, but the chairman of Hannover didn't want to lose such a player. Marcel Leclerc, chairman of Marseilles, went to Hannover on a quick journey and came back with the player, it was the beginning of a great adventure with Marseilles. The player was applauded at the airport by many fans.
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José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes Calderón (born 1 September 1983) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Sevilla FC, mainly as a left winger but also as a forward.
He made his professional debuts for hometown's Sevilla at only 16, signing for England's Arsenal aged 20. After a relatively successful career abroad, he returned to his country, going on to represent both main sides in Madrid, Real and Atlético, also having a short loan spell in Portugal with Benfica.
Reyes gained 21 caps for Spain, and represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup.
Born in Utrera, south-east Seville, to Spanish Kale (Gitanos) parents, Reyes joined the youth ranks of local Sevilla FC at the age of 10. His talent was identified, and he represented the club at all youth levels.
He finally signed a full contract in 1999, making his full squad debuts during 1999–2000 at just 16, in a game against Real Zaragoza, and was later called up to Spain's squad for the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. With the Andalusians now in Segunda División, he added another first-team club appearance.
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Juan Sebastián Verón
Juan Sebastián Verón (born 9 March 1975) is an Argentinian professional football player who is the current captain and midfielder for Estudiantes de La Plata in the Argentine Primera División. Verón's career started in Estudiantes, continued in Argentina's Boca Juniors, and included stints in several Serie A clubs (where he won the Scudetto with Lazio and with Internazionale, and a UEFA Cup with Parma), and England's Manchester United and Chelsea. In 2006, Verón returned to Estudiantes.
In 2004, he was included in the FIFA 100 centenary list of the 125 greatest living footballers, selected by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary celebrations. Verón has both Argentine and Italian citizenship. His nickname is La Brujita (Little Witch), a nod to his father Juan Ramón who was known as La Bruja (The Witch) and was also a championship winning player with Estudiantes.
Juan Sebastián Verón is the eldest son of former Argentina striker Juan Ramón Verón, who scored against Manchester United in the 1968 Intercontinental Cup at Old Trafford for Estudiantes. He was born the day his father played a derby for Estudiantes against cross-town rivals Gimnasia y Esgrima. As a boy, Verón dreamed of playing for English club Sheffield United, as his uncle, Pedro Verde, played for the club at the time. When his son started to play professionally, his father tried to persuade one of his former clubs Panathinaikos to sign him. However, after a short trial with them, they finally decided that he was not good enough for their team. After his transfer to Manchester United, Verón said, "So there I was hoping to play for Sheffield United and here I am at Manchester United!"
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Julio César Romero
Julio César Romero Insfrán, nicknamed Romerito (born 28 August 1960 in Luque, Paraguay) is a former football midfielder from Paraguay, considered among the best players in Paraguayan football history. He is the only Paraguayan named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.
Romero started his career at local club Sportivo Luqueño in 1977, by 1979 Romerito's consistent performances had earned him a place in the Paraguay national football team that played in the FIFA World Youth Championship and was considered one of the best players of the tournament along with Maradona. In the same year, Romerito played the Copa América which was eventually won by Paraguay.
In 1980 he joined now defunct New York Cosmos where he played alongside such greats as Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer.
Romero moved to Brazil to play for Fluminense where he was selected as the South American Footballer of the Year in 1985. He became a fan favorite after leading the team to a Campeonato Brasileiro.
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Just Fontaine
Just "Justo" Fontaine (born 18 August 1933 in Marrakech, Morocco) is a former French football player.
He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with 13 in 1958. He has also scored the fourth most goals for any player in the World Cup finals overall, beaten only by Ronaldo, who scored fifteen goals (in three World Cup tournaments), Gerd Müller who scored 14 goals (in two World Cup tournaments) and Miroslav Klose (in three World Cup tournaments), who scored fourteen goals as well. Although France did not win the 1958 World Cup, Fontaine became the second player after Alcides Ghiggia to score in every match of a World Cup.
Though born in Marrakech, he moved to Casablanca, where he attended the Lycée Lyautey.
Fontaine began his amateur career at USM Casablanca, where he played from 1950 to 1953. Nice recruited him in 1953, and he went on to score 44 goals in three seasons for the club. In 1956, he moved on to Stade de Reims where he teamed up with Raymond Kopa, Kopa went to Real Madrid in 1958, Fontaine scored 121 goals in six seasons at the Stade de Reims. In total, Fontaine scored 165 goals in 200 matches in the Ligue 1, and twice won the championship; in 1958 and 1960.
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Jérémy Toulalan
Jérémy Toulalan (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁemi tulalɑ̃]; born 10 September 1983 in Nantes) is a French footballer who currently plays for Málaga CF in La Liga. His usual position is as a defensive midfielder, but he can also be utilized as a central defender. He is best known for his shy and humble demeanor, simple distribution, good technique, and effective tackling.
Toulalan started his career at hometown club FC Nantes and made his debut in March 2002. His performances during the 2004–05 season earned him the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year award and also an appearance in the Team of the Year. In May 2006, Toulalan joined Lyon on a four-year contract and helped the team win back-to-back league titles 2007 and 2008. In June 2011, he joined Malaga CF.
Toulalan is also a French international having previously represented his country at youth level. He made his senior international debut in October 2006 and has represented his nation at two international tournaments: UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Toulalan is regular in the starting eleven often starting in the holding midfielder role.
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Jérôme Rothen
Jérôme Renée Marcel Rothen (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁom roten]) born 31 March 1978 of Châtenay-Malabry) is a French footballer who plays as a winger for SC Bastia.
Rothen has won 13 caps for the French national team. He represented his country at the 2004 European Football Championship and won the FIFA Confederations Cup with France in 2003. In club competition, Rothen won the Coupe de France once and the Coupe de la Ligue twice with Paris Saint-Germain. He also won the Coupe de la Ligue with Monaco. Rothen is a skilled winger who specialises in free kicks, crossing and passing.
Rothen underwent training at the famous Clairefontaine National Football Academy in France.
He started his career with SM Caen.
He then played for Troyes AC under Alain Perrin.
He was brought to AS Monaco on 1 January 2002 for €5 million. Rothen was one of the stars of the Monaco side that reached the 2004 final of the Champions League, in May 2004.
A native of the Paris metropolitan area, he fulfilled a childhood dream when he signed for the capital side Paris Saint-Germain in 2004 for €11 million.[citation needed] He rejected lucrative offers from more powerful European clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea F.C. and Valencia C.F. in order to join PSG, the club he supported during his youth.[citation needed]
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Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann (born 30 July 1964 in Göppingen) is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States men's National team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that won the 1996 UEFA European Championship. One of West Germany's/Germany's premier strikers during the 1990s, Klinsmann scored in all six major international tournaments he participated, from Euro 1988 to 1998 World Cup.
He managed the German national team to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup. On 12 July 2006, Klinsmann officially announced that he would step down as Germany's coach after two years in charge and be replaced by assistant coach Joachim Löw. He took over as coach of Bayern Munich in July 2008, when Ottmar Hitzfeld stepped down to take over as the head coach of the Swiss National Team. On 27 April 2009 he was released early, even though he had won five of the previous seven league games and was only three points behind league leader VfL Wolfsburg. In the jointly initiated reforms at Bayern it emerged there was a severe clash of opinions between coach and club management.
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Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema (Arabic: كريم بن زيمة; born 19 December 1987) is a French international footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid in La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability. He is described as an "immensely-talented striker" who is "strong and powerful" and "a potent finisher from inside the box".
Benzema was born in the city of Lyon beginning his football career with local club Bron Terraillon. In 1996, he joined the biggest club in the city Olympique Lyonnais and, subsequently, came through the club's youth academy. Benzema made his professional debut in the 2004–05 season and appeared sporadically in his first three seasons as Lyon won three titles in that span. In the 2007–08 season, Benzema became a starter and had a breakthrough year scoring over 30 goals as Lyon won its seventh straight league title. For his performances, he was named the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 1 Player of the Year and named to the organization's Team of the Year. Benzema was also the league's top scorer and given the Bravo Award by Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo. After another season at Lyon, in July 2009, Benzema signed a six-year contract with Spanish outfit Real Madrid. After struggling to establish himself in his debut season with the club, in the ensuing two seasons, Benzema reached prominence scoring 58 goals en-route to helping Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey in 2011 and the 2011–12 edition of La Liga. In December 2011, he was named the French Player of the Year for his performances during the calendar year.
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Kees Kist
Kees Kist (born August 7, 1952 in Steenwijk, Overijssel) is a retired football striker from the Netherlands, who obtained 21 caps for his national team, in which he scored four goals, in the years 1975–1980. He played for SC Heerenveen (1970–1972), AZ '67 (now AZ) (1972–1982), winning the Dutch title in 1981, Paris Saint-Germain (1982–1983), FC Mulhouse (1983–1984), AZ (1984–1986), and returned for his last season to SC Heerenveen. Kist scored 259 goals in 441 games for AZ. He made 212 of these goals while AZ Alkmaar was in the highest division (eredivisie), which puts him in fourth place on the all-time leaders list, behind Willy van der Kuijlen, Ruud Geels and Johan Cruijff. He was the first Dutch player to win the European Golden Boot in 1979, after having scored 34 goals in the 1978-79 season for AZ.
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Kenny Burns
Kenneth "Kenny" Burns (born 23 September 1953) is a former Scotland international footballer, most famous for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he played a vital role in their European Cup successes.
Burns was born in Glasgow, and started his career with Rangers as an apprentice but left for Birmingham City aged 17, in 1971. He arrived at the Blues as a defender, but was converted to striker after Bob Latchford left in 1974, and earned the first of his 20 international caps in that role soon afterwards. However, after joining Nottingham Forest for £150,000 in 1977, he was converted back into a central defender by Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.
Burns proved a great success in his new role and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year in 1977-78, as Forest won the First Division title. He was an influential figure in the side's European Cup campaigns over the next three seasons, his defensive partnership with Larry Lloyd instrumental to Forest's victory in the 1979 and 1980 tournaments. He also managed to score in the second leg of the 1979 UEFA Super Cup final victory against Barcelona. At one time he was renowned for his 'wild man' image and while maintaining an aggressive nature, he also possessed a shrewd football brain and was always likely to score vital goals.
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Kenny Cooper
Kenneth Scott Cooper, Jr. (born October 21, 1984 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American soccer player who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Cooper began his football career with Manchester United in England, but he failed to break into the first-team and was sent out on loan to Académica Coimbra and Oldham Athletic before being sold to FC Dallas in 2006. He joined 1860 Munich in 2009, but joined Plymouth Argyle on loan just six months into his 1860 Munich contract. On January 17, 2011, Portland Timbers completed a transfer for Cooper's services in the club's inaugural MLS campaign.
Cooper married Molly Grimm-Cooper (née Grimm) in Charleston, South Carolina on January 7, 2012.
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Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish (Scottish pronunciation: [dɛlɡliːʃ]) MBE (born 4 March 1951) is a Scottish former footballer and manager. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two clubs, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is Scotland's most capped player, with 102 appearances, and joint leading goal scorer, with 30 international goals. Dalglish was voted PFA Player of the Year for the 1982–83 season, and Football Writers' Footballer of the Year in 1979 and 1983. In 2009 FourFourTwo magazine named Dalglish as the greatest striker in post-war British football, and in 2006 he topped a Liverpool fans' poll of "100 Players Who Shook the Kop". He has been inducted into both the Scottish and English football Halls of Fame.
Dalglish began his career with Celtic and between 1971 and 1977 he won four Scottish First Division titles, four Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup with the club. In 1977, Bob Paisley paid a British transfer record of £440,000 to bring Dalglish to Liverpool. His years at Liverpool marked one of the club's most successful periods: he won seven league titles, three European Cups and five domestic trophies. For these achievements and his style of play he was given the name King Kenny by Liverpool supporters. Dalglish became player-manager of Liverpool in 1985 and in a six-year tenure won three league titles and two FA Cups. He resigned as Liverpool manager in 1991.
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Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born 14 February 1951) is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United.
As a player in the 1970s and 1980s, he has been described as "arguably the first superstar English player to attract the modern media spotlight". He began his playing career at Scunthorpe United in 1968, before moving to Liverpool of Division One in 1971. At Liverpool, Keegan won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, one FA Cup and the European Cup. He also gained his first England cap in 1972, and moved to German top-flight club Hamburger SV in the summer of 1977. At Hamburg he was crowned European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979, won the Bundesliga title in 1978–79, and reached the European Cup final the following year. Keegan moved to Southampton that summer, and spent two seasons at the club before a transfer to second-tier Newcastle United in 1982. He helped Newcastle to promotion in his second season, and retired from football in 1984, having been capped 63 times for England, scoring 21 goals.
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Kieron Dyer
Kieron Courtney Dyer (born 29 December 1978) is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as an attacking midfielder. Born in Ipswich, he went to Westbourne sports college and played youth football for his home club before going on to make nearly 100 league appearances for the club's first team. He was sold to Newcastle United for £6m which at the time was the highest fee paid for a Ipswich player, this record stood until the £12m transfer of Connor Wickham to Sunderland FC in 2011, and made nearly 200 appearances for Newcastle between 1999 and 2007. A £6m move to West Ham United followed, but Dyer suffered from a variety of injuries, restricting him to only thirty league appearances in four seasons. In March 2011, he was sent out on month-long loan to Ipswich Town.
He has represented England on 33 occasions and was a member of the England squads at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004, but has not been capped since 2007.
Born in Ipswich, Dyer's career began with his hometown team, Ipswich Town, whom he signed for as a 17-year-old trainee in 1996. He broke into the Ipswich first team during his first season at the club, and quickly established a reputation as one of the top youngsters in English football outside of the Premier League. He had spent three years at Portman Road when he requested a transfer in order to further his international prospects following Ipswich's failure to gain promotion through the playoffs into the Premier League in 1999.
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Lassana Diarra
Lassana "Lass" Diarra (born 10 March 1985 in Paris) is a French footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid. His predominant position is defensive midfielder but he can also play in a more advanced role and has played at right back, which he occasionally did for former club Chelsea, as well as France.
Diarra was turned down by football clubs as a youngster. FC Nantes deemed him too "small and lightweight" to succeed at 170 cm and 58 kg (5'7" and 9 stone). Diarra admitted he thought his "football career was over". His next stop was Le Mans UC, where Diarra claimed they "didn't seem to care" about him.
Diarra's footballing career finally began at Le Havre, a former French top-flight football team. Outstanding in his defensive midfield role, his reputation started to grow and impressive performances saw his selection to the French U-21 squad. Along with the reputation came interest from other clubs, and Chelsea became potential suitors. With Chelsea's Claude Makélélé not getting any younger, Chelsea's wide network of scouts tagged Diarra as the "new Makélélé" and the club promptly paid £1 million for his services in July 2005.
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Lauren Etame Mayer
Laureano Bisan-Etame Mayer (born 19 January 1977 in Kribi), commonly known as Lauren, is a retired Cameroonian footballer of Equatoguinean origin, who formerly played for the Cameroonian national team. As an Arsenal player he won several trophies and is known as one of the 'Invincibles'; a title given to the Arsenal squad in 2004, after they went the whole (2003–04) season undefeated and subsequently won the English Premier League title. He also won an Olympic Gold Medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with Cameroon.
Lauren was born in Cameroon as his parents fled Equatorial Guinea, due to the political persecution during the dictatorship of Francisco Macías Nguema.[citation needed] Then the family moved to Seville, where he was raised. He started his career in Spain, playing for Utrera, (on loan from Sevilla), San Fernando, Sevilla, Levante, and Mallorca. He qualified for dual nationality through residency and as a Spaniard, he is exempt from the post-Bosman ruling regulation that restricts the number of non-EU players to three per team in UEFA competition matches even though he is a Cameroonian international.
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Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc (French pronunciation: [loʁɑ̃ blɑ̃]; born 19 November 1965 in Alès) is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux.
Blanc formerly played professional football for numerous clubs, notably Montpellier, Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille, Internazionale, and Manchester United, often operating in the sweeper position. He is also a former French international, playing in several international tournaments, which includes the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, both of which France won. On 28 June 1998, Blanc scored the first golden goal in World Cup history against Paraguay. Blanc has the nickname Le Président, which was given to him following his stint at Marseille in tribute to his leadership skills.
Laurent Blanc's career started in Montpellier, where he signed his first professional contract in 1983. A very technical player, he played as an offensive midfielder and helped Montpellier get promoted to Division 1 in 1987. Only a few years later did he settle as a defender following the advice from Michel Mézy, a position in which his physical stature (1.91 m, 82 kg) and his temper would prove invaluable. His game being perfectly fitted for the French league, he managed to score at least 12 goals in every season at Montpellier, for the most part penalties and headers. He also won the Coupe de France in 1990, scoring a goal in the final. Blanc became, and remains, Montpellier's all-time leading goal scorer, with 84 in all competitions (76 in league play).
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Les Ferdinand
Leslie "Les" Ferdinand MBE (born 8 December 1966 in Paddington, London) is a former English footballer. His playing career included spells at Queens Park Rangers, Beşiktaş, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., during which period he earned a number of appearances for England. He became the first player to score for 6 different Premier League clubs.
He is the cousin of current Premier League players Rio and Anton Ferdinand and his son Aaron currently plays for Harrow Borough in the Isthmian League. He also has a daughter, Lauren. Popularly nicknamed Sir Les, he was made an MBE in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours.
On 5 November 2008 Ferdinand joined fellow ex-Spur Tim Sherwood on the coaching staff of Tottenham Hotspur, utilising his experience to work with the strikers.
Ferdinand is the joint fifth highest scorer of all time in the Premier League with 149 goals.
Ferdinand started his career in non-league football, first at AEL (a KOPA Cypriot team in England) then to Southall then moving to Hayes. He was spotted by Queens Park Rangers and moved there for £30,000.
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Liam Brady
Liam Brady (born 13 February 1956) is an Irish former association football player, and former assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team.
In his playing days, Brady was a midfielder renowned for his elegant technical skills, most notably his left foot, and his high-quality passing and close control. He found success both with Arsenal (one FA Cup title) and Juventus (two Serie A titles), and won 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team.
Brady is now head of Youth Development at Arsenal, and is a frequent television pundit with RTÉ Sport.
Born in Dublin, Brady started his career at Arsenal, moving to London to join the side on schoolboy forms in 1971, at the age of 15. He turned professional on his 17th birthday in 1973, and made his debut on 6 October 1973 against Birmingham City as a substitute for Jeff Blockley, and put in an assured performance. However his next match, in a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, Brady had a poor match, and Arsenal manager Bertie Mee decided from then on to use the young Irishman sparingly for the time being. Brady ended the 1973–74 season with 13 appearances (four of them as substitute) to his name.
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Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram (born Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien on 1 January 1972 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe) is a retired professional football defender and is the most capped player in the history of the France national team, and one of the twenty most capped players of all time.
He played at the top flight in France, Italy and Spain for over 15 seasons, including ten in the Serie A with both Parma and Juventus. With France national football team, Thuram won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Thuram holds the record for most appearances at the European Championship, with 16.
Thuram's football career began with AS Monaco of the French Ligue 1 in 1991. He then transferred to Parma FC (1996–2001) and then to Juventus FC (2001–2006) for £25 million, and eventually to FC Barcelona in 2006.
Thuram started his professional career with AS Monaco in 1991. He only made 1 appearance that season, but was officially promoted to the first team the following season, when he would go on to make 19 appearances. He was inserted into the starting eleven by the end of 1992 and would go onto make 155 league appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit, before transferring to Parma FC in the summer of 1996. He made his national team debut in 1994, while at Monaco.
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Lionel Charbonnier
Lionel André Michel Charbonnier (born 25 October 1966 in Poitiers) is a retired French footballer who played as a goalkeeper. After retiring, he became a football manager and is currently the manager of Atjeh United of the Liga Primer Indonesia.
He played for the AJ Auxerre side which won the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France in the 1995-96 season under the management of Guy Roux. After eleven seasons with Auxerre from 1987 to 1998 he joined Rangers FC in Scotland, where he won the treble of Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup in his first season, 1998-99. They retained the League and Cup in his second season. He retired in 2002 after a season with Lausanne Sports of the Swiss Super League.
Charbonnier earned his only full cap for France in 1997. He was a member of the squad which won the 1998 World Cup on home soil, although he did not play a game.
He also managed Tahiti, a French overseas colony, at under-20 level, winning the Oceania Football Confederation's championship in that age bracket. Charbonnier qualified the Under-20 team to the 2009 World Cup in Egypt, the first time that any Tahitian team had reached a World Cup.
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Lionel Mathis
Lionel Mathis (born 4 October 1981 in Montreuil-sous-Bois) is a French footballer. He currently plays for French third division club En Avant de Guingamp.
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Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi], born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays in La Liga for FC Barcelona and is the captain of the Argentina national team, mainly as a forward.
By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year in 2009 he won both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, and won the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010 and 2011. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. Messi is the fourth football player to win three Ballons d'Or, after Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten and the second player to win three consecutive Ballons d'Or, after Michel Platini. His playing style and small stature have drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his "successor".
Messi has won five La Liga titles and three Champions League titles. In 2012, Messi made UEFA Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match, in a 7–1 win against Bayer Leverkusen. With two goals in the next round against A.C. Milan, he matched José Altafini's record of 14 goals in a single UEFA Champions League/European Cup season. He also became the first player to top-score in four successive European Champion Clubs' Cup campaigns. He set the world record for most goals scored in a season during the 2011–12 season, with 73 goals.
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Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Herbert Matthäus German pronunciation: [ˈloːtaɐ̯ maˈtɛːʊs], (born 21 March 1961 in Erlangen, West Germany) is a German football manager and former player.
In 1990, he was named European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup. One year later, he was also named the first ever FIFA World Player of the Year.
He has played in five World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998) more than any other outfield player, and holds the record for the most World Cup matches played (25 games). He also won Euro 80, and played in Euro 84, Euro 88, and Euro 2000. In 1999, he was again voted German Footballer of the Year despite being 38 years old. He is the most capped German player of all time, retiring with a total of 150 appearances (83 of them when the team was called West Germany) and 23 goals for the German national team. Matthäus is a member of the FIFA 100 – a list of 125 of the greatest living football players chosen by Pelé. Maradona said about Matthäus "he is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him" in his book Yo soy el Diego (I am Diego).
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Louis Saha
Louis Laurent Saha (born 8 August 1978) is a French footballer who is currently a free agent. Saha is capped at national level for, France national team. A former scholar at the Clairefontaine football academy, he started his career at Metz before playing on loan at Newcastle United. Before the start of the 2000–01 season, Saha moved to Fulham where he established himself as first choice striker, helping them to gain promotion to the Premier League in his first season with them.
His performances gained attraction from Manchester United, who eventually secured his signing for around £12.4 million midway through the 2003–04 season. Injuries plagued his Old Trafford career, however he did enjoy success with twice winning the Premier League, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and also scored six times en route to victory in the League Cup, including one goal in the final.
After four and a half years at United, Everton took him to Goodison Park, where he opened the scoring in the 2009 FA Cup Final after 25 seconds, setting the record for the fastest goal scored in FA Cup Final history. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer in the 2012 January transfer window. Saha made his France debut in 2004 in a 2–0 victory over Belgium. He represented France at the 2004 European Football Championships and also the 2006 FIFA World Cup which they reached the final, however Saha was suspended for the final against Italy after receiving a yellow card against Portugal in the semi-final.
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Luca Toni
Luca Toni, Ufficiale OMRI (born 26 May 1977) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who currently plays for UAE Pro-League club Al Nasr. He had successful spells at top clubs such as Palermo, Fiorentina, Bayern Munich, and Roma, as well as a short stint at Juventus. Toni is highly regarded for his goal scoring ability as can be seen by his prolific goals to games ratio at many of his clubs.
His style is at times seen as being unorthodox. His strength, however, and power have seen him become one of Serie A's most lethal finishers of the past decade. As well as the medals he has collected, he has also won several individual honours, including the Capocannonieri for the 2005–06 season in which he scored 31 goals, as well as finishing topscorer with 24 goals in the 2007–08 Fußball-Bundesliga.
Toni started his professional career at Modena. This was followed by a number of seasons spent around Serie B and Serie C1 with teams such as Empoli, Fiorenzuola, and Lodigiani. After a Serie B season with Treviso in 1999, he moved to Vicenza, playing in Serie A for the first time. He then moved to Brescia, playing for two seasons alongside Roberto Baggio.
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Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly (born 10 July 1976) is a French footballer who plays for Monaco as an attacking midfielder and winger. He represented France at international level, gaining 17 caps over a five-year period, and was a member of their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad.
Ludovic Giuly was immersed in the world of football from an early age since his father, Dominique Giuly, born in the village of Zalana , in Corsica , was a former goalkeeper, who played briefly in professional football for SC Bastia before continuing an amateur career until the age of 42 years in several clubs in the suburbs of Lyon. Ludovic Giuly made his debut in the club where his father then evolves: the ASCMO today Azergues Foot Monts d'Or , in the city of Chasselay located about twenty kilometers from Lyon . He then entered the training center of Olympique Lyonnais. In 1994, he won the Coupe Gambardella with the team of under 18 club Rhone.
Giuly starting his career with Olympique Lyonnais in 1994 as his first professional career at age of 18 and made his debut for the club in Ligue 1 on 21 January 1995 against AS Cannes in a 3-1 win. The following season in 1996/97 season, Giuly earned a nicknamed "the magic elf," referring to its small size (1 m 64) and his vivacious. Also in 1996/97 season, Giuly finishes the season with 16 goals to his tally to 37 games played. In 1997/98 season, Giuly played 19 games with Lyon and scored one goal. Giuly made his last appearance for Lyon in a 1-0 loss against Olympique de Marseille where he played 90th minutes on 10 January 1998.
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Luis Aragonés
José Luis Aragonés Suárez (Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse ˈlwis aɾaɣoˈnes ˈswaɾeθ]; born July 28, 1938), usually referred to as Luis Aragonés and sometimes simply as Luis, is a former Spanish footballer and national coach.
Aragonés has spent the majority of his career as a player and coach at Atlético Madrid. He was a prominent player and then coach of the successful Atlético team of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The team won La Liga four times, reached the final of the European Cup and won the Intercontinental Cup. Between 1964 and 1974 he played 265 La Liga games for Atlético and scored 123 goals. Aragonés has coached the club on four separate occasions. He has also played with several other clubs, most notably Real Betis, and played 11 times for Spain, scoring three goals. Apart from Atlético he has also coached seven other La Liga clubs as well as the Spanish national football team whom he led to their second European Championship title in 2008. He became the head coach of the Turkish football team Fenerbahçe after Euro 2008, and this is the first time that Aragonés has coached outside of his native Spain.
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Luis del Sol
Luis del Sol Cascajares (born 6 April 1935) is a retired Spanish football midfielder and manager. He played in 112 La Liga games (28 goals) for Betis and Real Madrid combined, winning five major titles with the latter.
Del Sol represented Spain in two World Cups in the 1960's.
Del Sol was born in Arcos de Jalón, Soria, relocating with his family to Andalusia at age two months. In his country, he played for Real Betis and Real Madrid. With the former he was part of the squads that promoted to Segunda División (1954) and La Liga (1958), appearing in 40 games with the club in the latter category over the course of one 1/2 seasons, and scoring six goals.
Signing with the Merengues in January 1960 for 6.5 million pesetas (1960–1962), del Sol scored a career-best 17 goals in his first full season, while not missing one single minute of action in his 29 appearances as his team won the national championship, after starting the season with the Intercontinental Cup triumph, against C.A. Peñarol.
In the 1962 summer, aged 27, del Sol moved abroad and signed for Juventus FC. He remained one full decade in Italy, also playing two years with A.S. Roma, which he would captain as compatriot Joaquín Peiró before him.
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Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández (born on 2 October 1959 in Tarifa, Spain) is a Spanish-French footballer who played as a defender / midfielder. He retired as a player in 1993 to become a manager.
Fernández has managed AS Cannes and Paris Saint-Germain among other clubs, and is the individual credited with bringing Ronaldinho to Europe.
As an active player, Fernández got 60 international caps and 6 goals for the French national team, between 1982 and 1992. He served as the Stade de Reims manager from December 2008 to June 2009.
He is currently a sport radio talk host with RMC, his daily show is called "Luis Attaque"
It was at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) that Spanish-born Luis Fernández signed his first professional contract, at 19 years of age.
After the elimination from the 1986 World Cup, and just after he had won the French Ligue 1 championship with PSG, Fernández made the decision to join Jean-Luc Lagardere's team Racing Club de Paris. But in spite of a team that was strong on paper, the club and Fernandez didn't succeed, and he left Racing after three seasons. Following the 1986 World Cup, the French national team did not manage to qualify for Euro 1988 and the 1990 World Cup.
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Luís Figo
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, OIH, (born 4 November 1972) is a former Portuguese international footballer. He played as a midfielder for Sporting CP, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Internazionale, during a career which spanned over a period of 20 years. He retired from football on 31 May 2009. He won 127 caps for the Portuguese national football team, a number that makes him the most capped Portuguese player in history.
Figo was the 2000 European Footballer of the Year, the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and was named amongst the FIFA 100.
Figo is one of the few football players to have played for both the Spanish rival clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. He had a successful career highlighted by several trophy wins, such as one Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups.
Figo started his career at Sporting CP. He won his first senior international cap in 1991. Prior to that, he won the Under-21 World Championships and Under-16 European Championships with Portugal junior sides, alongside Rui Costa, João Pinto and he was also a significant part of Portugal's "Golden Generation".
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Mahi Khennane
Mahi Khennane (born 21 October 1936 in Mascara) is a retired French-Algerian footballer who represented both the French and Algerian sides. In 1967, he was part of the first professional team of FC Lorient, before coming back in Algeria.
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Mamadou Sakho
Mamadou Sakho (born 13 February 1990) is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a centre back for his club, but can also deputized as a left back if necessary. Sakho is known for his leadership credentials, his tireless engine, hard-working attitude, and his tackling ability. He has also been praised for his "physical and tactical qualities". Sakho is also known for his eccentric hairstyles he often displays while playing and has earned the nickname Kirikou by club supporters as a result.
Of Senegalese descent, Sakho started his career at Paris FC in 1996 before moving to professional club Paris Saint-Germain in 2002. After excelling in the youth system, Sakho earned a call up the senior team by manager Paul Le Guen. In October 2007, on his league debut, he became the youngest player ever to captain a Ligue 1 club after wearing the armband in the club's 0–0 draw with Valenciennes. Since making his debut with the club, Sakho has become an integral part of the team earning starting berths in the first 11 under managers Paul Le Guen and Antoine Kombouaré. Sakho's playing style and ability have led to the media and former players drawing comparisons to former French international Lilian Thuram.
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Manuel Amoros
Manuel Amoros (born February 1, 1962 in Nimes) is a retired football defender from France with Valencian ancestry. He was capped 82 times (one goal) for the France national football team, and played in the Euro Cup finals of 1984 and 1992, and the World Cup finals in 1982 and 1986.
Amoros played most of his career for AS Monaco in the French first division. He missed his penalty in the 1991 European Cup Final for Marseille and subsequently Red Star Belgrade won the match 5–3 on penalties.
It was his stints with the tricolor during the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups in which he stood out. In the 1982 World Cup semifinal against West Germany, Amoros' crossbar-hitting 30-yard shot in the 89th minute sent chills to the spines of many a West German fan.[citation needed] In the penalty shoot-out he converted his kick before France bowed out.
In the 1984 European Championships held in France, Amoros showed an egregious side of him. During the inaugural game against Denmark, the French back was harshly tackled by Danish midfielder Jesper Olsen. As the referee went searching for the yellow card to book the offender, Amoros quickly jumped on his feet and head-butted his tackler on the forehead in front of a stunned ref who also yanked a red card out of his pocket to send Amoros off. He was banned for three games. However, in the final against Spain, national coach Michel Hidalgo took him on as a sub in a game that Les Bleus won by 2–0 at Le Parc des Princes.
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Marc Planus
Marc Planus (born 7 March 1982) is a French football defender, currently playing for Bordeaux. He plays as a central defender and currently the longest serving player for Bordeaux since 2002.
Formed club of Bordeaux,he participated in his first game in Ligue 1 on 9 November 2002, during the meeting Bordeaux - Rennes. He 1.83 meter long Planus debuted in the 2002/03 season, the main force of Bordeaux that season and played seventeen games in Ligue 1.
It was the first of more than 200 league matches in which he defended the team colors. After five seasons that began to pay out in prizes. Planus was in 2008/09 with French champions Bordeaux, he won in 2006/07 and 2008/09 the Coupe de la Ligue in both 2008/09 and 2009/10 the Trophee des Champions. Become international French hope, it is now one of its players indisputable training club through the tackle and full of cool action against enemy attackers. He won also the League Cup in 2007 by being voted best player of the final.
Planus was called up for the French squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as France were eliminated in the group stage of the tournament. In 2010 he played his first game for the French national team, after coach Raymond Domenech him without a match in the legs into his squad for the 2010 World Cup. Despite the selection of Planus in the French football team for the 2010 World Cup, he came to South Africa a minute into action. His first match he played in the preparation or against Tunisia. Since the elimination of France in the first round, he was never called by Laurent Blanc in the France team.
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Marcel Artelesa
Marcel Artelesa, born 2 July 1938 is a French former football defender. He played for France in the FIFA World Cup 1966.
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Marcel Desailly
Marcel Desailly (French pronunciation: [maʁsɛl dəsaji]; born Odenke Abbey 7 September 1968 in Accra, Ghana) is a retired Ghanaian born French footballer and star of the France national football team squad, with whom he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He also enjoyed a distinguished career at club level with several major European clubs.
Born as Odenke Abbey to Ghanaian parents, Marcel had his name changed when his mother married the head of the French Consulate in Accra who adopted all the children (the former professional footballer Seth Adonkor, seven years his elder, was a half-brother of his). He arrived in France as a four-year-old and, following Adonkor's lead, began his career at FC Nantes. There, as part of the famed FC Nantes youth programme, he played alongside a young Didier Deschamps, who became his closest friend. Desailly turned professional in 1986, two years after his half-brother had died in a car accident. In 1992, he moved to Olympique de Marseille, where he reunited with Deschamps, and won the UEFA Champions League the following year. In 1994, while playing for AC Milan, he again won the Cup (scoring in the final himself), being the first player to win the Cup in consecutive seasons with different clubs. During his time in Milan he won two Italian league titles, in 1994 and 1996. Although he prefers to be a central defender, he also played as a defensive midfield for some time while being at A.C. Milan.
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Marco van Basten
Marcel "Marco" van Basten (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑr.koʊ̯ vɑm.ˈbɑs.tə(n)]; 31 October 1964) is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played for Ajax and Milan, as well as the Dutch national team, in the 1980s and early 1990s. He is regarded as one of the greatest forwards of all time and has scored 277 goals in a high-profile career, which ended in 1995 as a result of an injury suffered two years earlier. He was later the head coach of Ajax and the Dutch national team.
Known for his strength on the ball, his tactical awareness and spectacular strikes and volleys, van Basten was named European Footballer of the Year three times (1988, '89 and '92) and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992. Van Basten was voted eighth in a poll organised by the French weekly magazine France Football consulting their former Ballon d'Or winners to elect the Football Player of the Century. In 2004, a nationwide poll was held for the 100 greatest Dutch people (De Grootste Nederlander) and van Basten was number 25, the second highest for a football player[citation needed]. In March 2007, Sky Sports ranked van Basten first on its list of great athletes who had their careers cut short.
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Mario Kempes
Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi (born 15 July 1954 in Bell Ville, Córdoba) is a retired Argentine footballer. His father, Mario, also a footballer, inspired him to play from a young age. At the age of 7, he began playing with a junior team and at 14, he joined the Talleres reserves. He is most notable for playing for Valencia and being the focal point of Argentina's 1978 World Cup win.
Kempes was nicknamed El Toro and El Matador. During his first stint with Valencia, he won two consecutive Pichichis, scoring 24 and 28 goals in 1976–77 and 1977–78. His career started at local club Instituto, where he played alongside Osvaldo Ardiles before quickly moving on to Rosario Central, where he scored 85 goals in 105 matches and established himself as a notorious goalscorer, which prompted a move to Valencia, where he would go on to win the Copa del Rey, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Famous as a hard-working forward, he used to strike from outside the penalty area with his surging runs goalwards and was not the traditional center-forward operating solely inside the box. Many defenders found difficulty handling his attacking style.
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Marius Trésor
Marius Trésor (born January 15, 1950 in Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe) is a retired football defender from France, who was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.
Trésor's career began with the French club Ajaccio. He also played for Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux. With Marseille, he won the French Cup in 1976. He also won the Ligue 1 title in 1984 with Girondins de Bordeaux. For the French national team, Trésor played in the World Cup in 1978 and 1982. He obtained 65 international caps, scoring four goals.
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Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE (born 1 November 1963), is a former Welsh international footballer and the current manager of Queens Park Rangers having joined on 10 January 2012. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals.
During his playing career he was most noted for two spells at Manchester United, but he also played for Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as well as the English clubs Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and finally Blackburn Rovers, before retiring in 2002.
He won a host of medals during his playing career, including two Premier League title medals, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two European Cup Winners' Cups. He also collected an FA Cup runners-up medal and a League Cup runners-up medal.
His reign as Wales manager was his first managerial post; he was appointed in 1999 and remained in the role until 2004. He failed to qualify for a World Cup or European Championship during his five years in charge, although his reign coincided with a marked improvement in results; he came particularly close to securing European Championship qualification in 2004.
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Markus Holgersson
Sven Markus Holgersson (born 12 April 1985) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a defender for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Having spent his youth years at Olympia, he returned to Helsingborg after a four year spell at Helsingborg's feeder club Ängelholms FF. Upon returning to Helsinborg, Holgersson became an instant starter at right back. During the 2011 season Holgersson helped the club in becoming the first team in Swedish history to win a treble, consisting of Super Cup, League and Swedish Cup titles. On 2 January 2012 Helsingborg confirmed that Holgersson had rejected to renew his contract with the club.
Holgersson was rumoured to be in talks with New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and on 3 January 2012 Red Bulls coach Hans Backe indicated that the player had agreed to join the club. On 12 January 2012, it was confirmed that Holgersson would be joining the Red Bulls.
After a very successful 2011 season Holgersson received his first call up to join Sweden for its friendly matches against Bahrain on 18 January 2012 and Qatar on 23 January 2012. He made his debut with Sweden on 23 January 2012 going the full 90 in a 5-0 victory over Qatar.
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Marouane Chamakh
Marouane Chamakh (Arabic: مروان الشماخ; born 10 January 1984) is a Moroccan footballer who plays for English club Arsenal in the Premier League and the Moroccan national team as a striker. He is described as a prototypical target man and is noted for his "tall stature" and "excellent heading ability".
Chamakh started his career training throughout various clubs in the Aquitaine region. In 2000, he signed with Bordeaux. Chamakh made his professional debut for the club in the 2002–03 season. He spent nine years at the club and helped Bordeaux win the Coupe de la Ligue in 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Chamakh won his first league title as Bordeaux were crowned champions for the first time since the 1998–99 season. The club also won the Coupe de la Ligue completing the league and league cup double. In May 2010, Chamakh joined Arsenal of the Premier League on a free transfer after agreeing to a four-year contract with the club. In October 2010, Chamakh became the first player in UEFA Champions League history to score in six consecutive matches.
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Mathieu Valbuena
Mathieu Valbuena (French pronunciation: [matjø valbwena]; born 28 September 1984) is a French international footballer who plays for Marseille in Ligue 1. He plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger and is known for his quickness, technical ability, and tenacious style of play. He is described by his former coach at Libourne Saint-Seurin Didier Tholot as "an explosive player who is capable of quickly taking two opponents out of the game to create space, above all due to his dribbling skills." Due to his small stature, Valbuena is nicknamed le petit vélo, which translates to "the small bike". This is a play on Valbuena's size and the fact that Marseille's home ground is called the Stade Vélodrome.
Valbuena began his career at professional club Bordeaux. He was let go from the club after two seasons and subsequently joined amateur club Langon-Castets in the fifth division of French football. In 2004, Valbuena joined Libourne Saint-Seurin in the Championnat National, the third level of French football. The midfielder had a good 2005–06 season with the club and signed with Ligue 1 club Marseille, prior to the 2006–07 season. With Marseille, Valbuena played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time and, in the 2009–10 season, was part of the team that won the league and league cup double, as well as the Trophée des champions.
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Maxime Bossis
Maxime Bossis (born June 26, 1955 in Saint-André-Treize-Voies, Vendée) is a retired football defender from France, who obtained 76 caps (one goal) for the French national team.
A longtime starter for FC Nantes during the club's most successful period during the 1970's and 1980's, Bossis was noted chiefly as a left fullback but filled various roles in defense. Bossis spent much of his time at right back during Nantes' championship-winning seasons in 1977 and 1980, in which Thierry Tusseau normally started on the left, but made the left back position his own beginning in 1981. Bossis helped Nantes to finish first or second in every season between 1976 and 1981. The club added a third title in 1983, finishing ten points ahead of second-place Girondins Bordeaux. In 1985, Bossis moved to the ambitious Matra Racing, but the Parisian club achieved only modest success in spite of heavy spending that acquired such players as Enzo Francescoli and Pierre Littbarski. Bossis returned to Nantes for one final season in 1990, lining up next to future French international Marcel Desailly before retiring from play.
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Mehdi Ballouchy
Mehdi Ballouchy (Arabic: مهدي بلوشي) (born April 6, 1983 in Casablanca) is a Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Ballouchy played in the youth system of Raja Casablanca before moving to the United States in 2000 at the age of 16. He attended Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, and played a year of college soccer at Creighton and two at Santa Clara, where he was named first team All-American in 2005. He also briefly played with Boulder Rapids Reserve in the USL Premier Development League.
Ballouchy signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS, and was taken second overall by Real Salt Lake at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. During his time with RSL Ballouchy appeared in 46 league matches scoring 2 goals and recording 2 assists.
After spending two years in Utah he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for Kyle Beckerman in July 2007. During his stay with Colorado Ballouchy played primarily as an attacking central midfielder, but also saw time at right midfield. With Colorado he appeared in 77 league matches, scoring 7 goals and recording 18 assists. His most productive season for Colorado was in 2009 when he appeared in 28 league matches scoring two goals and providing seven assists.
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Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm (born on March 17, 1972, in Selma, Alabama) is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female, in the history of U.S. soccer (158). She is the second most capped female player in soccer history behind Kristine Lilly, appearing in 275 international matches throughout her career.
Hamm was named the women's FIFA World Player of the Year the first two times that award was given (in 2001 and 2002), and is listed as one of FIFA's 125 best living players (as chosen by Pelé). Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon called Hamm, "Perhaps the most important athlete of the last 15 years."
She retired from the sport in 2004, when she played her last game in the 2004 Fan Celebration Tour to commemorate the U.S. women's national team's victory in the 2004 Olympics. In 2007, her first year of eligibility, she was selected for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame by having 137 votes of the 141 ballots cast. Women's Professional Soccer, a professional soccer league that launched in 2009, features Hamm's silhouette in its logo.
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Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack (born 26 September 1976) is a German professional footballer, who is currently playing for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of his international team. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA's 100 Greatest Living Players, and as the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002. He has won the German Footballer of the Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005. In his prime, Ballack was known for his passing range, scoring ability, ball skills and commanding presence in the midfield.
Ballack began his career as a youth at Chemnitz, his local team, and made his professional debut in 1995. Although the team were relegated in his first season, his performances in the Regionalliga the following season led to a transfer to Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the Bundesliga in his first season at the club; his first major honour. He became a first team regular in 1998–99 season and also earned his first senior national cap for Germany. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €4.1 million in 1999. The 2002 season saw him win a slew of runners-up medals: Bayer Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga, German Cup, UEFA Champions League and Germany lost to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final.
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Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup (born 15 June 1964 in Frederiksberg) is a retired Danish footballer, who works as a manager and last coached La Liga side RCD Mallorca. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football. His most prominent run of football came with Spanish club Barcelona, with whom he won four straight La Liga championships. He famously moved to arch rivals Real Madrid in 1994, with whom he won his fifth La Liga title in a row. He made his debut for the Denmark national football team on his 18th birthday in 1982, and scored 37 goals in a total of 104 appearances for his country. From November 1994, he captained Denmark for a total of 28 matches, including the victorious 1995 Confederations Cup tournament. He retired as an active player in June 1998.
In 1999, he was voted the Best Foreign Player in Spanish Football over the preceding 25-year period and in April 2000 he was knighted, receiving the Order of the Dannebrog. In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Denmark by the Danish Football Association; their most outstanding player of the past 50 years. He was officially named the best Danish footballer of all time by the Danish Football Association (DBU) in November 2006.
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Michael Owen
Michael James Owen (born 14 December 1979 in Chester) is an English professional footballer who is currently a free agent after being released by Manchester United in June 2012.
The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997. In his first full season in the Premier League he finished as joint top scorer with 18 goals. He repeated this the following year and was Liverpool's top goal scorer from 1997–2004, despite a recurring hamstring injury. In 2001, Liverpool won a cup treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Football League Cup, and Owen was the recipient of the Ballon d'Or. He went on to score 118 goals in 216 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool.
Owen moved to Real Madrid for £8 million in mid-2004; he was frequently used as a substitute. He scored 13 goals in La Liga and had the season's highest ratio of goals scored to number of minutes played. He returned to England the following season, joining Newcastle United for £16 million. After a promising start to the 2005–06 season, injuries largely ruled him out over the next 18 months. After his return he became team captain and was the team's top scorer for the 2007–08 season. After the final season of his four-year contract, Newcastle were relegated, and Owen moved to Manchester United as a free agent.
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Michel Platini
Michel François Platini (born 21 June 1955) is a former French football player and manager, and the president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 2007.
During his professional footballing career, Platini played for the clubs Nancy, Saint-Étienne, and Juventus, and was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He also participated in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in the latter two. Platini, Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana together made up the "carré magique" (French for "magic square"), the group of midfield players that formed the heart of the French national team throughout the 1980s.
Considered one of the best passers in football history as well as one the best free kick specialists and finishers, he holds the record for most goals (9) scored in European Championship final tournaments despite only appearing in the 1984 edition. Despite being a midfielder, he held the national team top scorer record until striker Thierry Henry surpassed the 41 goals mark in 2007.
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Michelle Akers
Michelle Akers (born February 1, 1966 in Santa Clara, California) is a former leading American association football player, who starred in the historic 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup victory by the U.S.. She won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the 1991 tournament. She is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Michelle Akers was born on February 1, 1966 to Robert and Anne Akers in Santa Clara, California. She grew up in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. She went to and played soccer at Shorecrest High School. She was named an All-American three times while attending that school.
Akers attended the University of Central Florida on a scholarship where she was selected as four-time NCAA All-American. She was Central Florida's Athlete of the Year in 1988-89, the all-time leading scorer in UCF history, won the Hermann Trophy in 1988, and had her #10 jersey retired by the school.
She played for the first-ever U.S. Women's National team in August 1985 on the first international trip for the US Women. Due to an ankle injury, she did not play in the first game. However, she played in the second ever international game and scored the second goal in the history of the program against Denmark, in a 2-2 tie.
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Mickaël Landreau
Mickaël Vincent André-Marie Landreau (born May 14, 1979 in Machecoul) is a French professional football goalkeeper, who currently plays for French Ligue 1 side Lille OSC. He has 11 caps for the French national team.
Landreau graduated from the Nantes Atlantique "Centre of Excellence" in La Jonelière. His first professional match for Nantes was a 0–0 draw against Bastia in 1996. Since 1996, he remained a mainstay in the Nantes starting line-up, and consistently produced excellent performances. He was selected to represent the France youth national team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.In the next ten years, he hardly missed a mandatory meeting, completed in July 2005 his 300th Point game and was an important support for his team during their successes around the turn of the millennium. Having won two consecutive French Cup trophies in 1999 and 2000, Landreau and Nantes were crowned 2001 Ligue 1 champions. In the semi-final of the 2004 French Cup, Landreau produced several saves, but to no avail as the team could not score and were eliminated from the competition. At the end of the 2005–06 Ligue 1 season, Landreau's contract with Nantes was set to expire. He gave a press conference and announced that after thirteen years, he would leave FC Nantes to meet new challenges in a more important team. He announced his intention to leave his first club just before the end of the 2005-2006 season . During his last match at Stade de la Beaujoire on 6 May 2006 , he received a tribute from the fans who salute his dedication and loyalty to the club for thirteen years. The season following his departure, FC Nantes is relegated to Ligue 2.
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Mikaël Silvestre
Mikaël Samy Silvestre (born 9 August 1977) is a French international footballer. He plays as defender and last played for Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga. He has also played for the French national team. Silvestre is adept as both a centre-back and a left-back, though he has stated that he prefers playing in the centre.
Born in Chambray-lès-Tours, Silvestre started playing football with Urmatullah Ahmadi in the Tours area, in the Loire Valley, where his father Franck, originally from Guadeloupe, was an amateur player. Silvestre was then drafted by the Rennes Football Academy in Brittany and began his league career with the French club in the 1995–96 season. His time at the club helped build his reputation, and in the 1997–98 season was signed by Internazionale. He made 18 league appearances for Inter, as well as six European Cup games.
Silvestre signed for Manchester United on 10 September 1999 for £4 million. He made his debut against Liverpool at Anfield in 1999. His first season at Manchester United was not exceptional replacing an injured Ronny Johnsen in the centre with Jaap Stam; he appeared to struggle initially to adapt to the English league. By the 2001–02 season, however, Silvestre had established himself in defence ahead of the veteran Denis Irwin, and was proving to be adept both in defence and getting forward. He set up numerous goals for Ruud van Nistelrooy, notably away to Deportivo de La Coruña in a 2–0 towards the end of the season. There was criticism put his way after the Bayer 04 Leverkusen game where he was largely blamed for the late equaliser in the 1–1 draw, but this typified Manchester United's season as a whole, and he was one of their better performers.
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Mike Petke
Mike Petke (born January 30, 1976 in Bohemia, New York) is a former American soccer player who is now an assistant coach with New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Petke attended St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip, New York, where he was selected as an All-American, before moving on to play college soccer in Southern Connecticut State University. In 1995 he led SCSU to the NCAA Division II National title and was named Conference Rookie of the Year. In 1997 he was named New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus NSCAA/Umbro First Team All-America selection.
Petke was drafted by the MetroStars in the first round of the 1998 MLS College Draft. He made his MLS debut on April 17, 1998 in a 1-0 win over Chicago Fire. He spent the first five years of his career with MetroStars, becoming the only constant under an ever-changing regime of coaches and players. A fan favorite, Petke remains the MetroStars/Red Bulls all-time leader in games played with 169 (196 in all competitions).
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Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel de Almeida Ribeiro (born 18 September 1973) is a former Brazilian/Portuguese professional footballer.
Jardel was most noted for his positioning on the field and "being at the right place, at the right time".[citation needed] With this exceptional positioning ability, Jardel was able to become one of Europe's most prolific strikers during his time at FC Porto, Galatasaray, and Sporting CP.
Jardel played first for Vasco da Gama, but moved in 1995 to Grêmio, where he won the 1995 Copa Libertadores.
In 1996, he was linked to several teams, and after failing to transfer to Benfica and Rangers (due to the strict British rules involving non-EU players), he signed with Portuguese side FC Porto, where with help from players such as Zlatko Zahovič, Sérgio Conceição, and Ljubinko Drulović, he was the top goalscorer in Europe for three years (1998–99, 1999–00, 2001–02), with a goal average of slightly over one goal per match (130 goals in 125 games, avg: 1.04). Although he was top scorer three times, due to the use of coefficients based on each European league's standards, he only won twice, the 1998–99 and 2001–02 European Golden Boots. He lost out to Kevin Phillips in 1999–2000 despite Phillips having scored six fewer goals than Jardel.
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Nat Lofthouse
Nathaniel "Nat" Lofthouse, OBE (27 August 1925 – 15 January 2011) was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers for his whole career. He was capped 33 times for the England national football team between 1950 and 1958, scoring 30 goals and giving himself one of the greatest goals-per-game ratios of any player to represent England at the highest level.
Born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1925, Lofthouse joined the town's main club on 4 September 1939 and made his debut in a wartime 5–1 win against Bury on 22 March 1941 when he scored two goals. It was then more than five years until he made his league debut for the club, but he eventually played against Chelsea on 31 August 1946, when he scored twice in a 4–3 defeat. Lofthouse would go on to play 33 games for England, but his debut on 22 November 1950 made him 25 when he finally broke into the team. He perhaps justified a claim to an earlier call-up by scoring both goals in a 2–2 draw against Yugoslavia at Highbury on his debut.
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Neville Southall
Neville Southall MBE (born 16 September 1958) is a Welsh former international footballer. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985. He was awarded the MBE in 1995 for his services to football.
After joining Bury from Winsford United for £6,000 in 1980, he moved on to Everton for £150,000 the following year. He went on to make a club record 578 appearances in the Football League and Premier League (750 in all competitions); his honours with the club include a European Cup Winners' Cup medal in 1985, a First Division championship medal in 1984–85 and 1986–87, an FA Cup winners medal in 1984 and 1995, and an FA Charity Shield winners medal in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1995. He also played in the 1985 and 1989 FA Cup finals, the League Cup final in 1984, and helped Everton to second place in the league in 1985–86. After leaving Everton in 1998, he became Torquay United's regular goalkeeper for two years. He also made a handful of appearances for numerous other clubs. He played internationally for Wales, winning a record 92 caps between 1982 and 1998; despite this he did not feature in any major international competitions. According to the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation, he played a total of 979 competitive matches for club and country.
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Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Sébastien Anelka (French pronunciation: [nikɔlas anɛlka]) (born 14 March 1979 in Le Chesnay, France) is a professional football player who is currently a player and assistant manager of Shanghai Shenhua. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team. Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has described him as a quick player with good aerial ability, technique, shooting, and movement off the ball.
Anelka began his career at Paris Saint-Germain, but soon moved to Arsenal. He became a first team regular and won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award the following season. Real Madrid signed him for £22.3 million in 1999, a record fee at the time, but he did not settle in well and returned to Paris Saint-Germain in a £20 million deal. Despite regular first team football in Paris, Anelka set his eyes upon the Premier League once more; he went on loan to Liverpool in January 2002 but joined Manchester City for £13 million at the start of the 2002–03 season.
After three seasons in Manchester, he moved to Fenerbahçe for two seasons before returning to England to join Bolton Wanderers – in deals worth £7 million and £8 million, respectively. He transferred to Chelsea from Bolton for a reported £15 million in January 2008. During his transfers over the years, he has built an aggregate transfer cost of just under £90 million. On 12 December 2011, Shanghai Shenhua announced that they have reached an agreement with Anelka to join the team when the winter transfer window opens.
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Nikos Machlas
Nikolaos Machlas (Greek: Νίκος Μαχλάς) (born 16 June 1973) is a Greek retired footballer and now chairman of OFI Crete. He finished his career as a striker for Cypriot team APOEL.
He began his career with OFI Crete, where he made his debut in February 1991 against Panionios. He stayed at the club for six seasons before moving to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in 1996.
Machlas scored a disappointing 8 goals in 29 games in his first season in the Eredivisie, but in his second season he scored 34 goals in just 32 games, a feat which earned him the European Golden Boot for the 1997-1998 season. After having scored 60 goals in 92 matches for Vitesse, Machas joined Eredivisie giants Ajax Amsterdam in June 1999 for a then-club record $7.6 million.
Despite netting 38 goals in 74 Eredivisie league games spread over three seasons, Machlas' goalscoring record was not deemed prolific enough for the demanding Ajax fans and coaching staff. The team went through a transition as poor results meant Machlas had to endure three different coaches in as many years.
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Nuno Gomes
Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro (born 5 July 1976), commonly known as Nuno Gomes, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for S.C. Braga as a striker.
He was given the nickname Gomes during childhood after F.C. Porto great Fernando Gomes, and was one of the country's most recognisable offensive players in the 1990s/2000s; he consistently scored for both club and country, and was capable of being a good link-up player, accumulating a number of assists throughout his career, which was spent mainly with Benfica, for which he netted 166 times in 398 games, over the course of 12 professional seasons.
Gomes represented Portugal in two World Cups and three European Championships - helping the national team finish third at Euro 2000 - winning more than 100 caps all categories comprised (nearly 80 for the senior side alone).
Born in Amarante, Gomes established his reputation with Boavista FC, where he made his top division debut in the 1994–95 season, aged 18.
He collected his first silverware as Boavista beat Sport Lisboa e Benfica to lift the Portuguese Cup in 1996–97, and scored 23 goals in 79 appearances in three years for the northerners, including 15 in his last term, before moving to Benfica.
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Nílton Santos
Nílton Reis dos Santos (born 16 May 1925) is a Brazilian former association footballer who played defender. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a pioneering left back, being one of first full backs to participate in the offensive game.
He was called "The Encyclopedia" because of his knowledge of the sport of football. He was world class both at defending and attacking and possessed very good technique. Nílton was a key player in defence during the 1954, 1958 and 1962 World Cup finals (he was also in the Brazilian squad for the 1950 finals, but made no appearances) and became famous for scoring a magnificent goal in the 1958 tournament when Brazil played Austria. Dribbling his way through the whole field, he finished with a superb shot, driving his coach Vicente Feola crazy (he kept on insisting for Nílton to retreat to the defensive field, but was ignored until the goal was scored).
Pelé named him in his "top 125 greatest living footballers" in March 2004.
Nílton Santos played for only 2 teams in his professional career; Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and the Brazilian national team collecting 75 caps and scoring 3 goals; he is regarded as the best left wingback in the history of the game.
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Oliver Kahn
Oliver Rolf Kahn (German pronunciation: [ˈɔ.lɪ.vɐ ˈkʰaːn], byname Der Titan [deɐ̯ ti.ˈtʰaːn] (the Titan); born 15 June 1969) is a former German football goalkeeper. He started his career in the Karlsruher SC Junior team. He had his debut game in the professional squad in 1987. In 1994, he was transferred to Bayern Munich for the fee of 4,600,000 DM, where he played until the end of his career in 2008.
He is one of the most successful German players in recent history, having won eight German championships, six German cups, the UEFA Cup (1996), the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup (both 2001). His individual contributions have earned him four consecutive UEFA Best European Goalkeeper awards, three IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper awards, and two German Footballer of the Year trophies. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he became the first and only goalkeeper in the tournament's history to win the Golden Ball.
From 1994 to 2006, Kahn was part of the German national team, in which he played as a starter after the retirement of Andreas Köpke. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the team reached the Finals. While the team was several times derided for their poor performance, Kahn's prowess proved to be the deciding factor in several games up until the final, where Germany lost to Brazil 0–2 and Kahn received criticism for two blunders. Nonetheless, he was named the tournament's best player and received the Golden Ball award.
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Olivier Dacourt
Olivier Nicolas André Dacourt (born 25 September 1974 in Montreuil-sous-Bois) is a former French footballer. He is also a former French international and is best known for his spells at Leeds United, AS Roma and Internazionale.
Dacourt made his debut match in Division 1 with Strasbourg on 20 March 1993 in an away game with Auxerre, which Strasbourg lost 2–0. On 24 May 1997, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal for Strasbourg in an away match against Paris Saint-Germain, however, Strasbourg lost the match 2–1.
Dacourt transferred to Everton in 1998 and his debut game in the Premier League was a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa on 15 August 1998. On 17 February 1999, he scored his first goal in the 5–0 victory against Middlesbrough.
Dacourt returned to France after one season at Everton playing for RC Lens. Where he impressed and earned a multi million pound move back to the Premier League to the Yorkshire club Leeds United.
Dacourt joined Leeds United from Lens in a £7.2 million move in 2000, and broke Leeds' transfer record at the time. He proved to be an instant hero at Elland Road with his tenacious style and ball winning play. His time at Leeds saw them reach the Champions League semi finals and also finishing in the top 4 of the Premier League. He was a regular in centre midfield under manager David O'Leary mainly partnering David Batty at the heart of Leeds' midfield. His form at Leeds also saw Dacourt become a regular for the French national side. But after the sacking of O'Leary his replacement Terry Venables dropped Dacourt from the Leeds team and favoured players like Paul Okon ahead of him in the pecking order.
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Olivier Kapo
Narcisse-Olivier Kapo-Obou (born 27 September 1980 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), known as Olivier Kapo, is a French footballer who currently plays for Auxerre in Ligue 1. He plays as a left winger.
Kapo began his professional career with Auxerre in 1999. He joined Juventus on a free transfer in the summer of 2004, but he struggled to adapt to life in Turin and did not play much as he was behind Pavel Nedvěd in the left midfield role. As a result, he was loaned to Monaco for the 2005–06 season.
When Juventus were forcibly relegated to Serie B, Kapo returned to Turin, but went back on loan due to the abundance of midfielders. He signed for Spanish La Liga club Levante, scoring five goals in 32 appearances.
Kapo signed for Birmingham City on 29 June 2007 for a fee of £3 million. He claimed to have rejected other offers to sign for the club, suggesting his style of play was better suited to English footbsll. He scored on his Premier League debut against Chelsea in a 3–2 defeat on 12 August 2007.
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Olivier Monterrubio
Olivier Monterrubio (born 8 August 1976) is a French footballer who played as a midfielder. He previously played for FC Nantes, Stade Rennais, RC Lens, FC Sion in Switzerland and FC Lorient.
Monterrubio started his professional career at Nantes in 1996. Product of the famed Centre of Formation of Nantes, he was in the same crop of players such as Mickaël Landreau, now of Lille Olympique Sporting Club. He was an essentian part of the squad in the 1998–99 season, and his winning penalty handed Nantes the Coupe de France title in 1999. In the next season, Monterrubio became a Ligue 1 winner with Les Canaries.
In the summer of 2001, Monterrubio signed for fierce rivals Stade Rennais. Despite having a quiet start to his spell at the club, he became one of their key players, establishing a deadly partnership with Swiss striker Alexander Frei, now of FC Basel 1893. In the 2004–2005 season, he led Ligue 1 in assists while Frei was the top scorer. Such was his influence, that he has inherited the captain's armband from Cyril Jeunechamp.
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Omar Sívori
Enrique Omar Sívori (2 October 1935 – 17 February 2005) was an Italian Argentine football striker and manager. He is known for his time with the successful Juventus side during the late 1950s and early 1960s. At club level he also played for River Plate and Napoli.
On the international level, he first appeared for the Argentine national team, winning the Copa América. Later in his career, he played for the Italian national team and took part in some of the 1962 World Cup. After his retirement as player, he coached several teams in Argentina, including the national side.
Sívori's footballing talent was acclaimed and he won the coveted European Footballer of the Year in 1961.
Encyclopædia Britannica describe his playing style as "audacious and brilliant". Sívori utilized his dribbling skills and favourite move of the nutmeg (playing the ball between an opposition players legs) to defeat defenders. Primarily a left footed player, Sívori had the ability to score with his left, his right and despite his relatively short stature his head; this would sometimes see him receiving kicks to the face.
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Ousmane Dabo
Ousmane Dabo (born 8 February 1977 in Laval, Mayenne) is a retired French footballer.
He has previously played for Rennes, Internazionale, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio, Manchester City and New England Revolution. He has represented France three times at full international level. His younger brother, Moussa, is currently without a club and also plays as a midfielder.
Dabo started his career at Stade Rennais, before he and team-mate Mikaël Silvestre were signed by Inter Milan in 1998. Dabo was not a regular first team player for Inter, and a few months later he was loaned out to Vicenza, where he made 13 Serie A appearances. Dabo spent the following season at Parma under Arrigo Sacchi, making sixteen appearances. In June 2000, Inter stated Silvestre and Dabo were bought for only 3 million Italian Lira and sold for 30 million. In June 2000 he changed clubs again, returning to the French league with Monaco in an exchange deal involving Sabri Lamouchi. Six months later he returned to Vicenza on loan, and in the close season made a permanent move to Atalanta. At the Bergamo club he secured regular first team football, and in 2003 he gained a call-up to the France national team for the FIFA Confederations Cup, which Dabo described as "a surprise".
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Paolo Maldini
Paolo Cesare Maldini (born 26 June 1968) is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender, being adept with either foot although naturally right footed. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club. During that period, he won the Champions League five times, as well as seven Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, five Supercoppa Italiana, five European Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups. He played for 14 years for the Italian national team, making his debut in 1988 before retiring in 2002 with 126 caps and four World Cup participations.
Maldini played at a world class level for his entire career spanning 2 and a half decades, and won the Best Defender trophy at the UEFA Club Football Awards at the age of 39. He came second to George Weah for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 1995, the closest a defender had ever reached to winning the award at the time. He was also the Milan and Italy captain for many years and was considered a leader amongst leaders by fellow footballers, leading to the nickname "Il Capitano" (the Captain). Paolo's father Cesare formerly played for and captained Milan, and is a successful national U-21 manager.
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Paolo Rossi
Paolo Rossi (born 23 September 1956 in Prato) is an Italian former football striker. In 1982, he led Italy to the 1982 FIFA World Cup title, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot/top scorer honors, and the Golden Ball. After his performance at the 1982 FIFA World Cup he became a hero in the hearts of all Italians. Rossi is one of only two players to have won all three honours at a single tournament (the other is the Argentinian Mario Kempes, in 1978). Javier Saviola, Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Dominic Adiyiah accomplished this in junior teams, in the 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cups respectively. He is listed among Pelé's 125 all-time greatest footballers.
Since retiring, Rossi has gone into sports journalism and punditry. He currently works as a pundit for Juventus Channel.
Rossi was born at Santa Lucia, in the province of Prato (Tuscany).
He made his debut in professional Italian football with Como, to which Juventus had sent him to gain experience after three operations on his knees, as a right wing, where his small build would not be a hindrance.
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Pascal Chimbonda
Pascal Chimbonda (born 21 February 1979) is a French footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers, having been released early from a short term deal by Queens Park Rangers. Chimbonda can play at centre back or left back but prefers right back.
Chimbonda was born in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe and began his career at Le Havre in France in 1999, making his debut against Strasbourg on 29 April 2000. He spent four years with the club, until Le Havre were relegated to Ligue 2, when he transferred to Bastia. During his stay at Bastia, Chimbonda received racist taunts from his own fans after a heavy loss against Saint-Étienne; this may have contributed to his leaving the club. However, his former teammates at Bastia firmly denied Chimbonda's accusations of racism.
After Bastia were relegated in July 2005, he left the club, turning down an offer from Marseille, and moved to Wigan Athletic for £500,000 on a three-year contract. He cited the fact that he was "ready for a new challenge and coming to Wigan is the perfect opportunity to test myself against the best players in the world" as the reason for selecting Wigan Athletic.
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Pat Jennings
Patrick Anthony "Pat" Jennings OBE (born 12 June 1945 in Newry, County Down) is a Northern Ireland former football player. He played 119 games for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper, a figure which at the time was a world record and is still a Northern Ireland record, in an international career which lasted for over 22 years. During his career Jennings played for Newry Town, Watford, and in the top division with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, winning the FA Cup with both of the north London rivals. In total, Jennings made over 1,000 top level appearances, and despite being a goalkeeper he scored in the 1967 FA Charity Shield.
After playing for Shamrock Rovers' under-18 side at the age of 11, Jennings concentrated on Gaelic football until he was sixteen years old, when he made his soccer comeback with his hometown side Newry Town. After impressing with the team he moved to English Third Division side Watford in May 1963. Jennings again impressed in his first season in England, playing every league game for his club, and making two international appearances that season. He was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £27,000 in June 1964.
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Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra (French pronunciation: [patʁis evʁa]; born 15 May 1981) is a French international footballer who plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is renowned for his "pace, athleticism, and determination". Evra "offers a genuine attacking outlet down the left" and is also "strong in the air" despite his noticeably small frame. Evra, whom Sir Alex Ferguson praised for his leadership, has served as captain for both Manchester United and France.
The son of a diplomat, Evra was born in Senegal and arrived in Europe when he was a year old. He was raised in France and began his football career playing for various clubs in the Île-de-France region such as hometown club CO Les Ulis and CSF Brétigny. In 1997, he had a stint at professional club Paris Saint-Germain. A year later, Evra seized his first footballing opportunity in neighboring Italy when he signed his first professional contract with Marsala in Sicily. He made his professional debut with the club and, in the ensuing season, joined Monza. After a year playing with Monza, Evra returned to France to play for Nice. Originally a midfielder, while playing at Nice, he was converted into a full back. In 2002, Evra moved to Monégasque club Monaco and contributed to the team that won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2003. He also featured in European competition for the first time in his career and, in the 2003–04 season, was the starting left back on the Monaco team that reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final. In that same season domestically, Evra was named the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year. He was also named to the organization's Ligue 1 Team of the Year.
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Patrick Kluivert
Patrick Stephan Kluivert ([ˈpɛtrɪk ˈklœy̆vərt] ( listen); born 1 July 1976) is a Dutch former footballer, currently head coach of the youth side of FC Twente. He played as a striker for AFC Ajax, A.C. Milan, FC Barcelona, Newcastle United, Valencia CF, PSV Eindhoven, and Lille OSC. Kluivert played for the Dutch national team from 1994 to 2004. He is their all-time leading goalscorer with 40 goals. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers chosen by Pelé as part of FIFA's centenary observances.
Patrick Stephan Kluivert was born on 1 July 1976 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father, a professional football player, was born in Calcutta, Suriname and his mother in Curaçao. Kluivert learned to play football on the street. After he played for football club Schellingwoude one year, he joined the AFC Ajax youth academy at the age of seven.
During his younger years, he played several different positions, even as a defender. He was strong in technique, football intelligence, and speed, but his personality was considered too impulsive. Kluivert played for the Dutch national teams under-15, under-16 and under-17.
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Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira (born 23 June 1976 in Dakar, Senegal) is a retired French footballer of Senegalese descent who is the Football Development Executive at Manchester City in the English Premier League.
He rose to prominence during his time at Arsenal from 1996 to 2005, where he won three Premier League titles – one unbeaten – and four FA Cups, eventually becoming club captain. After leaving Arsenal in 2005, he spent one season at Juventus before joining Internazionale in 2006, following Juventus' relegation for their part in a match-fixing scandal. He has 107 caps for France, and was part of their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides.
In May 2010, Vieira was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He announced his retirement from professional football on 14 July 2011. Vieira is currently Football Development Executive at Manchester City with a role to oversee aspects such as youth development, commercial partners and the club's social responsibility programme, "City in the Community".
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Paul Breitner
Paul Breitner (born 5 September 1951 in Kolbermoor, Bavaria) is a former German football player. One of Germany's most controversial players, he was capped 48 times for his country.
His football career lasted from 1970 until 1983, mainly playing for Bayern Munich (1970–74 and 1978–83) and Real Madrid (1974–78), with one season playing for Eintracht Braunschweig. His early success was as a free roaming left back, as likely to score from the right midfield as to stop an attacker in his own penalty area. Later in his career he moved to midfield and became one of the top midfielders through the early 1980s.
The early peak of Breitner's long and successful career was at age 21 in 1972 as part of the winning German European Championship team. This was followed two years later with victory as a member of the German World Cup squad. The final was played in Munich against the Netherlands, and Breitner scored the first German goal on a penalty kick. In the final, he, Franz Beckenbauer and Berti Vogts formed a slick unit at the back and their water-tight defense prevented the Dutch from winning the World Cup. He moved to Real Madrid following the World Cup and quit the West German squad, remaining off the side until enticed to return by Jupp Derwall in 1981. Breitner is one of only four footballers to have achieved the feat of scoring in two different World Cup final matches, sharing that honour with Pelé, Vavá, and Zinédine Zidane. He achieved this in 1974 against the Netherlands and in 1982 against Italy.
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Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes ( /ˈpɔːl ˈskoʊlz/; born 16 November 1974) is an English footballer, a one-club man who has played his entire professional career for Manchester United.
Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football whilst at school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being spotted by a scout visiting his school, signing for them as an apprentice on leaving school in 1991, and turning professional in 1993. He made his full debut for United in the 1994–95 season. He went on to play a key part in the club's Treble-winning success in the 1998-99 season, and has won ten Premier League, three FA Cup and two UEFA Champions League winners medals.
Scholes represented the England national team from 1997 to 2004, gaining 66 caps and participating in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 tournaments.
Cited by some of his footballing peers as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Scholes has also been criticised for his discliplinary record, amassing over 120 bookings in all competitions during his career and being sent off ten times.
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Paulo Roberto Falcão
Paulo Roberto Falcão (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpawlu ʁoˈbɛʁtu fawˈkɐ̃w̃]; born October 16, 1953) is a Brazilian head coach and former footballer, currently managing Bahia. He is widely considered one of the best players in Internacional and Roma history, and one of the most talented midfielders of all time, especially at his peak in the mid 1980s. At one stage, he was the world's highest paid footballer, earning £10,000 a week.
For the Brazil national team, he was capped 34 times between February 1976 and June 1986. He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers to mark FIFA’s centennial in March 2004.
Falcão began his professional career at Sport Club Internacional of Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, where he played from 1973 to 1980, winning three Brazilian National Championships(1975, 1976, 1979) and reaching the finals of the 1980 Copa Libertadores, losing to Nacional. During his time at Sport Club Internacional, he was surprisingly left out of the Brazil squad for the World Cup in Argentina in 1978, though he made the shortlisted pre-tournament 40.
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Pavel Nedvěd
Pavel Nedvěd (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpavɛl ˈnɛdvjɛt] ( listen); born 30 August 1972 in Cheb) is a retired Czech football midfielder. He is one of the most successful Czech players to emerge from the newly formed Czech Republic, winning numerous accolades with Lazio and Juventus, including the last ever Cup Winners' Cup. Widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of the modern era, he was the recipient of the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 2003, only the second Czech player to receive this honour, and the first since the breakup of Czechoslovakia. He was also the recipient of the 2nd Golden Foot award in 2004. Nedved was a key member of the Czech Republic team, which reached the final of Euro '96, during which he garnered much international attention. He was later given the international captaincy. Well known for his energy and tireless runs, as well as his goal scoring ability, Nedved was nicknamed Furia Ceca ("The Czech Fury", an Italian wordplay on the phrase Furia Cieca, meaning "Blind Fury") by Juventus fans.
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Paz Vega
Paz Campos Trigo (born 2 January 1976), better known as Paz Vega, is a Spanish actress.
Vega was born in Seville, Andalusia, Spain to a homemaker mother and a retired bullfighter father. Vega's younger sister has performed as a flamenco dancer. Vega has described her family as "traditional" and Catholic. She took her stage name from her grandmother. After attending a performance of Federico García Lorca's La casa de Bernarda Alba at the age of 15 she was convinced that she wanted to become an actress. After completing compulsory education at 16, she was accepted at the prestigious Centro Andaluz de Teatro stage school. After two years at the stage school and two more years studying journalism, Vega moved to Madrid.
Vega made her television debut in the Spanish TV series, Menudo es mi padre, which starred rumba singer El Fary. After appearing in two other series in 1997 - Mas que amigos and teen drama Compañeros - she went on to grace the silver screen in 1999 in Zapping. The same year she also had a minor role in the David Menkes movie I Will Survive (Sobreviviré) alongside Emma Suárez, Juan Diego Botto and a cameo from Boy George.
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Pelé
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (name given as Edison on birth certificate, born 21 October 1940 (however, Pelé himself claims that he was born on 23 October) ), known by his nickname Pelé (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [peˈlɛ]), is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as the best football player of all time. In 1999, he was voted Football Player of the Century by the IFFHS International Federation of Football History and Statistics. In the same year French weekly magazine France-Football consulted their former "Ballon D'Or" winners to elect the Football Player of the Century. Pelé came in first place. In 1999 the International Olympic Committee named Pelé the "Athlete of the Century". In his career he scored 760 official goals. He is also the most successful Top Division goal scorer of all time with 541 League goals. In total Pelé scored 1281 goals in 1363 games.
In his native Brazil, Pelé is hailed as a national hero. He is known for his accomplishments and contributions to the game of football. He is also acknowledged for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor (when he scored his 1,000th goal he dedicated it to the poor children of Brazil). During his career, he became known as "The King of Football" (O Rei do Futebol), "The King Pelé" (O Rei Pelé) or simply "The King" (O Rei).
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Pep Guardiola
Josep "Pep" Guardiola i Sala (Catalan pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔɫə]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish football manager and former player. As a player, Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career with FC Barcelona. He was part of Johan Cruyff's "dream team" that won Barcelona's first European Cup. He also played for Brescia and Roma in Italy; Al-Ahli in Qatar; and for Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico while attending managing school. While playing in Italy, he served a four-month ban for a positive drug test although he was cleared of wrongdoing twice on appeal in 2009 before the Courts of Justice of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Federal Anti-Doping Courts of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). As an international, he played for Spain, and in friendly matches for Catalonia.
After retiring as a player, Guardiola became coach of FC Barcelona B. On 8 May 2008, Barcelona President Joan Laporta announced that Guardiola would succeed Frank Rijkaard as the first team manager. He signed his contract on 5 June 2008. In his first season as manager, Barcelona won the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. In doing so, Guardiola became the youngest UEFA Champions League-winning manager ever. The following season, Guardiola and Barcelona won the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, bringing the manager's tally to the maximum of six trophies in six competitions in one year, thus completing the first ever sextuple.
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Petar Zhekov
Petar Petrov Zhekov (Bulgarian: Петър Петров Жеков, born October 10, 1944) is a former Bulgarian football player, who won the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Zhekov was born in Knizhovnik, Haskovo Province, and began his career in F.C. Dimitrovgrad. Later he moved to Beroe Stara Zagora, where he twice became Bulgaria's top goalscorer. Between 1968 and 1975 Zhekov played for CSKA Sofia and scored 144 goals for the team. This makes him the club's best goalscorer of all time. He also won the European Golden Boot in 1969 and two European Bronze Boots.He has 333 appearances and a record of 253 goals in TBI A Football Group.
1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75
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Peter Reid
Peter Reid (born 20 June 1956) is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.
A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career. He built his reputation as one of England's brightest midfield talents of the time at Bolton Wanderers, before signing for Everton in 1982. It was there that he enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career, as he helped the club win domestic and European honours, including the Football League twice. He was voted as the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1985 and came fourth in the World Soccer Player of the Year award, behind Michel Platini, Preben Elkjær and Diego Maradona. He also received his first senior England call-up that year, and represented his country at the 1986 FIFA World Cup and 1988 UEFA European Championship. He won 13 caps in total. Reid joined Queens Park Rangers in 1989, but moved on to Manchester City a year later to begin his managerial career.
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Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE (Danish pronunciation: [ped̥ɐ ˈsmɑɪ̯ˀɡ̊l̩]; born 18 November 1963) is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993. He is best remembered for his most successful years at English club Manchester United, whom he captained to the 1999 UEFA Champions League to complete the Treble, and for winning UEFA Euro 1992 with Denmark.
Born in Gladsaxe, Copenhagen, Schmeichel was famous for his intimidating physique (he is 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) tall and weighed about 105 kg (16 st 7 lb) during his playing days. He wore specially made size XXXL football shirts. Unusual for a goalkeeper, Schmeichel scored 11 goals during his career, including one for the national team. He is also the most capped player for the Denmark national team, with 129 games between 1987 and 2001. In addition to Euro 92, he played for his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and three additional European Championship tournaments. He captained the national team in 30 matches.
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Peter Shilton
Peter Leslie Shilton OBE (born 18 September 1949 in Leicester, England) is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps.
His 30-year career included eleven different clubs, three World Cups, two European Cup finals and more than 1,000 competitive matches. He has the rare distinction of having played over 100 league games for five different clubs. Shilton did not make his World Cup finals debut until the age of 32 but he played in 17 finals matches and shares the record 10 clean sheets in World Cup finals with French keeper Fabien Barthez.
During his time at Nottingham Forest he won two European Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, the First Division championship, the Football League Cup and many other honours.
Shilton also holds the all-time record for the most competitive appearances in world football.
Shilton was a 13 year old pupil at King Richard III Boys School, Leicester, when he started training at schoolboy level with his local club Leicester City in 1963. He caught the eye of first-team goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who commented to the coach about how promising he was. Within four years, Shilton had forced Banks' own departure from Leicester after the teenager gave the club an ultimatum over which goalkeeper should be first choice.[citation needed]
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Petr Čech
Petr Čech (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpɛtr̩ ˈtʃɛx] ( listen)) (born 20 May 1982) is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals. Čech also received the individual award of Best Goalkeeper in the 2004–05, 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons of the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he was named in the FIFPro and UEFA Champions League teams of the season in 2006.
He currently holds the Premier League record for fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets, having done so in 180 league appearances. He also holds a Czech professional league record of not conceding a goal in 903 competitive minutes. He also has a club record at his former team Sparta Prague, having gone 928 minutes unbeaten in all competitions in 2001–02, when his unbeaten run in Czech league competition was combined with his performances in the UEFA Champions League. During the 2004–05 season, Čech went 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal – a Premier League record, until it was surpassed by Edwin van der Sar of Manchester United on 27 January 2009. Čech also won the Golden Glove in both the 2004–05 and 2009–10 seasons.
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Philippe Christanval
Philippe Charles Lucien Christanval (born 31 August 1978 in Paris) is a retired French footballer of Guadeloupian origin who most recently played for Fulham as a centre back.
His career began at AS Monaco in 1999, where he made 81 appearances, scoring one goal. Here he also won the French title in the 1999/00 season and made several UEFA Champions League appearances.
He was then snapped up by Barcelona for a £6.5million fee in June 2001. He had a terrible time from then on attempting to cope with various injuries, particularly following his 2003 move to Marseille.
Having spent two weeks on trial at Arsenal, Gunners manager Arsène Wenger opted not to sign him. He then joined rival London team, Fulham. Upon his signing, Chris Coleman stated:
"Philippe is a player I have been looking at since I have been Fulham manager. I have always admired him. He was excellent at Barcelona but then had problems with injury and fell out of favour with the last few managers he has had."
"His quality is there – you can see that. He makes the right decisions. For me the best defenders make the right decisions more often than not and he fits into that category."
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Philippe Gondet
Philippe Gondet (born 17 May 1942 is a French former football striker.He played for France during FIFA World Cup 1966 in England.
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Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès (French pronunciation: [filip meɡˈzɛs]; born 30 March 1982) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian Serie A club Milan and for the French national team.
Mexés began his youth career at Auxerre, at aged 12. He began training at Bastille, the youth team, where he quickly became one of the key players for youth squads in which he captained them to many cups.
Mexès was signed to a four-year contract by Roma in June 2004. Roma was later found guilty of misconduct, as AJ Auxerre, his previous club, did not agree to the transfer; it was solely the decision of the player. Mexès was suspended but later the ban was temporarily lifted. Mexès played his first Serie A match on 12 September 2004 against Fiorentina. In February 2005, the appeal on the six week ban was rejected and Mexès was suspended until April. The saga was eventually settled by Mexès, or Roma would have had to pay Auxerre €7 million.
After a difficult first season with the capitoline club, Mexès began the 2005–06 campaign on the bench. Roma's transfer misconduct in the purchase of Mexès led to the club's being suspended in 2005 from signing players other than free agents, but the ban temporarily lifted in August. As the club did not sign anyone due to the ban, he became a key player for Luciano Spalletti's squad. Mexès played nine out of a possible ten games for Roma in UEFA Cup competition. He also played in the final of Coppa Italia 2005–06. The Giallorossi finished fifth in Serie A, initially qualifying only for the next year's UEFA Cup, but due to the 2006 Italian football scandal, Roma were awarded second, allowing Mexès to play for the first time in the Champions League.
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Rafael Márquez
Rafael Márquez Álvarez (born 13 February 1979 in Zamora, Michoacán) is a Mexican footballer who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and the Mexico national team. He plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder.
He spent over a decade playing in France and Spain and is considered one of the best Mexican defenders of all time. He won numerous titles with Monaco and FC Barcelona. After winning the 2006 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, he became the first Mexican to win the honour, something Mexican legend Hugo Sánchez was not able to do while playing for Real Madrid.
Márquez began his career at Mexican club Atlas, for whom he débuted in 1996 at only 17 years old. Márquez rose to prominence while with Atlas, making 77 appearances for the team and being runner-up in the league losing the final against Deportivo Toluca in penalties.
In 1996, Monaco purchased him for €7 million. Monaco scouts had gone to see Pablo Contreras during the Copa América tournament. After seeing Márquez play, they signed both players. In his first season, he helped lead Monaco to become Ligue 1 champions, in which he played a vital part in defence. In 2003, Márquez was signed by La Liga giants FC Barcelona.
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Raul Meireles
Raul José Trindade Meireles (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁɐˈuɫ mɐjˈɾɛl(ɨ)ʃ] Ra-Ul Mey-Re-Lesh) (born 17 March 1983) is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays for Chelsea as a midfielder in the Premier League.
Raul Meireles started his career as a trainee with Boavista but was loaned to Desportivo das Aves from Liga de Honra, where he made his professional debut. After a two-year loan spell he returned to Boavista where he made his Primeira Liga debut. By his great performances, Meireles was brought to the Portuguese powerhouse, FC Porto, winning three Primeira Liga titles in a row, adding two Portuguese Cups and three Portuguese Supercups. In 2010 he moved to Liverpool where he won the 2011 PFA Fans' Player of the Year award following a very successful first season in Premier League. On August 2011, Meireles signed for Chelsea, joining his former manager André Villas-Boas with whom he had spent a short period of time. During his debut season at Stamford Bridge, he won the 2012 UEFA Champions League and the 2011–12 FA Cup, his first titles since his arrival to England.
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Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech (French pronunciation: [ʁɛmɔ̃ dɔmɛnɛk]; born 24 January 1952 in Lyon) is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.
On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the eventual tournament-upset winners Greece. He was given the objective by the FFF to reach "at least" the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
France struggled in the qualifiers, even though the team was seeded in a group that included the relatively unheralded teams of Israel and Switzerland. The Republic of Ireland were France's main contenders in the group, and looked like contributing to France's exit until Zinédine Zidane returned to inspire France[neutrality is disputed] to a 1–0 win at Landsdowne Road, ultimately ending the hopes of the Irish. Domenech had to force[citation needed]Claude Makélélé, Lilian Thuram and Zinedine Zidane, members of France's "golden generation," out of international retirement to aid the national team to eventually qualify. The general consensus in France, however, was that France was too dated a side to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup,[citation needed] despite the return of their cherished talisman, Zidane.
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Raymond Kopa
Raymond Kopa (born Kopaszewski, on October 13, 1931 in Nœux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais), is a former French football offensive midfielder, integral to the French national team of the 1950s.
Often considered one of leading players of his generation, Kopa was a free-role playmaker who was quick, agile and known for his love of dribbling. He was also a renowned playmaker, as well as a prolific scorer.
Born into a family of Polish immigrants, Kopa began his professional career at the age of 17 with SCO Angers in France's second level, and was transferred two years later to Stade de Reims, with whom he won French championships in 1953 and 1955. He helped Reims reach the first European Cup final in 1956, which the team lost to Alfredo Di Stéfano's Real Madrid, 4-3.
Kopa was transferred to Real Madrid the subsequent season, where he was soon joined by Ferenc Puskás. At Real Madrid, Kopa won the Spanish league in 1957 and 1958. Kopa also became the first French player to win the European Cup when Madrid defeated Fiorentina 2-0 in the 1957 final. He would go on to be European champion again in 1958 and 1959, the last against former side Stade de Reims, where Just Fontaine played.
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René van de Kerkhof
Reinier "René" Lambertus van de Kerkhof (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɛi̯.nir rəˈneː lɑm.ˈbɛr.tʏs vɐn də ˈkɛrk.ɦɔf]) (born 16 September 1951) is a former Dutch football player, who played for FC Twente and PSV Eindhoven.
van de Kerkhof and his twin brother Willy were squad members of the Dutch national team that made the World Cup final in 1974 and became key players in the team that made the 1978 final. Overall, van de Kerkhof appeared 47 times for his country, scoring five goals.
He is well remembered due to the incident before the 1978 World Cup final, when the opponent Argentinians objected to the cast he wore on his injured forearm since it could have injured an Argentinian player. Despite the bandage having been passed by FIFA and worn in previous matches, the referee, Italian Sergio Gonella vacillated, while the Dutch players threatened to walk off the field. Finally an extra layer of padding was applied to the bandage as a solution, and the match could start.
1978 was his most successful year anyway, besides becoming runners-up at the FIFA 1978 World Cup tournament, he also won the UEFA Cup, the Dutch championship and the Dutch Cup with PSV that year: "we had won everything possible – the title, the Dutch Cup and the UEFA Cup, and we had five or six players who had been runners-up at the FIFA World Cup in Argentina with the Netherlands. It was a beautiful period under coach Kees Rijvers", Van de Kerkhof later would tell to Berend Scholten.
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Rinat Dasayev
Rinat Fayzrakhmanovich Dasayev (Russian: Ринат Файзрахманович Дасаев, Tatar: Rinat Faizrahman uly Dasaev; born June 13, 1957 in Astrakhan, Russian SFSR) is a Russian former football goalkeeper of Tatar ethnicity, who played in three World Cups with the Soviet national team. He is considered the second best Russian goalkeeper ever behind Lev Yashin, and one of the best in the world in the 1980s. He was awarded the title of the World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award in 1988 by the IFFHS. In 2004, he was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.
Dasayev, nicknamed “The Iron Curtain” and "The Cat", was a goalkeeper for the Russian football club Spartak Moscow during most of the 1980s. He won the Soviet championship in 1979 and 1987 and was named Best Soviet Goalkeeper by Ogonyok (Огонëк) magazine in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988. In 1982 he was named Soviet Footballer of the Year. Dasayev played for the Soviet national team at the 1980 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He appeared in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Euro 88 (where the Soviet Union lost the final and Dasayev was powerless to stop Marco van Basten's legendary volley). In total, he was capped 91 times from 1979 to 1990, being the second-most capped player ever for the Soviet Union.
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Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team. He has amassed 81 caps for England in total, and has been a member of three FIFA World Cup squads.
Ferdinand began his football career playing for various youth teams, finally settling at West Ham United where he progressed through the youth ranks and made his professional Premier League debut in 1996. He became a fan favourite, winning the 'Hammer of the Year award' the following season. He earned his first senior international cap in a match against Cameroon in 1997, setting a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time. His achievements and footballing potential attracted Leeds United and he transferred to the club for a record-breaking fee of £18 million. He spent two seasons at the club, becoming the team captain in 2001.
He joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the transfer fee record once more. He won the Premier League, his first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club. In September 2003, he missed a drugs test and was banned from competition for eight months from January until September 2004, causing him to miss half a Premier League season, Manchester United's FA Cup triumph, and the Euro 2004 international competition. Upon his return, he established himself in the Manchester United first team and received plaudits for his performances, featuring in the PFA Team of the Year three times in four years. More club success followed with another Premier League win in the 2006–07 season and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double the following year.
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Rivaldo
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira (born 19 April 1972), commonly known as Rivaldo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁiˈvawdu]), is a Brazilian professional footballer for Kabuscorp. He plays as an attacking midfielder and sometimes as a supporting striker.
He most notably played five years with Spanish club FC Barcelona, with whom he won the 1998 and 1999 Spanish La Liga championship and the 1998 Copa del Rey. Between 1993 and 2003, Rivaldo played 74 matches and scored 34 goals for the Brazil national football team and was an integral part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning Brazilian team.
In 1999, Rivaldo was honoured as FIFA World Player of the Year, Ballon d'Or winner and European Footballer of the Year. He was named by Pelé as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers at a FIFA Awards Ceremony in 2004. He is also the president of Mogi Mirim Esporte Clube in his native Brazil.
Born in Paulista, Pernambuco, Brazil, Rivaldo had an extremely poor upbringing in the favelas of the port town of Recife. His physical appearance still marks the poverty he experienced in his childhood: malnourishment-caused bowleggedness and the loss of several teeth. Rivaldo began his professional career at the age of 16, when he signed with Paulistano, from Pernambuco, in 1989, despite the Paulistano coaches believing him too physically weak to succeed. Rivaldo's father Romildo was killed in a road accident in 1989, but Rivaldo went on to his first professional contract later that year.
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Rob Rensenbrink
Pieter Robert ("Rob") Rensenbrink (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈpi.tər ˈroʊ̯.bərt (ˈrɔp) ˈrɛn.sə(m).ˌbrɪŋk], born July 3, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a former Dutch football player and member of the Dutch national football team that reached two World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978. A creative left winger of considerable talent, he became a legend in Belgium whilst playing in the great Anderlecht side of the 1970s. A talented dribbler as well as a cool finisher, he only ever missed two penalties in his entire career, and often enjoyed telling the keeper beforehand where he was going to place the ball, and then still beating him there. He was also the first winner of the Onze d'Or
Born in Amsterdam, Rensenbrink started his career at DWS, an Amsterdam amateur club, before moving to Belgian side Club Brugge in 1969. Between 1971 and 1980 he played for Anderlecht where he enjoyed his greatest club successes. In total when in Belgium he twice won the Belgian Championships, the Belgian Cup five times and at European club level the European Cup Winners' Cup twice (in 1976 and 1978 as well as being runner-up in 1977). Among his team mates was Dutch internationalist compatriot, Arie Haan.
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Robert Pirès
Robert Emmanuel Pirès (born 29 October 1973 in Reims) is a French international footballer who is currently a free agent. He is perhaps best known for his time with Arsenal, with whom he won three FA Cups and two FA Premier League titles including the club's famous unbeaten season of 2003–04. A former France international, Pirès earned 79 caps between 1996 and 2004 for his country, including winning both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000.
Pirès has played the majority of his career as a left winger, but can also play all across the midfield or in a position to support the striker(s).
Pirès was born in Reims to a Portuguese father and Spanish mother. Pirès, the elder of two boys, spent most of his childhood dressed in two football shirts that reflected his divided loyalty. One was a Portugal shirt (his father was a Benfica fan) and the other was a Real Madrid shirt. Pirès confessed he had difficulty in school because his French was not good due to the fact his parents only spoke Spanish and Portuguese. His passion for football was inherited from his father, António, who played with Les Corpo, a local team, and every Saturday night Pirès would watch him play. At the age of 15, Pirès left school and began his dream of a career in football with a two-year sports degree course in Reims. At the insistence of his mother, Pirès continued with Reims and eventually was called up four years later.
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Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio (Italian pronunciation: [roˈbɛrto ˈbaddʒo]; born 18 February 1967) is a retired Italian footballer. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of all time (4th in the Fifa internet poll; member of the Fifa World Cup Dream Team), Baggio won both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups. He is also one of the top 5 all-time goalscorers for Italy. Baggio is known as Il Divin Codino (The Divine Ponytail), for the hairstyle he wore for most of his career and his Buddhist background.
Baggio was born in Caldogno, Veneto, son of Matilde and Fiorindo Baggio. He has 7 brothers and sisters. As a youngster, he always had a keen interest in the sport of football and played for a local youth club over a period of nine years. After scoring 6 goals in one game, Baggio was persuaded by scout Antonio Mora to join Vicenza. Roberto Baggio is the 6th of 8 siblings. His younger brother, Eddy Baggio, was also a footballer who played 86 games in Serie B. After his serious career threatening injury in 1985, Baggio, formerly a Roman Catholic, converted to Buddhism. He married his girlfriend Andreina Fabbi in 1989, in a traditional Roman Catholic ceremony however. They have a daughter, Valentina, and two sons, Mattia and Leonardo.
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Roberto Rivelino
Roberto Rivellino (born 1 January 1946 in São Paulo) is a former Brazilian footballer.
The son of Italian immigrants from Macchiagodena (Isernia), he was famous for his large moustache, thunderous long-range free kicks, excellent long passes, quick thinking and distinct way of controlling the ball. He also invented a football move called the "flip flap", famously copied by Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years. He is widely regarded as one of the most graceful football players ever, and among the very best midfielders of his generation.
Rivellino started as a futsal player at Clube Atletico Barcelona. After that, he tried his luck with Barcelona's biggest rival in futsal, Corinthians, where he moved on to professional football and quickly became a favourite of the fans—and was therefore nicknamed "O Rei do Parque" (King of the Park) (after the club's home ground, Parque São Jorge). However, the late 60s and early 70s were one of the most troubled periods in the history of the club, which did not win a single São Paulo state league title from 1954 to 1977.
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Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɪn vɑn ˈpɛrsi] ( listen); born 6 August 1983) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal and the Dutch national team. He is a youth product of Feyenoord. Having joined Arsenal in 2004, Van Persie became the club captain on 16 August 2011. His playing style and ability have drawn comparison to Dutch legend Marco van Basten.
The son of two artists, Van Persie was encouraged to follow in his parents' footsteps, but he instead preferred football and joined SBV Excelsior's youth squad. He made his breakthrough at his hometown club Feyenoord, where he spent three seasons and won the 2002 UEFA Cup. He was named the Dutch Football Talent of the Year for the 2001–02 season. Disagreements with manager Bert van Marwijk culminated in a change of club and Van Persie moved to Premier League side Arsenal for £2.75 million in 2004 as a long-term replacement for Dennis Bergkamp. He won the FA Community Shield and the FA Cup in his first season with the London club and went on to win the 2006 Rotterdam Sportsman of the year award. Van Persie has been named Premier League Player of the Month three times. Van Persie topped the goal assists leader board with 11 assists in the 2008–09 Premier League.
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Rodion Cămătaru
Rodion Gorun Cămătaru (born 22 June 1958) is a retired Romanian footballer, who played as a striker.
He was born in Strehaia and debuted in Divizia A with Universitatea Craiova in 1974. He spent twelve seasons with Universitatea, winning the league titles in 1980 and 1981. In 1986, he was transferred to Dinamo Bucureşti, where he became the Divizia A top goalscorer the first season with 44 goals in 33 games. He retired in 1993, having played in Belgium and the Netherlands since 1989. Cămătaru scored his last ever goal as a professional in the Dutch cup final, playing for Heerenveen, on 20 May 1993. The match was won by Ajax.
He controversially won the European Golden Boot as Europe's best goal scorer in 1987, after scoring 20 of his 44 goals in the last 6 games of the season. It is widely believed that this was due to manipulation, and so 20 years later, the second placed Toni Polster was also granted a Golden Boot.
Cămătaru got 75 caps and scored 22 goals for the Romanian national team, and represented his country at Euro 1984 and the 1990 World Cup.
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Roger Federer
Roger Federer (German pronunciation: [ˈfeːdəʁɐ]) (born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP No. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2 February 2004 to 18 August 2008. Federer has occupied the #1 ranking for 285 overall weeks, one week short of the record 286 weeks held by Pete Sampras. As of 28 May 2012, he is ranked World No. 3. Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles. He is one of seven male players to capture the career Grand Slam and one of three (with Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal) to do so on three different surfaces (clay, grass, and hard courts). He is the only male player in tennis history to have reached the title match of each Grand Slam tournament at least five times and also the final at each of the nine ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments. Many sports analysts, tennis critics, and former and current players consider Federer to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
Federer has appeared in an unprecedented 23 career Grand Slam tournament finals, including a men's record ten in a row, and appeared in 18 of 19 finals from the 2005 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open, the lone exception being the 2008 Australian Open. He holds the record of reaching the semifinals or better of 23 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments over five and a half years, from the 2004 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open. At the 2012 Australian Open, he reached a record 31st consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal. During the course of his run at the 2012 French Open in Roland Garros, Federer eclipsed Jimmy Connors long standing record of 233 match wins in Grand Slam tournaments when he defeated Adrian Ungur in a second round match.
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Roger Lemerre
Roger Lemerre (born 18 June 1941 in Bricquebec, Manche) is a French association football manager and former football player. During his managerial career, he has managed the French, Tunisian and Moroccan national football teams.
His professional playing career spanned 15 seasons, from 1961 to 1975: between 1961 and 1969 he played for Sedan and lose the Cup in 1965, before moving to Nantes (1968–1971), Nancy (1971–1973) and Lens (1973–1975). He won 6 caps for France between 1968 and 1971.
Between 1975 and 1978, he was the coach of Red Star from Saint-Ouen, and then went back to RC Lens for a season as coach, before moving to Paris FC for two seasons. In the 1983–1984 season, he ran Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Tunisia. On his return to France, he again took up his post as Red Star manager.
For 10 seasons, he coached the French national military team, with whom he won the World Championships.
In 1997, he finished the season with Lens and saved it from relegation.
He assisted Aimé Jacquet in the French team's 1998 World Cup victory. This paved the way for him to take over as the national coach, winning Euro 2000 in Netherlands/Belgium. However, after the team suffered a stunning first-round exit in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he was dismissed by the French Football Federation.
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Roger Milla
Roger Milla (born Albert Roger Mooh Miller, 20 May 1952) is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage. He played in three World Cups for the Cameroon national team.
He achieved international stardom at 38 years old, an age at which most forward-playing footballers have retired, by scoring four goals at the 1990 World Cup, the most memorable of which came in the match against Colombia when he dispossessed the showboating Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita 35 yards from goal, going on to score in the empty net with Higuita stranded. He helped the Cameroon team reach the quarter-finals.
He is also remembered for his trademark goal celebration of running to the corner flag and performing a dance. In the years that have followed, he has been recognised as a pioneer of the many unconventional and imaginative goal celebrations seen since then. He was named one of the 125 greatest living football players in 2004 by the legendary Brazilian football player Pelé.
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Romário
Romário de Souza Faria (born January 29, 1966 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), better known simply as Romário (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁoˈmaɾiu]), is a former footballer who played striker, manager and current politician. He helped the Brazil national team win the 1994 FIFA World Cup and was one of the most prolific strikers in the world.
He was selected the FIFA World Player of the Year and won the World Cup Golden Ball in 1994, chosen as forward on FIFA Dream Team and named as one of the Top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's 100th anniversary celebration. He is also known as one of very few strikers to surpass the mark of 1,000 goals.
From very humble origins, Romário was spotted in childhood when playing for Olaria, a small club from the Rio de Janeiro suburb. He was taken to the junior team of Vasco da Gama where he won two state leagues (1987/88) and earned his first call-ups to the national team. Romário came to international attention when he became the top scorer at the 1988 Olympic football tournament.
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Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre), commonly known as Ronaldinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu]) or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who is currently a free agent and plays for the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year. He won the award in both 2004 and 2005.
"Ronaldinho," the diminutive and term of endearment for "Ronaldo," is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaúcho," in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer and countryman Ronaldo, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaúcho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.
Prior to his move to Flamengo, he played for Paris Saint-Germain F.C., FC Barcelona and A.C. Milan. With the Spanish club, he won his first Champions League in 2006 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005. He became a Spanish citizen in January 2007.
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Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (Portuguese pronunciation: [χoˈnawdu luˈiz naˈzaɾiu dʒi ˈlimɐ]; born 18 September 1976), commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. He is considered by experts and fans as one of the greatest football players of all time. In 2012, he was voted Goal.com's "Player of the Decades" in an online poll gathering 29.55% of all votes. He won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997 (aged only 21) and again won the award in 2002 (26 years old). Additionally, he is one of only three men to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times, along with French footballer Zinedine Zidane and Argentine striker Lionel Messi.
Considered by many as the most complete striker in the past 30 years, in 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by fellow countryman Pelé. In 2010, he was voted Goal.com's "Player of the Decade" in an online poll, gathering 43.63 percent of all votes and was also included as centre forward in the "Team of the Decade". On 23 February 2010, Ronaldo announced that he would retire after the 2011 season, signing a two-year contract extension with the Corinthians at the same time. Ronaldo has played for Brazil in 98 international matches, scoring 62 goals. He was a part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal, surpassing Gerd Müller's previous record of 14. He is also the only player to have won the World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Boot in separate tournaments. Having suffered a string of serious injuries throughout his career, Ronaldo retired on 14 February 2011, citing pain and hypothyroidism as the reasons for his premature retirement.
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Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971) is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic. Keane was a dominating central-midfielder, noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play, an attitude which helped him excel as captain of Manchester United from 1997 until his departure in 2005, having joined the club in 1993. Keane helped United achieve a sustained period of success in more than 12 years at the club. He then signed for Celtic but retired as a player less than a year later.
He played at international level for much of his career, representing the Republic of Ireland over a period of 14 years, most of which he spent as captain. He played in every Republic of Ireland game at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, although he was sent home from the 2002 World Cup after an incident with national coach Mick McCarthy.
He was appointed manager of Sunderland shortly after his retirement as a player, and took the club from 23rd position in the Football League Championship in late August to win the division title and gain promotion to the Premier League. Keane's arrival was cited as the catalyst for Sunderland's recovery. He managed to keep Sunderland from relegation in the 2007–08 season, but in his second season as a top-flight manager he left his position with Sunderland in the relegation zone. In April 2009, he was appointed as manager of Ipswich Town, but was sacked by the club in January 2011 with them 19th in the Championship.
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Roy Makaay
Rudolphus "Roy" Antonius Makaay (born 9 March 1975 in Wijchen, Gelderland) is a retired Dutch footballer. While playing for Bayern Munich he picked up the nickname Das Phantom (the Phantom), for his ability to score out of nowhere. A centre-forward, Makaay is known for his goal scoring ability which is a result of his "aerial prowess and quick drives to the net where he can put the ball away with either foot."
Makaay was the European Golden Boot winner for the 2002–03 season for being the top scorer in Europe. He was first recognized as a talented striker while playing for Vitesse in the mid 1990s and honed his skills at the Spanish First Division with Tenerife and later with Deportivo La Coruña where he scored 22 goals in 36 appearances in 1999–00, his most prolific season. His international caps for the Dutch national team have been limited due to players such as Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Makaay did, however, play for his country at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004. In the latter tournament, he scored against Latvia in the first round. He played 31 times for the Dutch U-21 national team which equals a record with Arnold Bruggink.
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Rui Costa
Rui Manuel César Costa, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁuj ˈkɔʃtɐ]; born 29 March 1972) is a former Portuguese football player and current Director of Football for Sport Lisboa e Benfica. An attacking midfielder also capable of playing as a deep-seated defensive midfielder. Renowned for his fine technique and his excellent passing, he's now considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100, as one of the 125 greatest living football players.
At the age of five, Costa joined the infant indoor football team of Damaia Ginásio Clube. Rui tried his luck at Benfica. Within ten minutes of training, Portugal legend Eusébio, who was supervising the youngsters, was impressed at Rui's skills. Up until 1990, Rui played for Benfica's youth squads. That season he was loaned to Fafe on a season long deal.
In 1991, after the Under-21 World Cup, which Portugal won after a victorious penalty kick scored by Costa, he returned to Benfica. There, he won the Cup of Portugal in 1993 and the Portuguese First Division title in 1993–94. This would be Benfica's last league title for 11 years.
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Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit (help·info) (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈryt ˈɣʏɫɪt], born as Ruud Dil [ˈryt ˈdɪɫ], September 1, 1962 in Amsterdam) OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1987 and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989. He was a versatile player, playing in numerous positions during his career. Gullit was working to promote the Belgian-Dutch 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bid.
Gullit was born Ruud Dil in Amsterdam to George Gullit, a Suriname migrant, and Ria Dil, his buitenvrouw, from the Amsterdam Jordaan inner city district. The family lived in one split level room on the top floor of a small apartment building. Gullit's father worked as an economics teacher at a local school, his mother as a custodian at the Rijksmuseum.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy
Rutgerus Johannes Martinus "Ruud" van Nistelrooij (Dutch pronunciation: [ryt vɑn ˈnɪstəlroːi̯] ( listen); born 1 July 1976) is a retired Dutch footballer. He is the second-highest goalscorer in Champions League history with 60 goals. He is a three-time Champions League top scorer, as well as a top scorer in three different European domestic leagues. He was a pure goal scorer known for his shooting ability, calmness in front of goal and positioning.
Van Nistelrooy began his career with Den Bosch, before moving onto Heerenveen, eventually making a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven where he won two Dutch leagues. His goalscoring record at PSV attracted attention from Manchester United; a deal was in place in the summer of 2000, but because of injury problems his move was secured a year later for a then British record fee of £19 million. His time at United was successful, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield, along with winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year twice. Van Nistelrooy hit 150 goals in just 219 games for United, as well as being their all time European record goalscorer, but fell out of favour towards the end of his tenure. Real Madrid then secured his services in 2006. Although an injury blighted the end of his days with Madrid, he did win La Liga twice and the Supercopa de España before signing for Hamburg during the January transfer window in 2010. After a season-and-a-half with Hamburg, he moved back to Spain with Málaga in the summer of 2011. His retirement from football was announced on 14 May 2012.
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Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE (born Ryan Joseph Wilson on 29 November 1973) is a Welsh footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season. He established himself as a left winger during the 1990s, and continuing in this position well into the 2000s, though he has been increasingly used in a deeper playmaking role in his latter years. Giggs is known for his tireless running, ball possession and ability to create goalscoring opportunities for those around him.
Giggs is the most decorated player in English football history. He also holds the club record for competitive appearances. During his time at United, he has won 12 Premier League winner's medals, four FA Cup winner's medals, three League Cup winner's medals and two Champions League winner's medals. He has two runner-up medals from the Champions League, three FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals, as well as being part of the team five times when it finished second in the Premier League. In recent years, Giggs has captained the team on numerous occasions, particularly in the 2007–08 season when regular captain Gary Neville was ruled out with various injuries.
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Ryan Maduro
Ryan Maduro (born April 16, 1986 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American soccer player who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Maduro attended Mt. Hope H.S. and was regarded as one of the top players in Rhode Island before enrolling at Providence College in 2004. In 2006 Maduro became only the second Friar to be named a first-team All-American and the first to be named first-team All-Big East. During his four years with the Friars, Maduro appeared in 78 matches and scored 14 goals while assisting on 22 others.
Maduro signed with the Rhode Island Stingrays in May 2009. While with Rhode Island Maduro appeared in 9 matches and recorded 3 assists. In November 2009 he went on trial with C.D. Santa Clara of Portugal's Liga de Honra but did not sign with the club. For the 2010 season Maduro joined Ontario club Forest City London.
During the 2011 season Maduro trained with New York Red Bulls and played for the clubs reserve side in the 2011 MLS Reserve Division. After a pre-season trial with the club Maduro signed with New York on March 19, 2012. Maduro made his professional debut for New York on May 29, 2012 in a 3-0 victory over the Charleston Battery in the third round of the US Open Cup.
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Ryan Meara
Ryan Meara (born November 15, 1990 in Yonkers, New York) is an American-born Irish soccer player currently playing for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. A talented goalkeeper who has a physical resemblance to NBA legend Larry Bird, Meara is known for his "command of the box and confidence to come off his line when necessary."
Meara attended Fordham Preparatory School before enrolling at Fordham University in 2008. He also trained with Reading FC of England with their youth academies in July 2007 and February 2008. While at Fordham he made 74 appearances and had 31 clean sheets. His 31 shutouts are a school record. In total Meara owns nine Fordham University goal keeper records including career games in goal, minutes played, goal against average in a career (0.87) and a single season (0.65 in 2011) and save percentage in a single season (.862 in 2011). In 2010 Meara was named team captain for the Rams. Meara was named All-Atlantic Ten three times before earning conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011.
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Rüştü Reçber
Rüştü Reçber (pronounced [ˈɾyʃty ˈɾetʃbeɾ]; born 10 May 1973, Korkuteli) is a Turkish international footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Beşiktaş J.K. in the Turkish Süper Lig, having previously played for Antalyaspor, Fenerbahçe and Barcelona.
He has played a key role in the success of the Turkish national squad, and it was at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where Turkey finished third, that his performances saw him selected for the tournament's all-star team. He is Turkey's record appearance holder, having earned 119 caps. He made his debut against Iceland in 1994 and his final appearance came against Armenia in 2009.
Rüştü was named the best goalkeeper in European competitions in 2002, selected for the 2002 UEFA Team Of The Year by public vote. In 2004, he was selected to FIFA 100 by Pelé as one of the 125 best living footballers in the world. Rüştü retired from international level after UEFA Euro 2008 with 120 international caps to his name but was called to play against Spain on 28 March 2009 and 1 April.
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Sami Hyypiä
Sami Hyypiä (born 7 October 1973) is a retired Finnish footballer and current manager of German club Bayer Leverkusen. He last played for German Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen and was the captain of the Finland national football team. He joined Leverkusen in summer 2009, ending a ten year spell at Liverpool. On 2 May 2011, Hyypiä announced his intention to retire from professional football at the end of the 2010–11 season in order to take up a coaching role with Bayer Leverkusen.
Hyypiä began his career with Ykkönen side KuMu and soon moved to Veikkausliiga outfit MyPa. He spent four years at the club, helping them win the Finnish Cup in 1992 and 1995. He moved to Willem II Tilburg in 1995 and spent the next four years there. He became the team captain and was nominated their player of the year after helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Hyypiä moved to Liverpool, the team he supported as a child, in a deal worth £2.6 million. He quickly established himself in the first team, partnering Stéphane Henchoz in defence. By 2001, he regularly captained the team and that season Liverpool won a slew of honours, completing a cup treble of the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, in addition to winning the UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield. He became first choice captain in the 2001–02 season and was part of the Football League Cup winning team in 2003. Steven Gerrard superseded him as captain in 2003 but Hyypiä still occasionally captained the side in his absence. Hyypiä won his highest football honour in 2005 as a part of Liverpool's victorious 2004–05 Champions League campaign. He is fondly remembered by many fans as a Liverpool legend.
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Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri (born 26 June 1987) is a French international footballer who plays for English club Manchester City in the Premier League and the France national team. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield. Nasri is known for his technical ability, creativity, pace, and ability to read the game. Of Algerian heritage, he is described as a player whose "vision and imagination make him an unpredictable opponent". His playing style, ability, and cultural background have drawn comparisons to French legend Zinedine Zidane.
Nasri began his football career playing for local youth clubs in his hometown of Marseille. At the age of nine, he joined professional club Olympique de Marseille and spent the next seven years developing in the club's youth academy at La Commanderie, the club's training center. In the 2004–05 season, Nasri made his professional debut in September 2004 at the age of 17 against Sochaux. In the following season, he became a regular starter in the team and also participated in European competition for the first time after playing in the 2005–06 edition of the UEFA Cup. In the 2006–07 campaign, Nasri won the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Young Player of the Year award and was also named to the Team of the Year. He finished his career with Marseille amassing over 160 appearances. He played in the teams that reached back-to-back Coupe de France finals in 2006 and 2007.
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Savo Milošević
Savo Milošević (Serbian Cyrillic: Саво Милошевић, Serbian pronunciation: [sǎʋɔ milɔ̌ːʃɛʋitɕ]; born 2 September 1973) is a retired Serbian footballer who played as a striker.
After making a name for himself at Partizan, he signed for Aston Villa, and went on to spend the vast majority of the following decade playing in Spain, where he represented four clubs, amassing La Liga totals of 241 games and 91 goals, and netting nearly 300 official goals over a 16-year professional career.
At international level, Milošević played for the national team of FR Yugoslavia (later renamed Serbia and Montenegro), and later for Serbia, surpassing the century of caps for both teams combined, and appearing in two World Cups and one European Championship.
Born in Bijeljina, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milošević joined the youth ranks of FK Partizan at not yet 14, making his senior debuts in 1992, and scoring an astonishing 60 league goals in his last two seasons combined - a competition-best in both years - as the Belgrade side won back-to-back national championships, including the double in 1993–94.
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Scott Dann
Scott Dann (born 14 February 1987 in Liverpool) is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship club Blackburn Rovers as a centre back. He began his Football League career with Walsall, before moving on to Coventry City and then to Birmingham City in 2009. After Birmingham's relegation from the Premier League, Dann joined Blackburn in August 2011.
Dann joined Walsall in 2003 as a junior after impressing on trial at the Bescot Stadium, signing a professional contract with the Saddlers the following year. He moved up the ranks at Walsall to become a regular in the reserve team throughout 2004–05 and was allowed to join Danish side Køge BK on loan towards the end of the campaign.
Dann then joined Conference North side Redditch United on loan in October 2005 initially until the end of the season, but he was recalled in January 2006. He then Joined Redditch's league rivals Hednesford Town on loan following injuries to their regular centre backs Richard Teesdale and Ian Wright. He played in three games for the Pitmen against Hucknall Town, Stafford Rangers and Lancaster City before injury put an end to his loan spell at Keys Park. He returned to Walsall and was put on a short-term contract for the 2006–07 season, where he has earned his place in the starting line-up with a number of excellent performances at the back. His season was ended in March 2007 after picking up a metatarsal injury in the game against Milton Keynes Dons.
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Scott Parker
Scott Matthew Parker (born 13 October 1980) is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He is the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2010–11 season. He has represented England at every level from under-16 to senior. Uniquely, he won his first four England caps while playing for four different clubs. He is known as a tough tackling central midfielder.
Parker was born in Lambeth, London, and attended Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College in New Cross Gate. As a 13 year old, he appeared in a well-known British advert for McDonald's, in which he played keepie uppie, during the 1994 FIFA World Cup campaign. Parker is a graduate of The Football Association's now-defunct national School of Excellence at Lilleshall.
After graduating from Lilleshall, Parker signed for Charlton Athletic as a trainee and made his first team debut as a substitute against Bury in the First Division on 23 August 1997, a game which ended 0–0. He signed his first professional contract with the club two months later. Over the next couple of years he made only a few sporadic substitute appearances for Charlton, although he was one of the brightest prospects in English football. In October 2000 Charlton, then in the Premier League, loaned Parker to First Division side Norwich City for two months to give the England under-21 international some first team experience. At Norwich he scored once against Sheffield Wednesday. On his return to The Valley, Parker was immediately called into the first team to replace injured captain Mark Kinsella. Parker played so well for Charlton that, upon his return from injury, Kinsella could not regain his place in the starting line-up. Parker soon became the linchpin of Charlton's midfield, combining tenacious tackling with an ability to carry the ball quickly from defence to attack and play telling passes, creating many chances for his teammates. He played 145 times for Charlton, scoring 10 goals.
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Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter (born 10 March 1936), commonly known as Sepp ("Giuseppe") Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007 and 2011.
Despite winning four terms as President, Blatter has often been dogged by controversy and allegations of corruption. His tenure has seen controversy over allegations of financial mismanagement and the acceptance of bribes resulting in Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid. Blatter personally has attracted criticism from the media, senior football figures and players due to several controversial statements. These include suggesting that female football players should wear tighter shorts to appear more attractive to men, that Latin American countries would 'applaud' John Terry for having an extramarital affair, that homosexuals should 'refrain from any sexual activity' while attending the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and that on-field racism could be corrected with a 'handshake'. Blatter also received criticism for not postponing his 2011 election in which his term as FIFA President was extended through 2015, despite the fact that all other candidates for the role had been suspended or withdrew. Prior to his election as FIFA President, Blatter was a senior FIFA official for 23 years. In his earlier professional life, Blatter held a variety of senior management positions in several Swiss organizations.
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Sepp Maier
Josef Dieter "Sepp" Maier (born 28 February 1944) is a German former professional football goalkeeper. His nickname was "Die Katze von Anzing" ("the cat from Anzing") for his fast reflexes.
Born in Metten, Bavaria, Maier has spent his entire professional career at Bayern Munich. He began playing for Bayern's youth sides in 1958. During the 1970s, he was part of the legendary Bayern team which included the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller and won three European Cups in a row, a German record. Between 1966 and 1979 he played in 442 consecutive Bundesliga matches, still a German national record.
Maier was selected in the West Germany squad for four consecutive World Cups. In 1966 in England, he was a non-playing deputy to Hans Tilkowski. At the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, he was the undisputed starter and played all games (including the legendary 3–4 semifinal loss to Italy after extra time) except the third-place match.
In the 1974 FIFA World Cup on home soil, at the top of his footballing abilities, he reached the peak of his international career as the Germans went all the way to the final with a legendary team that included the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Berti Vogts, Gerd Müller and Paul Breitner. The greatest triumph came when the hosts defeated a Johan Cruyff-inspired Netherlands team 2–1 in the final in Maier's own hometown Munich.
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Shay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given (born 20 April 1976) is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper.
With 121 international caps over the last 15 years, Given has made more appearances for the Republic of Ireland than any other player in history. With more than 100 caps, he is thus a member of the FIFA Century Club. He gained his first international cap in 1996, and has rarely missed a full international game since. He played in goal during every match for his country during the 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign, helping them to reach the knockout stage. He was later on the pitch in Paris when the Republic was controversially knocked out of the playoffs for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup by France before helping his team qualify for UEFA Euro 2012.
Given started his playing career as a youth goalkeeper at Celtic in the early 1990s, leaving in 1994 having been deemed surplus to requirements, Given was part of the Sunderland team who won the Football League First Division title in 1995–96, while on loan from Blackburn Rovers. He was signed by Newcastle United in 1997, and it was there that he began competing to be a first-choice Premier League goalkeeper. Given was part of the teams who came runners-up in the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup campaigns, and was named in the Premier League Team of the Season for 2001–02 and 2005–06. He played in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup with Newcastle, and was involved in the club's title challenge in 2001–02. Although he submitted a transfer request during the 2000–01 campaign after losing his position in the starting lineup, it was denied, and Given went on to regain his place.
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Sidney Govou
Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou (French pronunciation: [sidnɛ ɡɔvu]) (born 27 July 1979) is a French international footballer of Beninese descent who currently plays for Evian Thonon Gaillard. Govou is a naturally attacking player but rarely plays as a striker, more commonly deployed as a winger. His main attribute is his pace. At the start of the 2009–10 season, Govou was given the captain's armband of Lyon after the departure of Juninho.
Staying at school to complete his studies to a comparatively late age for a footballer, Govou was a late-comer to the sporting world, joining Lyon's youth academy at the age of 17 in 1996. Loyal to his first club, until 2010, Govou had played at the Stade Gerland for his entire professional career. Govou broke onto the scene during the 2000–01 Ligue 1 season helping Lyon finish in second, just four points behind champions FC Nantes. Because of his great performances for the club, Govou won the 2001 Young Player of the Year Award in Ligue 1.
Govou has often been criticised for his lack of composure in front of goal, especially in high-pressure situations, which partly explains why he now occupies a deeper role, often in wide positions, rather than playing as the focal point of the team's attack. His offensive role, however, does not prevent him from often playing an important role in recovering possession for his team, due largely to his great athletic capabilities and high levels of fitness. He also has a good heading ability.
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Sol Campbell
Sulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell (born 18 September 1974) is a retired English footballer. A central defender, Campbell has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, as well as the English national team.
Born in east London to Jamaican parents, Campbell's professional debut was at the age of 18 for FA Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in December 1992. Campbell spent nine years at Tottenham, scoring 10 goals in 255 appearances, and captaining the team to victory in the 1999 Football League Cup Final against Premier League side Leicester City. In 2001 he controversially joined Tottenham's North London rivals Arsenal, the first high profile free transfer within the Premier League under the Bosman ruling. In his five years and 195 appearances at Arsenal he won two Premier League winners medals and two FA Cup winners medals, encompassing the 2001–02 League and FA Cup double, and being part of the team that became known as The Invincibles for their undefeated 2003–04 Premier League campaign. Campbell was also part of the side that lost 2–1 to Barcelona in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, in which he scored the only goal for Arsenal. In August 2006 he joined Premier League side Portsmouth on a free transfer; his three years with the club included captaining them to success in the 2008 FA Cup Final against Championship side Cardiff City.
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Sotiris Kaiafas
Sotiris Kaiafas (born December 17, 1949 in Mia Milia, Nicosia) is a retired Cypriot footballer, who played for Omonia and Cyprus. During his career at Omonia, he won the European Golden Boot. He is considered the best footballer that Cyprus has ever produced and also one of the two best Cypriot sportpeople in 20th century.
Kaiafas played for local club mia milia, called Proodos. In 1965, he joined Omonia and in 1967, he debuted for Omonia senior team joining the youth team at the age of 16 because he was clearly a class above the rest in his age group. Soon he established himself as one of the most prolific strikers Omonia had ever employed. But it was not until the early 1970s that he served notice of his talent. In the 1971–72 season, Kaiafas became for first time leading scorer in Cyprus with 12 goals, a tally that helped Omonia to their third domestic title. It was the start of a successful partnership.
Kaiafas, like other Cypriot stars such as Andreas Stylianou, Panicos Efthymiades and Leonidas Leonidou, became a cult hero to the fans. It was a period where there was a close connection between players and watchers, at a time when football was played on gravel, not grass, and its practitioners paid only a pittance by clubs.
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Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1 February 1915 – 23 February 2000) was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards. Matthews' nicknames included "The Wizard of the Dribble" and "The Magician".
A near-vegetarian teetotaller, he kept fit enough to play at the top level until he was 50 years old. He was also the oldest player ever to play in England's top football division and the oldest player ever to represent the country. He played his final competitive game in 1985, at the age of 70. Matthews was also an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 to honour his contribution to the English game.
He spent nineteen years with Stoke City, playing for the "Potters" from 1932 to 1947, and again from 1961 to 1965. He helped Stoke to the Second Division title in 1932–33 and 1962–63. In between his two spells at Stoke he spent fourteen years with Blackpool; where he became an FA Cup winner in 1953 (known as the Matthews Final), after he was on the losing side in the 1948 and 1951 finals. Between 1937 and 1957 he won 54 caps for England, playing in the FIFA World Cup in 1950 and 1954, and winning nine British Home Championship titles.
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Stephen Carr
Stephen Carr (born 29 August 1976 in Dublin) is an Irish footballer who plays for and captains Birmingham City. He previously played for the Premier League teams Tottenham Hotspur and, for a shorter spell, Newcastle United. He is a former international player with the Republic of Ireland. His position is right back, but had been known to deputise at left back or centre back when required.
As a fifteen year old, Carr went on trial from Stella Maris Football Club where he played his schoolboy football to Tottenham Hotspur and was signed up by then manager Ossie Ardiles. He made his debut for the club on 29 September 1993 away to Ipswich Town in the 1993–94 Premier League season. However he had to wait until the 1996–97 season to establish himself as a regular first-team player, when he made 28 appearances that campaign.
He picked up a League Cup medal with Spurs in 1999 after contributing to a 1–0 win over Leicester City in the final. The 1999-00 Premier League season was arguably his best ever as far as his performances are concerned, as well as scoring a fantastic 35-yard screamer[citation needed] against champions Manchester United.
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Stephen Keel
Stephen Keel (born April 11, 1983 in Littleton, Colorado) is an American soccer player who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Keel played college soccer at Wake Forest University from 2001 to 2004 where he appeared in 63 games scoring 13 goals and adding 9 assists. During his college career he also played with Bradenton Academics in the USL Premier Development League.
On July 11, 2005 Keel signed a developmental contract with the Colorado Rapids. During the 2006 season Keel spent time on loan with the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division, scoring 1 goal in 10 games for the team. While with Colorado Keel appeared in 36 games with the Rapids reserves, leading the reserve team to back-to-back MLS Reserve Division championships in 2006 and 2007 and was named MLS Magazine’s Reserve Player of the Year following the 2007 season.
He was waived by the Rapids on March 13, 2009, and subsequently signed for the Portland Timbers on March 16, 2009. In his first season with Portland Keel appeared in 29 league matches scoring 1 goal in helping the club capture the USL First Division Commissioner's Cup as regular season champions. In his second season with Portland Keel remained a fixture in the Timber defense and helped the club reach the playoffs. On May 29, 2010 Keel scored Portland's second goal in a 3-2 come from behind victory over Argentina’s Boca Juniors in a friendly played at PGE Park.
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Steve Finnan
Stephen John "Steve" Finnan (born 24 April 1976 in Limerick, Ireland) is a retired Irish international footballer who played as a right back. He is the only player to have played in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intertoto Cup, all four levels of the English league football and the Football Conference.
Finnan was born in the Janesboro area of Limerick City, and moved to Chelmsford, England at a young age. He began his career playing in Wimbledon's youth system, but he joined non-League club Welling United in 1993 after being released at the age of 16. Finnan turned professional when he signed with Birmingham City in 1995, who paid a fee of £100,000 to Welling United to acquire his services. He scored his first professional goal against Watford.
Finnan made a loan switch to Notts County in March 1996, making his debut in a 2–1 victory over Walsall and scoring his first goal a month later in a 4–2 victory over Bristol Rovers. He appeared in all of Notts game for the remainder of the season, helping the team finish fourth in the Second Division and qualify for the promotion play-offs. In the first leg of the semi-finals held at the Alexandria Stadium he scored against Crewe Alexandra, with the match ending 2–2. The return leg at home saw Notts win 1–0, winning 3–2 on aggregate. In the Final of the play-offs against Bradford City at Wembley Stadium, Notts County lost 2–0. He returned to Birmingham following the conclusion of the loan deal.
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Steve Mandanda
Steve Mandanda (French pronunciation: [stiv madɑ̃da]; born 28 March 1985 in Kinshasa) is a French international footballer who has played as a goalkeeper for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He also serves as first-choice captain of Marseille. Mandanda previously played for Le Havre and is also a French international. He has represented his nation at two international tournaments; UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Mandanda made his league début for Le Havre in August 2005, and did not concede a goal until his fourth match. He played 30 league matches in the 2005–06 season and 37 in 2006–07, with his performances attracting the attention of other clubs. Following an unsuccessful trial at Aston Villa prior to the 2007–08 season, he joined Marseille in summer 2007.
At the start of his first season with Marseille, Mandanda was regarded as an understudy to first choice keeper Cédric Carrasso. However a knee injury ruled Carrasso out for six months, leaving the way clear for Mandanda to become a regular fixture in Ligue 1, Champions League and UEFA Cup matches.
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Steve Marlet
Steve Marlet (born 10 January 1974 in Pithiviers) is a French footballer who is currently playing for amateur club CM Aubervilliers. The forward was capped 23 times and scored six goals for the French national team.
Marlet held the record for Fulham's biggest transfer fee until July 2008, as Fulham paid £11.5 million for the player back in 2001–02, to Olympique Lyonnais. He only managed 11 goals in 54 games, as then-manager Jean Tigana was dismissed during the season. He played just one game in the 2003–04 season for Fulham as well as scoring in that game before he was loaned out to Olympique de Marseille for 18 months, with his sizeable contract still being paid by the English team, before his contract was cancelled.
Marlet's terrible performances for Fulham led to chairman Mohammed Al Fayed taking Tigana to court for the overpayment of Marlet. It was suspected that Tigana, who had ties to Olympique Lyonnais, signed Marlet for an exorbitant fee, taking a cut of the fee himself. The charges were quickly dropped.
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Steve Nicol
Stephen "Steve" Nicol (born 11 December 1961 in Irvine, Scotland) is a Scottish former professional footballer. A utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, he was most recently coach of New England Revolution, and was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS to coach a single club.
As a player, Nicol was a significant member of the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, with whom he won five Football League First Division titles, three FA Cup winners medals, and the 1984 European Cup. After 14 years with Liverpool, Nicol also played with several other English teams, including Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers, before emigrating to the United States in 1999.
He was the only defender to score a hat trick in the English Premier League.
He was also a regular member of the Scotland national football team, and represented his country at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Nicol started his career with Ayr United in 1979 and spent just over two seasons with the Scottish side, racking up 70 league appearances, before Liverpool manager Bob Paisley decided to pay, what turned out to be, a bargain price of £300,000 to bring Nicol to Anfield on 26 October 1981.
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Steve Perryman
Stephen John "Steve" Perryman MBE (born 21 December 1951 in Ealing, London) is a former English international football player who is best remembered for his successes with Tottenham Hotspur during the 1970s and early 1980s. Perryman was voted Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1982 and made a club record 854 first team appearances for Tottenham Hotspur. He is now the director of football at Exeter City.
A midfielder and occasional defender, Perryman played in a club record 854 first team appearances, in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur between 1969 and 1986. During his seventeen year career with the north London club, Perryman collected many medals, winning the UEFA Cup in 1972 and 1984 (playing in both legs of the 1972 final and just the first leg of the 1984 final), the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982 and the League Cup in 1971 and 1973.
After leaving White Hart Lane Perryman moved to Oxford United in 1986, then Brentford as player-manager in the same year, before retiring in 1990.
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Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE ( /ˈdʒɛrɑrd/; born 30 May 1980) is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 91 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfield role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger.
Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his début in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in 2000, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as team captain in 2003. His honours include two FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and two Super Cups. In 2005, Gerrard came third in voting for the Ballon d'Or.
Gerrard made his international debut in 2000 and has represented England at the Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, as well as the 2006 World Cup where he was the team's top goalscorer with two goals. Gerrard first captained his country at the 2010 World Cup in the absence of regular captain Rio Ferdinand, who missed the tournament through injury. He was named again as England captain for the Euro 2012.
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Stéphane Paille
Stéphane Paille (born 27 June 1965 in Scionzier, Rhône-Alpes) is a French former professional footballer who played for the French national team as well as for various clubs sides in France, Portugal, Switzerland and Scotland. Since his playing retirement he has developed a career in football management.
Paille started out with Sochaux, with whom he played for 7 seasons between 1982 and 1989. He helped the Montbéliard side reach the 1987-88 Coupe de France final, and was voted French Player of the Year at that seasons end. He also earned his eight caps for France between 1986 and 1989, scoring a single goal for les Bleus.
The rest of Paille's playing career was somewhat nomadic: after leaving Sochaux for Montpellier HSC in 1989, whom he joined with close friend Eric Cantona, he spent no more than 2 seasons at the same club during the next 9 years. He joined Girondins de Bordeaux in December 1989, then FC Porto in the summer of 1990. Following a two year spell at SM Caen between 1991 and 1993, he returned to Bordeaux for a single season. In 1994 he joined Olympique Lyonnais, then moved to Swiss side Servette Geneva in 1995. After one season he returned to France with FC Mulhouse. In September 1995 Paille retired after failing a drugs test due to cannabis use. He told L'Equipe this was due to serious personal problems. He joined Scottish side Heart of Midlothian in 1996. He was released by the Edinburgh club in May 1997 after failing a drugs test due to his use of Dinintel.
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Syd Owen
Sydney William Owen (28 February 1922 – January 1999) was an English footballer and football coach.
Owen was born in Birmingham. He made 388 first-team appearances for Luton Town. In 1959 he was the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year and led Luton Town to the FA Cup Final. He became a highly valued member of Don Revie's coaching staff at Leeds United and later served Manchester United in a similar role.
He earned three caps for the England national football team, and was a member of the 1954 FIFA World Cup team.
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Sylvain Wiltord
Sylvain Claude Wiltord (born 10 May 1974 in Neuilly-sur-Marne) is a French footballer who currently plays for FC Nantes. With the French national team, Wiltord has won Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He can play as a striker or on the wing.
Wiltord's career began at Stade Rennais FC, where he emerged in 1993–94 with eight goals in 26 games. He joined RC Deportivo La Coruña briefly in 1996, where he continued to plunder goals on loan for one season before moving to FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
He was ever-present in his first term at Bordeaux and scored 22 goals the next season, 1998–99, as Bordeaux won the French Ligue 1 championship.
Wiltord was signed by English club Arsenal for, what was then, a club record fee of £13 million in August 2000, weeks after scoring the stoppage-time equalizer in the Euro 2000 Final. He played 175 times occasionally pairing Thierry Henry up front or otherwise starting either from the bench or on the wing. The record fee was not surpassed for the next eight-and-a-half years until Arsenal paid £15 million for Russian striker Andrei Arshavin in January 2009.
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Sylvinho
Sylvio Mendes Campos Junior (born 12 April 1974 in São Paulo, Brazil), commonly known as Sylvinho (sometimes alternatively spelled Silvinho) is a retired Brazilian footballer, who played for Corinthians, Arsenal, Celta Vigo, FC Barcelona and Manchester City. He usually played on the left as an attacking left back and is known for his overlapping runs.
He started his career at Corinthians from 1994 until 1999. In 1999 he became the first ever Brazilian player to sign for English club Arsenal, who he signed for ahead of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur who made numerous offers for the Brazilian. Before long he was first choice at left back displacing long-time fan-favourite Nigel Winterburn. He had a setback early on in his first season when he missed a penalty in a shootout as Arsenal crashed out of the League Cup to Middlesbrough, and that season finished in similar heartbreak as Arsenal lost 4–1 on penalties against Turkish club Galatasaray in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, although this time he did not take a penalty. During his second season at the club he was displaced by Ashley Cole. His stay only lasted for two years but in his short spell there he gained many friends and admirers and scored several spectacular goals including ones against Sheffield Wednesday,Charlton Athletic and Chelsea. He also scored twice in the Champions League for Arsenal against Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow.
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Sébastien Frey
Sébastien Frey (born 18 March 1980 in Thonon-les-Bains) is a French footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Genoa.
Frey began his career with French side AS Cannes in 1997, at the age of 17. On 20 September 1997, Frey made his professional league debut, playing as a starter in a 1-1 home draw against Rennes. At the end of the season in the 1997/98 season, Frey made 24 league appearance and took Grégory Wimbée starting goalkeeping spot in the first team.
Following two promising seasons, he moved to Italian side Internazionale after former Internazionale goalkeeper Walter Zenga spotted Frey and recommended his former club, Inter Milan to sign him. But also want to sign him was Juventus. Eventually, Frey opted to join Internazionale. At Internazionale in earlier season, Frey was the third goalkeeper behind Andrea Mazzantini and Gianluca Pagliuca until Mazzanantini was sold to Perugia, making Frey as second choice goalkeeper. On 21 March 1999, Frey finally made his debut for the club against Genoa. Frey also made appearance against Sampdoria when he was put on instead of Pagliuca a the 70 minutes on the score (and final) 4-0. At the end of the season will total seven league appearances with the Nerazzurri shirt.
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Sébastien Squillaci
Sébastien Squillaci (French pronunciation: [sebastjɛ̃ skilaˈsi]; Italian pronunciation: [skwilˈlatʃi]; born 11 August 1980) is a French international footballer who plays for Arsenal. He plays as a central defender and has been described as a player who "reads the game well" and is "strong in the air and on the ground". Squillaci is nicknamed in France as simply Toto in reference to his surname, which is similar to former Italian international Salvatore Schillaci, who was the first to acquire the nickname.
Squillaci began his football career playing for hometown club club FC Seynois in the commune of La Seyne-sur-Mer. In 1996, he joined Sporting Toulon and made his professional debut in the 1997–98 season, while the club was playing in Ligue 2. After a year with Toulon, Squillaci joined Monaco. He spent two seasons on the club's reserve team before joining AC Ajaccio on loan for two years. Squillaci returned to Monaco in 2002 and contributed to the team that won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2003. He also featured in European competition for the first time in his career and, in the 2003–04 season, played on the Monaco team that reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final. In that same season domestically, Squillaci was named to the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 1 Team of the Year. In 2006, Squillaci signed a long-term contract with league rivals Olympique Lyonnais and won two consecutive league titles, as well as the Coupe de France in 2008 before departing for Spain in 2008 to join Sevilla. With Sevilla, he appeared in over 65 matches and won the Copa del Rey in his final season with the club. In 2010, Squillaci signed a three-year contract with English club Arsenal.
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Sócrates
Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, MD (19 February 1954 – 4 December 2011), simply Sócrates, was a Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He was also a qualified doctor.
He played for Botafogo-SP before joining Corinthians in 1978. He then moved to Italy to play for Fiorentina, returning to Brazil in 1985 to end his career.
Sócrates was a technical playmaker, known for great through passes and his vision on the field, as well as his physical strength. He was also a two-footed player and a prolific goal scorer. His ability to read the game was highly valued, and his signature move was the blind heel pass. He was considered to be one of the greatest midfielders ever to play the game. Easily recognizable for his beard and headband, he became the "symbol of cool for a whole generation of football supporters".
Sócrates played for Brazil during seven years, scoring more than 20 goals and representing the nation in two World Cups, captaining the team in the 1982 edition; he also appeared in the 1979 and 1983 Copa América tournaments, and was named South American Footballer of the Year in 1983, being selected to Pelé's FIFA 100 list in 2004.
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Tanju Çolak
Tanju Çolak (born 10 November 1963 in Samsun) is a retired Turkish footballer, who played as a striker.
He made his debut for Samsun Yolspor. From there he was transferred to Samsunspor in 1981 where he was the top scorer in both the 1985–86 and 1986–87 seasons. Çolak then moved to Galatasaray in the end of 1986–87 season. He was the top scorer in Europe with 39 goals in the 1987–88 season. At the same time, he was awarded the European Golden Boot given by France Football. He is the only Turkish footballer to date to win this award. Çolak became the top scorer again in the 1991–92 season, and transferred to rivals Fenerbahçe at the end of the season.
He had a lifetime total of 240 goals and took over the title of top goal scorer in the Turkish Super League by breaking the legendary record of Metin Oktay. He had scored the most goal with 240 goals at only 9 seasons, which were 1982–83 and between the 1985–93 seasons. His record was broken by Hakan Şükür in 2007–08 season at 17 seasons. Çolak, dubbed "Bay Gol" (Mr. Goal), finished his career at İstanbulspor with a legacy as a good striker who had his career damaged by criminal scandals.
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Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham MBE (born 2 April 1966) is a retired English footballer, and the father of footballer Charlie Sheringham. Sheringham played as a striker, and had a successful career at the club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs, most notably the Treble with Manchester United in the 1998–99 season. The pinnacle of his career came when he scored the equaliser and provided the assist for Manchester United's winning goal in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich. Sheringham also represented England at international level. He was awarded an MBE in June 2007. He retired from competitive football at the end of the 2007–08 season with Colchester United, at the age of 42, after a career lasting 25 years.
Sheringham began his professional career at Millwall in 1982 at the age of 16, after impressing a scout when playing for non-league club Leytonstone & Ilford during a youth team game against Millwall. He was signed up, initially as an apprentice and scored on only his second appearance for the club in a match away at Bournemouth in January 1984. After being loaned out by the club twice in 1985 to Aldershot and later a Swedish side, Djurgården, he quickly became a first choice selection at Millwall and during the late 1980s formed a striking partnership with Tony Cascarino. He was the club's top goalscorer in four seasons (1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1990–91) and played in every game of the season twice, in 1986–87 and 1990–91.
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Teemu Tainio
Teemu Tainio (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈteːmu ˈtɑinio], born 27 November 1979 in Tornio) is a Finnish footballer, who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
He can play both as a defensive and attacking midfielder and out wide. Tainio also played at right-back under Juande Ramos at Tottenham.
Tainio was promoted to the first team of his home-town club TP-47 in Kakkonen, Finland's third division, at the age of fourteen. He was signed by Veikkausliiga club FC Haka for the 1996 season. Following a trial at Manchester United in March 1997, Tainio joined French club AJ Auxerre in 1997, and spent eight years at the club. He won the Coupe de France with Auxerre twice, and also gained UEFA Champions League experience. While with Auxerre, Tainio appeared in 204 official matches and scored 19 goals.
With Tainio's contract with Auxerre due to expire in 2005, he became available on a free transfer. In January 2005, it was announced that he would move to Tottenham Hotspur on a seven-year deal in the summer of 2005. He became a regular for Spurs in his first season, playing in various midfield positions.
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Terry McDermott
Terence "Terry" McDermott (born 8 December 1951 in Liverpool) is a former football midfielder and coach. He is the father of Newcastle United player Greg McDermott and Marsaxlokk player Neale McDermott
McDermott joined Bury as a youngster in 1969. He made a total of 90 appearances and eight goals before joining Newcastle United in 1973.
Manager Joe Harvey gave McDermott his Newcastle debut on 17 March 1973, at Old Trafford, with a match against Manchester United. He came off the bench but could not do anything to prevent Newcastle losing 2-1.
McDermott reached the FA Cup Final in 1974 against Liverpool. However, Newcastle lost the match 3-0.
Liverpool boss Bob Paisley, in his first season in charge after replacing Bill Shankly, brought McDermott to Merseyside in November 1974. He made his Liverpool debut, along with Phil Neal, on 16 November, in a Merseyside derby with fierce rivals Everton at Goodison Park. Neither side could break the deadlock with both sides sharing the points. McDermott's first goal came in a 1-1 league draw with Burnley at Turf Moor on 8 March 1975.
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Teófilo Cubillas
Teófilo Juan Cubillas Arizaga (born 8 March 1949) is a Peruvian former footballer. He was selected as Peru's greatest ever player in an IFFHS poll, in which he was also included in the world's Top 50. He is one of only two players to have scored five goals in two different FIFA World Cups.
Nicknamed El Nene (The Kid), he was part of the Peru national team that won the 1975 Copa América. He helped Peru reach the quarter finals at the 1970 FIFA World Cup and again at the 1978 World Cup and was elected the South American Footballer of the Year in 1972.
He is the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 26 goals in 81 matches.In 2004 Pelé selected Cubillas as one of the FIFA 100, a list of 125 footballing greats. In February 2008, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Brazilian World Cup victory, he was selected in the All-Star First Team of South America of the past 50 years.
Nicknamed "Nene" (the babe) for his boyish looks, Cubillas began his career with Alianza Lima at the age of 16 in 1966. Whilst at Alianza he was top scorer in the Peruvian Primera División in 1966 and 1970.
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Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry (French pronunciation: [tjɛʁi ɑ̃ʁi]; born 17 August 1977) is a French footballer who plays as a striker for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne (a suburb of Paris) where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and signed instantly, making his professional debut in 1994. Good form led to an international call-up in 1998, after which he signed for the Serie A defending champions Juventus. He had a disappointing season playing on the wing, before joining Arsenal for £11 million in 1999.
It was at Arsenal that Henry made his name as a world-class footballer. Despite initially struggling in the Premier League, he emerged as Arsenal's top goal-scorer for almost every season of his tenure there. Under long-time mentor and coach Arsène Wenger, Henry became a prolific striker and Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. The Frenchman won two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners; he was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year twice, was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice, and the FWA Footballer of the Year three times. Henry spent his final two seasons with Arsenal as club captain, leading them to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final.
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Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No. 1, he is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, having earned an estimated US$90.5 million from winnings and endorsements in 2010.
Woods turned professional in 1996, and by April 1997 he had already won his first major, the 1997 Masters. He first reached the number one position in the world rankings in June 1997. Through the 2000s, Woods was the dominant force in golf, spending 264 weeks from August 1999 to September 2004 and 281 weeks from June 2005 to October 2010 as world number one. From December 2009 to early April 2010, Woods took leave from professional golf to focus on his marriage after he admitted infidelity. His multiple infidelities were revealed by several different women, through many worldwide media sources. This was followed by a loss of form, and his ranking gradually fell to a low of #58 in November 2011. He snapped a career-long winless streak of 107 weeks when he captured the Chevron World Challenge in December 2011. As of April 8, 2012, he is ranked #8.
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Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew "Tim" Howard (born March 6, 1979) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team.
Howard started his career with the North Jersey Imperials before making a move to the MetroStars. His appearances soon attracted the attention of Manchester United, who signed him in 2003. He enjoyed relative success with them as they won the 2003 FA Community Shield, the 2003–04 FA Cup and the 2005–06 League Cup. However, after United signed Edwin van der Sar, Howard went out on loan to Everton to play more first-team football and eventually signed permanently with them in February 2007. On 4 January 2012, Howard scored a goal and his first as a professional footballer against Bolton Wanderers. This made him the fourth goalkeeper to score a goal in a Premier League match.
Howard first represented the United States national team in 2002 and was an unused substitute for the 2006 World Cup. He later established himself as first-choice and started all of the United States' games at the 2010 World Cup as they reached the Round of 16.
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Time 100
Time 100 is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, as assembled by Time. First published in 1999 as a result of a debate among several academics, the list has become an annual event.
The list was started with a debate at a symposium in Washington, D.C., on February 1, 1998, with panel participants CBS news anchor Dan Rather, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, former New York governor Mario Cuomo, then–political science professor Condoleezza Rice, neoconservative publisher Irving Kristol and Time managing editor Walter Isaacson.
The list was first published in 1999, when Time magazine named the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Based on the popularity of the installment, in 2004 Time magazine decided to make it an annual issue, listing the 100 people most influencing the world. Making the list is frequently mistaken as an honor; however, Time makes it very clear that people are recognized for changing the world, for better or for worse. Those recognized fall in one of five categories: Leaders & Revolutionaries, Builders & Titans, Artists & Entertainers, Scientists & Thinkers, and Heroes & Icons. Within each category, the 20 most influential people (sometimes pairs or small groups) are selected, for a grand total of 100 each year.
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Tom Finney
Sir Thomas Finney, OBE (born 5 April 1922, Preston, Lancashire) is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side. Finney is also the current President of Kendal Town. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1961 Queen's New Year Honours and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1992 Queen's New Year Honours and was knighted in the 1998 Queen's New Year Honours.
Finney was born at home in Preston on a street next to the Deepdale stadium to parents Alfred Finney (b.1894) and Margaret Mitchell (b.1896). He was frail and somewhat sickly in his youth and stood only 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) at the age of fourteen. When he was offered the opportunity to sign for Preston North End (PNE), his father insisted that he complete his apprenticeship in the family's plumbing business before signing as a professional. This led to one of his nicknames, the 'Preston Plumber'. Finney's mother Margaret died in 1927, at the age of 32, when Tom was only four years old. He was married to Elsie Noblett from 1945 until her death from Alzheimer's disease in 2004. They had two children; a son Brian (born 1947) and a daughter Barbara (born 1950).
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Toni Polster
Anton "Toni" Polster (born 10 March 1964 in Vienna) is a retired Austrian footballer. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Austria and the singer of the Austrian band Achtung Liebe.
Polster came through the Austria Wien youth system to make his professional league debut in August 1982, at 18 years of age. He scored his first Bundesliga goal three weeks later and went on to win three league titles and a domestic cup before moving abroad to play a season for Serie A mid-table side Torino. He then spent the five following years at Spanish teams Sevilla, Logroñés and Rayo Vallecano, ending up with these teams in mid-table as well. In 1990, he finished runner-up in the Spanish goalscoring chart. In 1993, he moved to Germany to spend 5 years at Köln, again ending up in mid-table every season except for the last one in which he experienced relegation. That made him join Borussia Mönchengladbach next year but they got also relegated at the end of the season and Polster returned to Austria to play a final season at Austria Salzburg.
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Tony Book
Anthony Keith Book is a retired English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division Manchester City, where he became captain. Under Book's captaincy, Manchester City won four trophies, making him the most decorated Manchester City captain of all-time. Book had a five year tenure as Manchester City manager from 1974–1979, and subsequently held various coaching roles at the club until 1996.
Tony Book was born in Bath, but at the age of four moved to India when his father, an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry, received an overseas posting. During World War II, Book's father served in Burma, and Book lived with his mother and brothers in army quarters in a number of places in British India, including Mumbai and Multan. In September 1945, the Book family returned to England. Tony started secondary school in Bath, and gained his first experience in competitive football when he was selected to play for both Bath boys and Somerset boys.
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Tony Parker
William Anthony "Tony" Parker Jr. (born 17 May 1982) is a French professional basketball player with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The son of a professional basketball player, Parker played for two years in the French basketball league before entering the 2001 NBA Draft. He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the draft and quickly became their starting point guard, helping the Spurs win three NBA Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Employing his pace and high field goal percentage to great effect, Parker has been named to four NBA All-Star games, an All-NBA Second Team, and an All-NBA Third Team. He was the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.
Parker is also a music artist with his own music album TP. He married actress Eva Longoria, best known for her role in the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, on 7 July 2007. In November 2010, both parties filed for divorce.
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Tyler Ruthven
Tyler Ruthven (born July 18, 1988 in Alpharetta, Georgia) is an American soccer player who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Ruthven attended Roswell High School and Milton High School and played club soccer for the Concorde Fire Elite, before beginning his college soccer career at the University of San Francisco. He transferred to the University of South Carolina as a sophomore in 2007, where he received numerous awards and accolades, being named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and to the All-Conference USA Third Team and the NSCAA All-South Third Team in 2007, and collecting First-Team All-Conference USA honors and being named to the NSCAA All-South Third Team as a senior.
During his college years Ruthven also played in the USL Premier Development League with Colorado Rapids U23's and Chicago Fire Premier.
Ruthven turned professional in 2010 when he signed with the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL Second Division. He made his professional debut on July 3, 2010 in a game against the Charlotte Eagles, and scored his first professional goal on July 10 in a 3-2 victory over the Real Maryland Monarchs.
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Ulrich Ramé
Ulrich Ramé (born 19 September 1972) is a French footballer who plays for CS Sedan Ardennes as a goalkeeper.
In a professional career which spanned two decades, he played mainly for Bordeaux (14 seasons), appearing in more than 500 official games and winning six major titles.
A French international during four years, Ramé represented the nation at Euro 2000.
Born in Nantes, Ramé started playing professionally with SCO Angers, making his Ligue 1 debuts in the 1993–94 season, but being immediately relegated. Two years later, the Maine-et-Loire dropped down another division, but the player returned to the top flight the following season, joining FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
After 23 matches in his first season, helping his team finish fifth, and reach the domestic League Cup final the following year, Ramé became Bordeaux's undisputed first-choice, going on to appear in nearly 500 official matches, with the team winning two national championships - separated by ten years - and three more league cups.
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Uwe Seeler
Uwe Seeler (born 5 November 1936 in Hamburg) is a former German football official and retired football player. He played for Hamburger SV and also made 72 appearances for the West German national team.
Seeler followed in his father's footsteps as a player for Hamburger SV, making his first team debut in 1954 in a German Cup match, aged just under 18, scoring four goals (8–2 vs. Holstein Kiel). In later years, despite tempting offers from Italian and Spanish clubs he remained loyal to Hamburg, working on a second career as a merchant besides playing football, as in those days football stars in Germany did not earn the huge salaries seen now.
Seeler was a gifted striker who, among other things, was renowned for his overhead kick. He scored 137 times in 239 Bundesliga games, 43 times in 72 international games for the German national team, and 21 times in 29 European club tournament games. He was captain of both his club team and the national team for many years. He and his club won the German championship in 1960 and the DFB-Pokal (German FA Cup) in 1963. He was top scorer of the first Bundesliga season 1963–64 and German Footballer of the Year in 1960, 1964 and 1970.
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Victor Pálsson
Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson (born 30 April 1991) is an Icelandic professional footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. He previously played for Liverpool, Dagenham & Redbridge and Hibernian. Pálsson has also represented Iceland at youth international levels.
Pálsson was born in Reykjavik to an Icelandic mother and a Portuguese father. He played for Fjölnir but he decided to move to the neighbouring club Fylkir to get a chance to play on higher level. He then moved to Danish side AGF Aarhus in 2007.
Pálsson joined Premier League team Liverpool in 2009. He played for Liverpool reserves and served as team captain but failed to make the breakthrough into the first-team. He went on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2010, making his debut for the Daggers in the 1st round of the FA Cup in a 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient. He made three appearances for the club, including an FA Cup tie, before returning to Liverpool.
On 28 January 2011, Pálsson signed an 18-month contract with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian. Palsson was given squad number 91, since 1991 was his birth-year. He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat against Dundee United two days later. Pálsson scored his first goal for the club with a penalty in a 2–1 win against Kilmarnock on 12 February. Palsson played regularly under the management of Colin Calderwood, but featured less regularly after Calderwood was replaced by Pat Fenlon. On 10 January 2012, Hibernian announced that Pálsson had left the club with immediate effect after an agreement was reached to cancel his contract.
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Vikash Dhorasoo
Vikash Dhorasoo (born 10 October 1973) is a former French football (soccer) player of Indo-Mauritian origin. He was a former professional French football midfielder, poker player, and actor. He has played for the French national football team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he announced his retirement on 11 January 2008. Vikash has played for Le Havre AC, Olympique Lyonnais, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Livorno and was the chairman of the French football club L'Entente SSG.
Born in Harfleur near Le Havre in Normandy, Dhorasoo began his football career with Le Havre AC, where he made his debut in a 0–0 draw with AS Saint-Etienne in August 1993. He was regarded as a promising midfielder as well as one of the best dribblers in Lyon history. After five years at Le Havre, he went on to play for Olympique Lyonnais in 1998.
He had a brief spell at league rivals FC Girondins de Bordeaux from 2001 to 2002, before he returned to Lyon in 2002. He won two French Ligue 1 championships with Lyonnais in 2003 and 2004, and moved abroad to play for Italian club AC Milan in 2004. He was an unused substitute in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, when Liverpool beat AC Milan on penalties, but won a runners-up medal.
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Vincent Candela
Vincent Philippe Antoine Candela (French pronunciation: [vɛ̃sɑ̃ kɑ̃dəˈla]; born October 24, 1973, is a former French footballer. With the French national team, Candela won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, as well as Euro 2000.
Candela was a skilled right-footed left wingback, effective at joining the attack as well as being able in defence.
On the club level, Candela played for Toulouse (1992–95), Guingamp (1995–97), A.S. Roma (1997–2005), Bolton Wanderers (2005), Udinese (2005–2006) and Siena (2006–2007). He won one scudetto with Roma.
On January 28, 2007 he played his last Serie A match for Messina against Ascoli.
For France, Candela was capped 40 times, scoring five goals. His playing time was often limited by Bixente Lizarazu, but he did play in one match during the 1998 triumph. During the winning Euro 2000 Candela did play two matches, both as a starter. He also played at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Candela is married. He and his wife, Mara, welcomed their first child, Angelica, in April 2005.
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Vincent Guérin
Vincent Guérin (born 22 November 1965 in Boulogne-Billancourt) is a former footballer who played in a midfield role, currently the reserve coach at Paris Saint-Germain.
In a career stretching from 1984 to 2002, he played for Stade Brestois 29, Matra Racing, Montpellier Hérault, Paris Saint-Germain, Heart of Midlothian in Scotland and, finally, with Red Star 93.
With Paris Saint Germain he won one Ligue 1 in 1994, placed second in 1993, 1996 and 1997, won the Coupe de France twice, in 1993 and 1995, won one Coupe de la Ligue in 1995, and one Cup Winners' Cup in 1996. He was also a finalist in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1997, and won another Coupe de France in 1990 with Montpellier.
With France he won the UEFA Under 21 European Cup in 1988 (13 matches played), and earned 19 full international caps, scoring 2 goals, as well as participating at Euro 1996.
In 1997, the French Football Federation moved to suspend Guérin after he failed a drugs test administered after a PSG game on 5 October. Guérin appealed unsuccessfully to the FFF's doping appeals commission, who awarded him an 18-month ban, 12 months of which were suspended. Guérin subsequently appealed to the French federal Administrative Court at Versaille, contesting the FFF's decision on several counts. The court at Versaille upheld one of Guérin's contentions, that the drugs test was improperly administered, and thus decreed that the entire process should be deemed void. Resultantly, the FFF-imposed suspension was annulled.
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Wayne Bridge
Wayne Michael Bridge (born 5 August 1980) is an English footballer who plays as a left back for Manchester City. A graduate of the Southampton Academy where he made his debut in 1998, he has also played for Chelsea, West Ham, Manchester City and Fulham during his Premiership career. Bridge made 36 appearances for the England national team, including representing England in the World Cup.
Bridge was born in Southampton, but moved to Winchester at an early age. He attended Oliver's Battery Primary and Kings' School, Winchester. When playing for Olivers Battery he was spotted by Micky Adams, who recommended him to Southampton, who signed him as a trainee in July 1996. He made his reserve team debut, as a centre-forward against Portsmouth on 13 August 1997 and turned professional in January 1998.
He made his first-team debut on 16 August 1998 (the opening day of the 1998–99 season) coming on as a replacement for John Beresford, who had badly damaged his knee. Bridge made his first senior start in the next match on 22 August in a 5–0 defeat away to Charlton Athletic. As Southampton struggled to pick up points (with only two points after the first nine games), Bridge played (on the left wing) in most of Saints' league games until early December before losing his place to Hassan Kachloul. For the remainder of the 1998–99 Premier League season Bridge was only used occasionally, as Saints narrowly completed their "Great Escape" from relegation. He completed his first season as a first-team player with 15 starts and 8 substitute appearances.
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Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.
Rooney made his senior international debut in 2003 becoming the youngest player to represent England (a record later broken by Theo Walcott). He is England's youngest ever goalscorer. He played at UEFA Euro 2004 and scored four goals, briefly becoming the competition's youngest goalscorer. Rooney featured at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and is widely regarded as his country's best player. He has won the England Player of the Year award twice, in 2008 and 2009. As of September 2011, he has won 73 international caps and scored 28 goals. Along with David Beckham, Rooney is the most red carded player for England, having been sent off twice.
Aged nine, Rooney joined the youth team of Everton, for whom he made his professional debut in 2002. He spent two seasons at the Merseyside club, before moving to Manchester United for £25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window. The same year, Rooney acquired the nickname "Wazza". Since then, with Rooney in the team, United have won the Premier League four times, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and two League Cups. He also holds two runner-up medals from both the Premier League and the Champions League. In April of the 2011–12 season Rooney scored his 180th goal, making him United's fourth highest goal-scorer of all time.
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Wes Brown
Wesley Michael "Wes" Brown (born 13 October 1979) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Sunderland. Before joining Sunderland, Brown had spent his entire career at Old Trafford, having joined the Manchester United youth team in 1996. He made his senior debut in 1998 and became a regular first team player in the 1998–99 season, in which he was part of the club's Treble-winning team. After a year-long hiatus due to injury, Brown became a regular fixture in the first team from 2000 onwards. Over the next eight years he won numerous honours, including four more Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup, and another Champions League. Manager Alex Ferguson has stated that Brown is "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years." And Gary Pallister has referred to Brown as a player who "reads the game well and has got pace to burn." He joined Sunderland in July 2011.
Brown earned his first England cap in 1999 and was selected to play at the 2002 World Cup. He played in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers but England failed to progress to the final tournament. He scored his first international goal in 2008 against the Czech Republic. Brown announced his retirement from international football on 8 August 2010, just a day after being recalled to the England squad by Fabio Capello.
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Wikipedia Persondata
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William Gallas
William Eric Gallas (French pronunciation: [wiljam ɡalas]; born 17 August 1977) is a French footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to rivals Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006. While his career has been marked by both individual and team successes – including Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 – he has also encountered controversy as a consequence of his on-field behaviour and friction with other personnel. In 2007, he was named Arsenal's captain, but was removed from the role during the 2008–09 season after criticising teammates in a media interview. Gallas left Arsenal at the end of the 2009–10 season, when his contract expired.
Gallas was born in Asnières-sur-Seine. He is the cousin of fellow footballer Ludovic Quistin and of Mathieu Bastareaud, a French rugby union centre playing for Stade Français.
A graduate of the French Football academy at Clairefontaine, Gallas started his professional career at second division SM Caen, helping them to promotion as champions in 1996. He was subsequently transferred to Olympique Marseille in 1997. Gallas spent four seasons at Marseille, where he played alongside Robert Pirès among others. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League playing for Marseille, and he also played against Chelsea in that competition in 2000.
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Willy Sagnol
William Sagnol (born 18 March 1977 in Saint-Étienne) is a former French international footballer who played as a defender. He spent much of his professional career playing for Bayern Munich in Germany's Bundesliga. He was also part of the French squad at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.
Willy first made his way in the world of football at his father's former club in Haute-Loire, Montfaucon-en-Velay where he developed his defensive game at right-back, as well as performing exceptionally on the right-hand side of midfield.
From there he progressed, eventually joining the region's flagship club AS Saint-Étienne. An impressive two-year spell saw him earn a transfer to AS Monaco in 1997 and he experienced his first taste of success, winning Ligue 1 in 2000. His excellent form saw him pressing for a call up to represent Les Bleus, but he was initially overlooked by national coach Roger Lemerre.
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Willy van de Kerkhof
Wilhelmus "Willy" Antonius van de Kerkhof (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪl.ɦɛl.mʏs ˈwɪli ɑn.ˈtoː.niʏs vɐn də ˈkɛrk.ɦɔf]) (born 16 September 1951) is a former Dutch footballer.
van de Kerkhof and his twin brother René were squad members of the Dutch national team that made the World Cup final in 1974 and became key players in the team that made the 1978 final. He also played for the Netherlands at the Euro 1980. Overall, van de Kerkhof appeared 63 times for his country, scoring five goals.
He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.
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Wilman Conde
Wilman Conde Roa, Jr. (born August 29, 1982 in Cali) is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Conde made his professional debut with Deportes Quindío during the 2000 campaign. His play at Quindío led to interest from the top Colombian sides, and in 2001 he joined Deportivo Cali and became a fixture at the club for the next three years. In 2004 he went to Cortuluá, followed by a brief spell at Ecuadorean side Aucas. After training with Club Atlético Tigre in Argentina and playing briefly for Real Cartagena, Conde signed with Millonarios and became a fixture in central defense.
After appearing in 33 matches for Millonarios, he was sold to the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer for about $300,000 due to the money constraints of the Colombian club. Conde left Chicago after four seasons with them in MLS, where he had a lot of personal success with the team, despite not winning any trophies with the club. After a proposed move to Puebla fell through at the last minute, Conde moved to fellow Mexican side Atlas in December 2010. Conde made his debut for Atlas in the Mexican Primera División on January 8, 2011 scoring one goal in a 5-0 victory over Monarcas Morelia. Conde's season with Atlas was cut short as he had have surgery on his left instep, which sidelined him for the rest of the year. Prior to the start of the 2012 season Conde agreed to terminate his contract with the Mexican club.
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Wim Kieft
Willem "Wim" Cornelis Nicolaas Kieft (born 12 November 1962) is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a centre forward.
A prolific goal-scorer whose main asset resided in his heading ability, he played in his country for two of the most important clubs, Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven, with equal team and individual success. He also played abroad in Italy and France.
For the Dutch national team, Kieft scored in double digits in more than one decade of play, being a very valuable member of the squad that won Euro 1988. He also represented the nation at the 1990 World Cup.
Born in Amsterdam, Kieft started his professional career with local giants AFC Ajax, making his first team debuts on 4 May 1980, at not yet 18. Amongst his youth teammates were Frank Rijkaard, John van 't Schip, Marco van Basten and Gerald Vanenburg, as in his first two full seasons he scored at an astonishing rate, especially in 1981–82, when he netted 32 goals in as many games, being crucial as the side lifted the Eredivisie title, and receiving the European Golden Boot award.
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Yoann Gourcuff
Yoann Miguel Gourcuff (French pronunciation: [joan ɡuʁkyf]; born 11 July 1986) is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. He operates mainly as an attacking midfielder, but can also be utilized as a withdrawn striker and is described as a "playmaker of real quality" who "is an accomplished passer of the ball". Gourcuff has been described by former French international David Ginola as the best French player of his generation. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to French legend Zinedine Zidane.
Gourcuff is the son of Christian Gourcuff, the current manager of Ligue 1 club FC Lorient, where Yoann began his career. In 2001, he followed in his father's footsteps and joined Rennes. After progressing through the youth ranks and making the senior team, Gourcuff quickly became a fan favorite among supporters and his individual achievements soon led to interest from clubs abroad, which resulted in a move to Italian club AC Milan. Gourcuff achieved many club honours despite not being able to break into the starting eleven, which resulted in the player being sent on loan to Ligue 1 club Bordeaux in his home country of France. Following a successful season, in which Bordeaux captured the league and league cup double and Gourcuff attained several individuals honours, he signed with the club permanently. Gourcuff is a former winner of the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year award and, in December 2009, was named the French Player of the Year for the 2009 calendar year. In August 2010, he joined Olympique Lyonnais on a five-year contract.
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Younès Belhanda
Younès Belhanda (Arabic: يونس بلهندة; born 25 February 1990) is a Moroccan international footballer who plays for French club Montpellier in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger and is described as a player who possesses "vision, technique and intelligent decision-making". After beginning his career in a defensive role, he has developed into an attacker, which has led to his current coach René Girard comparing him to former France international Robert Pirès.
Belhanda is a former France youth international having represented the country at under-20 level. In 2010, he announced his attentions to represent Morocco at senior international level. Belhanda made his senior international debut in November 2010 against Northern Ireland and scored his first international goal in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations match against Niger.
Belhanda was born in Avignon, a commune in southeastern France, but was raised in nearby Aramon. He is of Moroccan descent through his parents and has five other siblings. Belhanda began his football career playing for hometown club Racing Club Aramon. He spent one year at the club before joining MJC Avignon, a local cultural center based in his birthplace. The center offered a variety of activities, which included football. While at the club, Belhanda was utilized as a libero and mentored by trainer Jean-Christophe Gleyze. The player has admitted that Gleyze played a huge part in determining his future stating "He is more than a coach. Since my father worked and I lived in the Gard, it was him who took me to training and my home for three years. Without him and MJC Avignon, I would never have been spotted by other clubs".
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Youri Djorkaeff
Youri Raffi Djorkaeff (born 9 March 1968) is a former French international footballer who played as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. With the French national team, Djorkaeff won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000. He is the son of former player Jean Djorkaeff.
Djorkaeff is mix of Kalmyk (Mongolian and Russian) and Polish (through his father) and Armenian origins (his mother, Mary Ohanian is a pure Armenian).
He started his career in 1984 with French club Grenoble, before moving to RC Strasbourg in 1989, AS Monaco in 1990, and then Paris Saint-Germain in 1995. In 1994, Djorkaeff led Division 1 in goals with 20.
In 1996, he signed with Italian giants Internazionale and in 1999, he transferred to Germany and Kaiserslautern. Djorkaeff turned many heads when signing with English club Bolton Wanderers in 2002, but added a lot of class to the team during his two seasons there, resulting in the creation of an international "dream-team" alongside the tricky Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha and former Real Madrid midfielder Iván Campo. He then transferred to Blackburn Rovers for the 2004–05 season, but left the club after playing in only three games. Djorkaeff then signed with the MetroStars of Major League Soccer in February 2005 for $180,000 plus incentives, turning down higher paid offers from other countries. He became the first French player to play in MLS and ended the season as the team's MVP with ten goals and seven assists in league play.
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Yvon Douis
Yvon Douis (born 16 May 1935 in Les Andelys) is a former French international footballer.
During his career he played for Lille OSC (1953–59), Le Havre AC (1959–61), AS Monaco (1961–67) and AS Cannes (1967–69). He earned 20 caps and scored 4 goals for the France national football team between 1957 and 1965, and played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup when France finished third.
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Zbigniew Boniek
Zbigniew "Zibì" Kazimierz Boniek (Polish pronunciation: [ˈzbiɡɲɛv ˈbɔɲɛk]; born 3 March 1956 in Bydgoszcz) is a former Polish footballer and coach. He first played at Zawisza Bydgoszcz and later at Widzew Łódź. Boniek was named by Pelé as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers and by FIFA as one of the 100 best-ever players. On 12 October 2009 he received a Golden Foot career award.
Boniek was transferred to Italian football giants Juventus in 1982. That same year he won a bronze medal (third place) as part of the Polish team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. With Juventus he won the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup in 1984 (scoring in the final of the former) and the European Cup in 1985.
Boniek represented Poland in 80 internationals and scored 24 goals. After finishing his professional career at A.S. Roma in 1988 he had a successful business career.
As a player, Boniek was known for his blistering pace and acceleration. He was one of the best dribblers of his time and also displayed superb technique.
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Zico
Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Portuguese pronunciation: [aʁˈtuʁ ɐ̃ˈtũnis koˈĩbɾɐ], born 3 March 1953 in Rio de Janeiro), better known as Zico ([ˈziku]), is a Brazilian coach and former footballer. He is the current head coach of the Iraq national football team. Often called the "White Pelé", he is commonly considered one of the most skilled finishers and one of the best passers ever and possibly the world's best player of the early 80's. He was also known as one of history's greatest free kick specialists, able to bend the ball with pace. The gifted midfielder was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. Also according to Pelé, generally considered the best footballer ever, "throughout the years, the one player that came closest to me was Zico".
Zico scored 52 goals in 72 international matches for Brazil, and represented them in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups. They did not win any of those tournaments, even though the 1982 squad is considered one of the greatest Brazilian national squads ever. Zico is often considered one of the best players in football history not to have been on a World Cup winning squad. He was chosen 1981 and 1983 Player of the Year.
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Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane (French pronunciation: [zinedin zidan]) (born 23 June 1972) is a retired French footballer. Zidane was the leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship. After a brief international retirement, he returned to the national team in 2005 and captained France to the 2006 World Cup Final where he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's most outstanding player.
In club level Zidane won the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, two Serie A league championships with Juventus and an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup each with both aforementioned sides. He is one of only four players to have been FIFA World Player of the Year three or more times (Brazilian forward Marta is a five time winner (female award), while Brazilian striker Ronaldo (male award) and German striker Birgit Prinz (female award) have won three each). He also won the Ballon d'Or in 1998. He retired from professional football after the 2006 World Cup.
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Zviad Endeladze
Zviad Endeladze Vitalovich (born 7 April 1966 in Adigeni) is a retired Georgian footballer. He has played for clubs such as Guria Lanchkhuti and Margveti, scoring 40 goals during the 1995–96 season, which made him the top scorer in European domestic competitions and would have won the European Golden Boot had it not been suspended in 1991. The award was reinstated a season after Endeladze's feat under new rules that would count goals scored in the Georgian Top League as one point while goals scored in Europe's top leagues are counted double. He retired from football in 2006.
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Éric Abidal
Éric Sylvain Abidal (French pronunciation: [eʁik abidal]; born 11 September 1979) is a retired French footballer who last played as a left or central defender for FC Barcelona and the France national team.
Abidal was trained at Lyon-Duchère, a team playing in the suburbs of Lyon. He started his professional career with Monaco on 16 September 2000, where he made 25 first-team appearances. He moved to Lille OSC where he was reunited with his former manager Claude Puel and earned 62 first-team appearances. At the end of 2004, he returned to his native region by joining Olympique Lyonnais, which had just won its second successive Ligue 1 championship. During his time in France he was considered "one of the best fullbacks in the Ligue 1", self confidence of this title was shown when Lyon played Manchester United: "As a defender, my aim is to infuriate the opponent," Abidal explained. "I want him to be so sick of the sight of me that he has to move somewhere else on the pitch to get away." In the Lyon defence, he played alongside other French internationals (Grégory Coupet, François Clerc, and Anthony Réveillère) and two Brazilian internationals (Cris and Caçapa).
wn.com/Éric_Abidal
Henry, Thierry Filmography
- National Television Awards (2012)
- Hubertusjagd, New York (2011)
- Rättskiparen (2010)
- Goal! III (2009)
- Thierry Henry: Legend (2008)
- 9 - Un chiffre, un homme (2008)
- Arsenal: The Young Guns - Season Review 2006/2007 (2007)
- Framed (2007)
- Arsenal - Arsène's Eleven (2007)
- Goal II: Living the Dream (2007)
- The Art of Football from A to Z (2006)
- Substitute (2006)
- Barclays English Premier League 2004/2005 (2005)
- Arsenal - Season Review 2004/2005 (2005)
- Arsenal FC: 501 Goals (2004)
- Arsenal: The Untouchables - Season Review 2003/2004 (2004)
- Arsenal 49: The Complete Unbeaten Record (2004)
- 2004 UEFA European Football Championship (2004)
- Arsenal: Season Review 2002/2003 (2003)
- The Story of Football (2002)
- Football's True Colours (2002)
- Arsenal: Arsène Wenger's Magic Hat (2002)
- Live for Love United (2002)
- 2002 FIFA World Cup (2002)
- Arsenal: End of Season Review 2000-2001 (2001)
- 2000 UEFA European Football Championship (2000)
- XVI FIFA World Cup 1998 (1998)
- Les yeux dans les Bleus (1998)
Famous quotes by Thierry Henry:
"We are now concentrating fully on Ireland and this will be a very important match. But on the other hand we should not try to score at any price because we are not obliged to win."
"Switzerland are not inferior to anyone. They played well against England. With a bit more luck, they could have scored early against England. It was very close and at 11 against 11 I though they played very well."
"On the last match day in Europe France snatched a place in our World Cup."
"It was a blue wonder,"
"I think the kit is great. It's back to the roots, back to what the first kit was like,"
"He is a top player and we will miss him - but we will also miss the man. Patrick isn't just anybody."
"I expect an amazing atmosphere for the Irish team, and I know it won't be easy at all. I also expect typical commitment and desire. I think Ireland can play really good football."
"We have one of the strongest squads in Europe and there is no reason why this club cannot finish the season as European champions."
"I'm not a machine"
"Sometimes in football you have to score goals."
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Thierry Henry playing futsal in Brazil
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:11
- Updated: 15 Jan 2013
www.thierryhenry14.netCopyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_playing_futsal_in_Brazil
www.thierryhenry14.netCopyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended
Thierry Henry - FC Barcelona Hustler
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:07
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
www.thierryhenry14.net Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_FC_Barcelona_Hustler
www.thierryhenry14.net Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended
- published: 11 Jan 2013
- views: 2954
- author: TITIDEN1214
HIGHLIGHTS: Thierry Henry & New York Red Bulls vs Ryan Johnson & Toronto FC, MLS
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:26
- Updated: 12 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry leads the New York Red Bulls against Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. Subscribe to our channel for more soccer content: www.youtube.com - Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com - Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com - Add us to your circle on Google Plus: plus.google.com About MLS: Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the US, Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer's 17th season features 19 clubs each playing 34 regular-season matches. Those clubs are the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; DC United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2011 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; Vancouver Whitecaps FC; and, in their inaugural season, Montreal Impact. For more information about MLS, log on to the league's official website at www.MLSsoccer.com Tags Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls, Kenny Cooper, Tim Cahill, Ryan Johnson, Toronto FC, assists, chip, Goal, Goals, gaol, gaols, Highlights, highlight, pro soccer, sports, MLS, Major League Soccer, Football, Futbol, Soccer
http://wn.com/HIGHLIGHTS_Thierry_Henry_New_York_Red_Bulls_vs_Ryan_Johnson_Toronto_FC,_MLS
Thierry Henry leads the New York Red Bulls against Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. Subscribe to our channel for more soccer content: www.youtube.com - Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com - Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com - Add us to your circle on Google Plus: plus.google.com About MLS: Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the US, Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer's 17th season features 19 clubs each playing 34 regular-season matches. Those clubs are the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; DC United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2011 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; Vancouver Whitecaps FC; and, in their inaugural season, Montreal Impact. For more information about MLS, log on to the league's official website at www.MLSsoccer.com Tags Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls, Kenny Cooper, Tim Cahill, Ryan Johnson, Toronto FC, assists, chip, Goal, Goals, gaol, gaols, Highlights, highlight, pro soccer, sports, MLS, Major League Soccer, Football, Futbol, Soccer
- published: 30 Sep 2012
- views: 165390
- author: mls
Thierry Henry Top 5 Goals - MLS Season 2012 HD
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:33
- Updated: 11 Jan 2013
www.thierryhenry14.netCopyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Top_5_Goals_MLS_Season_2012_HD
www.thierryhenry14.netCopyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended
- published: 10 Nov 2012
- views: 53872
- author: TITIDEN1214
Thierry Henry - All 106 Assists
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:06
- Updated: 13 Jan 2013
Follow me at - twitter.com Website - cwdcomps.blogspot.co.uk CopyrightDisclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended. Here's my tribute to, in my opinion, the best striker to ever play in the Premier League. A man who was such a prolific goalscorer that his ability to create goals was often overlooked. This video captures all 106 of Thierry Henry's brilliant assists for the club, in order, how they should be seen! Songs: - Lady Labyrinth by Ludovico Einaudi - First Breath after Coma by Explosions in the Sky
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_All_106_Assists
Follow me at - twitter.com Website - cwdcomps.blogspot.co.uk CopyrightDisclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended. Here's my tribute to, in my opinion, the best striker to ever play in the Premier League. A man who was such a prolific goalscorer that his ability to create goals was often overlooked. This video captures all 106 of Thierry Henry's brilliant assists for the club, in order, how they should be seen! Songs: - Lady Labyrinth by Ludovico Einaudi - First Breath after Coma by Explosions in the Sky
- published: 18 Sep 2012
- views: 12144
- author: cwdcomps
Thierry Henry: All Goals and Assists from 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:54
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
Watch all of Thierry Henry's goals and assists from the 2012 season in this all-in-one highlight reel. Soundtrack: Five Knives - Vive le Roi Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly LIKE us on Facebook: on.fb.me
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_All_Goals_and_Assists_from_2012
Watch all of Thierry Henry's goals and assists from the 2012 season in this all-in-one highlight reel. Soundtrack: Five Knives - Vive le Roi Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly LIKE us on Facebook: on.fb.me
- published: 21 Dec 2012
- views: 28869
- author: NewYorkRedBulls
Thierry Henry "A True Legend" (HD)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:48
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
I think we all can say that Thierry Henry was best when he played for Arsenal FC, he was one of the best players in the world at that moment in my opinion. I hope you enjoy it! Music: Skillet - Rebirthing Terence Jay - One Blood TAGS: thierry henry hd new fc barcelona legend arsenal fc striker soccer football futball 2009 2010 fredrik ljungberg robert pires dennis bergkamp camp nou number 14 #14 france
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_A_True_Legend_HD
I think we all can say that Thierry Henry was best when he played for Arsenal FC, he was one of the best players in the world at that moment in my opinion. I hope you enjoy it! Music: Skillet - Rebirthing Terence Jay - One Blood TAGS: thierry henry hd new fc barcelona legend arsenal fc striker soccer football futball 2009 2010 fredrik ljungberg robert pires dennis bergkamp camp nou number 14 #14 france
- published: 10 Nov 2009
- views: 260363
- author: KingRobinho
The Return of The King : Thierry Henry Vs Leeds
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:31
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
The greatest ever Premier League player rolls back the years on his return and scores a trademark "Thierry Henry goal" to send Arsenal through to the next round of the FA Cup.
http://wn.com/The_Return_of_The_King_Thierry_Henry_Vs_Leeds
The greatest ever Premier League player rolls back the years on his return and scores a trademark "Thierry Henry goal" to send Arsenal through to the next round of the FA Cup.
- published: 10 Jan 2012
- views: 306919
- author: UnknownGenius01
Thierry Henry Corner Kick Goal
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:00
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry takes a corner kick then goes into the goal without touching any one! This was amazing to see in person. This is not my videoi it is the MLS's. I just cut it to get the highlight seperate.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Corner_Kick_Goal
Thierry Henry takes a corner kick then goes into the goal without touching any one! This was amazing to see in person. This is not my videoi it is the MLS's. I just cut it to get the highlight seperate.
- published: 16 Sep 2012
- views: 224533
- author: whodiddat03
Thierry Henry - Arsenal Need Jack Wilshere - Wilshere Key To Success
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:53
- Updated: 11 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry believes Arsenal need Jack Wilshere back in their plans and is hoping the midfielder can return to fitness as soon as possible. Wilshere missed the entire 2011/12 season due to an ankle injury before undergoing knee surgery in May, and he is not expected to return to action until October. In addition to being unavailable for the Gunners, the 20-year-old was also forced out of England's Euro 2012 campaign and Team GB's bid to win gold at the Olympics. Arsenal legend Henry is aware of Wilshere's importance to the club and feels his presence is vital to the Gunners' prospects of enjoying success. "You want Jack Wilshere around," Henry, who now plays for New York Red Bulls, told Sky Sports News. "He reminds me of when I first arrived when the old guard was there. He's an Arsenal fan in the first place and you need this type of player around in the dressing room. "It's not only that he's an Arsenal fan, and not only an Englishman, but he's a good player, it's as simple as that. Wilshere key to success . "What a shame that he stopped a bit because he was on his way. I just wish him all the best that he can come back quick and wear the shirt he loves so much." Henry also echoed manager Arsene Wenger's view that the return of Wilshere, and fellow midfielder Abou Diaby, will be like having two new signings in the squad. The Frenchman added: "I saw what the boss said the other day and I will say what he said - hopefully they will sign this year Wilshere and Diaby. "I ...
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Arsenal_Need_Jack_Wilshere_Wilshere_Key_To_Success
Thierry Henry believes Arsenal need Jack Wilshere back in their plans and is hoping the midfielder can return to fitness as soon as possible. Wilshere missed the entire 2011/12 season due to an ankle injury before undergoing knee surgery in May, and he is not expected to return to action until October. In addition to being unavailable for the Gunners, the 20-year-old was also forced out of England's Euro 2012 campaign and Team GB's bid to win gold at the Olympics. Arsenal legend Henry is aware of Wilshere's importance to the club and feels his presence is vital to the Gunners' prospects of enjoying success. "You want Jack Wilshere around," Henry, who now plays for New York Red Bulls, told Sky Sports News. "He reminds me of when I first arrived when the old guard was there. He's an Arsenal fan in the first place and you need this type of player around in the dressing room. "It's not only that he's an Arsenal fan, and not only an Englishman, but he's a good player, it's as simple as that. Wilshere key to success . "What a shame that he stopped a bit because he was on his way. I just wish him all the best that he can come back quick and wear the shirt he loves so much." Henry also echoed manager Arsene Wenger's view that the return of Wilshere, and fellow midfielder Abou Diaby, will be like having two new signings in the squad. The Frenchman added: "I saw what the boss said the other day and I will say what he said - hopefully they will sign this year Wilshere and Diaby. "I ...
- published: 31 Jul 2012
- views: 48571
- author: Beanyman62News
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Thierry Henry Sky Sports News Interview Part 1/4
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:11
- Updated: 18 Aug 2012
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Sky_Sports_News_Interview_Part_1_4
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
- published: 28 Mar 2011
- views: 49527
- author: CescyFabGooner2
Thierry Henry - Legend (documentary)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 83:59
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
this is a documentary about thierry henry
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Legend_documentary
Thierry Henry Top 25 goals
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:58
- Updated: 15 Jan 2013
A simple compilation showing Thierry Henry's top 25 goals for Arsenal.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Top_25_goals
A simple compilation showing Thierry Henry's top 25 goals for Arsenal.
- published: 25 Jun 2010
- views: 3057714
- author: goonerMRC88
Thierry Henry Interview - Football Focus - 26/04/08 - BBC
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:16
- Updated: 01 Jan 2013
Ex Arsenal Player talks to Garth Crooks for Football Focus about returning to England to play for Barcelona in the Champions League = and Arsenal. . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . Broadcast: Public | Uploaded (processing, please wait) Arsenal 1997 1998 Double Season Goals Nicolas Anelka Dennis Bergkamp Patrik Vieira Arsene Wenger Emmanuelle Petit Wreh Chris Marc Overmars Ray Parlour Stephen Hughes Martin Keown Steve Bould Tony Adams Lee Dixon Nigel Winterburn David Seaman Alex Manninger Thierry Henry Cesc Fabregas Mathieu Flamini Robert Pires Almunia Bacary Sagna Clichy Rosicky Van Persie Adebayor Lauren Ashley Cole Sol Campbell Kolo Toure Phillipe Senderos Britney Spears Paris Hilton
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Interview_Football_Focus_26_04_08_BBC
Ex Arsenal Player talks to Garth Crooks for Football Focus about returning to England to play for Barcelona in the Champions League = and Arsenal. . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . Broadcast: Public | Uploaded (processing, please wait) Arsenal 1997 1998 Double Season Goals Nicolas Anelka Dennis Bergkamp Patrik Vieira Arsene Wenger Emmanuelle Petit Wreh Chris Marc Overmars Ray Parlour Stephen Hughes Martin Keown Steve Bould Tony Adams Lee Dixon Nigel Winterburn David Seaman Alex Manninger Thierry Henry Cesc Fabregas Mathieu Flamini Robert Pires Almunia Bacary Sagna Clichy Rosicky Van Persie Adebayor Lauren Ashley Cole Sol Campbell Kolo Toure Phillipe Senderos Britney Spears Paris Hilton
- published: 26 Apr 2008
- views: 258696
- author: MugOfSoul
INTERVIEW - Thierry Henry - Sunderland v Arsenal PL25 - February 11th, 2012 - Highlights
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:43
- Updated: 12 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry scores and gives an emotional interview for his last match with Arsenal
http://wn.com/INTERVIEW_Thierry_Henry_Sunderland_v_Arsenal_PL25_February_11th,_2012_Highlights
Thierry Henry scores and gives an emotional interview for his last match with Arsenal
- published: 11 Feb 2012
- views: 63636
- author: Hugo Valette
The Greatest Ever Arsenal Player - Thierry Henry
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 15:00
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
You can follow me on twitter for news and updates! :) twitter.com This is a tribute video to the greatest player to have played for Arsenal Football Club - Thierry Henry. Thierry had storming pace, fantastic skills, brilliant touch and a great passion for the club. Many people, including myself, believe that he is the greatest the Premier League has ever seen and I believe this video shows why. Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoyed. My old channel TheKieronStapleton got deleted for copyright! :(
http://wn.com/The_Greatest_Ever_Arsenal_Player_Thierry_Henry
You can follow me on twitter for news and updates! :) twitter.com This is a tribute video to the greatest player to have played for Arsenal Football Club - Thierry Henry. Thierry had storming pace, fantastic skills, brilliant touch and a great passion for the club. Many people, including myself, believe that he is the greatest the Premier League has ever seen and I believe this video shows why. Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoyed. My old channel TheKieronStapleton got deleted for copyright! :(
- published: 30 Aug 2012
- views: 28910
- author: TheKieronStapletonHD
Thierry Henry - Something never changes...
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:36
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
The Return of the King! Welcome back Home, Titi!:) -Read description With this tribute I would like to show what could Henry feel before he got subbed on. It was one of the biggest and most beautiful moments of Arsenal's history, and I hope this "fairy tale" will continue... :) Henry is not just a brilliant sportsman, but an amazing person, who truly loves this team and he give his heart to Arsenal Football Club. We can't respect him enough, he is just an unbelieveable person, who made a Golden Moment for all Arsenal (and Premier League) supporters. 2012/01/09, never forget that day! Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended. Tags: thierry henry coming home return of the king highbury leeds goal celebration slow motion hd after match interview cheering with fans shout past and present back to the future curved shot robert pires dennis bergkamp ljungberg martin keown tony adams Thierry Henry Emirates Stadium League Football Soccer Football Manchester Chelsea United Arsenal Liverpool Henry in tears cry statue Ronaldo Rooney golden ball team of the year
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Something_never_changes
The Return of the King! Welcome back Home, Titi!:) -Read description With this tribute I would like to show what could Henry feel before he got subbed on. It was one of the biggest and most beautiful moments of Arsenal's history, and I hope this "fairy tale" will continue... :) Henry is not just a brilliant sportsman, but an amazing person, who truly loves this team and he give his heart to Arsenal Football Club. We can't respect him enough, he is just an unbelieveable person, who made a Golden Moment for all Arsenal (and Premier League) supporters. 2012/01/09, never forget that day! Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended. Tags: thierry henry coming home return of the king highbury leeds goal celebration slow motion hd after match interview cheering with fans shout past and present back to the future curved shot robert pires dennis bergkamp ljungberg martin keown tony adams Thierry Henry Emirates Stadium League Football Soccer Football Manchester Chelsea United Arsenal Liverpool Henry in tears cry statue Ronaldo Rooney golden ball team of the year
- published: 10 Jan 2012
- views: 805161
- author: JW19Productions
Thierry Henry Interviews Didier Drogba In Africa
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:47
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
Hear what Didier Drogba has to say about growing up playing football and his experiences playing in Africa
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Interviews_Didier_Drogba_In_Africa
Hear what Didier Drogba has to say about growing up playing football and his experiences playing in Africa
- published: 07 Jun 2010
- views: 230158
- author: PepsiFootball
Thierry Henry: Legend
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:29
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
A tribute to the Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry. The backing track is "Fix You" by Coldplay.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Legend
A tribute to the Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry. The backing track is "Fix You" by Coldplay.
- published: 29 Jun 2009
- views: 905804
- author: Roflpocalypse
Thierry Henry " a story of a legend "
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 27:36
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
join my facebook page : www.facebook.com follow me on twitter : twitter.com
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_a_story_of_a_legend_
join my facebook page : www.facebook.com follow me on twitter : twitter.com
- published: 05 Mar 2012
- views: 275876
- author: gobs5999HD4
Thierry Henry
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:06
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry's skills and goals
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry
Thierry Henry vs a local fan - Red Bull Ultimate 2011
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:18
- Updated: 10 Jan 2013
New York Red Bulls All-Star and International legend Thierry Henry went 1-on-1 with Justin, a 24 year old fan from New Jersey at the Red Bull Arena for an unforgettable experience. NewYorkRedBulls.com
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_vs_a_local_fan_Red_Bull_Ultimate_2011
New York Red Bulls All-Star and International legend Thierry Henry went 1-on-1 with Justin, a 24 year old fan from New Jersey at the Red Bull Arena for an unforgettable experience. NewYorkRedBulls.com
- published: 14 Oct 2011
- views: 78461
- author: redbull
![Arsenal Vs Leeds 1-0 - Thierry Henry Interview After His Goal - January 9 2012 - FA Cup - [HQ]](http://web.archive.org./web/20130115083336im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aAm80QMtsR4/default.jpg "Arsenal Vs Leeds 1-0 - Thierry Henry Interview After His Goal - January 9 2012 - FA Cup - [HQ]")
Arsenal Vs Leeds 1-0 - Thierry Henry Interview After His Goal - January 9 2012 - FA Cup - [HQ]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:16
- Updated: 11 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry's interview after he scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.
http://wn.com/Arsenal_Vs_Leeds_1-0_Thierry_Henry_Interview_After_His_Goal_January_9_2012_FA_Cup_HQ_
Thierry Henry's interview after he scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.
- published: 09 Jan 2012
- views: 50347
- author: ShivDes357
Thierry Henry Scores Brilliant Goal & Assists On 3
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:48
- Updated: 13 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry had 3 assists and a flashy goal in the New York Red Bulls 4-1 victory over Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. Two of Henry's assists were to Kenny Cooper. The other to Markus Holgersson. SUBSCRIBE for more KICKTV Videos. It's FREE: bit.ly Visit the KICKTV Homepage: bit.ly Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly Like us on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow us on Tumblr: bit.ly ABOUT KICKTV: KICKTV is YouTube's global headquarters for the beautiful game. Football, soccer, futbol, calico -- whatever you call it, this is your place for video, analysis, commentary and comedy around the world's most popular sport. KICKTV brings you the latest on the best players in the world, like: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the world's top leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie & the Brazilian league. Plus, coverage of all the biggest football events: UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Euros, Copa Libertadores and more. www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Scores_Brilliant_Goal_Assists_On_3
Thierry Henry had 3 assists and a flashy goal in the New York Red Bulls 4-1 victory over Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. Two of Henry's assists were to Kenny Cooper. The other to Markus Holgersson. SUBSCRIBE for more KICKTV Videos. It's FREE: bit.ly Visit the KICKTV Homepage: bit.ly Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly Like us on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow us on Tumblr: bit.ly ABOUT KICKTV: KICKTV is YouTube's global headquarters for the beautiful game. Football, soccer, futbol, calico -- whatever you call it, this is your place for video, analysis, commentary and comedy around the world's most popular sport. KICKTV brings you the latest on the best players in the world, like: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the world's top leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie & the Brazilian league. Plus, coverage of all the biggest football events: UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Euros, Copa Libertadores and more. www.youtube.com
- published: 30 Sep 2012
- views: 398883
- author: kick
Thierry Henry ALL GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS 2012 - NEW YORK RED BULLS
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:57
- Updated: 11 Jan 2013
Thierry Henry finished the 2012 season with the New York Red Bulls with 15 goals and 12 assists in 25 games. Here's a look at this goals and highlights from his third season in Major League Soccer. SUBSCRIBE for more KICKTV Videos. It's FREE: bit.ly Visit the KICKTV Homepage: bit.ly Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly Like us on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow us on Tumblr: bit.ly ABOUT KICKTV: KICKTV is YouTube's global headquarters for the beautiful game. Football, soccer, futbol, calico -- whatever you call it, this is your place for video, analysis, commentary and comedy around the world's most popular sport. KICKTV brings you the latest on the best players in the world, like: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the world's top leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie & the Brazilian league. Plus, coverage of all the biggest football events: UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Euros, Copa Libertadores and more. www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_ALL_GOALS_HIGHLIGHTS_2012_NEW_YORK_RED_BULLS
Thierry Henry finished the 2012 season with the New York Red Bulls with 15 goals and 12 assists in 25 games. Here's a look at this goals and highlights from his third season in Major League Soccer. SUBSCRIBE for more KICKTV Videos. It's FREE: bit.ly Visit the KICKTV Homepage: bit.ly Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly Like us on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow us on Tumblr: bit.ly ABOUT KICKTV: KICKTV is YouTube's global headquarters for the beautiful game. Football, soccer, futbol, calico -- whatever you call it, this is your place for video, analysis, commentary and comedy around the world's most popular sport. KICKTV brings you the latest on the best players in the world, like: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the world's top leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie & the Brazilian league. Plus, coverage of all the biggest football events: UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Euros, Copa Libertadores and more. www.youtube.com
- published: 26 Nov 2012
- views: 51547
- author: kick
Thierry Henry - Golden Moments
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:01
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
Short video about Thierry Henry's best moments with Arsenal FC ! TAGS: Thierry Henry - Something never changes... Thierry Henry /The King is BacK/ HD thierry henry coming home return of the king highbury leeds goal celebration slow motion hd after match interview cheering with fans shout past and present back to the future curved shot robert pires dennis bergkamp ljungberg martin keown tony adams Thierry Henry Emirates Stadium League Football Soccer Football Manchester Chelsea United Arsenal Liverpool Henry in tears cry statue Ronaldo Rooney golden ball team of the year Thierry Henry Amazing Goal HD Thierry Henry Amazing Goal vs Real Madrid [720p HD] Thierry Henry fantastic goal vs Tottenham Hotspur. Thierry Henry vs Leeds 2012, Thierry henry vs sunderland 2012, henry vs milan
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Golden_Moments
Short video about Thierry Henry's best moments with Arsenal FC ! TAGS: Thierry Henry - Something never changes... Thierry Henry /The King is BacK/ HD thierry henry coming home return of the king highbury leeds goal celebration slow motion hd after match interview cheering with fans shout past and present back to the future curved shot robert pires dennis bergkamp ljungberg martin keown tony adams Thierry Henry Emirates Stadium League Football Soccer Football Manchester Chelsea United Arsenal Liverpool Henry in tears cry statue Ronaldo Rooney golden ball team of the year Thierry Henry Amazing Goal HD Thierry Henry Amazing Goal vs Real Madrid [720p HD] Thierry Henry fantastic goal vs Tottenham Hotspur. Thierry Henry vs Leeds 2012, Thierry henry vs sunderland 2012, henry vs milan
- published: 22 Oct 2012
- views: 19436
- author: DollsLiving
Les 25 plus beaux buts de Thierry Henry
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:58
- Updated: 12 Jan 2013
Il n'est de retour en prêt à Arsenal que pour 2 mois. Mais on oubliera jamais les plus beaux gestes de la légende d'Arsenal.
http://wn.com/Les_25_plus_beaux_buts_de_Thierry_Henry
Il n'est de retour en prêt à Arsenal que pour 2 mois. Mais on oubliera jamais les plus beaux gestes de la légende d'Arsenal.
- published: 06 Jan 2012
- views: 156689
- author: OfficielFootballfr
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:35
- Updated: 16 Dec 2012
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Interview_About_Arsenal_players_By_AmirHEB
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB
- published: 10 Apr 2007
- views: 116740
- author: aheb007
Thierry Henry interview after signing for New York Red Bulls
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:14
- Updated: 03 Oct 2012
Thierry Henry has completed his free transfer from Barcelona to the New York Red Bulls, the MLS club confirmed on their website. The France striker signed a "multi-year contract" although no further details were given. Henry said: "This marks an exciting new chapter in my career and life. "It is an honour to play for the New York Red Bulls. I am fully aware of the team's history and my sole goal during my time here is to help win the club its first championship." Henry is expected to make his debut in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at the Red Bulls Stadium on July 22. "It is without question that Thierry Henry is one of the most successful and recognisable soccer players over the past 15 years," said Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Head of Red Bull Global Soccer. "We are thrilled that Thierry has decided to come to New York to help the Red Bulls compete for championships this year and for years to come. "His international pedigree is second to none and he is a proven winner." "Thierry is not only a world class player who will undoubtedly improve our squad, but he has shown most importantly throughout his career that he is a winner," added Erik Soler, New York general manager and sporting director. "He has made it clear to us that he is committed in the short and long term to help in our vision of making our organisation the premium franchise in Major League Soccer." He is Arsenal's all-time leading goal-scorer, having netted 226 times between 1999-2007, and spent the past ...
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_interview_after_signing_for_New_York_Red_Bulls
Thierry Henry has completed his free transfer from Barcelona to the New York Red Bulls, the MLS club confirmed on their website. The France striker signed a "multi-year contract" although no further details were given. Henry said: "This marks an exciting new chapter in my career and life. "It is an honour to play for the New York Red Bulls. I am fully aware of the team's history and my sole goal during my time here is to help win the club its first championship." Henry is expected to make his debut in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at the Red Bulls Stadium on July 22. "It is without question that Thierry Henry is one of the most successful and recognisable soccer players over the past 15 years," said Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Head of Red Bull Global Soccer. "We are thrilled that Thierry has decided to come to New York to help the Red Bulls compete for championships this year and for years to come. "His international pedigree is second to none and he is a proven winner." "Thierry is not only a world class player who will undoubtedly improve our squad, but he has shown most importantly throughout his career that he is a winner," added Erik Soler, New York general manager and sporting director. "He has made it clear to us that he is committed in the short and long term to help in our vision of making our organisation the premium franchise in Major League Soccer." He is Arsenal's all-time leading goal-scorer, having netted 226 times between 1999-2007, and spent the past ...
- published: 14 Jul 2010
- views: 36960
- author: SmirkyQuill
Thierry Henry ● Skills and Goals ● FC Barcelona
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:30
- Updated: 13 Jan 2013
Some skills and goals performed in FC Barcelona by the french legend, Thierry Henry. If you like my work, become a fan on facebook and follow me on twitter: facebook.com twitter.com Song: AlpakaWhacker - Guitar Wonderland IGNORE TAGS: Games on La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, South American Qualifiers and Friendlies. Matches against: Real Madrid, Porto, Villarreal, Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, BATE Borisov, Racing Santander, Mallorca, Viktoria Plzen, Athletic Bilbao, Zaragoza, Milan, Rayo Vallecano, Levante, Santos, Osasuna, Betis, Malaga, Real Sociedad, Bayer Leverkusen, Valencia, Racing Santander, Sevilla, Granada Mallorca, Zaragoza, Almeria, Panathinaikos, Getafe, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland and much more. Messi, Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o, Henry, Saviola, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Kun Agüero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Mascherano, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, David Villa, Dani Alves, Pedro Rodriguez, Piqué, Puyol, Cuenca, Tello, Ronaldo, Marcelo, Abidal, Yaya Toure, Casillas, Pepe, Ibrahimovic, Neymar, Abbiati, Seedorf, Robinho, and much more.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_●_Skills_and_Goals_●_FC_Barcelona
Some skills and goals performed in FC Barcelona by the french legend, Thierry Henry. If you like my work, become a fan on facebook and follow me on twitter: facebook.com twitter.com Song: AlpakaWhacker - Guitar Wonderland IGNORE TAGS: Games on La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, South American Qualifiers and Friendlies. Matches against: Real Madrid, Porto, Villarreal, Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, BATE Borisov, Racing Santander, Mallorca, Viktoria Plzen, Athletic Bilbao, Zaragoza, Milan, Rayo Vallecano, Levante, Santos, Osasuna, Betis, Malaga, Real Sociedad, Bayer Leverkusen, Valencia, Racing Santander, Sevilla, Granada Mallorca, Zaragoza, Almeria, Panathinaikos, Getafe, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland and much more. Messi, Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o, Henry, Saviola, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Kun Agüero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Mascherano, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, David Villa, Dani Alves, Pedro Rodriguez, Piqué, Puyol, Cuenca, Tello, Ronaldo, Marcelo, Abidal, Yaya Toure, Casillas, Pepe, Ibrahimovic, Neymar, Abbiati, Seedorf, Robinho, and much more.
- published: 15 Dec 2012
- views: 17604
- author: HeilRJ03
Thierry Henry Sky Sports News Interview Part 2/4
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:57
- Updated: 10 Jan 2013
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Sky_Sports_News_Interview_Part_2_4
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
- published: 28 Mar 2011
- views: 36359
- author: CescyFabGooner2
Thierry Henry Sky Sports News Interview Part 3/4
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:56
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Sky_Sports_News_Interview_Part_3_4
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
- published: 28 Mar 2011
- views: 24110
- author: CescyFabGooner2
Thierry Henry Sky Sports News Interview Part 4/4
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:05
- Updated: 10 Jan 2013
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry_Sky_Sports_News_Interview_Part_4_4
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
- published: 28 Mar 2011
- views: 24485
- author: CescyFabGooner2
9:11
Thierry Henry Sky Sports News Interview Part 1/4
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season....
published: 28 Mar 2011
author: CescyFabGooner2
Thierry Henry Sky Sports News Interview Part 1/4
Georgie Thompson spends a week with the Frenchman in New York ahead of the new MLS season.
- published: 28 Mar 2011
- views: 49527
- author: CescyFabGooner2
8:58
Thierry Henry Top 25 goals
A simple compilation showing Thierry Henry's top 25 goals for Arsenal....
published: 25 Jun 2010
author: goonerMRC88
Thierry Henry Top 25 goals
A simple compilation showing Thierry Henry's top 25 goals for Arsenal.
- published: 25 Jun 2010
- views: 3057714
- author: goonerMRC88
10:16
Thierry Henry Interview - Football Focus - 26/04/08 - BBC
Ex Arsenal Player talks to Garth Crooks for Football Focus about returning to England to p...
published: 26 Apr 2008
author: MugOfSoul
Thierry Henry Interview - Football Focus - 26/04/08 - BBC
Ex Arsenal Player talks to Garth Crooks for Football Focus about returning to England to play for Barcelona in the Champions League = and Arsenal. . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . Broadcast: Public | Uploaded (processing, please wait) Arsenal 1997 1998 Double Season Goals Nicolas Anelka Dennis Bergkamp Patrik Vieira Arsene Wenger Emmanuelle Petit Wreh Chris Marc Overmars Ray Parlour Stephen Hughes Martin Keown Steve Bould Tony Adams Lee Dixon Nigel Winterburn David Seaman Alex Manninger Thierry Henry Cesc Fabregas Mathieu Flamini Robert Pires Almunia Bacary Sagna Clichy Rosicky Van Persie Adebayor Lauren Ashley Cole Sol Campbell Kolo Toure Phillipe Senderos Britney Spears Paris Hilton
- published: 26 Apr 2008
- views: 258696
- author: MugOfSoul
1:43
INTERVIEW - Thierry Henry - Sunderland v Arsenal PL25 - February 11th, 2012 - Highlights
Thierry Henry scores and gives an emotional interview for his last match with Arsenal...
published: 11 Feb 2012
author: Hugo Valette
INTERVIEW - Thierry Henry - Sunderland v Arsenal PL25 - February 11th, 2012 - Highlights
Thierry Henry scores and gives an emotional interview for his last match with Arsenal
- published: 11 Feb 2012
- views: 63636
- author: Hugo Valette
15:00
The Greatest Ever Arsenal Player - Thierry Henry
You can follow me on twitter for news and updates! :) twitter.com This is a tribute video ...
published: 30 Aug 2012
author: TheKieronStapletonHD
The Greatest Ever Arsenal Player - Thierry Henry
You can follow me on twitter for news and updates! :) twitter.com This is a tribute video to the greatest player to have played for Arsenal Football Club - Thierry Henry. Thierry had storming pace, fantastic skills, brilliant touch and a great passion for the club. Many people, including myself, believe that he is the greatest the Premier League has ever seen and I believe this video shows why. Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoyed. My old channel TheKieronStapleton got deleted for copyright! :(
- published: 30 Aug 2012
- views: 28910
- author: TheKieronStapletonHD
3:36
Thierry Henry - Something never changes...
The Return of the King! Welcome back Home, Titi!:) -Read description With this tribute I w...
published: 10 Jan 2012
author: JW19Productions
Thierry Henry - Something never changes...
The Return of the King! Welcome back Home, Titi!:) -Read description With this tribute I would like to show what could Henry feel before he got subbed on. It was one of the biggest and most beautiful moments of Arsenal's history, and I hope this "fairy tale" will continue... :) Henry is not just a brilliant sportsman, but an amazing person, who truly loves this team and he give his heart to Arsenal Football Club. We can't respect him enough, he is just an unbelieveable person, who made a Golden Moment for all Arsenal (and Premier League) supporters. 2012/01/09, never forget that day! Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. It is not to be used for copying and selling. No copyright infringement intended. Tags: thierry henry coming home return of the king highbury leeds goal celebration slow motion hd after match interview cheering with fans shout past and present back to the future curved shot robert pires dennis bergkamp ljungberg martin keown tony adams Thierry Henry Emirates Stadium League Football Soccer Football Manchester Chelsea United Arsenal Liverpool Henry in tears cry statue Ronaldo Rooney golden ball team of the year
- published: 10 Jan 2012
- views: 805161
- author: JW19Productions
4:47
Thierry Henry Interviews Didier Drogba In Africa
Hear what Didier Drogba has to say about growing up playing football and his experiences p...
published: 07 Jun 2010
author: PepsiFootball
Thierry Henry Interviews Didier Drogba In Africa
Hear what Didier Drogba has to say about growing up playing football and his experiences playing in Africa
- published: 07 Jun 2010
- views: 230158
- author: PepsiFootball
5:29
Thierry Henry: Legend
A tribute to the Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry. The backing track is "Fix You" by Coldplay...
published: 29 Jun 2009
author: Roflpocalypse
Thierry Henry: Legend
A tribute to the Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry. The backing track is "Fix You" by Coldplay.
- published: 29 Jun 2009
- views: 905804
- author: Roflpocalypse
27:36
Thierry Henry " a story of a legend "
join my facebook page : www.facebook.com follow me on twitter : twitter.com...
published: 05 Mar 2012
author: gobs5999HD4
Thierry Henry " a story of a legend "
join my facebook page : www.facebook.com follow me on twitter : twitter.com
- published: 05 Mar 2012
- views: 275876
- author: gobs5999HD4
4:06
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry's skills and goals...
published: 26 Jun 2007
author: journalist2007mish
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry's skills and goals
- published: 26 Jun 2007
- views: 12966627
- author: journalist2007mish
3:18
Thierry Henry vs a local fan - Red Bull Ultimate 2011
New York Red Bulls All-Star and International legend Thierry Henry went 1-on-1 with Justin...
published: 14 Oct 2011
author: redbull
Thierry Henry vs a local fan - Red Bull Ultimate 2011
New York Red Bulls All-Star and International legend Thierry Henry went 1-on-1 with Justin, a 24 year old fan from New Jersey at the Red Bull Arena for an unforgettable experience. NewYorkRedBulls.com
- published: 14 Oct 2011
- views: 78461
- author: redbull
2:16
Arsenal Vs Leeds 1-0 - Thierry Henry Interview After His Goal - January 9 2012 - FA Cup - [HQ]
Thierry Henry's interview after he scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Leeds U...
published: 09 Jan 2012
author: ShivDes357
Arsenal Vs Leeds 1-0 - Thierry Henry Interview After His Goal - January 9 2012 - FA Cup - [HQ]
Thierry Henry's interview after he scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.
- published: 09 Jan 2012
- views: 50347
- author: ShivDes357
4:48
Thierry Henry Scores Brilliant Goal & Assists On 3
Thierry Henry had 3 assists and a flashy goal in the New York Red Bulls 4-1 victory over T...
published: 30 Sep 2012
author: kick
Thierry Henry Scores Brilliant Goal & Assists On 3
Thierry Henry had 3 assists and a flashy goal in the New York Red Bulls 4-1 victory over Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. Two of Henry's assists were to Kenny Cooper. The other to Markus Holgersson. SUBSCRIBE for more KICKTV Videos. It's FREE: bit.ly Visit the KICKTV Homepage: bit.ly Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly Like us on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow us on Tumblr: bit.ly ABOUT KICKTV: KICKTV is YouTube's global headquarters for the beautiful game. Football, soccer, futbol, calico -- whatever you call it, this is your place for video, analysis, commentary and comedy around the world's most popular sport. KICKTV brings you the latest on the best players in the world, like: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the world's top leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie & the Brazilian league. Plus, coverage of all the biggest football events: UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Euros, Copa Libertadores and more. www.youtube.com
- published: 30 Sep 2012
- views: 398883
- author: kick
Vimeo results:
2:43
Steve Nash - The Showdown
Steve Nash, Thierry Henry Host Charity Soccer Game in NYC....
published: 03 Jul 2008
author: 13thWitness™
Steve Nash - The Showdown
Steve Nash, Thierry Henry Host Charity Soccer Game in NYC.
3:23
HEXAPROD - SHOWREEL
A VENDRE: DRONE OCTOCOPTER CINESTAR. CONTACT: 06.08.22.49.25 ou damien@hexaprod.com
Film ...
published: 01 Oct 2011
author: HEXAPROD - Damien Pourageaux
HEXAPROD - SHOWREEL
A VENDRE: DRONE OCTOCOPTER CINESTAR. CONTACT: 06.08.22.49.25 ou damien@hexaprod.com
Film de présentation du savoir faire Hexaprod.
Contact: damien@hexaprod.com
Site: http://hexaprod.com
Remerciements à:
Mathieu Parret
Samuel Maurin
Lucas Falchero
Ministère de la culture
Service territorial de l'architecture et du patrimoine
Paroisse Notre Dame de Clermont
David Gary
André Farrer
Ville de Clermont-Ferrand
Service Equipements de Spectacles
Le Grand-Bornand
Thierry Debornes
Le Village de Lessy
Marianne Lacombe
Tak Tak Prod
Stade Marcel Michelin
Samy Chatti
Arnaud et Alexis
Flying Puy de Dome
François Garandet
Henri Montel
Dominique Gouttequillet
Crapa'hutte
Laurent Pradier
Evelyne Lapouge Astrié
Thierry Dorval
Reno Rousset-Bert
7:18
Classics of football
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ByRoxTV
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ByRoxTV
Classic...
published: 04 Dec 2011
author: Hugo Monteiro
Classics of football
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ByRoxTV
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ByRoxTV
Classic games of Football By Rox
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might
otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal
use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
Tags:
Xavi, Iniesta & Messi vs. Real Madrid, Presentation Ibrahim Afellay, FC København Copenhagen, Dinamo de Kiev 29/09/2009 - C. Ronaldo vs Leo Messi 2010 *Champions League - Uefa 7ª Jornada Liga BBVA - Barça Vs Inter Milan- Ibrahimovic vs Eto'o 16/09/09 - Arsenal vs Chelsea Liverpool Final Conferedations cup copa confederaciones 2009 USA 2-3 BRAZIL Goals and Highlights UEFA Champions League Messi(2) Park Van Persie Real Madrid 2-6 FC Barcelona 02/05/2009 - 2th May - The Classic - Goals and Highlights Leo Messi [NEW2010] - The Proof - Who said i'm not the best? Kuyt Alonso Geovanni 2-2 henry messi eto'o raul hat-trick marcelo capel renato liga española Real Madrid - FC Barcelona santiago bernabeu 0-0 0-1 0-2 0-3 0-4 0-5 0-6 0-7 0-8 0-9 -10
1-0 2-0 3-0 4-0 5-0 6-0 7-0 8-0 9-0 10-0
1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1 7-1 8-1 9-1 10-1
1-2 2-2 3-2 4-2 5-2 6-2 7-2 8-2 9-2 10-2
1-3 2-3 3-3 4-3 5-3 6-3 7-3 8-3 9-3 10-3
1-4 2-4 3-4 4-4 5-4 6-4 7-4 8-4 9-4 10-4
1-5 2-5 3-5 4-5 5-5 6-5 7-5 8-5 9-5 10-5
1-6 2-6 3-6 4-6 5-6 6-6 7-6 8-6 9-6 10-6
1-7 2-7 3-7 4-7 5-7 6-7 7-7 8-7 9-7 10-7
Messi(Barcelona)Gianluigi Buffon(Juventus),Iker Casillas(Real Madrid),Petr Cech(Chelsea),Edwin van der Sar(Manchester United),Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona), Wayne Rooney (Machester United), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).
The players featured in this video play for countries: Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Togo, Wales.Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Bolton, Chelsea, Derby County, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, Reading, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic. manchester united, sporting lisbon, portugal, english premier league, skills, goals, rabona hocus pocus, sent off rooney, world cup amazing goal, joga bonito, champions league, carling cup league cup, fa cup, skillz, freekick, penalty, bbc motd, skysports, setanta sports, itv sport, nike vapor, rooney, Cristiano ronaldo, tevez, giggs, scholes, alex ferguson, pfa player of the year, pfa young player of the year leo messi Ronaldinho, messi, nani, henry, bojan, adebayor, fabregas, torres, flamini, clichy, evra, vidic, ferdinand, brown, neville, carrick, anderson, scholes, giggs,Arsenal, chelsea Liga BBVA 2008-2009 FC Barcelona Real Madrid Numancia Sevilla Valencia Getafe Almeria Espanyol Athelic de Bilbao Atletico de Madrid Betis Racing Sporting de Gijon Mallorca Recreativo de Huelva Villarreal Osasuna Deportivo de la Coruña Valladolid bojan, adebayor, fabregas, torres, flamini, clichy, evra, vidic, ferdinand, brown, neville, carrick, Barcelona Vs Bayern Munchen.The summary of match which took place at New Camp (The stadium of Barcelona).UEFA Champions League 2008-09 Cuartos de Final:FC Barcelona 4-0 1-1 Bayern Munchen Manchester United 2-2 0-1 Oporto Villarreal 1-1 3-0 Arsenal Chelsea 1-3 4-4 Liverpool Henry Mesi Eto'o Keita Ribery Alves Toni Xavi Iniesta Rodriguez Lucho Van Persie Adebayor Walcott Fabregas Senna Gerrard Drogba Torres Kuyt Lampard Fabio Aurelio Cech Ivanovic Alex FC Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea 28-04-2009 Manchester - Arsenal 29-04-2009 25/04/2009 Valencia CF - FC Barcelona Liga BBVA 2-2 vs Chivas vs manchester united espanyol barça manchester vs city Leo Messi 2009 2010 skills goals season new 100% nuevo regates tricks dribbling FC Barcelona Barça Pulga Messidona Futbol Football Review messi balon oro leo 2009/2010 ballon d'or 2009 winner LM10 Action American Football Baseball Basketball Combat Sports Extreme Golf Hockey Martial Arts Motor Sport Soccer Lionel messi Can Only Imagine barça L.Messi Freestyle Power football 09/10 fc barcelona argentina best cl final champions league moscow
4:28
THIERRY HENRY
El jugador Francés, que actualmente hace parte de los Red Bulls en Nueva York, nos cuenta ...
published: 06 Jun 2011
author: Enrola Tv
THIERRY HENRY
El jugador Francés, que actualmente hace parte de los Red Bulls en Nueva York, nos cuenta un poco a cerca del partido y del fútbol en los Estados Unidos.
Youtube results:
4:57
Thierry Henry ALL GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS 2012 - NEW YORK RED BULLS
Thierry Henry finished the 2012 season with the New York Red Bulls with 15 goals and 12 as...
published: 26 Nov 2012
author: kick
Thierry Henry ALL GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS 2012 - NEW YORK RED BULLS
Thierry Henry finished the 2012 season with the New York Red Bulls with 15 goals and 12 assists in 25 games. Here's a look at this goals and highlights from his third season in Major League Soccer. SUBSCRIBE for more KICKTV Videos. It's FREE: bit.ly Visit the KICKTV Homepage: bit.ly Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly Like us on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow us on Tumblr: bit.ly ABOUT KICKTV: KICKTV is YouTube's global headquarters for the beautiful game. Football, soccer, futbol, calico -- whatever you call it, this is your place for video, analysis, commentary and comedy around the world's most popular sport. KICKTV brings you the latest on the best players in the world, like: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. And the world's top leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie & the Brazilian league. Plus, coverage of all the biggest football events: UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, the Euros, Copa Libertadores and more. www.youtube.com
- published: 26 Nov 2012
- views: 51547
- author: kick
4:01
Thierry Henry - Golden Moments
Short video about Thierry Henry's best moments with Arsenal FC ! TAGS: Thierry Henry - Som...
published: 22 Oct 2012
author: DollsLiving
Thierry Henry - Golden Moments
Short video about Thierry Henry's best moments with Arsenal FC ! TAGS: Thierry Henry - Something never changes... Thierry Henry /The King is BacK/ HD thierry henry coming home return of the king highbury leeds goal celebration slow motion hd after match interview cheering with fans shout past and present back to the future curved shot robert pires dennis bergkamp ljungberg martin keown tony adams Thierry Henry Emirates Stadium League Football Soccer Football Manchester Chelsea United Arsenal Liverpool Henry in tears cry statue Ronaldo Rooney golden ball team of the year Thierry Henry Amazing Goal HD Thierry Henry Amazing Goal vs Real Madrid [720p HD] Thierry Henry fantastic goal vs Tottenham Hotspur. Thierry Henry vs Leeds 2012, Thierry henry vs sunderland 2012, henry vs milan
- published: 22 Oct 2012
- views: 19436
- author: DollsLiving
8:58
Les 25 plus beaux buts de Thierry Henry
Il n'est de retour en prêt à Arsenal que pour 2 mois. Mais on oubliera jamais les plus bea...
published: 06 Jan 2012
author: OfficielFootballfr
Les 25 plus beaux buts de Thierry Henry
Il n'est de retour en prêt à Arsenal que pour 2 mois. Mais on oubliera jamais les plus beaux gestes de la légende d'Arsenal.
- published: 06 Jan 2012
- views: 156689
- author: OfficielFootballfr
3:35
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB...
published: 10 Apr 2007
author: aheb007
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB
Thierry Henry Interview About Arsenal players By Amir.HEB
- published: 10 Apr 2007
- views: 116740
- author: aheb007
photo: AP / Mohamed Sheikh Nor
12 Jan 2013
Helicopter raid fails to rescue agent 'Denis Allex' from Islamist group al-Shabaab, as French combat pilot killed in Mali. French secret service hostage 'Denis Allex' pictured in Somalia in October 2012. Photograph. SITE Monitoring Service/AFP/Getty Images. A French hostage and two French soldiers have been killed during a failed secret service rescue mission in Somalia ... The group said it had also captured a wounded French commando ... ....(size: 4.7Kb)
photo: AP / Adj Nicolas-Nelson Richard, ECPAD
14 Jan 2013
Bamako/Paris - French fighter jets pounded Islamist rebel strongholds deep in northern Mali on Sunday as Paris poured more troops into the capital, Bamako, awaiting a West African force to dislodge al-Qaeda-linked insurgents from the country’s north ... Defence Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said France’s intervention on Friday prevented the advancing rebels from seizing Bamako and vowed air strikes would continue ... – ... Doubt....(size: 6.6Kb)
photo: AP / Kevin Frayer
14 Jan 2013
Allahabad. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims led by naked, ash-covered holy men streamed into the sacred river Ganges on Monday at the start of the world's biggest religious festival. The Kumbh Mela in the Indian town of Allahabad will see up to 100 million worshippers gather over the next 55 days to take a ritual bath in the holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings ... "I am ecstatic ... Agence France-Presse ....(size: 4.2Kb)
photo: US Navy / MCS2 Gretchen Albrecht
13 Jan 2013
The draft version of the US National Climate Assessment, released on Friday, makes remarkable reading – not just for Americans but for all humanity. Put together by a special panel of more than 240 scientists, the federally commissioned report reveals that the US is already reeling under the impact of global warming ... Nor is there any doubt about the cause of these rising temperatures ... A bitter struggle lies ahead ... Sender's name ... ....(size: 6.2Kb)
photo: White House / Pete Souza
14 Jan 2013
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama issued a strong warning to Republicans on Monday that he will not negotiate over the debt ceiling or allow Republicans to use it as a bargaining chip. "To even entertain the idea of the United States of America not paying our bills is irresponsible. It's absurd," Obama said in a press conference ... "They will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the economy," Obama said ... Also on HuffPost ... ....(size: 10.3Kb)
Belfast Telegraph
13 Jan 2013
Manager Arsene Wenger hopes signing Theo Walcott up to a long-term deal will signal the end of Arsenal's developing players heading straight through the Emirates Stadium exit ... We are not there yet (with Walcott), but I hope we will get there," said Wenger ... We had that before - (Thierry) Henry, (Patrick) Vieira, they stayed eight or nine years all together - and now we have created that again." ... ....(size: 2.1Kb)
noodls
13 Jan 2013
(Source. Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds plc). Highly-regarded around Europe for his abilities as a central defender, it may surprise many to discover that Martin Skrtel did not begin his career in the position he plays now ... "With time my position on the football pitch changed ... "It wasn't until I was 17 that I first played as a defender ... He agreed ... Thierry Henry was very difficult ... He continued ... (noodl. 17181501) ....(size: 5.7Kb)
The Observer
13 Jan 2013
Robin van Persie and Luis Suárez are crucial to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively. Photograph. Stu Forster/Getty Images ... The work of a cheat would be deliberately leading with an arm in the manner of Diego Maradona against Peter Shilton, or surreptitiously using a hand to keep the ball in play prior to scoring, as Thierry Henry did against Ireland. Who regards Henry as a cheat now? Even Maradona is considered merely roguish ... ....(size: 9.4Kb)
ESPN
12 Jan 2013
Leon Osman is set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Everton debut by signing a new contract. PA PhotosLeon Osman has been a crucial figure for Everton this season as they chase the Champions League ... You even look at the champions at that time, Arsenal, and yeah they had Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, but they had Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, and they were a physically imposing unit ... ....(size: 2.0Kb)
The Guardian
11 Jan 2013
Photograph. Andrew Yates/AFP ... In short much of the game is about what you can get away with ... This incident, moreover, was hardly as blatant as the sight of Thierry Henry handling the ball not once but twice before setting up a chance for William Gallas to score the decisive goal for France against the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier in 2009. Henry's outstanding career with Arsenal did not spare him a mauling in the media ... ....(size: 5.6Kb)
The Independent
11 Jan 2013
Football. Arsenal interested in Rémy tonic. Arsenal have joined the race to sign Loïc Rémy from Marseilles in a deal that could cost them £10m ... Sources in France last night insisted the move from Arsenal could be the one to land the 26-year-old France international. Rémy, who has spoken of his admiration for Thierry Henry and Arsenal, has already drawn interest from QPR, Newcastle and Schalke 04 during the transfer window ... Olympics ... MORE....(size: 4.1Kb)
CNN
11 Jan 2013
January 11, 2013 -- Updated 1127 GMT (1927 HKT). Today Manchester United has an aura of glamour and invincibility. But in 1931 and 10 years later the club's future was in peril ... Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, was blitzed during a raid by the Luftwaffe on March 11 1941 ... All aboard ... Blatter had earlier refused to take action when Thierry Henry's blatant handball denied the Republic of Ireland a place at the 2010 World Cup finals ... ....(size: 32.4Kb)
The Daily Mail
10 Jan 2013
noodls
10 Jan 2013
(Source. PFA - Professional Footballers' Association) Published 2013/01/10 12.40 by Thomas James Scott ... 2001 - Raul Vs Leeds United ... 2009 - Thierry Henry Vs Republic of Ireland ... Alas, it was not to be. After a series of passes in the Irish box, Henry handled the ball to keep it in play before passing the ball to William Gallas who scored from close-range to smash the dreams of thousands of Ireland fans who made the short trip to Paris....(size: 5.0Kb)
photo: AP / Jon Super
10 Jan 2013
With his contract set to expire next summer and no new offer on the table, the Chelsea midfielder looks set to leave Stamford Bridge. Al Hain-Cole ponders where he may end up next. By Al Hain-Cole ... Comments ... Don't Miss ... At 35 years old in June, the midfielder may feel that it is time to follow Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Robbie Keane in joining the MLS revolution, so odds of 4/1 (5.00) seem to offer the best value on him moving Stateside....(size: 4.7Kb)
The Los Angeles Times
10 Jan 2013
The Galaxy will renew its Home Depot Center rivalry with the Houston Dynamo on May 5, highlighting a 34-game regular-season schedule released Wednesday. The Galaxy, the two-time defending Major League Soccer champion, begins play March 3, playing host to the Chicago Fire ... The regular-season finale for the Galaxy will be Oct. 27 in Seattle. ... Chivas also gets a home date with Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls on Aug. 25 ... Twitter. ... 0. ... ... ....(size: 36.4Kb)
Belfast Telegraph
09 Jan 2013
Arsenal's hopes of signing David Villa have been dashed after Barcelona ruled out selling the striker this month ... Another loan for Thierry Henry had been mooted but this option has been ruled out ... ....(size: 1.4Kb)
The Guardian
09 Jan 2013
"After watching the Thierry Henry/Robert Pires penalty shambles at the weekend, I was wondering if the Johan Cruyff/Jesper Olsen incident was the only previous example of the 'two-man penalty'?" asks Lee McGleish back in the innocent days of 2005. Well, Lee, despite Monsieur Henry admitting to having taken his inspiration from the Ajax pair's famous spot-kick in 1982, there are three far earlier examples of the cheeky "tap penalty"....(size: 10.4Kb)
 Henry with the New York Red Bulls |
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thierry Daniel Henry[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1977-08-17) 17 August 1977 (age 34)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Les Ulis, Essonne, France | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | New York Red Bulls | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1983–1989 | CO Les Ulis | ||
| 1989–1990 | US Palaiseau | ||
| 1990–1992 | Viry-Châtillon | ||
| 1992 | Clairefontaine | ||
| 1992–1994 | Monaco | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1999 | Monaco | 105 | (20) |
| 1999 | Juventus | 16 | (3) |
| 1999–2007 | Arsenal | 254 | (174) |
| 2007–2010 | Barcelona | 80 | (35) |
| 2010– | New York Red Bulls | 46 | (25) |
| 2012 | → Arsenal (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1997 | France U20 | 5 | (3) |
| 1997–2010 | France | 123 | (51) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:50, 30 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Thierry Daniel Henry (French pronunciation: [tjɛʁi ɑ̃ʁi]; born 17 August 1977) is a French footballer who plays as a striker for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne (a suburb of Paris) where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and signed instantly, making his professional debut in 1994. Good form led to an international call-up in 1998, after which he signed for the Serie A defending champions Juventus. He had a disappointing season playing on the wing, before joining Arsenal for £11 million in 1999.
It was at Arsenal that Henry made his name as a world-class footballer. Despite initially struggling in the Premier League, he emerged as Arsenal's top goal-scorer for almost every season of his tenure there. Under long-time mentor and coach Arsène Wenger, Henry became a prolific striker and Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. The Frenchman won two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners; he was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year twice, was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice, and the FWA Footballer of the Year three times. Henry spent his final two seasons with Arsenal as club captain, leading them to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final.
In June 2007, after eight years with Arsenal, he transferred to Barcelona for a fee of €24 million. His first honours with the Catalan club came in 2009 when they won the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble. He went on to achieve an unprecedented sextuple by also winning the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. In total, Henry has been named in the UEFA Team of the Year five times. In 2010, he joined the New York Red Bulls of the Major League Soccer, and won the Eastern Conference title with them in 2010. He returned to Arsenal on loan for two months in 2012.
Henry enjoyed similar success with the French national team, having won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000 and 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. In October 2007, he surpassed Michel Platini's record to become France's top goal-scorer of all time. Henry retired from international football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Off the pitch, Henry is an active spokesperson against racism in football, partially due to his own experiences. He married English model Nicole Merry in 2003 and had a daughter with her, but they divorced in 2007. Henry was also one of the top commercially marketed footballers; he was ranked ninth in the world in 2006.
Contents |
Early years[link]
Henry is of Antillean heritage:[2] his father, Antoine, is from Guadeloupe (La Désirade island), and his mother, Maryse, is from Martinique. He was born and raised in Les Ulis suburb of Paris which, despite sometimes being seen as a tough neighbourhood, provided good footballing facilities.[3][4] As a seven-year-old, Henry showed great potential, prompting Claude Chezelle to recruit him to the local club CO Les Ulis. His father pressured him to attend training, although the youngster was not particularly drawn to football.[1] He joined US Palaiseau in 1989, but after a year his father fell out with the club, so Henry moved to ES Viry-Châtillon and played there for two years.[2] US Palaiseau coach Jean-Marie Panza, Henry's future mentor, followed him there.[3]
Club career[link]
Monaco (1992–1999) and Juventus (1999)[link]
In 1990, Monaco sent scout Arnold Catalano to watch Henry, then at the age of 13 in a match.[5] Henry scored all six goals as his side won 6–0. Catalano asked him to join Monaco without even attending a trial first. Catalano requested that Henry complete a course at the elite Clairefontaine academy, and despite the director's reluctance to admit Henry due to his poor school results, he was allowed to complete the course and joined Arsène Wenger's Monaco as a youth player.[1] Subsequently, Henry signed professional forms with Monaco, and made his professional debut on 31 August 1994, in a 2–0 loss against Nice.[5] Although Wenger suspected that Henry should be deployed as a striker, he put Henry on the left wing because he believed that his pace, natural ball control and skill would be more effective against full-backs than centre-backs.[2]
After a tentative start to his Monaco career, Henry was named the French Young Footballer of the Year in 1996, and in the 1996–97 season, his solid performances helped the club win the Ligue 1 title.[1][6] During the 1997–98 season, he was instrumental in leading his club to the UEFA Champions League semi-final, setting a French record by scoring seven goals in the competition.[2][7] By his third season, he had received his first cap for the national team, and was part of the winning team in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[2] He continued to impress at his tenure with Monaco, and in his five seasons with the French club, the young winger scored 20 league goals in 105 appearances.[6]
Henry left Monaco in January 1999, one year before his friend and teammate David Trezeguet, and moved to Italian Serie A club Juventus for £10.5 million.[1] He played on the wing,[8] but he was ineffective against the Serie A defensive discipline in a position uncharacteristic for him, and scored just three goals in 16 appearances.[9]
Arsenal (1999–2007)[link]
Unsettled in Italy, Henry transferred from Juventus on 3 August 1999 to Arsenal for an estimated fee of £11 million, reuniting with his former manager Arsène Wenger.[10][11] It was at Arsenal that Henry made his name as a world-class footballer,[12] and although his transfer was not without controversy, Wenger was convinced he was worth the transfer fee.[2] Brought in as a replacement for fellow French forward Nicolas Anelka, Henry was immediately moulded into a striker by Wenger, a move that would pay rich dividends in years to come. However, doubts were raised about his ability to adapt to the quick and physical English game when he failed to score in his first eight games.[3] After several difficult months in England, Henry even conceded that he had to "be re-taught everything about the art of striking."[3] These doubts were dispelled when he ended his first season at Arsenal with an impressive goal tally of 26.[13] Arsenal finished second in the league behind Manchester United, and lost in the UEFA Cup Final against Turkish side Galatasaray.[2]
Coming off the back of a victorious UEFA Euro 2000 campaign with the national team, Henry was ready to make an impact in the 2000–01 season. Despite recording fewer goals and assists than his first season, Henry's second season with Arsenal proved to be a breakthrough, as he became the club's top goalscorer.[14] Armed with one of the league's best attacks, Arsenal closed in quickly on perennial rivals Manchester United for the league title. Henry remained frustrated, however, by the fact that he had yet to help the club win honours, and frequently expressed his desire to establish Arsenal as a powerhouse.[2]
Success finally arrived during the 2001–02 season. Arsenal finished seven points above Liverpool to win the league title, and defeated Chelsea 2–0 in the FA Cup Final.[2] Henry became the league's top goal-scorer and netted 32 goals in all competitions as he led Arsenal to a double and his first silverware with the club.[1][14] There was much expectation that Henry would replicate his club form for France during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but the defending champions suffered a shock exit at the group stage.[2]
2002–03 proved to be another productive season for Henry, as he scored 32 goals in all competitions while contributing 23 assists—remarkable returns for a striker.[14] In doing so, he led Arsenal to another FA Cup triumph (where he was man-of-the-match in the Final),[15] although Arsenal failed to retain their Premier League crown.[16] Throughout the season, he competed with Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy for the league scoring title, but the latter edged Henry to the title by a goal.[2] Nonetheless, Henry was named both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.[17][18] His rising status as one of the world's best footballers was affirmed when he emerged runner-up for the 2003 FIFA World Player of the Year award.[12]
Entering the 2003–04 season, Arsenal were determined to reclaim the Premier League crown. Henry was again instrumental in Arsenal's exceptionally successful campaign; together with the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès, Henry ensured that the Gunners became the first team in more than a century to go through the entire domestic league season unbeaten, claiming the league title in the process.[19] Apart from being named for the second year running as the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year,[17][18] Henry emerged once again as the runner-up for 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award.[12] With 39 goals scored in all competitions, the Frenchman led the league in goals scored and won the European Golden Boot.[1][20] However, as was the case in 2002, Henry was unable to lead the national side to honours during UEFA Euro 2004.[2]
This dip in success was compounded when Arsenal failed again to secure back-to-back league titles when they lost out to Chelsea in the 2004–05 season, although Arsenal did win the FA Cup (the Final of which Henry missed through injury).[6] Henry maintained his reputation as one of Europe's most feared strikers as he led the league in scoring,[1] and with 31 goals in all competitions,[21] he was the co-recipient (with Diego Forlán) of the European Golden Boot, and is currently the only player to have officially won the award twice in a row (Ally McCoist also had two Golden Boots in a row, but both were deemed unofficial).[20] The unexpected departure of compatriot Vieira in mid-2005 led to Henry being awarded club captaincy, a role which many felt was not naturally suited for him; the captaincy is more commonly given to defenders or midfielders, who are better-placed on the pitch to read the game.[1] Along with being chief goal-scorer, he was responsible for leading a very young team which had yet to gel fully.[22]
The 2005–06 season proved to be one of remarkable personal achievements for Henry. On 17 October 2005, Henry became the club's top goal-scorer of all time;[23] two goals against Sparta Prague in the Champions League meant he broke Ian Wright's record of 185 goals.[24] On 1 February 2006, he scored a goal against West Ham United, bringing his league goal tally up to 151, breaking Arsenal legend Cliff Bastin's league goals record.[25] Henry scored his 100th league goal at Highbury, a feat unparalleled in the history of the club, and a unique achievement in the Premier League.[26] He completed the season as the league's top goal-scorer,[1] and for the third time in his career, he was voted the FWA Footballer of the Year.[6]
Nevertheless, Arsenal failed to win the league title again, but hopes of a trophy were revived when Arsenal reached the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. The Gunners eventually lost 2–1 to Barcelona, and Arsenal's inability to win the Premier League for two consecutive seasons combined with the relative inexperience of the Arsenal squad caused much speculation that Henry would leave for another club. However, he declared his love for the club and accepted a four-year contract, and said he would stay at Arsenal for life.[18] Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein later claimed the club had turned down two bids of £50 million from Spanish clubs for Henry before the signing of the new contract.[27] Had the transfer materialized, it would have surpassed the then world record £47 million paid for Zinédine Zidane.[27]
Henry's 2006–07 season was marred by injuries.[28] Although he scored 10 goals in 17 domestic appearances for Arsenal, Henry's season was cut short in February. Having missed games due to hamstring, foot, and back problems, he was deemed fit enough to come on as a late substitute against PSV in a Champions League match,[29] but began limping shortly after coming on. Scans the next day revealed that he would need at least three months to heal from new groin and stomach injuries, missing the rest of the 2006–07 season.[30] Wenger attributed Henry's injuries to a protracted 2005–06 campaign, and reiterated that Henry was keen on staying with the Gunners to rebuild for the 2007–08 season.[28]
Barcelona (2007–2010)[link]
On 25 June 2007, in an unexpected turn of events, Henry was transferred to Barcelona for €24 million. He signed a four-year deal for a reported €6.8 (£4.6) million per season.[31] It was revealed that the contract included a release clause of €125 (£84.9) million.[32] Henry cited the departure of Dein and continued uncertainty over Wenger's future as reasons for leaving,[33][34] and maintained that "I always said that if I ever left Arsenal it would be to play for Barcelona."[35] Despite their captain's departure, Arsenal got off to an impressive start for the 2007–08 campaign, and Henry admitted that his presence in the team might have been more of a hindrance than a help. He stated: "Because of my seniority, the fact that I was captain and my habit of screaming for the ball, they would sometimes give it to me even when I was not in the best position. So in that sense it was good for the team that I moved on."[36] Henry left Arsenal as the club's leading all-time league goal-scorer with 174 goals and leading all-time goal-scorer in Europe with 42 goals;[1] in July 2008, Arsenal fans voted him as Arsenal's greatest player ever in Arsenal.com's Gunners' Greatest 50 Players poll.[37]
At Barcelona, Henry was given the number 14 jersey, the same as he had worn at Arsenal. He scored his first goal for his new club on 19 September 2007 in a 3–0 Champions League group stage win over Lyon,[38] and he recorded his first hat-trick for Barça in a league match against Levante ten days later.[39] But with Henry mostly deployed on the wing throughout the season, he was unable to reproduce the goal-scoring form he achieved with Arsenal. He expressed dissatisfaction with the move to Barcelona in the initial year, amidst widespread speculation of a return to the Premier League. In an interview with Garth Crooks on BBC Football Focus, Henry described missing life "back home" and even "the English press".[40] However, Henry concluded his debut season as the club's top scorer with 19 goals in addition to nine league assists, second behind Lionel Messi's 10.
Henry went on to surpass this tally in a more integrated 2008–09 campaign, winning the first trophy of his Barcelona career on 13 May 2009 when Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. Barcelona won the league and Champions League soon after, completing a treble for the Frenchman, who had combined with Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o to score 100 goals between them that season. The trio was also the most prolific trio in Spanish league history, scoring 72 goals and surpassing the 66 goals of Real Madrid's Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Luis del Sol of the 1960–61 season. Later in 2009, Henry helped Barcelona win an unprecedented sextuple, consisting of the aforementioned treble, the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.[41]
The following season, the emergence of Pedro Rodríguez meant that Henry only started 15 league games.[14] Before the La Liga season ended, and with a year still left on his contract, club president Joan Laporta stated on 5 May 2010 that Henry "may go away in the summer transfer window if that's what he wants".[42] After Henry returned from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Barcelona confirmed that they had agreed to the sale of Henry to an unnamed club, with the player still to agree terms with the new club.[43]
New York Red Bulls (2010–present)[link]
In July 2010, Henry signed a multi-year contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls for the 2010 season as its second designated player.[44] He made his full MLS debut on 31 July in a 2–2 draw against Houston Dynamo, assisting both goals to Juan Pablo Angel. His first MLS goal came on 28 August in a 2–0 victory against San Jose Earthquakes. The Red Bulls eventually topped the MLS Eastern Conference by one point over Columbus Crew[45] before losing 3–2 on aggregate against San Jose Earthquakes in the quarterfinals of the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs.[46] The next season, the Red Bulls were 10th overall in the league,[47] and bowed out in the Conference Semi-finals of the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs.[48]
After training with Arsenal during the MLS off-season, Henry re-signed for the club on a two-month loan deal on 6 January 2012. This was to provide cover for Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh, who were unavailable due to their participation in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.[49] Henry made his second Arsenal debut as a substitute against Leeds United in the FA Cup third round and scored the only goal.[50] In his last league game on loan, he scored the winning goal in stoppage time in a 2–1 win against Sunderland.[51] On 17 February 2012, Henry returned to Red Bulls to prepare for the 2012 season.
On 31 March 2012, Henry scored his first MLS hat-trick in a 5–2 Red Bulls win over Montreal Impact.[52]
International career[link]
Henry enjoyed a successful career with the France national team, winning the first of his 123 caps in June 1997, when his good form for Monaco was rewarded with a call-up to the Under-20 French national team, where he played in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship alongside future teammates William Gallas and David Trézéguet.[1] Within four months, France head coach Aimé Jacquet called Henry up to the senior team. The 20-year-old made his senior international debut on 11 October 1997 in a 2–1 win against South Africa.[53] Jacquet was so impressed with Henry that he took him to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Although Henry was a largely unknown quantity at international level, he ended the tournament as France's top scorer with three goals.[54] He was scheduled to appear as a substitute in the final, where France beat Brazil 3–0, but Marcel Desailly's sending off forced a defensive change instead. In 1998, he was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur, France's highest decoration.[55]
Henry was a member of France's UEFA Euro 2000 squad, again scoring three goals in the tournament, including the equaliser against Portugal in the semi-final, and finishing as the country's top scorer.[56] France later won the game in extra time following a converted penalty kick by Zinédine Zidane. France went on to defeat Italy in extra-time in the Final, earning Henry his second major international medal.[57] During the tournament, Henry was voted man-of-the-match in three games, including the final against Italy.[58]
The 2002 FIFA World Cup featured a stunning early exit for both Henry and France as the defending champions were eliminated in the group stage after failing to score a goal in all three games.[1] France lost their first match in group play and Henry was red carded for a dangerous sliding challenge in their next match against Uruguay.[2] In that game, France played to a 0–0 draw, but Henry was forced to miss the final match due to suspension; France lost 2–0 to Denmark.[2]
Henry returned to form for his country at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. Despite playing without team stalwarts Zidane and Patrick Vieira, France won, in large part owing to Henry's outstanding play, for which he was named Man of the Match by FIFA's Technical Study Group in three of France's five matches.[1] In the final, he scored the golden goal in extra time to lift the title for the host country after a 1–0 victory over Cameroon.[1] Henry was awarded both the adidas Golden Ball as the outstanding player of the competition and the adidas Golden Shoe as the tournament's top goal-scorer with four goals.[1]
In UEFA Euro 2004, Henry played in all of France's matches and scored two goals.[6] France beat England in the group stages but lost to the eventual winners Greece 1–0 in the quarter-finals.[59] During the 2006 FIFA World Cup Henry remained as one of the automatic starters in the squad. He played as a lone striker, but despite an indifferent start to the tournament, became one of the top players of the World Cup. He scored three goals, including the winning goal from Zidane's free kick against defending champions Brazil.[1] However, France subsequently lost to Italy on penalties (5–3) in the final. Henry did not take part in the penalty shoot-out, having been substituted in extra time after his legs had cramped.[60] Henry was one of 10 nominees for the Golden Ball award for Player of the Tournament, an award which was ultimately presented to his teammate, Zidane[61] and was named a starting striker on the 2006 FIFPro World XI team.[62]
On 13 October 2007, Henry scored his 41st goal against the Faroe Islands, joining Michel Platini as the country's top goal-scorer of all time.[36] Four days later at the Stade de la Beaujoire, he scored a late double against Lithuania, thereby setting a new record as France's top goal-scorer.[63] On 3 June 2008, Henry made his 100th appearance for national team in match against Colombia, becoming the sixth French player ever to reach that milestone.[64]
Henry missed the opening game of France's short-lived UEFA Euro 2008 campaign, where they were eliminated in the group stages after being grouped together with Italy, the Netherlands and Romania.[65] He scored France's only goal in the competition in a 4–1 loss to the Netherlands.[66]
The French team struggled during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and finished second in their group behind Serbia. During the play-offs against the Republic of Ireland, Henry was involved in a controversy in the second leg of the game at the Stade de France on 18 November 2009. With the aggregate score tied at 1–1 and the game in extra time, he used his hand twice to control the ball before delivering a cross to William Gallas who scored the winner.[67] This sparked a barrage of criticism against the Frenchman, while national team coach Raymond Domenech and Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger defended him.[68][69] The Football Association of Ireland lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, seeking a replay of the game, which FIFA declined.[70] Henry said that he contemplated retiring from international football after the reactions to the incident,[71] but maintained that he was not a "cheat"; hours after FIFA had ruled out a replay, he stated that "the fairest solution would be to replay the game".[72] FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the incident as "blatant unfair play" and announced an inquiry into how such incidents could be avoided in future, and added that the incident would be investigated by the Disciplinary Committee.[73] Blatter also said Henry told him that his family had been threatened in the aftermath of the incident.[74] In January 2010, FIFA announced that there was no legal basis to sanction Henry.[75]
Henry did not feature in the starting line-up for France at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. France drew in their first game against Uruguay, and lost 2–0 in their second against Mexico. The team was thrown into disarray when Nicolas Anelka was expelled from the team, and captain Patrice Evra led a team protest by refusing to train.[76] In the final group game against host-nation South Africa in which Henry came on as a second-half substitute, France lost 2–1 and were eliminated from the tournament. He then announced his retirement from international football, having won 123 caps and scored 51 goals for Les Bleus.[77]
Style of play[link]
Although Henry played up front as a striker during his youth,[3] he spent his time at Monaco and Juventus playing on the wing. When Henry joined Arsenal in 1999, Wenger immediately changed this, switching Henry to his childhood position, often pairing him with Dutch veteran Dennis Bergkamp.[8] During the 2004–05 season, Wenger switched Arsenal's formation to 4–5–1.[78] This change forced Henry to adapt again to fit into the Arsenal team, and he played many games as a lone striker.[8] Still, Henry remained Arsenal's main offensive threat, on many occasions conjuring spectacular goals. Wenger once said of his fellow Frenchman: "Thierry Henry could take ball in the middle of park and score a goal that no one else in the world could score".[79]
One of the reasons cited for Henry's impressive play up front is his ability to calmly score from one-on-ones.[80] This, combined with his exceptional pace, means that he can get in behind defenders regularly enough to score.[3][81] When up front, Henry is occasionally known to move out wide to the left wing position,[82][83] something which enables him to contribute heavily in assists: between 2002–03 and 2004–05, the striker managed almost 50 assists in total and this was attributed to his unselfish play and creativity.[23] Henry would also drift offside to fool the defence then run back onside before the ball is played and beat the offside trap, although he never provided Arsenal a distinct aerial threat.[84] Given his versatility in being able to operate as both a winger and a striker, the Frenchman is not a prototypical "out-and-out striker", but he has emerged consistently as one of Europe's most prolific strikers.[2] In set pieces, Henry was the first-choice penalty and free kick taker for Arsenal, having scored regularly from those positions.[85]
Awards and honours[link]
Club[link]
- Monaco
- Ligue 1 (1): 1996–97
- Trophée des champions (1): 1997
- Arsenal
- Premier League (2): 2001–02, 2003–04
- FA Cup (3): 2002, 2003, 2005
- FA Community Shield (2): 2002, 2004
- Barcelona
- La Liga (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
- Copa del Rey (1): 2008-09
- Supercopa de España (1): 2009
- UEFA Champions League (1): 2008-09
- UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2009
- New York Red Bulls
National[link]
- France
-
- Winner: France 1998
- Runners-up: Germany 2006
-
- Winner: Belgium & Netherlands 2000
-
- Winner: France 2003
-
- Winner: Morocco 2000
Individual[link]
Henry has received many plaudits and awards in his football career. He was runner-up for the 2003 and 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year awards;[12] in those two seasons, he also won back-to-back PFA Players' Player of the Year titles.[17] Henry is the only player ever to have won the FWA Footballer of the Year three times (2003, 2004, 2006),[18] and the French Player of the Year on a record four occasions. Henry was voted into the Premier League Overseas Team of the Decade in the 10 Seasons Awards poll in 2003,[86] and in 2004 he was named by football legend Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.[87]
In terms of goal-scoring awards, Henry was the European Golden Boot winner in 2004 and 2005 (sharing it with Villarreal's Diego Forlán in 2005) and is the first ever player to retain the award.[20] Henry was also the top goal-scorer in the Premier League for a record four seasons (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006).[1] In 2006, he became the first player to score more than 20 goals in the league for five consecutive seasons (2002 to 2006).[88] Henry is currently third in the list of all-time Premier League goal-scorers, behind Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. Given his accomplishments, France's all-time goal-scorer was in his prime regarded by many coaches, footballers and pundits as one of the best footballers in the world.[14][89][90][91] In November 2007, he was ranked 33rd on the Association of Football Statisticians' compendium for "Greatest Ever Footballers".[92] Arsenal fans honoured their former player in 2008, declaring Henry the greatest Arsenal player.[37] In two other 2008 surveys, Henry emerged as the favourite Premier League player of all time among 32,000 people surveyed in the Barclays 2008 Global Fan Report.[93][94] In 2009, Henry was voted the best Premier League player of the 2000s.[95] On 10 December 2011, Arsenal unveiled a bronze statue of Henry at the Emirates Stadium as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations.[96]
A summary of Henry's individual awards is as follows:
- UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year (1): 1996–97
- PFA Players' Player of the Year (2): 2002–03, 2003–04
- PFA Team of the Year (6): 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
- FWA Footballer of the Year (3): 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06
- Premier League Golden Boot (4): 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06.
- Golden Boot Landmark Award 10 (1): 2004–05
- Golden Boot Landmark Award 20 (1): 2004–05
- Premier League Player of the Month (4): April 2000, September 2002, January 2004, April 2004
- Goal of the Season (1): 2002–03
- UEFA Team of the Year (5): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
- MLS Best XI (1): 2011
- MLS Player of the Month (1): March 2012
- Onze d'Or (2): 2003, 2006
- European Golden Boot (2): 2003-04, 2004-05
- French Player of the Year (5): 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year (1): 2003
- FIFA FIFPro World XI (1): 2006
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (1): Germany 2006
- FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball (1): France 2003
- FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe (1): France 2003
- UEFA European Football Championship Team of the Tournament (1): 2000
- FIFA 100 : 2004
- Time 100 Heroes & Pioneers no.16 : 2007
- English Football Hall of Fame : 2008
- Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 – 2001–02)
- Overseas Team of the Decade
- Premier League 20 Seasons Awards
- Fantasy Team (Panel choice)
- Fantasy Team (Public choice)
- Légion d'Honneur : 1998
Career statistics[link]
Club[link]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[99] | Continental[100] | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Monaco | 1994–95 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 1995–96 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1996–97 | 36 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 48 | 10 | 13 | |
| 1997–98 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 44 | 11 | 12 | |
| 1998–99 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 5 | |
| Total | 105 | 20 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 141 | 28 | 37 | |
| Juventus | 1998–99 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 2 | |
| Arsenal | 1999–2000 | 31 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 47 | 26 | 11 |
| 2000–01 | 35 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 22 | 3 | |
| 2001–02 | 33 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 49 | 32 | 7 | |
| 2002–03 | 37 | 24 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 55 | 32 | 24 | |
| 2003–04 | 37 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 51 | 39 | 14 | |
| 2004–05 | 32 | 25 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 42 | 30 | 17 | |
| 2005–06 | 32 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 45 | 33 | 9 | |
| 2006–07 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 12 | 7 | |
| Total | 254 | 174 | 77 | 31 | 10 | 6 | 84 | 42 | 9 | 369 | 226 | 92 | |
| Barcelona | 2007–08 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 47 | 19 | 11 |
| 2008–09 | 29 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 42 | 26 | 12 | |
| 2009–10 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 80 | 35 | 19 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 121 | 49 | 26 | |
| New York Red Bulls | 2010 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| 2011 | 26 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 5 | |
| Total | 46 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 26 | 13 | |
| Arsenal (loan) | 2011–12 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 0 |
| Total | 258 | 1751 | 77 | 33 | 11 | 6 | 85 | 42 | 9 | 376 | 2281 | 92 | |
| Career total | 502 | 2581 | 135 | 63 | 17 | 11 | 139 | 59 | 23 | 707 | 3311 | 171 | |
1Henry originally had two Premier League goals accredited to his name, but the seventh goal in Arsenal's 7–1 win over Blackburn Rovers was given as an own goal to Scott Dann. This takes his club figure down to 228 goals, and his overall figure down to 331 goals.[101]
International[link]
| National team | Season | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France U20 | 1996–97 | 5 | 3 |
| Total | 5 | 3 | |
| France | 1997 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 14[A] | 6 | |
| 2001 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2002 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 14 | 11 | |
| 2004 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2006 | 16 | 8 | |
| 2007 | 6 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 123 | 51 | |
- Note
A Includes one appearance from the match against FIFA XI on 16 August 2000 which FIFA and the French Football Federation count as an official friendly match.[106]
International goals[link]
Under–20[link]
- Scores and results list France U–20's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 19 June 1997 | Sarawak Stadium, Kuching |  South Korea |
1–0 | 4–2 | 1997 World Youth Championship |
| 2. | 3–0 | |||||
| 3. | 22 June 1997 | Sarawak Stadium, Kuching |  South Africa |
3–1 | 4–2 | 1997 World Youth Championship |
Senior team[link]
- Scores and results list France's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 June 1998 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | South Africa |
3–0 | 3–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup |
| 2. | 18 June 1998 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Saudi Arabia |
1–0 | 4–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup |
| 3. | 3–0 | |||||
| 4. | 29 March 2000 | Hampden Park, Glasgow |  Scotland |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 5. | 6 June 2000 | Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca |  Morocco |
1–0 | 5–1 | Friendly |
| 6. | 11 June 2000 | Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges |  Denmark |
2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 7. | 16 June 2000 | Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges |  Czech Republic |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 8. | 28 June 2000 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels |  Portugal |
1–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 9. | 24 March 2001 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Japan |
2–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 10. | 25 April 2001 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Portugal |
3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 11. | 6 October 2001 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Algeria |
3–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 12. | 27 March 2002 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Scotland |
3–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 13. | 16 October 2002 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Valletta |  Malta |
1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier |
| 14. | 2–0 | |||||
| 15. | 29 March 2003 | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | Malta |
2–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 16. | 3–0 | |||||
| 17. | 30 April 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Egypt |
1–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 18. | 2–0 | |||||
| 19. | 18 June 2003 | Stade de Gerland, Lyon |  Colombia |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 20. | 22 June 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  New Zealand |
2–0 | 5–0 | 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 21. | 26 June 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Turkey |
1–0 | 3–2 | 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 22. | 29 June 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Cameroon |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 23. | 6 September 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Cyprus |
4–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier |
| 24. | 11 October 2003 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Israel |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier |
| 25. | 15 November 2003 | Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen |  Germany |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 26. | 21 June 2004 | Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra |  Switzerland |
2–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 27. | 3–1 | |||||
| 28. | 13 October 2004 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia | Cyprus |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 29. | 17 August 2005 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier |  Côte d'Ivoire |
3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 30. | 7 September 2005 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin |  Republic of Ireland |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 31. | 9 November 2005 | Stade d'Honneur de Dillon, Fort-de-France |  Costa Rica |
3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 32. | 31 May 2006 | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens |  Slovenia |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 33. | 7 June 2006 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne |  China PR |
3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 34. | 18 June 2006 | Zentralstadion, Leipzig | South Korea |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup |
| 35. | 23 June 2006 | FIFA WM Stadion Köln, Cologne |  Togo |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup |
| 36. | 1 July 2006 | FIFA WM-Stadion Frankfurt, Frankfurt |  Brazil |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup |
| 37. | 6 September 2006 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Italy |
2–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 38. | 11 October 2006 | Stade Auguste Bonal, Montbéliard |  Faroe Islands |
2–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 39. | 15 November 2006 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Greece |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 40. | 22 August 2007 | Štadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava | Slovenia |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 41. | 13 October 2007 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn | Faroe Islands |
2–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 42. | 17 October 2007 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes |  Lithuania |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 43. | 2–0 | |||||
| 44. | 21 November 2007 | Olimpiysky National Sports Complex, Kiev |  Ukraine |
1–1 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 45. | 13 June 2008 | Stade de Suisse, Bern |  Netherlands |
1–2 | 1–4 | UEFA Euro 2008 |
| 46. | 10 September 2008 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Serbia |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 47. | 14 October 2008 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Tunisia |
1–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 48. | 2–1 | |||||
| 49. | 5 September 2009 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Romania |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 50. | 9 September 2009 | Stadion FK Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade | Serbia |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 51. | 14 October 2009 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |  Austria |
2–0 | 3–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
Career totals[link]
| Professional career totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Goals per game |
| Clubs | 702 | 328 | 169 | 0.46 |
| National team | 123 | 051 | 029 | 0.41 |
| Total | 825 | 379 | 198 | 0.46 |
Outside football[link]
Personal and family life[link]
Henry married English model Nicole Merry, real name Claire, on 5 July 2003.[3] The ceremony was held at Highclere Castle, and on 27 May 2005 the couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Téa.[107] Henry dedicated his first goal since Téa's birth to her by holding his fingers in a "T" shape and kissing them after scoring in a match against Newcastle United.[108] When Henry was still at Arsenal, he also purchased a home in Hampstead, North London.[3] However, shortly after his transfer to Barcelona, it was announced that Henry and his wife would divorce; the decree nisi was granted in September 2007.[109] Their separation concluded in December 2008 when Henry paid Merry a divorce settlement close to her requested sum of £10 million.[110]
As a fan of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Henry is often seen with his friend Tony Parker at games when not playing football. Henry stated in an interview that he admires basketball, as it is similar to football in pace and excitement.[111] Having made regular trips to the NBA Finals in the past, he went to watch Parker and the San Antonio Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals;[112] and in the 2001 NBA Finals, he went to Philadelphia to help with French television coverage of the Finals as well as to watch Allen Iverson, whom he named as one of his favourite players.[111]
Social causes[link]
UNICEF[link]
Henry is a member of the UNICEF-FIFA squad, where together with other professional footballers he appeared in a series of TV spots seen by hundreds of millions of fans around the world during the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. In these spots, the players promote football as a game that must be played on behalf of children.[54]
Stand Up Speak Up[link]
Having been subjected to racism in the past, Henry is an active spokesperson against racism in football. The most prominent incident of racism against Henry was during a training session with the Spanish national team in 2004,[113][114] when a Spanish TV crew caught coach Luis Aragonés referring to Henry as "black shit" to José Antonio Reyes, Henry's team mate at Arsenal.[108] The incident caused an uproar in the British media, and there were calls for Aragonés to be sacked.[115] Henry and Nike started the Stand Up Speak Up campaign against racism in football as a result of the incident.[116] Subsequently, in 2007, Time featured him as one of the "Heroes & Pioneers" on "The Time 100" list.[117]
Other work[link]
Along with 45 other football players, Henry took part in FIFA's "Live for Love United" in 2002. The single was released in tandem with the 2002 FIFA World Cup and its proceeds went towards AIDS research. Henry also supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Trust.[118]
Endorsements[link]
In 2006, Henry was valued as the ninth most commercially marketable footballer in the world,[119] as well as being the eighth richest Premier League player, with £21 million.[120]
Renault[link]
Henry featured in the Renault Clio advertisements in which he popularised the term va-va-voom, meaning "life" or "passion". His romantic interest in the commercial was his then-girlfriend, later his wife (now divorced), Claire Merry. "Va-va-voom" was subsequently added to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.[121]
Nike[link]
In 2004, Henry signed with sportswear giant Nike. In one of the advertisements, Henry pits his wits against football stars such as Claude Makélélé, Edgar Davids and Freddie Ljungberg in locations such as his bedroom and living room. The advertisement was partly inspired by Henry himself, who revealed that he always has a football nearby, even at home.[122] Henry was also featured in Nike's "Secret Tournament" advertisement along with 24 superstar football players including Ljungberg, Ronaldinho, and Francesco Totti. In tandem with the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Henry also featured in Nike's Joga Bonito campaign, Portuguese for "beautiful game".[123]
Reebok[link]
Henry's deal with Nike ended after the 2006 FIFA World Cup, when he signed a deal with Reebok to appear in their "I Am What I Am" campaign.[124] As part of Reebok Entertainment's "Framed" series, Henry was the star of a half-hour episode that detailed the making of a commercial about Henry directed by Spanish actress Paz Vega.[125]
Puma[link]
In 2011 Henry switched to Puma boots,[126] first wearing the brand in the 2011 MLS All Star game against Manchester United, before announcing a multi-year partnership for Puma to be his performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel sponsor. His first official game with Puma was in the Emirates Cup against former club Arsenal.
Gillette[link]
In February 2007, Henry was named as one of the three ambassadors of Gillette's "Champions Program," which purported to feature three of the "best-known, most widely respected and successful athletes competing today" and also showcased Roger Federer and Tiger Woods in a series of television commercials.[20] For reasons of recognition, Derek Jeter appears in Henry's place in the advertisements broadcast in North America.[127] In reaction to the handball controversy following the France-Ireland 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Gillette faced a boycott and accusations of doctoring French versions of their Champions poster, but subsequently released a statement backing Henry.[128]
Pepsi[link]
Henry was part of Pepsi's "Dare For More" campaign in 2005, alongside the likes of David Beckham and Ronaldinho.[129]
Notes and references[link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Goal.com Profile: Thierry Henry" (web archive). Goal.com. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Thierry Henry Bio". JockBio. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Anthony, Andrew (3 October 2004) "Thierry Henry, you're having a laugh". The Observer. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
- ^ O'Connor, Ashling; Smith, Ben (19 November 2009) "Sponsors stand by Thierry Henry but fans call for boycott over handball". The Times. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Thierry Henry returns: factfile". The Independent. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Henry". footballdatabase.com. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Soccerbase stats for AS Monaco Semi Final game". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
- ^ a b c Clarke, Richard (14 November 2006) "Henry – Why I must adapt to our new formation". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 26 March 2007. Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Thierry Henry – France". CBC.ca. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
- ^ "Henry joins Arsenal in record deal". BBC Sport. 3 August 1999. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ Harris, Nick (4 August 1999) "Henry adds to Arsenal's firepower". The Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Ronaldinho wins Fifa player award". BBC Sport. 20 December 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Thierry Henry in 1999–2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
- ^ a b c d e "Thierry Henry". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
- ^ "Gunners take home Cup". The Football Association. 17 May 2003. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ Freedman, Dan (17 May 2003) "Gunners take home Cup". The Football Association. 17 May 2003. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ a b c "Past Footballers of the Year". Pub Quiz Help. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Henry to stay a Gunner until 2010". BBC Sport. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Hughes, Ian (15 May 2004) "Arsenal the Invincibles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry Are Introduced As the Faces of the New Gillette Champions Program". Procter & Gamble. 4 February 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
- ^ "Games played by Thierry Henry in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (22 February 2006) "Wenger hopes Henry will stay and usher in new era". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ a b Winter, Henry (22 October 2005) "Record-breaking Henry still a master of humility". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
- ^ "Thierry Henry eases to scoring record". China Daily. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
- ^ "Arsenal 2–3 West Ham". BBC Sport. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ My Love Affair with Highbury – "Henry". Sporting Life. Retrieved 26 March 2007
- ^ a b "Arsenal rejected 50 million-pound bids for Henry, says Dein". China Daily. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ a b "Wenger: Henry staying with Gunners". ESPN Soccernet. 6 April 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
- ^ Clarke, Richard (7 March 2007) "Wenger – The hidden benefits of having Henry". Arsenal F.C. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ Clarke, Richard (8 March 2007) "Henry ruled out for the remainder of season". Arsenal F.C. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ "Thierry Henry signs for Barcelona". The Nation. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
- ^ "Henry seals deal with Barcelona". Daily Express. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Thierry: Why I'm going"/ The Sun. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007
- ^ "Arsenal announce Henry departure". BBC Sport. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Henry hoping Wenger remains Gunners' boss". ESPN Soccernet. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ a b "Fabregas was right about me, says Henry" ESPN Soccernet. 14 October 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ a b "Gunners' Greatest Players – 1. Thierry Henry". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 2 March 2011. Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Thierry Henry scores as Barcelona take charge". The Daily Telegraph. 20 September 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ "Levante 1–4 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2007
- ^ "Thierry Henry Interview – Football Focus – 26 April 2008 – BBC", Youtube. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "The year in pictures". FIFA. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
- ^ "Barcelona happy for Henry to leave". The Independent. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ "Henry and Toure to leave Barcelona". Reuters. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls sign international star Thierry Henry". New York Red Bulls. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Standings". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
- ^ "Earthquakes advance". ESPN Soccernet. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
- ^ "2011 MLS Standings & Leaders". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ 2011 MLS Cup "Playoffs". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
- ^ "Thierry Henry joins Arsenal from New York Red Bulls". BBC Sport. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (9 January 2012) "Arsenal 1–0 Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ "Thierry Henry open to third Arsenal spell - if asked". BBC Sport. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
- ^ "Henry records hat trick as Red Bulls top Impact". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ "A striking comparison". The Football Association. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ a b "2006 FIFA World Cup – Thierry Henry, top scorer and role model". UNICEF. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ "Décret du 24 juillet 1998 portant nomination à titre exceptionnel", Journal Officiel de la République Française. 25 July 1998. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
- ^ "France 2–1 Portugal". UEFA. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 23 March 2007. Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "France 2–1 Italy". UEFA. 2 July 2000. Retrieved 23 March 2007. Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Thierry Henry". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
- ^ "France 0–1 Greece". BBC Sport. 25 June 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (9 July 2006) "Italy 1–1 France (aet)". BBC Sport. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Sent-off Zidane named best player". BBC Sport. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Ronaldinho regains FifPro crown". BBC Sport. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "France 2–0 Lithuania: Henry smashes Platini record". ESPN Soccernet. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
- ^ "Henry reaches 100-cap milestone". BBC Sport. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "France 0–2 Italy: World champs dispose of French". ESPN Soccernet. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
- ^ "France Team Page". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ "Villain Henry as Ireland, Ukraine, Russia exit in play-offs". ESPN Soccernet. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ "Defiant Domenech condemns Henry backlash". ESPN Soccernet. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ^ Ley, John (20 November 2009) "Arsene Wenger urges France to replay World Cup match after Thierry Henry handball". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
- ^ "Defiant Domenech condemns Henry backlash". ESPN Soccernet. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- ^ "Thierry Henry contemplated international retirement". South Wales Echo. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
- ^ "Thierry Henry: Replay the "fairest solution" for Ireland". ESPN Soccernet. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- ^ Ziegler, Martyn (3 December 2009) "Henry's 'blatant unfair play' could lead to ban in South Africa". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ^ Eason, Kevin (1 December 2009) "Henry consoled after death threats to family". Herald Express. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ^ "FIFA not to take any action against Henry handball". ESPN Soccernet. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- ^ "Domenech: Player protest was 'stupid'". ESPN Soccernet. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ "Thierry Henry retires from internationals to concentrate on New York mission – and gets ready for an Irish American backlash". Daily Mail. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Hatherall, Chris (30 October 2006) "Henry defends Arsenal's pursuit of beautiful game". The Independent. Retrieved 23 April 2007. Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Clarke, Richard (17 July 2007) "Wenger – Don't compare Eduardo to Henry". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 27 July 2007. Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reyna, Claudio, and Woitalla, Mike, More Than Goals: The Journey from Backyard Games to World Cup Competition (2004), p 122, Human Kinetics, ISBN 0-7360-5171-6
- ^ Hansen, Alan (13 March 2006) Alan Hansen's column". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Daniel, Jacob, The Complete Guide to Coaching Soccer Systems and Tactics (2003), Reedswain, p 190, ISBN 1-59164-068-7
- ^ "Papin: attack at the double". BBC Sport. 12 April 2002. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ ""English Debate: Can Arsenal Lift Major Silverware This Campaign?". Goal.com. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
- ^ "Henry ready to get ugly". Sporting Life. 28 August 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
- ^ "Thierry Henry". Premier League. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
- ^ "Fifa names greatest list". BBC Sport. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Thierry Henry: The wizard of Highbury". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ Lacey, David (30 August 2003) "The best player in the world is wearing Arsenal's colours". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ Ingle, Sean (11 July 2006) "First half good, second half not bad either". The Guardian. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ "Wenger: Henry is the world's greatest". China Daily. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ Raynor, Dominic (7 November 2007) "Your Verdict: 100 greatest ever footballers". ESPN Soccernet. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
- ^ Brown, Oliver (11 December 2008) "Cristiano Ronaldo pipped by Fernando Torres in Premier League popularity stakes". The Daily Telegraph. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ^ Caroe, Charlie (10 December 2008) "Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry all-time fans' favourite Premier League footballer". The Daily Telegraph. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ Bellwood, Tom (18 December 2009) "The List: Top 50 players of the decade in the Premier League - Nos 10-1". Daily Mail. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ "Arseanl Unveil Statues of Three Legends". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ^ "Thierry Henry History". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Barcelona FC's player statistic for Thierry Henry". F.C. Barcelona. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ Includes French Cup, French League Cup, Coppa Italia, FA Cup, League Cup, FA Community Shield, Supercopa de España, U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs
- ^ Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and CONCACAF Champions League
- ^ Dubious Goals Panel reduce Henry record. Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ "Henry, Thierry". National-Football-Teams. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "Thierry Henry". FIFA. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "Thierry Henry". French Football Federation. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto (17 September 2010) "Thierry Henry – Century of International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Pla Diaz, Emilio (23 July 2006) "Zinedine Zidane – Century of International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Thierry "Va Va Vooms Away From Wife". Sky News. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
- ^ a b "Famous Fathers: Thierry Henry". FQ magazine. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ "Henry's wife is granted divorce". BBC News. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Thierry Henry pays wife £8m divorce settlement". The Daily Telegraph. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
- ^ a b "The Dish: Thierry Henry". National Basketball Association. June 2001. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
- ^ "Your Gripping NBA Champions". Deadspin. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
- ^ "Aragones fined for Henry remarks". BBC Sport. 1 March 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Witzig, Richard (May 2006). The Global Art of Soccer. CusiBoy Publishing. pp. 44. ISBN 0-9776688-0-0.
- ^ "Family urged Aragones to resign". BBC Sport. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Caborn welcomes anti-racism stand". BBC Sport. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Parker, Tony (3 May 2007) "Thierry Henry". Time. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
- ^ "Thierry Henry". Look to the Stars. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "Ronaldinho's brand worth more than Beckham's". Reuters. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ "The Rich List top ten...". Daily Mail. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ Va-va-voom is in the dictionary. Newsround. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ ""Henry loves home match". Daily Mirror. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
- ^ Stevenson, Seth (17 April 2006) "Keep Soccer Beautiful!". Slate. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
- ^ Bond, David (12 April 20060 "Henry drops bombshell by moving to Reebok". The Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ "Reebok gets the Picture". Reebok. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
- ^ "Official Henry to wear Puma boots". FootballBoots.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Smack Talkin' Tiger" (with clips). gototennis. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Boycott threat to Gillette products over Thierry Henry 'handball' row". The Daily Telegraph. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ^ Mitchell, Susan (10 April 2005) "Footballers kick off Pepsi campaign". The Sunday Business Post. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
External links[link]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Thierry Henry |
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Thierry Henry |
- MLS player profile
- Thierry Henry – FIFA competition record
- Thierry Henry profile at fcbarcelona.cat
- Thiery Henry biography at jockbio.com
- Thierry Henry career stats at Soccerbase
- Thierry Henry at Internet Movie Database
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Patrick Vieira |
Arsenal captain 2005–2007 |
Succeeded by William Gallas |
| Preceded by Patrick Vieira |
France national football team captain 2008–2010 |
Succeeded by Patrice Evra |
| Preceded by Juan Pablo Angel |
New York Red Bulls captain 2011– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
|
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|
|||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Henry, Thierry Daniel |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Footballer |
| Date of birth | 17 August 1977 |
| Place of birth | Les Ulis, Paris, France |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Thierry_Henry
Related pages:
http://it.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://cs.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://es.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://ru.wn.com/Анри, Тьерри
http://nl.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://id.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://pl.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://fr.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://de.wn.com/Thierry Henry
http://pt.wn.com/Thierry Henry
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Henry
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
 Wilshere playing for Arsenal in 2009 |
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1992-01-01) 1 January 1992 (age 20) | ||
| Place of birth | Stevenage, England | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001 | Luton Town | ||
| 2001–2008 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008– | Arsenal | 37 | (1) |
| 2009–2010 | → Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | England U17 | 9 | (1) |
| 2009–2012 | England U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2009– | England U21 | 7 | (0) |
| 2010– | England | 5 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:03, 23 May 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere (born 1 January 1992) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team.
Wilshere came up through Arsenal's youth academy and impressed from an early age. He made his first team debut in 2008, at the age of 16, and was Arsenal's youngest ever league debutant. In his short career thus far Wilshere has earned a number of accolades including the PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Team of the Year, and Arsenal's Player of the Season as voted on by the fans for his performances in his first full campaign for Arsenal during the 2010–11 season.
Contents |
Early life[link]
Wilshere was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and currently lives in Hitchin, where he grew up, attending Whitehill Junior School and The Priory School.[3] He captained The Priory School Football team to County Cup and District Cup glory from Year 7 through to Year 10, and also added the Under 15s National Cup to his list in Year 8, playing alongside Leyton Orient's Jake Argent-Martin and Jack Reeves.
Club career[link]
Youth and Reserves[link]
Wilshere joined the Arsenal Academy in October 2001 at the age of nine, after a short spell in the Luton Town youth programme.[4][5] He rose through the ranks, and at the age of 15 was named the captain of the under-16s; he also made a few appearances for the Under-18s. In the summer of 2007 Wilshere featured in the Champions Youth Cup and upon his return to England, Arsenal Academy coach Steve Bould gave him a start for the Under-18s first game against the Chelsea Under-18 team.[6] He scored his first goal against Aston Villa Under-18s in a 4–1 win.[7] He then scored a hat-trick against Watford Under-18s, helping his side to an Academy Group A title.[8] He finished his first full season with the Under-18s with 13 goals in 18 appearances, most of which coming at age 15.[9]
In February 2008, he made his debut for Arsenal Reserves aged 16 against Reading, and scored Arsenal's only goal of the match, which ended in a draw.[10] He scored a memorable goal against West Ham reserves in March, picking the ball up and curling a shot into the top left corner under the watching eye of Arsène Wenger.[11] He managed to record 2 goals and 2 assists in just 3 appearances for the reserves at the end of the 2007–08 season. He played in the Under-16s victory in the Atalanta Cup, being named as player of the tournament.[12] He played an important role in Arsenal's 2009 FA Youth Cup win, scoring goals in the semi final[13] and producing a man-of-the-match display in the first leg of the final against Liverpool, assisting two goals and scoring himself.[14]
2008–09 season[link]
In July 2008, Wilshere was selected in the first team for the pre-season friendlies. He made his first team debut against Barnet as a half-time substitute for Henri Lansbury, setting up a goal for Jay Simpson.[15] Wilshere scored his first two goals for Arsenal in a 10–2 win against a Burgenland XI, and again two days later in a friendly against Stuttgart.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger gave Wilshere a place in Arsenal's first team squad for the 2008–09 season,[16] and he was given the number 19 shirt which he has retained to this day.[17] He made his competitive debut in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in September 2008, as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie.[18] At the age of 16 years and 256 days, he was Arsenal's youngest-ever league debutante, a record previously held by Cesc Fàbregas.[19] Ten days later, on 23 September, Wilshere scored his first competitive Arsenal goal in a 6–0 victory against Sheffield United in the Football League Cup.[20] On 25 November 2008, Wilshere came on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv, becoming the fifth sixteen-year-old to ever play in the Champions League.[21] In January 2009 Wilshere signed his first professional contract,[22] extending it in July the same year.[23]
File:Wilshere training.jpg
Wilshere in pre-season training
2009–10 season[link]
In the preparation for the 2009–10 season, Wilshere scored twice and was twice awarded Man of the Match as Arsenal regained the friendly tournament, the Emirates Cup.[24] On 22 September 2009, he started for Arsenal in their 2–0 Football League Cup win over West Bromwich Albion. In the 37th minute of the match, he was involved in a controversial incident with Jerome Thomas as Thomas pushed Wilshere's face and was shown a red card.[25]
Loan to Bolton Wanderers[link]
On 29 January 2010, Wilshere joined Premier League side Bolton Wanderers on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season.[26] He made his first league start in the away game at Manchester City on 9 February, and scored his first Bolton goal, his first in the Premier League, on 6 March 2010 in the 2–1 victory at West Ham United.[27] He impressed at Bolton and they tried, unsuccessfully, to sign him on loan for another season.[28]
2010–11 season[link]
The 2010–11 football season was a year of breakthrough for Wilshere. On 15 August 2010, he made his first start in the Premier League for Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield.[29] He followed that up with another start the next weekend against Blackpool contributing with an assist. On 15 September, Wilshere started his first Champions League game of the season providing an assist.[30] Wilshere was named Arsenal's Player of The Month for September 2010.[31] On 16 October, Wilshere received his first straight red card in first-team football in a Premier League match against Birmingham City for a challenge on Nikola Žigić.[32] On 19 October, Wilshere scored his first Champions League goal with a chip over Andriy Pyatov at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal in a 5–1 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage.[33] On 1 November, it was announced that Wilshere had signed a new long-term contract.[34] On 27 November, Wilshere scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal in a 4–2 win at Aston Villa. Wilshere was praised for his highly influential display against Barcelona in Arsenal's 2–1 victory, he completed 93.5% of his passes overall and 91% of his passes in the final third of the pitch.[35][36] Manager Arsene Wenger described his performance as "outstanding".[37] In April 2011, Wilshere won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season, along with Arsenal team-mates Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna.[38] In his breakthrough season he was also voted Arsenal's Player of the Season, ahead of the likes of Fàbregas, van Persie and Nasri.[39]
2011–12 season[link]
During the summer leading into the 2011-12 season, Wilshere suffered a stress fracture ankle injury during a pre-season friendly. The injury proved a persistent problem throughout Arsenal's pre-season and on 26 September, Wilshere underwent successful surgery, and was to be ruled out for four to five months. However, on 27 January, he suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury[40], and in April 2012, he was ruled out for the remainder of the Premier League season, as well as England's UEFA Euro 2012 campaign.[41]
Style of play[link]
Wilshere is a player known for his movement, vision, passing and combination play.[42][43][44] More recently, Owen Coyle, manager of Bolton during Wilshere's loan spell, praised his ability to "tackle and take a knock", despite his lack of height. He has been compared to Paul Gascoigne for his attributes as an all-round midfielder.[by whom?] However, Arsenal head of youth development Liam Brady noted that Wilshere had problems with his temper early on in his career.[45]
Wilshere has been used in a number of positions, including attacking midfielder, winger, and most recently deep-lying central midfielder, where he has played in all but one of Arsenal's matches during the 2010–11 season. In Wenger's words: 'He's a box-to-box player, more than just a holding midfielder.[46]
International career[link]
Since 2006, the England national football team have decided to play Wilshere in an age group above his age. Wilshere was just 14 when he played for the England national under-16 football team at the Victory Shield in 2006. At the age of 15, he began playing for the England national under-17 football team. He was then named in the squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in May, starting the first two games, particularly impressing in the 2nd game against Germany before going off with an injury which kept him out of the final game.[47][48] After the tournament, he was named among the 10 future stars from the tournament.[49]
He has also been praised by former England manager Fabio Capello, who indicated there was a chance that he would include the young midfielder in his 2010 FIFA World Cup squad,[50] though this did not happen. He also came on as substitute for his England U-21 debut against the Netherlands.[51]
On 7 August 2010, Wilshere was called up to the Senior squad for the first time for their friendly against Hungary on 11 August.[52] He made his England debut on 11 August 2010, coming on as a 83rd minute substitute for Steven Gerrard against Hungary.[53] This made him the 10th youngest player ever to play for the English national team.[54]
On 9 February 2011 he made his full England debut when he started in a friendly against Denmark. He impressed despite playing in an unfamiliar role just in front of the defence and was praised by Fabio Capello.[55]
Career statistics[link]
Club[link]
- As of 22 May 2011.[56]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Arsenal | 2008–09 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009–10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 2009–10 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| Arsenal | 2010–11 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 49 | 3 | 9 |
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Arsenal total | 37 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 64 | 4 | 10 | |
| Career total | 51 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 78 | 5 | 13 | |
National team[link]
Personal life[link]Wilshere was arrested in the early hours of the morning on 29 August 2010 in connection with a "fracas".[57] However, it appeared Wilshere played the role of peacemaker and so did not face charges but received a caution.[58] In March 2011, Wilshere received a police warning for spitting on a taxi driver, who happened to be wearing a hat of Arsenal's rivals Tottenham, after the driver refused to drive him home because he was too drunk.[59] On 29 September 2011, Wilshere's girlfriend Lauren Neal gave birth to their son, Archie Jack Wilshere.[60] Wilshere appeared on the UK and Ireland cover of FIFA 12 alongside Wayne Rooney.[61] In November 2011, Jack Wilshere became an ambassador for St John Ambulance.[62] Honours[link]Arsenal[link]Winner: International[link]Winner: Individual[link]
References[link]
External links[link]
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http://wn.com/Jack_Wilshere
Related pages:
http://it.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://cs.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://id.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://es.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://ru.wn.com/Уилшир, Джек
http://nl.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://pt.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://pl.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://fr.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
http://de.wn.com/Jack Wilshere
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Wilshere
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
