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There have been so many greats over the years but here are some of my personal favorites:
Gordon Banks: A product of the prolific Chesterfield goalkeeping academy, Banks went on to undying fame with England. He set all kinds of keeping records, including 73 caps, 23 consecutive internationals, and seven consecutive lean sheets, a run eventually ended by Eusebio’s penalty in the 1966 World Cup semi-final. His late withdrawal from the 1970 quarter final probably cost England the match from 2-0 up; he was a loser in two FA Cup finals with Leicester; and unluckiest of them all he lost an eye in a car crash when he still had years left to play. Only Shilton, perhaps, has equaled him as a goalkeeper for England.
George Best: George Best was perhaps the outstanding British player of all time, despite a career much shorter than it should have been. “ Wayward genius” is a cliché that cannot be bettered as a description of a player with so many incredible gifts packed into a slight frame: balance, two twinkling feet, a surprisingly high leap, a cold eye for a finishing chance… everything. Best was twice a league championship winner with United, and won both the European Cup and the European Footballer of the year award in 1968. Then fame and fortune and the temptations of the world beyond football all combined to force a sad finale scattered with retirements and comebacks.
Jose Luis Chilavert: Paraguayan goalkeeper Chilavert emerged as one of the most powerful personalities of South American football in recent years, his aggressive approach carrying his influence beyond his own penalty area. After playing in Paraguay and in Spain, he achieved his greatest success in Argentina with Velez Sarsfield – displaying a remarkable ability to score goals from free kicks and penalties. His success earned him awards as in 1997 South American Footballer of the year. He scored his most famous free kick against Argentina in 1998 World Cup qualification.
Jimmy Greaves: Greaves was an instinctive goalscorer, whose speed in thought and deed made up for lack of size and power. His 44 goals in 57 full internationals included two hauls of four goals and four threes, and his 357 in League games included three fives. An unhappy interlude in Italy did little to mar his coring ability, and he gave wonderful value for money until his closing chapter with West Ham. By then drink had taken a grip, and his overcoming blight to become a popular television pundit set an inspiring example to others in the same position.
Ruud Gullit: Ruud Gullit was Europe’s outstanding player in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. He began his career as a sweeper, but at PSV he moved forward and after his world record 6.5 million sale to Milan in 1987 he became and out-and-out attacked. A year later he led Holland to victory in the European Championship and won the European cup with Milan. But a series of knee injuries dogged him, but after one season at Chelsea in England he was made player-manager and won the FA Cup at the first attempt. He left under a cloud but returned to lead Newcastle to the FA Cup final in 1999, before poor results saw him replaced by Bobby Robson.
Geoff Hurst: A big man who was made for the big occasion, Hurst, strong and deceptively fast, was frequently mundane in West Ham’s toils through their League Programmes. But when needed in the big events, he was out of the traps like a greyhound. He scored a remarkable total of 46 goals in the League Cup, 23 in the FA Cup and three in the 1966 World Cup Final, when he appeared virtually from nowhere to put the trophy on the nation’s sideboard with his hat trick against West Germany. Years later, the feat also earned him a knighthood. Like so many big-name players, he became a mundane manager, at Chelsea.
Jurgen Klinsmann: He needed little time before breaking through as the German league’s top scorer and the country’s Footballer of the year during his first Bundesliga spell with VFB Stuttgart, whom he also led to the UEFA Cup Final in 1989. He then spent three successful years at Internazional in Italy before moving to France with Monaco and then to England with Tottenham before returning to Germany and Bayern in July 1995. A year later Bayern won the UEFA Cup with Klinsmann contributing a European club competition record of 15 goals in a season. He won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and the European Championships in 1996 before announcing his retirement after scoring three times at France 98.
Gary Lineker: All sorts of records fell to this unassuming son of a market traded, who accepted good and bad with the smiling sincerity that, allied to his skill, made him such a popular figure. This was never more evident than in the desperate days when serious illness struck his first-born son. He went within one goal of England’s 49-scroing record, ten coming the World Cup final stages, led the First Division marksmen with three different clubs, scored a hat trick for Barcelona against Real Madrid, and won the FA Cup despite missing a penalty. Lineker retired after tow injury plague seasons in Japan, and immediately became a broadcaster.
Well there you have it, my personal favorites, hope you enjoyed.
Thank's for reading.
Gordon Banks: A product of the prolific Chesterfield goalkeeping academy, Banks went on to undying fame with England. He set all kinds of keeping records, including 73 caps, 23 consecutive internationals, and seven consecutive lean sheets, a run eventually ended by Eusebio’s penalty in the 1966 World Cup semi-final. His late withdrawal from the 1970 quarter final probably cost England the match from 2-0 up; he was a loser in two FA Cup finals with Leicester; and unluckiest of them all he lost an eye in a car crash when he still had years left to play. Only Shilton, perhaps, has equaled him as a goalkeeper for England.
George Best: George Best was perhaps the outstanding British player of all time, despite a career much shorter than it should have been. “ Wayward genius” is a cliché that cannot be bettered as a description of a player with so many incredible gifts packed into a slight frame: balance, two twinkling feet, a surprisingly high leap, a cold eye for a finishing chance… everything. Best was twice a league championship winner with United, and won both the European Cup and the European Footballer of the year award in 1968. Then fame and fortune and the temptations of the world beyond football all combined to force a sad finale scattered with retirements and comebacks.
Jose Luis Chilavert: Paraguayan goalkeeper Chilavert emerged as one of the most powerful personalities of South American football in recent years, his aggressive approach carrying his influence beyond his own penalty area. After playing in Paraguay and in Spain, he achieved his greatest success in Argentina with Velez Sarsfield – displaying a remarkable ability to score goals from free kicks and penalties. His success earned him awards as in 1997 South American Footballer of the year. He scored his most famous free kick against Argentina in 1998 World Cup qualification.
Jimmy Greaves: Greaves was an instinctive goalscorer, whose speed in thought and deed made up for lack of size and power. His 44 goals in 57 full internationals included two hauls of four goals and four threes, and his 357 in League games included three fives. An unhappy interlude in Italy did little to mar his coring ability, and he gave wonderful value for money until his closing chapter with West Ham. By then drink had taken a grip, and his overcoming blight to become a popular television pundit set an inspiring example to others in the same position.
Ruud Gullit: Ruud Gullit was Europe’s outstanding player in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. He began his career as a sweeper, but at PSV he moved forward and after his world record 6.5 million sale to Milan in 1987 he became and out-and-out attacked. A year later he led Holland to victory in the European Championship and won the European cup with Milan. But a series of knee injuries dogged him, but after one season at Chelsea in England he was made player-manager and won the FA Cup at the first attempt. He left under a cloud but returned to lead Newcastle to the FA Cup final in 1999, before poor results saw him replaced by Bobby Robson.
Geoff Hurst: A big man who was made for the big occasion, Hurst, strong and deceptively fast, was frequently mundane in West Ham’s toils through their League Programmes. But when needed in the big events, he was out of the traps like a greyhound. He scored a remarkable total of 46 goals in the League Cup, 23 in the FA Cup and three in the 1966 World Cup Final, when he appeared virtually from nowhere to put the trophy on the nation’s sideboard with his hat trick against West Germany. Years later, the feat also earned him a knighthood. Like so many big-name players, he became a mundane manager, at Chelsea.
Jurgen Klinsmann: He needed little time before breaking through as the German league’s top scorer and the country’s Footballer of the year during his first Bundesliga spell with VFB Stuttgart, whom he also led to the UEFA Cup Final in 1989. He then spent three successful years at Internazional in Italy before moving to France with Monaco and then to England with Tottenham before returning to Germany and Bayern in July 1995. A year later Bayern won the UEFA Cup with Klinsmann contributing a European club competition record of 15 goals in a season. He won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and the European Championships in 1996 before announcing his retirement after scoring three times at France 98.
Gary Lineker: All sorts of records fell to this unassuming son of a market traded, who accepted good and bad with the smiling sincerity that, allied to his skill, made him such a popular figure. This was never more evident than in the desperate days when serious illness struck his first-born son. He went within one goal of England’s 49-scroing record, ten coming the World Cup final stages, led the First Division marksmen with three different clubs, scored a hat trick for Barcelona against Real Madrid, and won the FA Cup despite missing a penalty. Lineker retired after tow injury plague seasons in Japan, and immediately became a broadcaster.
Well there you have it, my personal favorites, hope you enjoyed.
Thank's for reading.
I hink Tord Grip's only saying this because he's being pressured into it. What confuses me is how Eriksson watches Hargreaves play games in Germany, and beckhma play in Spain, yet he can't be @rsed to go just a few hundred miles up to Scotland. Nut.
Der Nazi wrote:
"However, because Eriksson is a foreigner, he doesen't even think of looking over the border for players playing in Scotland..."
-----
I know what you mean, but he is still ignoring them - despite Tord Gripp having said that he and Eriksson were 'watching them closely', prior to the all-important Turkey game, quite recently.
And 'well-done'. You put a lot of effort in and your win was well-deserved (although, you still wouldn't be "Kool" enough to get in "Sven's" England team, if you were a footballer! :P ).
To claim your chosen prize, just send an e-mail to '[email protected]' telling them who you are, how grateful you are, which game you'd like (and the format!), and your membership number.
And then, within the next few days, it'll all be updated on the Prize 2 Winners' List. :)
"However, because Eriksson is a foreigner, he doesen't even think of looking over the border for players playing in Scotland..."
-----
I know what you mean, but he is still ignoring them - despite Tord Gripp having said that he and Eriksson were 'watching them closely', prior to the all-important Turkey game, quite recently.
And 'well-done'. You put a lot of effort in and your win was well-deserved (although, you still wouldn't be "Kool" enough to get in "Sven's" England team, if you were a footballer! :P ).
To claim your chosen prize, just send an e-mail to '[email protected]' telling them who you are, how grateful you are, which game you'd like (and the format!), and your membership number.
And then, within the next few days, it'll all be updated on the Prize 2 Winners' List. :)
Oh my god! I can't believe this won Gameaday; I would never of imagined this in a million years!
How do I claim my prize?
How do I claim my prize?
Sutton and Thompson are both excellent players, who are much needed because England have a lack of consistent forwards and decent left-wingers.
However, because Eriksson is a foreigner, he doesen't even think of looking over the border for players playing in Scotland. He should watch Football Focus, The Goal Rush etc, and employ some more British staff.
However, because Eriksson is a foreigner, he doesen't even think of looking over the border for players playing in Scotland. He should watch Football Focus, The Goal Rush etc, and employ some more British staff.
It's interesting how you mention Gordon Banks, Sir Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker there...
If you look at the England team today, do we really have anyone like them in it?
Certainly, we've had the potential since these "old-boys" called it a day. But while David Seaman and Alan Shearer have both slipped-away for their own reasons, we haven't really come close to winning anything `Major´ since '66 other than Euro '96. Yet, many still seem to believe we are 'better'. somehow, than the teams going back nearly 40 years.
Paul Robinson. David James. Chris Kirkland. Ian Walker. Richard Wright.
Can you really see another Banks or Shilton there?
Our best bet was always Seaman, but age got the better of him. And when is Nigel Martyn ever gonna get the second-chance he is showing (at Everton) he deserves?
Michael Owen. Wayne Rooney (I wish people would just shut-up about him!). Emile Heskey. Darius Vassell.
While Owen does have the potential to be another Lineker (possibly...), I cannot see another Geoff Hurst - or even an Alan Shearer - at this moment in time.
I believe that Alan Smith and Chris Sutton have the right to wear the No.9 shirt, over Rooney, on a regular-basis. But if they aren't going to be given their chances now, how could they ever come close to filling the void left by Shearer's early retirement, in the memory of Hurst?
If you look at the England team today, do we really have anyone like them in it?
Certainly, we've had the potential since these "old-boys" called it a day. But while David Seaman and Alan Shearer have both slipped-away for their own reasons, we haven't really come close to winning anything `Major´ since '66 other than Euro '96. Yet, many still seem to believe we are 'better'. somehow, than the teams going back nearly 40 years.
Paul Robinson. David James. Chris Kirkland. Ian Walker. Richard Wright.
Can you really see another Banks or Shilton there?
Our best bet was always Seaman, but age got the better of him. And when is Nigel Martyn ever gonna get the second-chance he is showing (at Everton) he deserves?
Michael Owen. Wayne Rooney (I wish people would just shut-up about him!). Emile Heskey. Darius Vassell.
While Owen does have the potential to be another Lineker (possibly...), I cannot see another Geoff Hurst - or even an Alan Shearer - at this moment in time.
I believe that Alan Smith and Chris Sutton have the right to wear the No.9 shirt, over Rooney, on a regular-basis. But if they aren't going to be given their chances now, how could they ever come close to filling the void left by Shearer's early retirement, in the memory of Hurst?
Gianfranco Zola: 'Nuff Said.
There have been so many greats over the years but here are some of my personal favorites:
Gordon Banks: A product of the prolific Chesterfield goalkeeping academy, Banks went on to undying fame with England. He set all kinds of keeping records, including 73 caps, 23 consecutive internationals, and seven consecutive lean sheets, a run eventually ended by Eusebio’s penalty in the 1966 World Cup semi-final. His late withdrawal from the 1970 quarter final probably cost England the match from 2-0 up; he was a loser in two FA Cup finals with Leicester; and unluckiest of them all he lost an eye in a car crash when he still had years left to play. Only Shilton, perhaps, has equaled him as a goalkeeper for England.
George Best: George Best was perhaps the outstanding British player of all time, despite a career much shorter than it should have been. “ Wayward genius” is a cliché that cannot be bettered as a description of a player with so many incredible gifts packed into a slight frame: balance, two twinkling feet, a surprisingly high leap, a cold eye for a finishing chance… everything. Best was twice a league championship winner with United, and won both the European Cup and the European Footballer of the year award in 1968. Then fame and fortune and the temptations of the world beyond football all combined to force a sad finale scattered with retirements and comebacks.
Jose Luis Chilavert: Paraguayan goalkeeper Chilavert emerged as one of the most powerful personalities of South American football in recent years, his aggressive approach carrying his influence beyond his own penalty area. After playing in Paraguay and in Spain, he achieved his greatest success in Argentina with Velez Sarsfield – displaying a remarkable ability to score goals from free kicks and penalties. His success earned him awards as in 1997 South American Footballer of the year. He scored his most famous free kick against Argentina in 1998 World Cup qualification.
Jimmy Greaves: Greaves was an instinctive goalscorer, whose speed in thought and deed made up for lack of size and power. His 44 goals in 57 full internationals included two hauls of four goals and four threes, and his 357 in League games included three fives. An unhappy interlude in Italy did little to mar his coring ability, and he gave wonderful value for money until his closing chapter with West Ham. By then drink had taken a grip, and his overcoming blight to become a popular television pundit set an inspiring example to others in the same position.
Ruud Gullit: Ruud Gullit was Europe’s outstanding player in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. He began his career as a sweeper, but at PSV he moved forward and after his world record 6.5 million sale to Milan in 1987 he became and out-and-out attacked. A year later he led Holland to victory in the European Championship and won the European cup with Milan. But a series of knee injuries dogged him, but after one season at Chelsea in England he was made player-manager and won the FA Cup at the first attempt. He left under a cloud but returned to lead Newcastle to the FA Cup final in 1999, before poor results saw him replaced by Bobby Robson.
Geoff Hurst: A big man who was made for the big occasion, Hurst, strong and deceptively fast, was frequently mundane in West Ham’s toils through their League Programmes. But when needed in the big events, he was out of the traps like a greyhound. He scored a remarkable total of 46 goals in the League Cup, 23 in the FA Cup and three in the 1966 World Cup Final, when he appeared virtually from nowhere to put the trophy on the nation’s sideboard with his hat trick against West Germany. Years later, the feat also earned him a knighthood. Like so many big-name players, he became a mundane manager, at Chelsea.
Jurgen Klinsmann: He needed little time before breaking through as the German league’s top scorer and the country’s Footballer of the year during his first Bundesliga spell with VFB Stuttgart, whom he also led to the UEFA Cup Final in 1989. He then spent three successful years at Internazional in Italy before moving to France with Monaco and then to England with Tottenham before returning to Germany and Bayern in July 1995. A year later Bayern won the UEFA Cup with Klinsmann contributing a European club competition record of 15 goals in a season. He won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and the European Championships in 1996 before announcing his retirement after scoring three times at France 98.
Gary Lineker: All sorts of records fell to this unassuming son of a market traded, who accepted good and bad with the smiling sincerity that, allied to his skill, made him such a popular figure. This was never more evident than in the desperate days when serious illness struck his first-born son. He went within one goal of England’s 49-scroing record, ten coming the World Cup final stages, led the First Division marksmen with three different clubs, scored a hat trick for Barcelona against Real Madrid, and won the FA Cup despite missing a penalty. Lineker retired after tow injury plague seasons in Japan, and immediately became a broadcaster.
Well there you have it, my personal favorites, hope you enjoyed.
Thank's for reading.
Gordon Banks: A product of the prolific Chesterfield goalkeeping academy, Banks went on to undying fame with England. He set all kinds of keeping records, including 73 caps, 23 consecutive internationals, and seven consecutive lean sheets, a run eventually ended by Eusebio’s penalty in the 1966 World Cup semi-final. His late withdrawal from the 1970 quarter final probably cost England the match from 2-0 up; he was a loser in two FA Cup finals with Leicester; and unluckiest of them all he lost an eye in a car crash when he still had years left to play. Only Shilton, perhaps, has equaled him as a goalkeeper for England.
George Best: George Best was perhaps the outstanding British player of all time, despite a career much shorter than it should have been. “ Wayward genius” is a cliché that cannot be bettered as a description of a player with so many incredible gifts packed into a slight frame: balance, two twinkling feet, a surprisingly high leap, a cold eye for a finishing chance… everything. Best was twice a league championship winner with United, and won both the European Cup and the European Footballer of the year award in 1968. Then fame and fortune and the temptations of the world beyond football all combined to force a sad finale scattered with retirements and comebacks.
Jose Luis Chilavert: Paraguayan goalkeeper Chilavert emerged as one of the most powerful personalities of South American football in recent years, his aggressive approach carrying his influence beyond his own penalty area. After playing in Paraguay and in Spain, he achieved his greatest success in Argentina with Velez Sarsfield – displaying a remarkable ability to score goals from free kicks and penalties. His success earned him awards as in 1997 South American Footballer of the year. He scored his most famous free kick against Argentina in 1998 World Cup qualification.
Jimmy Greaves: Greaves was an instinctive goalscorer, whose speed in thought and deed made up for lack of size and power. His 44 goals in 57 full internationals included two hauls of four goals and four threes, and his 357 in League games included three fives. An unhappy interlude in Italy did little to mar his coring ability, and he gave wonderful value for money until his closing chapter with West Ham. By then drink had taken a grip, and his overcoming blight to become a popular television pundit set an inspiring example to others in the same position.
Ruud Gullit: Ruud Gullit was Europe’s outstanding player in the late 1980’s and early 1990s. He began his career as a sweeper, but at PSV he moved forward and after his world record 6.5 million sale to Milan in 1987 he became and out-and-out attacked. A year later he led Holland to victory in the European Championship and won the European cup with Milan. But a series of knee injuries dogged him, but after one season at Chelsea in England he was made player-manager and won the FA Cup at the first attempt. He left under a cloud but returned to lead Newcastle to the FA Cup final in 1999, before poor results saw him replaced by Bobby Robson.
Geoff Hurst: A big man who was made for the big occasion, Hurst, strong and deceptively fast, was frequently mundane in West Ham’s toils through their League Programmes. But when needed in the big events, he was out of the traps like a greyhound. He scored a remarkable total of 46 goals in the League Cup, 23 in the FA Cup and three in the 1966 World Cup Final, when he appeared virtually from nowhere to put the trophy on the nation’s sideboard with his hat trick against West Germany. Years later, the feat also earned him a knighthood. Like so many big-name players, he became a mundane manager, at Chelsea.
Jurgen Klinsmann: He needed little time before breaking through as the German league’s top scorer and the country’s Footballer of the year during his first Bundesliga spell with VFB Stuttgart, whom he also led to the UEFA Cup Final in 1989. He then spent three successful years at Internazional in Italy before moving to France with Monaco and then to England with Tottenham before returning to Germany and Bayern in July 1995. A year later Bayern won the UEFA Cup with Klinsmann contributing a European club competition record of 15 goals in a season. He won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and the European Championships in 1996 before announcing his retirement after scoring three times at France 98.
Gary Lineker: All sorts of records fell to this unassuming son of a market traded, who accepted good and bad with the smiling sincerity that, allied to his skill, made him such a popular figure. This was never more evident than in the desperate days when serious illness struck his first-born son. He went within one goal of England’s 49-scroing record, ten coming the World Cup final stages, led the First Division marksmen with three different clubs, scored a hat trick for Barcelona against Real Madrid, and won the FA Cup despite missing a penalty. Lineker retired after tow injury plague seasons in Japan, and immediately became a broadcaster.
Well there you have it, my personal favorites, hope you enjoyed.
Thank's for reading.