Gianfranco Zola OBE

Full name: Gianfranco Zola
Date of birth: 05/07/1966
Gianfranco Zola was a popular figure in English football, liked and admired by Chelsea fans as well as fans of many other clubs. It was his inimitable style and flair but down to earth, publicity shy character which endeared him so much to English fans. Despite being only 5 foot 6, his brilliant technique combined with an astonishing repertoire of tricks paved the way to footballing stardom for him. He enjoyed several seasons at the top level in Italian football before a switch to join Ruud Gullit’s revolution at Chelsea in 1996.

Early Career

Zola was born in Oliena, Sardinia on July 5, 1966 and his first professional team was Nuorese. In his early career he also featured for Torres, later moving to Napoli in 1989 where he would become understudy to Diego Maradona. Later he became Napoli's first-choice striker as Maradona tested positive for drugs, ruining his Napoli career.
In 1991 Zola helped Napoli to the European Super Cup and was also called up to the Italy squad under Arrigo Sacchi. Two years later it was time for Zola to move on again and he was signed by Parma where he would partner another South American, Columbia's Faustino Asprilla. Joining Parma proved a fruitful experience for Zola, winning the UEFA cup and finishing runners-up in Serie A and the Italian Cup. Unfortunately (for Parma or Zola depending on how you look at it) he could never fit into the managers plans and was made available for transfer.

English Football

In 1996, Ruud Gullit was manager of Chelsea and was building a continental revolution at Stamford Bridge. He was informed of the news that Gianfranco Zola had been transfer listed and had no hesitation in snapping him up in a £4.5 million move. Zola had a very successful spell with Chelsea, winning several cups and aiding their resurgence as a force in English football. At the end of his first season in the Premier League, Zola was voted the Football Writers Player of the Year, making him not only the first Chelsea player to win the accolade, but also the only player to win it without playing a full season. In the 1997-98 season, Chelsea won a cup treble of the League Cup, Cup Winners Cup and the Super Cup, owing much of this success to the displays put in by Zola.
The 1999-00 season saw Zola become an instrumental figure in Chelsea’s Champion’s League campaign, scoring three goals. In this season Chelsea also won the F.A. Cup with Zola setting up fellow Italian Roberto Di Matteo for the winner in the final against Aston Villa. As time progressed, Zola found his first team chances limited by the arrival of new players, particularly Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen. He did, however, have a brief revival under Carlo Ranieri in the 2002-2003 season, scoring 16 goals and helping Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, he was also voted Player of the Year by Chelsea fans in this year. His services to English football also earned him an Honorary OBE in 2004.
In 2003 though, change was the word at Chelsea. Zola agreed a move back to Italy with Sardinian club Cagliari and Roman Abramovich completed a takeover of Chelsea. Zola subsequently led Cagliari to promotion from Serie B and stayed with them for his final year in football. He retired from playing in June 2005 and has since become a coach for the Italian Under-21 side alongside another former Chelsea player, Pierluigi Casiraghi.
The future still looks rosy for Zola, his side are performing well with some of Europe's best youngsters in among the fray. Zola was nearly tempted back into English football by Roman Abramovich, who wanted the Chelsea hero to join Avram Grant's coaching staff. According to The Observer, Zola turned this opportunity down after consultation with ex-team mates who warned him not to involve himself with the unpopular owner.

International Football

Zola represented Italy 35 times, scoring 9 goals. He made his debut in November 1991 against Norway. He played for the Azzurri at USA ’94, making one appearance and getting sent off. He also represented them at Euro ’96 in England, missing a penalty against Germany as Italy went out in the first round. Considering his long career in football, it is surprising that Zola made only 35 appearances for his country.

Footballing Honours

Zola has an impressive collection of silverware from his time as a footballer. These include Serie A with Napoli; a UEFA Cup with Parma and two F.A Cups, one charity shield, a League cup, a Cup-Winners Cup and a Super Cup with Chelsea.
His personal honours include being awarded an OBE in 2004 as well as being named Chelsea’s greatest ever player and being named in the Chelsea Centenary XI. He was also inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Zola has an impressive tally of 627 games played for all teams, with 193 goals scored. No matter what Zola goes on to do in the future, he will always have the staunch support of Chelsea fans who were around to see him play and loved him for his passion and dedication to the Chelsea cause.

Individual Honours

• Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame: 2006
• Awarded an OBE: 2004
• Voted Chelsea’s Best Ever Player
• Named in Chelsea’s centenary XI

They said

Gianfranco tries everything because he is a wizard and the wizard must try. - Claudio Ranieri after Zola’s back-heeled volley against Norwich.

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1984-1987	Nuorese	31 (10)
1987-1989	Torres	88 (21)
1989-1993	Napoli	105 (32)
1993-1996	Parma	102 (49)
1996-2003	Chelsea	249 (89)
2003-2005	Cagliari	44 (21)
1991-1997	Italy	35 (10)

Zinedine Zidane

Full name: Zinedine Yazid Zidane
Date of birth: 23/06/1972
According to the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll in 2004 Zinedine ‘Zizou’ Zidane is the greatest European footballer of the past 50 years. His accolades are countless, his talents are immeasurable, his legendary status is undeniable, his wealth is record-breaking and his name actually means ‘an overabundance of talent’. Zidane will go down as one of the greatest talents ever to play the game but his memory will stretch beyond that of the pitch. His fiery temperament was perhaps the hottest the game has ever seen. Shown the red card 14 times in his career and most memorably in the World Cup Final in 2006, Zidane played with so much passion that it often engulfed him. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest players ever. The goals that he scored and the countless with which he assisted have never been more valuable to the teams that he played for.
The Early Days of Club Football
Born in Marseille in 1972, Zinedine was the youngest of five children born to his parents Ismail and Malika, who were Algerians who found refuge in France. He has always held his ancestry in the highest esteem and been proud to call himself as much Algerian as French. His upbringing was hard and, as immigrants, his family often had to be strong to survive. This tough attitude eventually permeated onto the football pitch. Some called it passion, some thought he lost his cool. The formula worked though and none of the teams he played for throughout his career would have swapped it.
Zidane’s first club was La Castellane in Marseille. At only 14 he caught the eye of nearby team scout from AS Cannes, Jean Varraud. He quickly settled in at Cannes and at 17 he was granted his full debut. His first goal came for Cannes in 1991 and he helped the club to the UEFA cup tournament. It wasn’t long though before the bigger clubs spotted a rapidly emerging talent.
Before he signed for FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Zidane fell in love with Veronique, a Spanish dancer. They would go on to marry and have four sons together. He spent four brilliant years at Bordeaux, at one point nearly being signed by Kenny Dalgleish and Blackburn Rovers, but it was to be the Italian giants Juventus who would poach the ever-improving attacking midfielder in 1996, for what would be a bargain £3 million.

The Italian Job
Juventus and the entire Italian Serie A league had no idea what was coming with Zidane. The Juventus coach Marcello Lippi built an indestructible team, with Zidane at the helm, and the Frenchman would help the club win two league titles and reach two UEFA Champions League finals. In 1998 he was granted the Fifa World Player of the Year Award.
Viva Espana
It was only a matter of time before the club that gets everyone they want, Real Madrid, nabbed Zidane too. It wouldn’t happen without a record being broken though. In 2001 Zidane left Juventus and joined Real Madrid for a whopping £45.6 million, which remains the highest football transfer fee ever. They certainly got their money’s worth though. The team were full of the world’s best players (Raul, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Beckham, Owen). Whilst at Madrid, Zidane helped them win the Spanish League in 2001/02 and the Champions League in the same year. His winning goal in that final will go down as one of the greatest goals ever scored. Here it is again.
Meanwhile, whilst playing for France…
Unlike some of his national team-mates such as Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry, Zidane certainly maintained his form when playing for his country. His first cap came in 1994 in a friendly against the Czech Republic and, from the outset, he exploded onto the scene by scoring two goals to draw the game 2-2. In Euro 96, France reached the semi-finals but lost on penalties. Their strength with Zidane was growing and that strength would soon annihilate everyone in their path in the 1998 World Cup.

On their own soil, Zidane and his team-mates ploughed through the opposition. The fire in Zizou’s belly ignited once again and a red card in a qualifier meant he could only return for the knock out stages. However, he scored in the quarter-final shoot-out and he would eventually win France the World Cup by scoring twice in the final against Brazil, winning his nation the Cup for the first time.
In the European Championships in 2000, France became the first team since 1974 to win World and Euro consecutively. Zidane scored in the quarter and semi finals, then beating Italy in the final.
Italy would be a country forever etched on Zidane's heart. With Juventus. he received international notoriety, but with the national side he would eventually receive the ultimate stab in the back. Having already retired from international football in 2004, Zidane rose from the ashes to help his struggling nation qualify for the World Cup held in Germany in 2006. He went on to captain the side throughout the tournament and they gradually snuck up behind all the other teams to reach the final…against Italy.
Another world cup final for Zidane but no one alive could have predicted what would happen to the legend. in what was probably going to be his last ever competitive game of football. The script began as a dream; Zidane scored a penalty in the first half. But then Italy hit back, levelling the game, at which point disaster struck for Zizou.
Marco Materatzzi has since admitted that he said to Zidane that instead of having his shirt at the end of the game, he’d “prefer your whore of a sister”. Whatever was actually said by the Italian, it was enough for Zidane to turn around and launch a diving head-butt into Materazzi’s chest, immediately giving him a red card and leaving him walking past the World Cup trophy, that his nation would then go on to lose on penalties in extra time. It was his last ever game.

And now…..
His last game hasn’t marred the mark he left on the game though. Everyone knew what he was like before that famous head-butt: a man of passion who was never likely to leave the stage without a final act of drama. There have been rumours of a come-back career in both USA and Australia, but it seems only charity games will see the great Zidane now. He is loved in France and loved by football: a truly worthy legend and, as his name denotes, a man with an overabundance of talent.

Individual Honours

• UEFA Club Football Awards, Best Midfielder: 1997/1998
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2002
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1998
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1998, 2000, 2003
• FIFA Silver World Player of the Year: 2006
• FIFA Bronze World Player of the Year: 1997, 2002
• European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or): 1998
• UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2001/2002
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll (Best European player of the past 50 years): 2004
• FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Award: 2006
• FIFPro World XI Team: 2005, 2006
• Onze d'Or: 1998, 2000, 2001
• UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFA All-Star Team: 1998, 2006
• UEFA BEST XI: 2001, 2002, 2003
• Chevalier de Légion d'Honneur: since 1998

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1988–1992	AS Cannes	61(6)
1992–1996	Girondins Bordeaux	135 (28)
1996–2001	Juventus	151 (24)
2001–2006	Real Madrid	155 (37)
1994–2006	France	108 (31)

Lev Yashin

Full name: Lev Ivanovich Yashin
Date of birth: 22/10/1929

Introduction

A goalkeeper who spent his entire career in Russia at the height of the Cold War - sound like the credentials of one of the game’s legends? Didn’t think so, yet Lev Yashin is exactly that. His physical attributes singled him out, standing 6’2” tall and athletically built in an age before ProZone or modern training techniques.
Coupled with his remarkable reflexes and agility, he was quite the package. Voted the greatest goalkeeper in the history of football by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the Soviet defined what a goalkeeper should be and his influence continues to be felt today.

Career overview

Early life and career as a Dynamo

Born in Moscow on October 22nd 1929 when Stalin ruled the roost and the country was experiencing unparalleled economic upheavals, young Lev was unsurprisingly born to a family of industrial workers. During these tumultuous and arduous times, Lev himself ended up in the factory and operated as a metal worker in Moscow throughout World War II.
However, his first love was always football. Having been involved with the youth side since 1944, Yashin was called up to Dynamo Moscow’s senior side in 1949, thanks to an invite from incumbent coach, A.I. Chernyshov.

However, despite his undoubted talent, Dynamo’s pedigree of brilliant goalkeepers meant he had to wait for his chance, with club legend Aleksei ‘The Tiger’ Khomich (who would become his mentor) between the sticks.
He eventually made his first appearance with the club one year later on July 6th 1950 and never looked back, although whether this was due to a genuine, unfaltering love for the club or the fact that Dynamo Moscow was affiliated to the Interior Ministry, is something we will never know.
Over the course of twenty-two seasons for Dynamo between 1949 and 1970, Yashin provided the impetus for the club’s success, as they won the USSR Championship in 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1963.
This came alongside a series of second place finishes, often to arch-rivals Spartak, and victories in the USSR Cup in 1953, 1967 and 1970. Incredibly, Yashin was also involved in Russia’s other national sport, ice hockey, and represented HC Dynamo Moscow with some success, winning the USSR Ice Hockey Cup in 1953.

Soviet star

Above all, Yashin came to worldwide prominence for his exploits with the national team. Receiving his first call-up in 1954, the same season in which he won his first USSR Championship, Lev made the number 1 jersey his own just as he had at Moscow.
He also enjoyed near-immediate success, as the Soviets took their side to the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne and picked up the gold medal. This was followed by an even more impressive victory at the 1960 European Nations’ Cup (better known today as the European Championship), courtesy of a 2-1 victory after extra time in the final against Yugoslavia.

Yashin would also participate in the subsequent 1964 competition in Spain, where the Soviet team succumbed in the final to the host nation (a politically loaded contest between Communism and Franco’s authoritarian regime).
During his time with the national side, Lev was also involved in three world cups (1958, 1962 and 1966), with the Soviets reaching the semi-final in his last appearance.
While his time with the Soviets was littered with success, perhaps his greatest moment came in 1963 when he appeared as part of the Rest of the World XI against England in the FA’s centenary match. The ‘Black Panther’, as he was now known, due to his distinctive black outfit, made a string of sensational saves, fully justifying his more fearsome ‘Black Spider’ moniker to his opponents. He would appear for the Rest of the World XI again in 1968 against Brazil.
It was also this year that Yashin received the ultimate individual accolade, becoming the 1963 European Footballer of the Year. To this day, he remains the only goalkeeper to take the award. The plaudits didn’t end there either, as he picked up the Order of Lenin in 1967, the second highest honour in the Soviet Union.

Retirement

Yashin concluded his career with the national side in 1967, having won 78 caps. He continued to play for Moscow, though, eventually retiring in 1971 with 326 appearances to his name. In honour of his incredible service to the game, FIFA reward him with a testimonial match in 1971 at Lenin Stadium in Moscow, between Dynamo and a European XI, in front of roughly 100,000 fans and fellow greats like Pele and Beckenbauer. When he eventually called time on his career proper, he had kept an astonishing 270 clean sheets, saving approximately 150 penalties in the process.
After his playing career, Lev continued to stay involved in the game, coaching a few junior sides in Finland. His legend was still a part of the Soviet consciousness, though, with Dynamo erecting a statue to the man and the state eventually making him a Hero of Socialist Labour with the Hammer and Sickle medal in 1989. This, combined with the Order of Lenin, meant that Yashin held the highest honour in the state.
Yashin died in 1990 as a result of problems with a previous leg amputation. Nevertheless, his name lives on. FIFA have since established the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper in the World Cup and the Russian Football Union named him their Golden Player of the last 50 years in 2003, a fitting tribute to one who contributed so much to Russian sport and football in general.

Achievements

• European Footballer of the Year - Winner (1963)
• European Championship Winner - 1960
• Olympic Gold Medallist - 1956
• Hero of Socialist Labour (w/ Hammer and Sickle) - 1989
• Order of Lenin - 1967
• Best Goalkeeper of the USSR - Winner (1960, 1963, 1966)
• Olympic Order - 1986

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1949-1971	Dynamo Moscow	326 (0)
1954-1967	USSR	74 (0)

Ian Wright

Full name: Ian Edward Wright MBE
Date of birth: 03/11/1963

Introduction

If you had told the 21 year old Ian Wright in 1985 that he would become one of the greatest ever English goal-scorers, a household name, and be awarded an MBE he would probably have given you the same look of contempt he gave to many a referee over the years and return to plastering walls.
Ian Edward Wright was born on the 3rd November 1963 in Woolwich, London. He quickly developed a love of football and was impressive for his school and local youth teams. However, in his late teens he had unsuccessful trials with Brighton and Southend and began to give up on his dream of being a professional footballer. He looked set for a full-time job as a plasterer in London, whilst playing non-league football.

History

Crystal Palace

It was during his spell at Dulwich Hamlet FC that he was spotted by Crystal Palace scout Peter Prentice and was invited for a trial at Selhurst Park, where he impressed rookie manager Steve Coppell. Wright was soon a regular in the Palace first team and finished second top scorer in his first season with 9 goals.
Wright’s career took another leap forward in the summer of 1986 with the arrival of Mark Bright from Leicester City. The two of them formed a formidable striking partnership and were the main factor in Palace’s forthcoming success.

Promotion and the FA Cup final

After two seasons of consolidation, followed by narrowly missing out on a playoff spot in 1988, Palace managed to reach the playoffs in 1989. Wright was Palace’s top scorer in the 1987-88 season with 23 league goals and followed this with 33 in the promotion season, as he was voted the club’s player of the year.
Within five years, Wright had gone from playing on a park to playing in the country's top flight. Despite an injury blighted season, he notched 13 goals in Palace’s first campaign in the First Division and his return from a broken shin helped the team avoid relegation.
Wright capped the season with two goals after coming on from the substitutes bench in a 3-3 draw in the 1990 FA Cup final against Manchester Utd. Palace sadly lost the replay 1-0.

Silverware, England caps and a big money move

The next season was Palace’s most successful in recent memory as the club finished third in the league and won the Zenith Data Systems Cup. Wright scored 25 goals, including two in the ZDS cup final against Everton. He also made his debut for England in February 1991 as Graham Taylor started him in a friendly against Cameroon
Wright continued his form into the next season and, after 5 goals in 8 games, was signed for Arsenal by George Graham for a club record £2.5 million. He had scored 117 goals in 277 games for Palace, making him their most prolific post-war striker, but it was at Highbury that he was to have his best years.

A great start at Arsenal

Wright made an incredible start to his Arsenal career. He followed up a debut goal against Leicester in the League Cup with a hatrick in his league debut against Southampton. He was awarded the 1992 Golden Boot, after scoring 31 goals in all competitions for Palace and Arsenal.
Despite this, he was not included in Graham Taylor’s England squad for the 1992 European Championships, as Alan Smith, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Nigel Clough were preferred.
In the 1992-93, the club moved into the newly formed Premier League and Graham opted for more defensive tactics in this season, with the team relying almost totally on Wright to score their goals. Arsenal finished 10th in the inaugural Premier League season and were the lowest scoring club in the whole league.
They managed a meagre 40 goals in 42 games, with Wright getting 17 of them. But Arsenal faired much better in the cup competitions, winning both the League Cup and the FA Cup. These were the first major trophies for Wright, who repeated his feat of 1990 by scoring in the FA cup final and then again in the replay as Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1.
The next season brought a further 22 Premier League goals for Wright. These included two hatricks in consecutive away matches against Ipswich and Southampton. He helped Arsenal to fourth in the Premier League and the 1994 Cup Winner’s Cup, although he was suspended for the final in which they beat favourites Parma 1-0. This was the only European medal Wright won during his career.
Wright’s international career also began to blossom as he scored a late equaliser against Poland and then four goals in a 7-1 win over San Marino. However, that summer, Graham Taylor was replaced by Terry Venables, who dropped him from the squad in October 1994.

Difficult times

The 1994-95 season was a tempestuous one for Arsenal, as they recorded their lowest Premier League finish of 12th position. In February 1995, George Graham was sacked after it was discovered he had accepted illegal payments for players. These difficulties did not affect Wright, however, as the striker scored over 25 goals.
He also notched a goal in every round but the final, as Arsenal were runners up in the 1995 Cup Winner's Cup due to a last minute wonder-goal from Real Zaragoza’s Nayim. Wright also bagged his 100th goal for Arsenal that season, ironically against Crystal Palace.
Wright’s Arsenal career faltered somewhat under the management of Bruce Rioch. Despite forging an impressive strike partnership at the start of the 1995/96 season with Dennis Bergkamp, Wright did not get on with the new manager and handed in a transfer request, which he later retracted. Although not playing every game, he still managed 15 Premier League goals as the club finished fifth.

The Wenger Years

In August 1996, Rioch left the club after a dispute with the board and Arsene Wenger eventually took over. Wright felt much more comfortable under the Frenchman’s management and, despite now being in his mid-thirties, proved he was still one of the most deadly strikers in the league, scoring 28 Premier League goals that season.
Wright was one of the first black players, after John Barnes, to be a huge superstar in the English game. Inevitably he had to deal with racist abuse at certain points in his career. In February 1996, he was embroiled in controversy after a two-footed tackle on Peter Schmeichel in a game against Manchester United.
This challenge sparked the first of many disputes between an incensed Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. The two players were involved in several confrontations throughout the game and, after the final whistle, Wright accused the Dane of racially abusing him in that game and others. The case was eventually dropped and the two seem to have reconciled, as in recent years they have appeared on Match Of The Day together.

The 1997-98 season was Wright’s last for Arsenal. It also brought him his first league winners medal, as the club went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup double. He started the season brilliantly with six goals in his first seven games, including a hatrick in a 4-1 demolition of Bolton. It was during this game that he broke Cliff Bastin’s record of 178 goals for Arsenal.
Wright had prepared a t-shirt with '179 - Just Done It' written on it and when he scored his first he took off the Arsenal shirt to reveal it, only to discover that he had only equalled the record! Undeterred, Wright went on to score again just five minutes later and repeated the celebration.
An unfortunate hamstring injury sustained in January 1998 meant he missed most of the second half of the season and was only an unused substitute at Wembley for the FA Cup victory over Newcastle. Wright scored 11 goals that season, with his last for Arsenal coming in a 2-1 win over West Ham at Upton Park. He was to join the Hammers the following summer for £500,000.
Ian Wright scored 185 goals for Arsenal in 288 games in all competitions. His record has recently been beaten by Thierry Henry but he is still regarded as a hero by Arsenal fans. Wright was Arsenal’s top scorer in his first six seasons with the club, scoring over 30 goals in five of them.

England recall

His England career was rejuvenated after the arrival of Glen Hoddle. In November 1996, Wright was drafted back into the squad after two years of being in the international wilderness. He scored a brace in a thrashing of Moldova and the opening goal in England’s 2-0 win over Italy in Le Tournai in 1997.
Most people consider his battling performance to be his best in an England shirt, as he lead the line in the 0-0 draw in Italy which sent England through to the 1998 World Cup. However, a re-occurrence of his groin injury kept him out of the World Cup finals.
Wright played 33 times for his country and scored nine goals. His last game, and Hoddle’s, was a friendly against the Czech Republic at Wembley in November 1999. Remarkably, he never played in a major international tournament.

Later career, family and celebrity status

Post-Arsenal, the remainder of Wright’s career was fairly nomadic. After scoring nine goals in his first season for West Ham, he struggled to get into the team the following season and had spells at Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Burnley before retiring in the summer of 2000 aged 37.
Wright is now the patriarch of a famous footballing family, as his adopted son Shaun Wright Phillips plays for Chelsea and England, and his son Bradley Wright-Phillips plays for Southampton in the Football League Championship. He also has sons in the Reading and Charlton youth academies respectively.

After his retirement from football, Wright has become something of a celebrity. He is a regular pundit for England matches on Match Of The Day, where he has gained popularity for his straight-forward talking style and unerring patriotism.
He also has a show on TalkSport radio and has appeared on popular programmes such as Top Gear, Big Brother Celebrity Hijack and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. He also fronted a campaign to tackle child obesity and is a patron of the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.
Wright’s professional career spanned 15 years, during which he made 526 appearances scoring 313 goals. In 2000 he was given an MBE for Services to Football. He has a Premier League winners medal, two FA cups, a League Cup and a Cup Winners Cup. Any follower of English football during the nineties will remember him for his explosive pace, cheeky and petulant attitude, dogged determination and, above all, his steely composure in front of goal.

Achievements

• FA Cup - Winner (1990, 1993, 1998)
• Premier League - Winner (1997/1998)
• English Division Two - (1989)
• Zenith Data Systems Cup - (1991)

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1984 - 1985	Greenwich Borough	Unknown (?)
1985 - 1991	Crystal Palace	225 (89)
1991 - 1998	Arsenal	221 (128)
1998 - 1999	West Ham United	22 (9)
1999	Nottingham Forest (Loan)	10 (5)
1999 - 2000	Celtic	8 (3)
2000	Burnley	15 (4)
1989 – 1992	England B Team	3 (0)
1991 – 1998	England	33 (9)

Player Achievements

Awards and Honours

Award	Year(s)
MBE	2002
Golden Boot	1991, 1992

George Weah

Full name: George Tawlon Oppong Ousman Weah
Date of birth: 01/10/1966
George Weah was the best African footballer of the 20th century. That’s official. Sports journalists from around the globe voted the Liberian hitman the continent's best player of the century - and it’s hardly surprising.
After 14 years plying his trade in Europe, King George collected a gargantuan haul of trophies, both club and individual. The former FIFA World Footballer of Year was an awe-inspiring force on the field and off it, as a libertarian and politician in his native homeland.

Early life

George Tawlon Oppong Ousman Weah was born on October 1 1966 in the notorious 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.
As the future goal-scoring master looked for his golden ticket, he worked for the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation as a switchboard technician, whilst playing in Liberia for Young Survivors, Bongrange Company, Mighty Barolle and Invincible Eleven.
It was at Invincible Eleven that Weah caught the eye of the visiting scouts: not only did his 24 goals in 23 games win his side the title, but also earned him his much awaited move abroad.

Football Career abroad

Mr George's scoring had grabbed the attention of Cameroonian champions, Tonnerre Yaoundé, and a move soon beckoned. After helping his side to their second successive Cameroon Premiere Division title his goal scoring exploits saw him move to Europe, after just a season in the Cameroonian capital.
The Liberian hitman got the move he dreamt of, leaving Africa behind for the glitz and glamour of Monaco. Weah was brilliant, though gauche, but adapted quickly to the fast pace and sophistication of the French League under manager, Arsene Wenger.
Described by Wenger as "useless at the start" his never-say-die attitude reaped just rewards as he outshone all at the Stade Louis II, leading the Les Rouge et Blanc to the Coupe de France in 1991.
From humble beginnings, Weah was making the most out of his newfound fame and fortune, and went looking for more, leaving the tax haven of Monaco for pastures new at Paris Saint-Germain. Weah continued causing havoc for defences, leading the line as PSG won the Coupe de France in 1993, before winning Ligue 1 a year later.
The honours and goals kept coming for King George, who got his big move in 1995 to a colossal European force - A.C. Milan. Weah's first season in Serie A earned him all the plaudits.

The Lone Star striker won the African Player of the Year for the third time, became the first African player to win the European Player of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year en-route to the Serie A title and Golden Boot. Not a bad haul.
After filling his trophy cabinet, Weah had precious little to put in there in his four further seasons at the Rossoneri, despite continuing his mesmerising performances. The 1998-99 Serie A title proved to be his last, as the hitman moved on loan to pre-Ambramovich Chelsea.
Weah failed to hit the heights in England that he had reached whilst plying his trade in France and Italy but still managed to add another bauble to his brimming trophy cabinet, winning the FA Cup in the last final to be played under the crumbling twin towers of Wembley.
The FA Cup win proved to be the last trophy in King George's illustrious career as he saw out his final seasons at then perennial strugglers, Manchester City, a brief spell at Olympique de Marseille and then a money-spinning period at Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates - one that proved to be his last.
Despite Weah's incredible success at club level, no matter how much he tried, success couldn't be brought to the Liberian national team. Weah is seen as the patron saint of The Lone Stars, having not only played and coached them, and spent upwards of $2 million to help finance their quest for glory.
Unfortunately, no matter how much Weah tried, Liberia still fell short, falling just a point short of World Cup qualification in 2002. Despite their ultimate failure the Lone Stars became a national rallying point, providing the citizens of a fractured country with a distraction and respite from war.

After Football

When Weah retired as a footballer, not intent just to watch Liberia and its people suffer, he became a devoted humanitarian for his war-torn country. Weah had become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1997 whilst at A.C. Milan, working to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa and trying to rehabilitate child soldiers from war-ravaged countries through vocational training initiatives.
In April 2004 he continued his work, counselling child soldiers and getting first-hand experience of UNICEF's post-war rehabilitation of 15,000 Liberian children. This work was recognised at the ESPY Awards when he was given the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his work. And it didn't stop there.
Later in 2004 he suspended his UNICEF duties to stand in the Liberian presidential elections the following year. Despite being a favourite for the election, and receiving a hero's welcome when returning to Monrovia from his Florida home, he lost out to finance minister, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first elected female president in Africa.

Individual Honours

• FIFA Fair Play Award: 1996
• African Player of the Century: 1996
• Onze Mondial Top Player in Europe Award: 1995
• European Player of the Year: 1995
• African Player of the Year: 1989, 1994, 1995
• FIFA World Best Player: 1995

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1981-1984	Young Survivors	? (?)
1984-1985	Bongrange Company	2 (1)
1985-1986	Mighty Barolle	10 (7)
1986-1987	Invincible Eleven	23 (24)
1987-1988	Tonnerre Yaounde	18 (15)
1988-1992	AS Monaco	115 (55)
1992-1995	Paris Saint-Germain	152 (53)
1995-2000	A.C. Milan	147 (58)
2000	Chelsea	11 (4)
2000	Manchester City	7 (1)
2000-2001	Olympique Marseille	19 (5)
2001-2003	Al-Jazira	0 (0)
1988-2002	Liberia	60 (22)

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Full name: Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelrooij
Date of birth: 01/07/1976
He came to the Premier League with a reputation: that of being one of the most potent marksmen in European football. During his time at Manchester United, he not only upheld that reputation, but built on it, in the process becoming one of the most feared forwards of his generation.
While his talent brought him unprecedented success and accolades with United, life in Manchester was not always a happy one for van Nistelrooy. He joined the unfortunate group of stars to get on the wrong side of Sir Alex Ferguson, eventually being forced away from the club and moving on to Real Madrid.

Schoolboy Days

Rutgerus Johannes Martinius van Nistelrooij, as he is fully known, was born in 1976, in Oss, Southern Holland. His interest in sport began when he was a schoolboy. Football wasn't the only sport where he demonstrated flair, though, with tennis and gymnastics also among his talents. In his village football team he played as a sweeper, before his footballing career properly took off. He also played part-time for Nooit Gedacht and Magriet.

Early Professional Years

In 1993, his services were snapped up by FC Den Bosch, then in the Dutch Second Division. Playing professional football for the first time, he moved up to central midfield, allowing him to advertise his attacking ability behind the front two. Having spent three fairly ordinary seasons in the lower reaches of the Dutch football league, his 1996-97 season with Den Bosch was a telling one. He bagged an impressive 12 goals in 13 games, not surprisingly catching the eye of bigger clubs.
van Nistelrooy was eventually signed by SC Heerenveen in 1997. For the first time in his career, he was moved to centre forward. The decision paid immediate dividends. He managed 13 goals in 31 games in his first season in the Eredivisie, Dutch football's top flight. His services were becoming more and more sought-after.

Record Signing - Record Breaker

After just one season with Heerenveen, he signed for Dutch giants, PSV Eindhoven for £4.2 million, a record transfer fee at the time between two Dutch clubs. It was a move that no doubt raised a few eyebrows.
He scored his first PSV goal against former employers SC Heerenveen, before going on to net a remarkable 31 goals in 34 games. That was the highest tally for that season in the Eredivisie and the second highest in Europe, an achievement that led to him being awarded the Dutch Player of the Year accolade by his fellow professionals. He also grabbed his first Champions League hat-trick against Finnish outfit, HJK Helsinki.
In November '98, van Nistelrooy burst onto the international scene, gaining his first cap in a 1-1 draw against Germany, with his first goal for his country coming in a surprise 2-1 reversal against Morocco.

Injury Nightmare

In March 2000, van Nistelrooy injured his knee in a friendly against Danish side Silkeborg, postponing a proposed £18.5 million move to Manchester United. Days after this disappointment, things got worse, as van Nistelrooy broke down in training with PSV after damaging his cruciate knee ligament.
This didn't stop him from maintaining his incredible goalscoring form, as he picked up his second consecutive Dutch Player of the Year award. He scored a total of 29 goals in the 1999-2000 season, and was the Eredivisie's top scorer and Europe's second top scorer for the second season running.
Following a year of rehabilitation, he scored twice in his comeback game in March '01, securing PSV's place in the Dutch Cup final.

Record Signing, Record Breaker - Again

Almost exactly a year after his first move to United had collapsed, van Nistelrooy finally put pen to paper for the English champions. With the United careers of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke coming to an end, it was clear from the start that it was money well spent by Sir Alex Ferguson. In the 2001-02 season, he broke the record for scoring in consecutive Premier League games, scoring in eight straight league games.
He endeared himself immediately to the Old Trafford faithful, scoring in his full debut for United, in the 2001 Charity Shield match with Liverpool. He then bagged twice in his league debut, a 3-2 win against Fulham at Old Trafford, before netting his first United hat-trick in a 6-1 trouncing over Southampton at Old Trafford. He quickly took over the penalty-taking duties, converting seven in his first season. He was not only proving his deadliness with tap-ins, but also with one-on-ones, headers and even longer-range strikes.
In the Champions League, he was showing his £19 million worth. With doubles at home to Deportivo and Boavista, and crucial strikes away to Bayern Munich and Deportivo, he finished top scorer in the 2001-02 Champions League. Arguably his biggest highlight of the 2001-02 season came in a dramatic FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Aston Villa. With United finding themselves 2-0 down and in need of a miracle, van Nistelrooy came off the bench to score twice in as many minutes to seal an unforgettable 3-2 victory. After a remarkable 23 league goals in 32 games, 10 Champions League goals, and eight straight scoring league games, he rightly became PFA Players' Player of the Year.

Title Winner

Following his superb debut season with United, one could sense his increased determination, and how loathe he was to finish the 2002-03 season trophyless. He was even more ruthless in front of goal, helping United grab their 8th Premier League crown in 11 seasons under Ferguson. Netting a grand total of 44 in all competitions, including three hat-tricks and 12 penalties, it was clear he was injecting fear in Premier League and European defenders alike.
He scored vital goals at vital times, with the opener at Highbury at the business end of the season, his brace (both penalties) at home to Liverpool and his hat-trick at home to Newcastle among the most important. His 25 goals in the Premier League were pivotal to United regaining the league title, and his equaliser at Everton on the last day of the season saw him pip Thierry Henry to the Golden Boot award. Although the PFA award went to Henry, he still earned the Barclaycard Player of the Year. Furthermore, he added to the previous season's tally of 10 Champions League goals, this time scoring 12, again ending the season as the competition's top scorer (despite United only making the Quarter-Final stage).
In the 2003-04 season, van Nistelrooy got his hands on the FA Cup, scoring twice in the final in the 3-0 win over Millwall at the Millennium Stadium. He also scored twice in the Fifth Round victory over great rivals Manchester City.

Out Of Form

Despite United's success in the FA Cup, van Nistelrooy's league form began to suffer; many argue that David Beckham's departure to Real Madrid for the 2003-04 season cut down the service he so thrived on in the previous two seasons. The season began encouragingly enough, and the signs were pointing to yet another prolific campaign. In February '04, his brace at Everton in a 4-3 win (his 100th and 101st United goals), plus his eight straight scoring games at the end of the 2002-03 season, equalled the all-time top flight record of consecutive scoring games. His instincts clearly remained.
However, his scoring form went somewhat astray during the second half of the season. He went a worrying 8 games without a league goal, and his once flawless form from the penalty spot also went AWOL. He missed four penalties that season, including the infamous injury-time penalty against Arsenal that crashed onto the bar, unforgettable for the taunting by Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, Bisan Lauren and Ashley Cole. More worrying, though, was a knee injury that sidelined him until May's FA Cup Final.

Brief Return To Form

In that season, though, he still managed to break Denis Law's European goalscoring record for United. He retained his place at the top of the Champions League scoring charts with 8 goals, and his two Cup Final goals capped off the season in a positive manner. His scoring exploits for Holland were also positive, as he netted four goals as Holland reached the Semi-Final of Euro 2004. The season after, van Nistelrooy was out of action until mid-September after an operation to his groin. As it had been in seasons gone by, his return from injury was a happy one, as he scored four at home to Sparta Prague in a devastating display.

Beginning Of The End at United

That display against Sparta was, sadly, the highlight of a disappointing season. Having picked up a supposed calf problem playing for Holland in October '04, he hobbled on for another six weeks, before being forced to stop because of the seriousness of the injury. It was later announced that an Achilles injury was the real reason. He was sidelined for three months.
He returned in early March, in a Champions League tie against his favourite boyhood team AC Milan. He was not match-fit, and the cost of his absence was there for all to see: the lowest goalscoring tally of any United team since 1991.
In 2005-06, he was again the top United scorer with 24 goals. Up until February '06, he had scored 19 goals, among them his first United goal from outside the box at Charlton. However, injury was not the problem this time. Suspicions about van Nistelrooy's United future arose when he failed even to come off the bench in the 2006 Carling Cup Final against Wigan Athletic. With injury ruled out as the problem, this could only mean one thing: a rift with Fergie.

Ruud Boy

The nail in the coffin came on the final game of the 2006 season, as he was omitted from the team to play Charlton, following a reported training ground bust-up with Cristiano Ronaldo. Ferguson claimed van Nistelrooy, angry at being left out, went home three hours prior to kick-off without watching the game. As expected, he left Manchester United, heading to Real Madrid on July 28, 2006, for a reported fee of £12.3 million. In September '06, van Nistelrooy criticised his former club, saying he was "stabbed in the back" after years of loyalty to United. Since then, though, Ferguson has said there are no grudges held between himself and van Nistelrooy.

Real Success For Ruud

van Nistelrooy was an instant hit at the Bernabeu, with goals galore almost instantly for his new club. When he scored a hat-trick in only his second match for Real Madrid, against newly-promoted Levante UD, it looked ominous for La Liga defenders.
van Nistelrooy has become an instant hero at the Bernabeu, scoring massive goals in both El Clasico games against arch rivals Barcelona. In the Bernabeu fixture in October, he scored in the second half to help clinch a key victory over their enemies, and in March at the Nou Camp, he netted a brace in an enthralling 3-3 draw, ultimately swinging the title race in Real's favour. In the title run-in, he scored in a key 2-1 win over Valencia, before bagging two out of the team's three goals against title hopefuls Sevilla.
In the next match, Real Madrid were trailing Espanyol 2-0. Up stepped van Nistelrooy to give Real a glimmer of hope, scoring Real's first. They won 4-3, the winner coming in the 89th minute. In their penultimate game, he twice brought Real level at Real Zaragoza, with the second equaliser coming in the dying embers of the match. Real went into the final match top of the table, and went on to win the 2006-07 La Liga after a 3-1 home triumph over Real Mallorca.
He ended his first La Liga season just as he had finished his first Premier League season, as top scorer with 25 goals. He earned the coveted Pichichi award (given out by Spanish newspaper La Marca to the top La Liga goalscorer), before equalling the longest consecutive scoring streak (7 matches) in La Liga history, a feat he had also managed with United. Unsurprisingly, he was selected as a nominee for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Not Just A Name

Despite a sour end to a fantastic spell at Old Trafford, there is no doubting his impact on the club. Scoring an incredible 150 goals in 200 United starts (and 19 sub appearances), he propelled them to their 8th Premier League title and their record 11th FA Cup. In five seasons, his 38 Champions League strikes made him the club's all-time leading scorer in the competition. There was no uncertainty, either, about the assets he would bring to Real Madrid. It was no shock to anyone to see the huge contribution his 25 La Liga goals made to Real's capture of their 30th La Liga crown.

Individual Honours

• La Liga Top Scorer: 2007
• FIFA 100: 2004
• English Premiership Top Scorer: 2003
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2003
• Champions League Top Scorer: 2002, 2003
• PFA Player of the Year: 2002
• Barclaycard Player of the Year: 2002
• Champions League Most Valuable Striker: 2002
• Dutch Player of the Year: 1999, 2000
• Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1999, 2000

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1993-1997	Den Bosch	69 (17)
1997-1998	SC Heerenveen	31 (13)
1998-2001	PSV Eindhoven	67 (62)
2001-2006	Manchester United	150 (95)
2006-present	Real Madrid	64 (43)
1998-2008	Netherlands	64 (33)

Marco van Basten

Full name: Marcel van Basten
Date of birth: 31/10/1964

Introduction

Marco Marcel Van Basten was a Dutch striker who found fame at various international clubs and is commonly recognised as one of the greatest goal scorers ever. He was born on the 31st October 1964 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He began his career playing for a local team at the age of seven. After one year he moved to the larger club, UVV Utrecht, where he stayed for almost a decade.
At seventeen his professional career commenced, as Ajax (one of the most prolific national sides in the Netherlands) signed him following a brief spell with another local team. His success was immediate and he soon started gaining caps and scoring goals for the national team. He enjoyed stints at several other international clubs before his career was cut short due to injury. Marco van Basten now manages the Dutch national team, although there have been reports that he may be in line to take over the managerial position at Chelsea. He has recently led the Dutch team to successful qualification for the 2008 European Championships, with one game to spare.

Career Overview

Van Basten made his professional debut on the 3rd of April 1982, scoring for Ajax against NEC Nijmegen, having replaced Cruyff as a substitute. He scored nine more goals in his first season, despite playing only 20 games due to stiff competition for starting positions. An out-going transfer made way for Van Basten to play more often, though, and over the following four seasons he scored 117 goals in 112 matches. The highlight of this run was the 1985/86 season when he was awarded the European Golden Boot Award. He scored an impressive 151 goals in 172 games for Ajax and helped them to victory in the Cup Winners Cup.
In 1987 he was transferred to AC Milan, where he was awarded European Footballer of the Year in the 1988/89 season. His first season with Milan was not as sucessful as his time at Ajax. He only played 9 games owing to the ankle injury which would return to end his career. The 1990/91 season also saw poor performances from the Dutch national team in the World Cup and Milan were banned from European Competitions for one year, after refusing to play the semi-final of the 1991 cup due to floodlight problems.
1992 saw a return to form for both Marco and Milan, with the former being awarded the Capocannoniere title (for scoring 31 goals in 25 matches) for the second time and Milan winning the Italian league. This success was sadly not reflected in his national team performances, as his missed penalty sent his side crashing out of the European Championship semi-final. However, this did not deter van Basten, who scored with such regularity and style during the tournament which would later be known as the Champions League, that he was awarded the Golden Ball Award for the third time and was named Player of the Year by FIFA.

Sadly, Marco's injury returned and after a fourth operation in 1993, he played his final league game for AC Milan. It was clear that he was no longer the same player he had been before the injury and Milan lost the Champions League final to Marseille 1-0. He struggled on until he was forced to retire on the 18th of August 1995.
Upon leaving Milan, van Basten stated that he was not interested in a managerial career. However, he accepted an assistant role for Ajax's second team in 2003. A year later, he was named as the manager of the national Dutch team. Marco adopted a fierce stance as manager, dropping several famous players who seemed past their best. He also showed a keenness to look for players from beyond the top three national teams, also making public his appeal to expedite Salomon Kalou's citizenship application in 2005. However, Kalou eventually took up a position in the Ivory Coast team. Marco works alongside the famous De Toekomst Academy to scout players for the national side and hopes to find his successor in the form of another world-class striker.
His time as manager has not been without criticism, in particular when he chose to drop Ruud van Nistelrooy (who had scored 28 goals for the Netherlands) in the 2006 World Cup. Van Nistelrooy subsequently vowed never to play again for the Dutch team whilst van Basten was at the reigns. This dispute was apparently resolved in May 2007 but bad relationships continue with many of the players who were dropped when the manager first arrived.

Individual Honours

• FIFA 100 (List of the greatest living footballers picked by Pele): 2004
• European Cup Silver Top Scorer: 1993
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
• Serie A Top Scorer: 1990, 1992
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1988, 1992
• UEFA Best Player of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1992
• IFFHS Best Player of the Year: 1988, 1989, 1990
• Serie A Silver Top Scorer: 1989
• Onze d’Or: 1988, 1989
• Onze d’Argent: 1987, 1992
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1989
• UEFA European Championship 1988 Top Scorer and Best Player: 1988
• European Footballer of the Year: 1988, 1989, 1992
• Bravo Award: 1987
• European Golden Boot: 1986
• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1985
• European Silver Boot: 1984
• Dutch League Top Scorer: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987

Playing Style

Standing at 188cm and weighing 80 kg, van Basten was a physically challenging player for defenders to play against and this led to him receiving some heavy challenges. One such challenge led to the injury which ended his career. He was incredibly agile, often likened to a ballerina, with excellent close-control of the ball. This, paired with his ability to strike the ball with either foot, made him an excellent striker. He scored some of the most spectacular goals in football history, including amazing headers and bicycle kicks.

Personal Life

Van Basten was never involved in any media scandal and remains married to Eliesbeth Van Cappelleveen, with whom he has two daughters, Rebecca and Angelica, and a son, Alexander.

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1982-1987	Ajax	133 (128)
1987-1993	AC Milan	147 (90)
1983-1992	Netherlands	57 (24)

John Terry

Full name: John George Terry
Date of birth: 7/12/1980

The early days

As the heartbeat of Chelsea Football Club, it comes as no surprise that influential captain, John Terry, has had an allegiance with the club since the age of 14. Born in Barking in December 1980, Terry had a passion for the beautiful game from a very early age. As a youngster, he played in the same Sunday League team as future Premiership players such as Ledley King and Bobby Zamora and proved to be one of the best players in the star-studded team. Following this success, Terry joined the ranks of Chelsea's youth system in 1994, playing for their Youth and Reserve teams.
Although John Terry is now one of the best Centre Backs in the world, during these formative days, Chelsea played him in their midfield. Terry even had the odd flirtation with the position of striker, a role which explains his impressive goal-scoring ability in the Premiership. However, when the Youth and Reserve teams suffered from a shortage of Central defenders, Terry was chosen to fill in the position. It is evident from his current role as the most influential defender in the Premiership, that he has never looked back since.

Early club career at Chelsea

In 1998, Terry had done enough to prove himself worthy of a place in Chelsea's first team. His first appearance came as a substitute in a match against Aston Villa in the League Cup, on October 28th. Terry earned his first start during the same season, in an FA Cup win over Oldham Athletic. Although playing well, he failed to win a regular place in the starting line-up due to fierce competition for the position and so, in 2000, decided to move to Nottingham Forest on loan, in order to gain more first-team experience.
After some impressive performances at his loan club, John Terry moved back to Chelsea for the 2000/2001 season. He became a regular first-team player during this season, starting 23 matches and ending the season as the club's player of the year. The following season saw Terry form an impressive partnership with French international defender and Chelsea legend, Marcel Desailly. He made 49 appearances during the 2001/2002 season and played an important role in Chelsea's FA Cup run, scoring in both the quarter-final and semi-final stages. Unfortunately, Terry missed out on a starting position in the FA Cup final due to illness and the team were eventually defeated. This season also resulted in another personal achievement for Terry, as he was awarded the Chelsea captaincy for the match against London rivals, Charlton Athletic.
The 2002/2003 season was an important one for Terry's career. Having missed out on a place in the World Cup squad during the summer, the young player was determined to prove himself in the domestic game. With a number of man-of-the-match performances and six goals to his name, the season was a success for Terry and his influence on the pitch was growing rapidly. Chelsea boss, Claudio Ranieri, recognised Terry's talent and made him a constant part of the team the following season, despite Ranieri's preferences for rotating his first-team players. Furthermore, Terry was made Chelsea captain whenever Marcel Desailly was unable to play.

The Mourinho era

Although John Terry had enjoyed a successful time at Chelsea, it was not until the appointment of new manager, Jose Mourinho, at the start of the 2004/2005 season, that the trophies to equal his impressive performances were won. One of Mourinho's first actions as manager was to make Terry captain of the team. His decision proved a success, as Terry led his Chelsea side to their first top-of-the-league finish for 50 years. Furthermore, Terry had been part of a defence that claimed the best defensive record in the history of the Football League, keeping the most clean sheets and helping the team amass the highest points total in Premier League history. Further success came in the Carling Cup, as Chelsea beat Liverpool in the final to claim their first piece of silverware under Mourinho. Chelsea's Champions League run also nearly ended in success, as John Terry scored a memorable winner against FC Barcelona. He was voted the best defender in the Champions League and also gained the accolade of Player of the Year in the Premiership.

The first month of the 2005/2006 season brought success for Terry, as he was chosen to be part of the World XI at the FIFPro awards. The Chelsea captain once again led his side to Premiership success, as Chelsea won back-to-back titles. The following season proved to be tough for the player, as injuries plagued his participation in key matches. Terry's recurring back injury required an operation which resulted in a lengthy absence from the side. The goals conceded during his spell away from the first team severely dented Chelsea's hopes of a third consecutive league title.
Although the league title eventually went to Manchester United, Chelsea won a double of domestic trophies. London rivals, Arsenal, awaited them in the Carling Cup final and Chelsea beat them 2-1. This match was particularly eventful for Terry personally, though, as he was kicked in the face by Arsenal's Abou Diaby following an attempted diving header. This kick knocked Terry unconscious and disturbing TV pictures of the player swallowing his tongue were transmitted across the nation. Typically, Terry recovered from this injury in time to celebrate the win with his teammates. The FA Cup final against Manchester United held similar success for the Chelsea team, as they won the first final at the new Wembley Stadium.
The 2007/2008 season has resulted in fresh injury concerns for Terry, with a succession of injuries keeping him out of the first-team for several matches. Chelsea (now under the control of new manager Avram Grant) can only hope that their influential captain recovers quickly, in order to maintain their title challenge.

England

Terry made his international debut against Serbia and Montenegro in June 2003. Successful performances for England and impressive domestic appearances led to Sven-Goran Eriksson claiming Terry as his first choice central defender. Terry played well during Euro 2004 but England crashed out in the quarter-final, as Portugal defeated them on penalties (despite Terry scoring a successful penalty). He first had the honour of wearing the England armband during a World Cup qualifying match against Poland and continued to cement his place in the team during the following matches. John Terry was one of the first names on the 2006 England squad list and a warm-up match for the tournament against Hungary resulted in his first goal for the national team. He made several impressive performances at the tournament itself and was the only England player to be named in the tournament's all-star squad, despite the team crashing out in the quarter-final.
When Steve McClaren was appointed England manager following the World Cup, his first decision was to make John Terry captain of the national side. During his first match as England captain, Terry scored and later became the first player to score a goal at international level at the new Wembley stadium. England disappointingly failed to qualify for Euro 2008 recently, with the absence of their captain for the key match against Croatia seen as a contributory factor.

Sponsorship deals

John Terry has become one of the most recognisable players in world football and as such, has been involved with several lucrative marketing deals. He is heavily involved with Umbro, helping them to introduce new products and new England kits. Samsung and Nationwide have also used his face for their advertising campaigns and he has a sponsorship deal with Pro Evolution Soccer.

Controversies

Throughout his playing career, John Terry has not escaped controversy. During his early Chelsea days, he was involved in an incident outside a nightclub, for which he was arrested. This led to the FA banning Terry temporarily from the national team. As Terry was unable to participate in international games, he was not considered for England's 2002 World Cup squad, despite impressive performances for Chelsea.
In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Terry was part of a group of Chelsea players who allegedly hassled some American tourists whilst on a night out. This led to bad press for Terry individually and the club.
Terry has also created controversy on the pitch, as he has been heavily criticised for his handling of referees. In Chelsea's fixture against Tottenham in 2006, Terry was sent off following two yellow cards. The FA later charged the player for questioning the integrity of Graham Poll, the referee who had dismissed him. He was ordered to pay a total of £10,000 for improper conduct and was requested to apologise to Poll.

Individual Honours

• PFA Player of the Year: 2005
• 2005 UEFA Champions League Best Defender: 2005
• FIFA World Cup squad of the tournament: 2006
• FIFPro World XI Team: 2005, 2006, 2007
• UEFA Club Football Awards, Best Defender: 2005, 2008

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1998–present	Chelsea F.C.	241 (16)
2000	Nottingham Forest (on loan)	6 (0)
2003 - present	England	47 (4)

Alan Shearer

Full Name: Alan Shearer
Date of Birth: 13/8/1970

Introduction

Alan Shearer excelled for an incredible seventeen seasons in the English top-flight. A prolific striker, Shearer netted 422 goals for his country and his clubs - Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United. The widely respected striker was nicknamed Big Al on account of both his physical stature and his enormous role in English football. Shearer is perhaps best loved in the North East, where he was born and where he played his final ten seasons of professional football until his retirement in 2006.

A precocious talent

Born in Gosforth on the 17th August 1970, Shearer was playing football as soon as he was old enough to walk! A dedicated Newcastle United fan, his ambition in life was to become a professional footballer like his idol, Kevin Keegan, who signed for Newcastle in 1982. The young Shearer excelled on the pitch, initially with the Gosforth School team, which he captained. The school soon recognised his talent and urged him to try for Wallsend Boys. He became the side's star player and went on to play for Cramlington Juniors, where the staff were impressed not only with his evident natural talent, but also his maturity and drive. A prolific striker, and a real work horse, Shearer caught the eye of talent scout Jack Hixon at the age of 13. He secured a place with the Newcastle Boys' team and had a trial for the professional side soon after. On that occasion Newcastle turned Shearer down, and let him go to Southampton where he signed his first professional contract at the age of 15. This was a decision that Newcastle perhaps later regretted - in 1996 they paid £15 million to get him back!

Early professional career

Shearer spent his first two seasons at Southampton playing for the youth and reserve teams. He scored plenty of goals and seemed to have the maturity to play in the first team. The Saints' youth coach, David Merrington, urged the staff to find a place for the youngster in the main squad after only a year. In 1988 Shearer finally got the call-up, standing in for Southampton striker Danny Wallace, who had failed a fitness test, in a league game against Arsenal. Shearer made the most of his debut, scoring his first Senior goal five minutes into the game and following up with two further strikes.
He became the youngest player ever to score a hat trick in top-flight football. It was 9th April 1988 and Shearer was still 125 days short of his 18th birthday. Shearer's impressive performance made national headlines and he was soon invited to sign for the first team. He made relatively few appearances in subsequent seasons before establishing himself in the 1990/91 season, scoring 14 goals and making more than 45 appearances for Southampton.
Solid performances for his club caught the attention of England national coaching staff, and Shearer was selected for the England Under 21 side to play in the 1991 Toulon tournament. He scored seven goals in four games and scored against France in the final, which England won. Shearer was named best player of the tournament and, in 1992, was picked for the England A Team.

Fame and fortune

In the summer of 1992, newly promoted Blackburn Rovers bought Shearer in a deal which cost the club £3.3 million and the services of David Speedie, who joined Southampton. Shearer was at the height of his game, and manager Kenny Dalglish knew how to make the most of his star signing. Sadly a nasty challenge on Boxing Day of 1992 left Shearer with a severely damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The injury immobilised him and he was unable to play for the remainder of the season. Nonetheless, Shearer's influence early in the season helped Blackburn on the way to a good finish in the league.
In the 1993/94 season, Shearer was back and Blackburn improved on this standing, finishing as runners-up to Manchester United. Shearer was instrumental that season, earning a reputation as a prolific goalscorer, with 31 goals from 40 games for Blackburn, and another three in an England shirt. He became Footballer of the Year for that season.
The 1994/95 season would prove to be the breakthrough year for Blackburn and Shearer. The club was on top from November onwards and, despite an attack of nerves late in the season, a Premier League title was secured. Shearer scored 34 goals - without him, Blackburn would never have secured first place. Although Blackburn could not sustain the winning form in 1995/96, Shearer continued to hit the back of the net. Big Al scored four hat-tricks and notched up a tally of 31 goals that season. He became the first English footballer to score more than 30 goals in three consecutive seasons.

Euro 96 and the move to Newcastle

Despite the disappointments at Blackburn, Shearer had something to look forward to at the end of the 1995/96 season. The 1996 European Championships were to be played on home soil and Shearer had teamed up with Sheringham to form a formidable duo up front for England. Shearer scored four goals in three games, which established him as a national hero. Shearer was the top scorer in Euro 96, with five goals in total, although England crashed out following a semi-final defeat at the hands of old rivals, Germany.
His performance in the competition attracted international interest. In late summer 1996, offers flooded in from all over Europe. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Juventus and Barcelona all wanted Shearer to join them. But it was the Toon which most appealed to Shearer. Ruling out the glamour of Italy and Spain, Shearer signed a contract with Newcastle, fulfilling his boyhood dream. The transfer fee was £15 million, a world record at the time. But the whole of Tyneside rejoiced at the news and the fee seemed justified as Shearer went on to score 25 goals in his first season.
Things were not always rosy at St James Park, however, and late in the 1996/97 season, Shearer was involved in a controversial incident with Leicester City's Neil Lennon. Shearer appeared to kick his opponent in the head during a Premiership match. Shearer, however, denied any intentional infringement of the rules and the FA found him innocent. In the 1997/98 season, the star striker managed just two goals in the League and eyebrows were raised. But the following season saw a return to form, although Shearer would not score more than 20 goals until the season after that – in 1999/2000 he netted 23 goals in 37 League appearances.
Meanwhile, England's fortunes were often tied to Shearer's scoring abilities during the late 1990s. In the autumn of 1999, in a qualifier against Luxembourg, he scored a hat-trick which helped the national side qualify for Euro 2000. But Shearer could do nothing to prevent his team-mates missing penalties in the Euro 1996, 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 competitions, which stopped England progressing in these tournaments. In fact, Shearer's performance was the only positive aspect of England's early exit from Euro 2000. He scored the only goal in a significant victory over Germany, the first time England had beaten the side since the 1966 World Cup Final. Shearer scored again in the match against Romania, but his goal was not enough to keep England in the tournament as Romania went on to win 3-2. It was a subdued end to Shearer's international career, during which he had been capped 63 times and scored 30 goals.

Towards retirement with the Toon

Despite retiring from international football at the age of thirty, Shearer continued to play at the highest level of domestic football until shortly before his 36th birthday. Once he had achieved his lifelong dream of playing for Newcastle, he didn't seem to want to leave the North-East. Playing in black and white stripes was, for Shearer, the ultimate goal and he continued to score prolifically for Newcastle, racking up almost eighty league goals between 2001 and 2006. On 4 February 2006 he scored his 201st goal at St James Park, in a game against Portsmouth. It assured him a place in the football hall of fame and, after retirement, a regular spot as a pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day.

Goal-scoring record

Southampton

Season	League games	League goals	Total games	Total goals
1987/88	5	3	5	3
1988/89	10	0	10	0
1989/90	26	3	35	5
1990/91	36	4	48	14
1991/92	41	13	60	21
Total	118	23	158	43

Blackburn

Season	League games	League goals	Total games	Total goals
1992/93	21	16	26	22
1993/94	40	31	48	34
1994/95	42	34	49	37
1995/96	35	31	48	37
Total	138	112	171	130

Newcastle

Season	League games	League goals	Total games	Total goals
1996/97	31	25	40	28
1997/98	17	2	23	7
1998/99	30	14	40	21
1999/00	37	23	50	30
2000/01	19	5	23	7
2001/02	37	23	46	27
2002/03	35	17	48	25
2003/04	37	22	52	28
2004/05	26	7	42	19
2005/06	32	10	41	14
Total	301	148	405	206

Honours

• Premier League Winner (1994/95, Blackburn Rovers)
• Premier League Runner up (1993/94, Blackburn Rovers & 1996/97, Newcastle United)
• FA Cup Runner up (1998 & 1999, Newcastle United)
• Intertoto Cup Runner up (2001, Newcastle United)
• Le Tournoi Winner (1997, England)
• Euro 96 Golden Boot Winner (5 goals)
• Highest-ever Premiership goalscorer (260 goals)
• Top scorer for club (1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06)

Individual Honours

• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1995, 1997
• Football Writers' Association Player of the Year: 1994
• Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame: 2004.
• Named by Pelé as one of the 125 greatest living footballers
• In the 2003 awards list to mark ten seasons of the English Premier League, Shearer was named Overall Player of the Decade, Domestic Player of the Decade, Player to have made an Outstanding Contribution to the Premier League and Top Goalscorer.

In the awards to mark ten seasons of the Premier League, Shearer was named as Overall Player of the Decade, Domestic Player of the Decade, Outstanding Contribution to the Premier League and Top Goalscorer. To recognise Shearer's contribution to the domestic and national game, he was admitted to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Shearer is included in the FIFA 100 list of "greatest living footballers".
In June 2001 Shearer was awarded the OBE for services to Association Football in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Player Statistics

Senior Club and National Team Statistics

Period	Team	Appearances (Goals)
1988–1992	Southampton	118 (23)
1992–1996	Blackburn Rovers	138 (112)
1996–2006	Newcastle United	303 (148)
1992–2000	England	63 (30)