Dream Teams: Newcastle

SHAY GIVEN
Goalkeeper
Newcastle United 1997-2009; 457 appearances
It is so long ago that most Newcastle fans have forgotten but, once upon a time, Shay Given's acrobatics propelled the red-and-white Mackems from Sunderland to the 1996 First Division title and promotion to the Premier League.

He was on loan at Blackburn at the time, where Kenny Dalglish had signed him as a youngster and, luckily for Newcastle, one of Scotsman's first pieces of business on being appointed manager at St. James' was to pay his old club £1.5m for the 21-year-old stopper.

No other Newcastle player has played in more European games for the club and when Newcastle's inner-turmoil finally took its mortal toll on Given's time at the club, he was just 34 games short of breaking the club appearance record, held by fellow keeper, Jamie Lawrence.

BOBBY MONCUR
Defender
Newcastle United 1962-1974; 356 appearances, 8 goals
Bobby Moncur signed for Newcastle when he was just 15 and would make his debut less than three years later against Luton in the old Second Division.

Six years later he scored three times over the two legs of the Fairs Cup Final, as he captained the side to European glory - a remarkable feat of goal-scoring prolificacy given that he would only score five other goals in his other 355 appearances for the club.

Like so much that has left Newcastle fans weeping into their Newcy Brown over the last few seasons, the club's lack of commitment to its younger players (cf. Titus Bramble and James Milner) has been particularly damaging. A fact laid bare by the realisation that a modern Bobby Moncur - who initially struggled to win a regular place in the side - would already have been shipped on by now. But, back in the 1960s he would go to become one of club's greatest ever captains.

JOE HARVEY
Defender
Newcastle United 1945-1953; 247 appearances, 12 goals
Joe Harvey - who would later go on to manage the club to European glory - began his career in the inside-forward position but his intelligence and sheer-blooded commitment found him far better suited to the more defensive half-back position.

If Alan Shearer had all these players at his disposal for Sunday's must-win game at Villa Park, he would surely have been tempted to line up with a back three, containing Booby Moncur at its heart and Harvey and Frank Clark flanking either side of him.

After captaining the side to back-to-back FA Cup victories in 1951 and 1952, Harvey's final game for the club was against Aston Villa in 1953 and how Newcastle fans would love for Newcaslte to replicate the score-line of that day this weekend - a 1-0 win to Harvey's Toon Army.

FRANK CLARK
Defender
Newcastle United 1962-1975; 464 appearances, 2 goals
Frank Clark, unlike so many of Newcastle's recent players, was born down the road in Consett and, while such a birthplace would ordinarily predetermine red-and-white blood in his veins, Clark's unflappability at left-back made him a Newcastle legend.

In this Dream Team he takes up a place on the left of a three-man defence but the fact that he spent the whole of his Newcastle career developing a telepathic understanding with his Dream Team defensive partner Bobby Moncur, should help keep things tight at the back.

Clark's Newcastle career is strangely book-ended; the club spotted him playing non-league football for Crook Town but after leaving Newcastle he would confirm the platinum talent in his legs by going on to League and European success at Nottingham Forest.

CHRIS WADDLE
Left-wing
Newcastle United 1980-1985; 191 appearances, 52 goals
Another local-born star - a far cry from the current set-up - who joined the club as a teenager, Chris Waddle cost Newcastle just £1,000 (or one per cent of Michael Owen's weekly wage). Even better for those of a black-and-white persuasion, Waddle had already been turned down by Sunderland after a trial and was making ends meet by working in a local sausage factory.

He would turn out to be one of the club's greatest bargains, forming an irresistible combination with two other magicians, Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley. His goals from midfield and his arrogant assurance on the ball provided the launch pad for the top-flight success that now seems an ethereal memory.

Before Spurs came in to pay 590 times his original transfer fee and take him down South, Waddle's performances had taken his side up to the First Division and seen him make his England debut and there's no doubt Alan Shearer would love to call on his creativity this Sunday.

PAUL GASCOIGNE
Midfield
Newcastle United 1984-1988; 107 appearances, 25 goals
Once upon a time, those in the know at St. James' Park consistently demonstrated the sort of judgement so keenly lacking in today's administration and the results of one of their exercises in good judgement resulted in the untapping of Paul Gascoigne's potential.

Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Southampton were all guilty of turning down Gazza before his beloved Newcastle offered him a YTS contract. He made his debut under Jack Charlton before he had even signed professional terms and just weeks after captaining the youth side to FA Cup success.

In 1985 Newcastle's development was set back at least a decade as they sold Chris Waddle, by then the heartbeat of the team. The move sent out all the wrong signals to the talent already at the club and, the summer after winning young player of the year, Spurs pipped Manchester United to the young superstar's signature.

KEVIN KEEGAN
Midfield
Newcastle United 1982-1984; 85 appearances, 49 goals
Kevin Keegan, now crowned King Kev of Tyneside, played at St. James' Park for only two seasons but what a couple of seasons they were. If available for this Sunday's encounter, there would be no midfield mediocrity, no lack of energy and no absence of effervescence.

Luckily for Newcastle, Keegan feel out with Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy and headed to the North-East for one last challenge - to drag Newcastle out of the Second Division.

Keegan did so much more than drag the club to their seemingly elusive top-flight goal. His style of football and infectious enthusiasm turned the team into winners and, more importantly for the St. James' Park crowd, turned them into entertainers.

Keegan's pictured here being embraced by fans after scoring on his debut.

PETER BEARDSLEY
Right-wing
Newcastle United 1983-1987 and 1993-1997; 324 appearances, 119 goals
Newcastle made the mistake of rejecting a young locally-produced impish footballer called Peter Beardsley, but some things are just meant to be. After the initial rejection, Beardsley ended up back at St. James' Park via the transatlantic combination of Carlisle and Vancouver.

Beardsley was good enough to play anywhere along the front six but in this Dream team he lines up on the wing to make room for the abundance of pure goalscorers and the overflow of midfield creativity.

Whoever played alongside Beardsley - Kevin Keegan, Gary Linekar, Andrew Cole - they all scored goals for fun. He served them up with chances, not just on plates, but on dishes fit for kings.

In his first spell at the club, he helped maintain Newcastle's reputation for adventurous football - and also their place in the top-flight - while in his second spell he helped turn Newcastle into every football fan's second team. Oh, how those times have changed.

HUGHIE GALLACHER
Forward
Newcastle United 1925-1930; 174 appearances, 143 goals
With his stunted height, lightweight frame, dazzlingly dextrous ball skills and fierce shooting off either foot, Hughie Gallacher was a 1920s footballing antecedent to Lionel Messi - and oh, how Newcastle to do with his guile and eye for goal on Sunday.

No player in the history of the club has a more prolific scoring record, one that once drew comparison with his great contemporary and Dream Team rival, Everton's William Dean.

In fact, Gallacher made his debut against Dean's Everton in the sort of game that until recently was synonymous with Newcastle - a thrilling 3-3 draw in which Dean grabbed a hat-trick and the debutant wasn't far behind with two for Newcastle. At just 23, Gallacher captained the club to the 1927 League Championship but as is so often with the club, they lost their hottest talent when he moved to Chelsea in 1930.

JACKIE MILBURN
Forward
Newcastle United 1943-1957; 397 appearances, 200 goals
A true No9 in every sense of its traditional English meaning, Jackie Milburn grew up down the mines and brought pit-taught stoic qualities to his football. Marking Milburn was a nightmare, despite his reputation as a modest, shy man off the pitch, on it he was a terror.

Like Alan Shearer, who treaded in his footsteps, Milburn's goals were never quite enough to lead Newcastle to the league title but, in Milburn's case, they were enough to secure three FA Cup trophies in five seasons in the early '50s.

Together Shearer and Milburn would terrorise defences and if only the Newcastle manager could conjure up the spirit of Milburn to sprinkle over his players this Sunday, Newcastle might, juts might, have a chance.

ALAN SHEARER
Forward
Newcastle United 1996-2006; 405 appearances, 206 goals
Undoubtedly the least skilful player of this Dream Team front six but also without doubt the most committed to the Toon Army cause. This weekend, Alan Shearer almost unwittingly finds himself in charge of his boyhood club for what is the biggest game in the club's history.

After scoring goals for fun and winning the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle, now managed by Shearer's schoolboy hero, Kevin Keegan, gazumped Manchester United to sign the bulldozing striker for a mammoth £15m in 1996.

The league proved all-too elusive for Newcastle, although Shearer's goals took them close on a number of occasions but he did lead them to two FA Cup finals - the closest the club had come to major silverware since 1969. Newcastle fans could not care less about silverware right now, with Shearer now at the helm, their only wish is for three points this Sunday.

Basic Soccer Rules

Well, the answer is pretty simply; if you don’t know the basic soccer rules you will not either know how to play soccer. However, you will not need to remember every soccer rule as many of them will not give you any advantage on the field. In this article I have only selected the most necessary ones that you need to learn in order to perform well.

No Rules = An Unfair Game
The game of soccer would be unfair if only your opponents had permission to set the rules for the match. And if both your and the opposing team had permission to make the rules, there would probably be so much discussion about every situation that you, your teammates and the opposing players would not care about how the match ended.

That’s why players, coaches and soccer associations over the whole world have decided which soccer rules should be followed. The referees just make sure that you and other players are following the soccer rules. But what if you get angry at the referee if he/she makes a wrong decision? Like giving the opposing team a penalty kick when their player was not even in the penalty area (also known as the the box and 18 yard box).

Well, keep in mind always that it is the referee who decides if it is a foul or not. Don’t ever get angry at a referee, even if you do not agree with his/her decision about some particular situation on the soccer pitch. This will result in the referee getting even more stressed and confused, which will lead to more wrong decisions. The referee is also a human being who make mistakes and despite that he knows all the soccer rules perfectly he will still make mistakes. So, lead my advice; spare yourself unnecessary arguing and focus on your game.

How to calm down
Sometimes it is hard to not get angry at the referee, but keep in mind that there is no reason to complain because a referee will never change his/her decision afterwards. Use your energy to performing well and push yourself to work harder on the soccer field instead. I know this is easy to say when you are not upset on the field, but I usually count to 10 when I get angry at the referee, and after a while I feel better and so will you. I promise :-)

A match begins…
A match begins with a handshake between you (if you are the captain of the team) and the opposing team captain. Usually players say hey to each other and wish the referee and the other team good luck. The official soccer rules state that a game must start with a kick off from the centre of the soccer pitch.

End of the match
The match is over when you and your teammates say "thanks for the match" (this is not a must but the official soccer rules state that this is fair play and should be adapted by all teams) and both teams’ captains handshake the referee and say "thank you for the game" (even if no one is satisfied with the referee’s decisions during the match).

The 17 Fundamental Soccer Rules You Should Learn

Before we start, I just want you to keep in mind that it is not necessary to learn these rules in one day. Instead, reflect over them while you are watching a soccer game and try to memorize at least one of them per week. Now, let’s study these rules in more detail.

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The Free Kick

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A soccer freekick is a great scoring opportunity. It is often occurred when one of your opponents commits a foul on either you or one of your teammates (for example; pushing, tripping or missing a slide tackle). The referee may also reward your team with a free kick if one of your opponents touches the ball with his hands.

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Dimensions of a Soccer Field

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I know by experience that soccer field dimensions can be pretty confusing, especially if you have recently started to play soccer. However, I know also that many people that have been played soccer many years do not know the size of a regular field. So, how big is a soccer field? Well, the minimum length is 100 yards and maximum 130 yards. The width can be maximum 100 yards or minimum 50 yards.

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Size of The Ball

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In soccer, there are generally three sizes of soccer balls. Size 5 which is the most common one, size 4 is generally used for U 12 and size 3 for U4. However, there are also custom made balls that are only used for inside play. These balls can’t bounce especially high and are easier to control then if you were playing with an outside ball. An official ball must weigh somewhere between 410 to 450 grams. To get more facts about this rule (e.g. how many leather panels does a soccer ball have or the general mass) click on this link.

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The Number of Players

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So, how many players on a soccer team is allowed in a game? Well, accoring to the official soccer rules, a team can have 10 outfield players and one goalie on the field. The amount of substitutions may vary but in official competition games there are only 3 substitutions allowed per team. In other type of games like friendly games or inside soccer the coach is usually allowed to perform an unlimited amount of substitutions. In youth games there are generally 6 outfield players and a goalie. The field and goals are also smaller than the regular ones.

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The Equipment You Need To Have

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The most basic soccer equipment you need to wear in order to play in a competition is a jersey, a pair of shorts and socks. You also need a pair of boots and approved shin pads. You will generally need to purchase the last two mentioned of your own money, beside that you don’t need anything more in order to play a soccer game. The colors of your team can’t be the same as the colors of your keeper.

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The Soccer Referee

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Being a soccer referee can be pretty though sometimes. Beside knowing all the soccer rules, the referee need also to keep his calm and make right decisions during the whole game. That’s why it is so important to treat the referee with respect. My experience is that if you show respect against the referee, he will do the same against you. But, don’t criticize his decisions as he is also a human being and we all make mistakes. You will never win anything by arguing with him about his decisions; you will just make him more unsecure which will impact on his performance.

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The Assistant Referee

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An assistant referee do not acutally make any binding deciisons. During a regualr soccer game two assistant referees oversees the touch lines on each side of the field. The assistant referees were called lines men but in 1996 FIFA changed the soccer rules and came up with a new name to better reflect the modern role of these officials. Still, many people like to referee to them as "referee's assistants" or the "linesmen". The main referee may discuss his decision with the assistant referee but as I said before, he can also refuse them if he believe that they are not correct.

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Duration of The Game

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The duration of the match is different and depends on what competition you are participating in. If you play a regular soccer game (11 vs. 11), the time is 45 minutes per half plus overtime. However, in a cup there can also be extra time, 30 minutes (15 minutes per half). However, if you are playing an inside game the time is usually much shorter (about 12 minutes in futsal).

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The Restart of Play

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The most common situations where restart of play occurs are following; start of the game, after a goal is scored, at the start of the second half or extra time, a throw in, goal kick and a free kick. You should also know that it is possible to score directly from a kick-off. I’ve seen one of my teammates score few times so I know it is possible.

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Ball in and Out of Play

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According to the official soccer rules, a soccer ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal or touch line independently on whether the ball is on the ground or in the air. The ball is in play at all other times, plus these; when it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or a corner flag and remains on the field. It is also in play when it rebounds from the referee (assistant as well).

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Method of Scoring

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In order to score a goal you need to send the whole ball over the goal line, between the goalposts and also under the crossbar. If not, then the referee might not approve the goal. If your team scores more goals then your opponents, the victory will be yours. However, if the game ends without goals or if both teams score an equal number of goals, then the match will end as draw. In some competitions, the soccer rules are little different as a game cannot end as a draw. Instead, an extra time is added. If the game ends as a draw even after the extra time a penalty shootout is used to determine the winner of the game.

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The Offside

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Many people see the offiside rule in soccer as something very complicated and hard to understand. However, I ensure that it is not more harder to learn than any other of the soccer rules presented in this guide. So, let me give you some examples on some common offside situations. You will be in offside if you are nearer your opponent’s goal line than your second last opponent and the ball. However, you will not be in offside if you are nearer your own half, in level with the second and also in level with the last two opponents.

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Fouls and Misconduct

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According to the official soccer rules of FIFA, you will be cautioned and the referee will show you the yellow card if you commit any of the following offences; You are delaying the restart of play. The referee found you guilty for unsporting behavior. You are throwing or kicking the ball away after the referee blows his whistle. You are entering or re entering a game without referees permission. Leaving the field without referee’s permission will also get you a yellow card. There are more things that may give you a yellow card but the above mentioned are the most common things players are punished for.

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The Penalty Kick

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The soccer penalty kick rule is a type of kick that is taken from twelve yards (about 11 meters) out from the goal line of your opponents. The goal kick taker, keeper and the referee are allowed to stand inside the 18 yard box. However, all other players must remain outside the 18 yard box until the ball is kicked. A player is allowed to kick the ball another time if the ball rebounds back to him. However, during a penalty shootout this rule is not available.

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The Throw in

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A soccer throw in is a method for restarting a soccer game. Your team will be awarded with a throw in when some of your opponents is the last player on the ball before it leaves the side line. It is also important to keep in mind that the whole ball must be completely over the side line (also known as the touch line).

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The Goal Kick

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Your team will be awarded with a goal kick when the ball has completely crossed the goal line. The ball must also be touch by one of your opponents. The official soccer rules state that as a goalie, you will have 6 seconds from placing the ball onto the ground to sending it upon the field. If you refuse to take the kick during the six seconds, the referee may punish you with a yellow card or an indirect free kick. You can also score a goal directly form the goal kick. However, you really need to have powerful kicks in order to succeed with that.

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The Corner Kick

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A soccer corner kick is another way of restarting a soccer game. It is also a very good scoring opportunity; in fact, many goals are scored from this type of kick. When taking a corner kick you need to control that your opponents are at least 10 yards from the ball. Keep in mind also that as soon as you touch the ball it will be counted as being in play.

History of Football

“Football” before the 19th century referred to any number of ball games played on foot. The rules of these games differed from one another, some allowing the use of hands “running games”, others forbidding it “kicking games”. One legend has it that the football game rugby, American football’s ancestor, was invented when an Englishman grew tired of the no hands restriction, picked the ball up, and ran. Out of an interest to enforce the rules of the game the other players tackled the fellow. So much fun was this diversion that running football games were born. Whether this is true or not is unknown, but what is known is that football does have its origins in the games played by pre-colonial European peasants.

The first vestiges of what would become American football are found in the 19th century in the games played by students at the elite schools and universities of the United States. A particularly violent running game was played at Princeton University circa 1820, and around this time a kicking game was also being played by students of Dartmouth College. Rules for the Dartmouth game, known as “Old Division Football”, were published in 1871. The first running game to codify its rules was the popular English sport, rugby, and it did so in 1845.

While there is some degree of debate over what constitutes the first American football team, most sports historians point to the Oneida Football Club, a Boston club founded in 1861. Nobody knows what rules this club used; whether they played a running, kicking, or hybrid version of the game. It is also known that rugby was taking off in Canada around this time. The Montreal Football club formed in 1868 and is said to have played a variant of English rugby. This became the root of Canadian football, which is important here for it later had a large influence on American football’s development.

It is not clear what the rules and regulations most of these early football games followed. However, the infamous Rutgers v. Princeton game in 1869 opens a window to the past. The game was played by two teams of 25 people each. Each team was composed of 11 “fielders”, 12 “bulldogs”, and two “peanutters” whose job was to hang out near the opposing team’s goal so as to score from unguarded positions. This fact suggests there was no such thing as an “offside” rule at this time. American football at this point closely resembled soccer in the sense that a team scored goals instead of touchdowns and throwing or running with the ball was not allowed.

While the NFL states that this early game was indeed based on soccer and not rugby, it did begin intercollegiate football games. Four years later, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, and Rutgers codified the first ever set of intercollegiate rules for football. However, these rules forbade players from throwing the ball or running with it. It was soccer.

It is Harvard we have to thank for American football. Harvard representatives knew in advance that the four schools above planned on codifying rules forbidding aggressive physical contact and the carrying of the ball, so they refused to attend. Harvard’s obstinacy on behalf of rugby led shortly thereafter to the McGill v. Harvard match of 1874 and the Harvard v. Yale game of 1875. Due to the popularity of these matches other US universities began to field rugby teams. Finally, in 1876 a meeting was held between Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, and Yale where England’s Rugby Union rules were adopted by all four schools, but with two key changes. No longer would the scoring of a touch down be nullified if the opposing team kicked a field goal.

Walter Camp is widely considered the father of modern American football. Between 1880 and 1883 this coach of the Yale football team came up with several major adjustments to the game: an eleven player team, a smaller field, and the scrimmage –a player handing the ball backward to begin the play. An even more important alteration, if the offensive team failed to gain five yards after three downs they were forced to surrender the ball. Camp also established the norm of a seven-man line, a quarterback, two halfbacks, and a fullback. Thanks to Walter Camp, football as we know it finally took shape.

Football soon became popular among the general public, which in 1892 led to the sport becoming a source of income for outstanding players. On November 12, 1892 William Heffelinger, a Yale All-American guard, became the first professional football player. A Pittsburgh club paid him $500 to play against another Pittsburgh team. Three years later, the first all professional game was played in Pennsylvania between the Latrobe YMCA and the Jeannette Atheltic Club.

Over the next decade American football developed a reputation as a high injury and high mortality sport. Eighteen players were killed in 1905 alone. This was in part due to lack of protective gear and the use of interlocking defensive formations, as well as a tendency for teammates to drag ball-carrying players forward to gain extra yards. The year 1905 began a period of reform through which was developed a neutral zone between scrimmage lines. Furthermore, it was mandatory that six players from each team were positioned at this neutral zone. The forward pass, a distinct break from rugby and a signature of American football, was also legalized at this time.

However, these changes were not enough. In 1908 33 more players were killed on the field. Between 1910 and 12 interlocking formations were finally banned and more protective padding introduced, both these measures helped reduce the death and injury toll. Other changes made at this time included the addition of a fourth down, and the six point touchdown.

It was not until 1920 that the first professional football league was established. Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe was elected president of the American Professional Football Association and its 11 teams all located in the Midwest. This body changed its name to the familiar National Football League (NFL) in 1921, the same year the league started to release official rankings. The early NFL was loose knit. Teams often came and went, and college football was still the dominant form of the game. However, as college football stars like Benny Friedman and Red Grange joined the professional game, pro football gained in popularity. An annual championship game was begun in 1933 and by 1934 almost every small town football team had moved to the city.

Professional football came to compete with college football for a fan base around the end of the Second World War. Games were higher scoring and faster paced, thanks to the development of the “T formation”, and the first West Coast team was established when the Cleveland Rams moved to LA. By 1950 professional football became one of America’s major sports. Television gave sports fans the opportunity to cheer for and against star players such as Paul Hornung, Johnny Unitas, and Bobby Layne. Surging popularity enabled football to expand into two leagues, but this experiment was short lived. In 1970 the AFL and NFL merged and formed two “conferences”, the American Football Conference, and the National Football Conference. Another result of this merger was the now wildly popular Super Bowl –most years rated the most watched television program in America. The year 1970 also founded another important American football institution, Monday Night Football.

Both college and professional football remain popular to this day, watched nation-wide by fans on Saturdays and Sundays respectively. Thanks to careful rule changes and additions over the years the game is now more fast-paced and less injurious to players than at any other point in its history. So popular, in fact, is American football among spectators that the game has spread across the globe to Mexico, Europe, and even Japan, where it continues to flourish and evolve.

Football Legands

The game, at its most basic, is about putting the ball in the back of the net. In order to be a great FORWARD, you have to be able to score. Tracking back on defense is nice. Being a great passer and playmaker is good, too. However if you can’t score, then you won’t be a very effective forward (unless you’re Emile Heskey) and you won’t be very useful to your team.

That being said, in order to be a legendary forward, you need more than just stats. You need to have an aura of invincibility. You need to score on the biggest stages and under the brightest lights. Your goals must lift your squad to victory or bring them back from the edge of defeat. You need to be the player that strikes fear into the hearts of the opposing squad, the one that they single out and say, “We can’t let that guy beat us.”

And even then, you might not be as good as these players were. These legends had eye-popping stats, larger-than-life personalities, and boatloads of trophies. They also became national symbols of pride and in some cases, they represented the hopes and dreams of entire continents. These players were more than just great goal-scorers. They became icons.

There were enough players to create this list that I decided not to go with any current players. Brazilian Ronaldo, despite his brilliance (long before the injuries, weight issues, and tranny hookers, O Fenômeno was on pace to be one of the best that ever lived), and Romario, despite his reputed 1,000 goals, weren’t on the list. As good as Romario was, I don’t think he ranks as a legend quite yet. Plus, would you have taken him, in his prime, over Ronaldo, in his prime? That may be circular logic, but think about it. Romario might not have been the best Brazilian forward over the last 15 years, and he certainly doesn’t hold a candle to Pele or Garrincha. As such, he’s out.

Anyway, here’s the list. In chronological order, of course:

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Alfredo Di Stefano
ARGENTINA*
1943-1966
River Plate (1943-1949) Huracan (loan, 1946-1947) Millonarios (1949-1953) Real Madrid (1953-1964) Espanyol (1964-1966)

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(* Born in Argentina, played for Argentina, Columbia, and Spain. Obviously, FIFA rules were more relaxed back then).

It’s not uncommon to see someone play for several different clubs. But several different national teams? Di Stefano accomplished that rare task by suiting up for his native Argentina, Colombia, and Spain. In the meantime, he established himself as one of the greatest players in football history, a gifted and versatile player on par with the likes of Pele, Maradona, and Cruijff. Maradona once said that Di Stefano was better than Pele, and he was voted the Player of the Century for Spain, despite the fact that he was born in Argentina.

He was known as an exceptionally versatile player, excelling at both offense and defense. He was most well known for his time at Real Madrid, where he scored 216 goals in 282 league matches, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer. He produced a similar ratio at River Plate, scoring 49 goals in 65 appearances, and at Millonarios, notching 88 goals in 102 appearances. For his career, he scored 377 domestic goals in 521 appearances while adding 29 goals in 41 appearances for Argentina, Colombia, and Spain.

At Real Madrid, he formed a deadly partnership with fellow legend, Ferenc Puskas, to help lead the club to glory. He won eight Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and an impressive five consecutive European Cups with Real Madrid. He also won two Argentine League crowns and four Colombian League titles. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1957 and 1959, and was named World Soccer Player of the Year three times.

His transfer to Real Madrid was extremely controversial as he had initially signed with Barcelona. With doubts over his eligibility causing Barcelona’s board of directors to hesitate over completing the deal, as well as rumors that the Franco Government was working to steer Di Stefano to Real Madrid, Los Meringues were able to swoop in and sign him. To add insult to injury, Di Stefano played extremely well during the first meeting of the year between Real Madrid and Barcelona, netting a hat trick and exacerbating tensions between the two clubs.

Di Stefano’s uncertain international status meant that he was unable to play in the 1954 World Cup. He acquired Spanish citizenship in 1956 and played in Spain’s World Cup qualifiers. His adopted country failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. Di Stefano helped Spain qualify in 1962, but an injury ruled him out before the start of the tournament. Despite having never played in a World Cup, Di Stefano accomplished so much in his long and storied career that he remains one of the best goal-scorers of all time.

Alfredo Di Stefano VIDEO:

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Ferenc Puskás
HUNGARY
1943-1966
Kispest A.C. (1943-1949) Honved (1949-1955) Espanyol (guest 1957) Real Madrid (1958-1966)

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Like his celebrated teammate at Real Madrid, Alfredo Di Stefano, Puskás was a goal machine who became a naturalized Spanish citizen. Like Di Stefano, Puskás had an enviable goal-to-games ratio, netting 187 goals in 177 league appearances for Kispest A.C., 165 goals in 164 league appearances for Honved, and 157 goals in 182 league appearances for Real Madrid. Throw in his 84 goals in 85 appearances for Hungary, and Puskás was unquestionably one of the most efficient scorers of all time.

He was a deadly left-footed shooter who could set up goals just as well as he could score them. He certainly didn’t look the part of a goal scorer, being short, stocky, and unable to shoot with his right foot. However, he was regarded as one of the greatest outside shooters of all time, and, well, the stats speak for themselves.

He was part of the “Mighty Magyars,” a talent-laden Hungarian National Team that was favored to win the World Cup in 1954. Puskás did his part in the group stage, scoring three goals in the first two matches before getting injured. He didn’t return until the Finals, and was hobbled and out of form as West Germany (who had lost to Hungary by a score of 8-3 in the group stage) upset them. Despite his injury, he scored the first of Hungary’s two goals, and he thought he scored the equalizer until he was controversially ruled off-side. He suited up for Spain in the 1962 World Cup, but failed to score any goals.

Puskás was on tour in Spain with Honved when the Revolution of 1956 broke out in Hungary. Puskás decided to defect to Spain, and the ensuing controversy over his immigration status found him banned from football for two years. He played in a few unofficial matches for Espanyol before signing with Real Madrid. There, he teamed with fellow immigrant Alfredo Di Stefano to give the club a dominant strike force. Their dominance was on display during the 1960 European Cup Final, when Real Madrid defeated Eintracht Frankfurt by a score of 7-3, with Puskás scoring four goals and Di Stefano adding three. Puskás won five La Liga crowns and was a member of the team for three out of Real Madrid’s five consecutive European Cups. He also won five Hungarian League crowns and was named FIFA World Player of the Year twice.

Despite his defection, Puskás remains revered in Hungary. He was named the country’s greatest player of the last 50 years, and the Puskás Ferenc Stadion in Budapest was named in his honor.

Ferenc Puskás VIDEO:

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Garrincha
BRAZIL
1953-1972
Botafogo (1953-1965) Corinthians (1966) Portuguesa Carioca (1967) Atlético Junior (1968) Flamengo (1968-1969) Olaria (1972)

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Considered by many to be the second-best Brazilian forward after Pele, Manuel Francisco dos Santos “Garrincha” (”little bird” in Portuguese) established himself as one of the greatest dribblers of all time. Not bad for someone who was born with several birth defects, including a right leg that bent inwards and a left leg that was slightly shorter than his right and curved outwards. Those physical deformities didn’t stop him from becoming a great dribbler, and he supposedly earned his first professional contract by dribbling a ball through the great Nilton Santos’s legs during a training session. He was able to use his handicap to his advantage, as opposing players could never tell which way he was going to go when he started dribbling the ball.

In addition to his dribbling skills, he was a great shooter who could score with either foot. He was also a great free-kicker and dead-ball specialists who often took corners for his team, scoring three goals directly from corner kicks. Garrincha operated from the right wing a lot, and he could use his speed and dribbling to get past defenders and set up goal chances for himself or for his teammates. He was also a good header, despite standing 5’7’’.

He made 612 appearances for Botafogo, scoring 243 times. He won the Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro Tournament) three times, the Torneio Rio-São Paulo (Rio/Sao Paulo tournament) three times, and the Roca Cup, a tournament between Brazilian and Argentinean clubs.

He had his greatest success on the international stage, where he was a part of the 1958 and 1962 World Cup winning squads for Brazil. He was voted to the Best XI in the 1958 World Cup, despite only playing in 4 matches and not scoring a single goal. He was responsible for setting both of Vava’s goals in the Final against Sweden, and he was dominant in matches against the USSR and Wales. In 1962, he continued his success for the Brazilian national team, as he was voted Most Outstanding Player of the World Cup. He carried his team after Pele was injured early in the tournament, and finished with four goals. He scored a number of dazzling goals, including the famed “Banana Shot” against England, and had a brace in the Semi-Finals against Chile.

Garrincha was known for his child-like demeanor and was seen as an idiot savant. He was never a huge football fan and had never dreamed of playing professionally until just before he signed with Botafogo. He didn’t understand the rules of the World Cup and was decidedly low-key after they won in 1958. Apparently, he thought they were going to play all the teams again, so he refrained from celebrating until he realized his team had won it all. He was also known as “Mané” (short for “Manuel” but which also means “half-wit/fool”) by his teammates. Despite his perceived lack of intelligence, his prodigious talent and natural ability was more than enough for him to attain legendary status.

Garrincha VIDEO:

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Pele
BRAZIL
1956-1977
Santos (1956-1974) New York Cosmos (1975-1977)

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There are legends, there are icons, and then there’s Pele. Without question, Pele is the greatest player of all time, someone whose talent transcended the game. If you don’t know anything else about football, you know that Pele was the best. Much like how Jimi Hendrix is considered to be greatest guitarist that ever lived and Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time, Pele is the greatest footballer ever to walk the planet. Some people might come up with contrarian arguments, just to be different. They might say that Maradona was better, just like how some people claim that Clapton was better than Hendrix or that Oscar Robertson was better than Jordan.

Don’t buy it.

Pele scored 1,281 goals, a number made all the more remarkable since these are just the ones recognized by FIFA. By contrast, Romario claimed to have scored 1,000 goals, however some of them came during his days with the youth team and others were in unsanctioned events. He scored 77 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil, and scored 589 domestic goals in 605 appearances. When he came out of retirement to play for the Cosmos, he managed to bag 31 goals in 56 games while doing something that David Beckham couldn’t do, namely, turning the Cosmos into an American phenomenon.

He revolutionized the forward position, blending his playmaking skills with his deadly shot to become the ultimate weapon. He was a great dribbler and passer, and was blessed with blistering pace and exception aerial skills. He made the number 10 shirt synonymous with his playmaking abilities, and as a result, he turned what had been a random shirt assignment into a coveted number usually reserved for a team’s best player. Whenever teams say that they’re looking for a “number 10,” they’re really referring to Pele.

He was a part of four World Cup squads, winning three of them. He won 25 trophies while playing with Santos, and added to his cabinet with an NASL Title while with the Cosmos. He has a whole slew of individual and lifetime achievement awards, which are too many to name. Suffice it to say that it’s a bigger story when Pele doesn’t win an award than when he does.

He is a national icon, a global ambassador for the game, and a philanthropist who has used his fame to help those less fortunate than he is. Based on his playing statistics alone, he would be the greatest player of all time. However, his off-the-field activities make him a true legend, and an icon that everyone can embrace.

Pele VIDEO:

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Eusebio
PORTUGAL
1957-1978
Sporting Lourenço Marques (1957-1960) Benfica (1960-1975) Rhode Island Oceaneers (1975) Boston Minutemen (1975) Monterrey (1975-1976) Beira-Mar (1976-1977) Toronto Metros-Croatia (1976) Las Vegas Quicksilver (1977) New Jersey Americans (1977-1978) União Tomar (1977-1978)

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Widely considered to be the greatest Portuguese player of all time, the Mozambique-born Eusebio also gained fame as one of the first great players of African descent. “The Black Panther” spent most of his career at Benfica, where he 319 goals in 313 appearances, including two seasons where he topped 40. However, he also played in other parts of the world, notably the United States, Croatia, Canada, and Mexico, making him one of the true worldwide icons of the sport.

Eusebio won plenty of silverware during his time at Benfica. He won eleven League titles, five Portuguese Cups, and won the European Cup in 1962. He also won titles in the NASL and in Mexico. Eusebio won plenty of individual honors as well, taking home the Ballon d’Or in 1965 and won the very first Golden Boot award in 1968, knocking home 42 goals for Benfica. He won a second Golden Boot award in 1973 with another 40 goals, and led the Portuguese League in scoring seven times.

He continued his goal scoring ways for the Portuguese national team, notching 41 goals in 64 appearances. He led Portugal to a third-place finish in the 1966 World Cup, losing to eventual winners England in the Semi-Finals. Eusebio scored the lone Portuguese goal in that match and finished with a tournament-high 9 goals. Most notably, he scored on a penalty in the consolation match against the USSR by beating the great Lev Yashin, which was no small feat. He finished his Portuguese career as the all-time leading scorer, a record that stood until 2005. He may not be Portugal’s leading scorer anymore, but he remains the most beloved and respected Portuguese player of all time.

Eusebio VIDEO:

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Gerd Müller
GERMANY
1963-1981
TSV 1861 Nördlingen (1963-1964) Bayern Munich (1964-1979) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1979-1981)

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The phrase “Goal Machine” gets thrown around a lot. Müller, however, more than lived up to his reputation as a goal scorer, finding the net an astonishing 365 times in 427 Bundesliga matches, and 68 times in 62 international appearances. Müller wasn’t very tall (5’9’’), wasn’t very fast, and had short stubby legs that made him look like the last person capable of scoring on the pitch. However, his short, powerful legs allowed him to accelerate past defenders with ease, stay on his feet even after being tackled by defenders, and gave him a surprising amount of leverage in winning headers.

Known as “Bomber der Nation” (the nation’s bomber), Müller, along with Sepp Maier and Franz Beckenbauer, was part of the great Bayern Munich teams of the 70’s. He won four Bundelisga titles, four German Cups, one Cup Winners’ Cup, and three consecutive European Cups from 1974-1976. He led the Bundesliga in scoring seven times and won the Golden Boot twice. He still holds the Bundesliga’s single-season scoring record with 40 goals in 1971-1972, and his 66 goals in 72 European Cup matches is still a record. He is, by far, the all-time leading scorer in Bundesliga history, having scored nearly 100 more goals than the person in second place.

His success continued to the international stage, as he was part of the Golden Generation of West German football. He was part of the 1972 European Championship squad and provided the goal scoring that led West Germany to the 1974 World Cup. Playing in his final international match, Müller scored the game-winning goal in the Final against the Netherlands. He finished his World Cup career with 14 goals, a record that stood until Ronaldo passed it in 2006.

He has continued his involvement with Bayern Munich, coaching the reserve team. Unlike his fellow German icons, Maier and Beckenbauer, he has kept a low profile following his retirement, choosing not to voice his opinion on controversial matters relating to German football. Despite his low-key approach, Müller remains one of the most beloved and respected players of all time.

Gerd Müller VIDEO:

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George Weah
LIBERIA
1981-2003
Young Survivors (1981-1984) Bongrange Company (1984-1985) Mighty Barolle (1985-1986) Invincible Eleven (1986-1987) Tonnerre Yaoundé (1987-1988) AS Monaco (1988-1992) Paris Saint-Germain (1992-1995) A.C. Milan (1995-2000) Chelsea (2000) Manchester City (2000) Olympique Marseille (2000-2001) Al-Jazira (2001-2003)

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Sometimes, calling someone a legend doesn’t do that person nearly enough justice. George Weah is an example of that. His on-field accomplishments were impressive, however they didn’t come close to measuring his impact on the game. Coming from the tiny and war-torn country of Liberia, Weah used his success and his status as one of the best in the world to improve conditions in his home.

Weah was a great player in his own right. He was big and strong and had a powerful shot. He was a no-frills player who frequently ran straight at opponents, using his strength but also mixing in some excellent ball-control skills. He was a great header of the ball, and he had good speed for someone his size. He scored against Verona after taking a ball from his own penalty box and running through the defense a lot like how Maradona knifed through the England defense in the World Cup.

He was an excellent goal scorer and thrived under Arsene Wenger at Monaco before moving to PSG and AC Milan. He won a French League Title and three French Cups to go with his two Scudetti and FA Cup from his time at Milan and Chelsea, respectively. He never made the World Cup, although he came close in 2002, when a weak and under-funded Liberia missed out by a single point. He remains the only African player to have won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, a task he accomplished in 1995. He was also voted African Player of the Century.

Naturally, Weah became a politician and ran for President in 2005 after the second Liberian Civil War and the resignation and exile former President (and indicted war criminal) Charles Taylor. Weah was seen as the “People’s Candidate” and he managed to win the initial round of balloting, only to lose in the runoff amid allegations of massive voter fraud. Weah eventually conceded, however he remains popular and committed to improving life in his home country.

George Weah VIDEO:

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Marco van Basten
NETHERLANDS
1982-1993
Ajax Amsterdam (1982-1987) AC Milan (1987-1993)

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His career was cut short by injuries, but what a career it was! Van Basten had an incredible goals-to-games ratio for both club and country. He found the net 218 times in 280 league appearances in both the Netherlands and Italy, and he scored 24 times in 58 appearances for the national team. In all, he scored 301 goals in 428 total appearances for club and country.

His main attribute was his strength on the ball, which allowed him to score in crowded areas. Indeed, he was so big and strong that he seemed to invite hard challenges from defenders, leading to his career-ending injury. Despite his size and strength, he was extremely agile and skilled, capable of scoring off bicycle kicks and overhead kicks. He was also known for his thunderous shot, which allowed him to score from distance as well.

He won three Eredivisie titles, three Dutch Cups, and one UEFA Cup during his time at Ajax, and added three Serie A titles, three Italian Supercups, and back-to-back European Cups (1988 and 1989). Along the way, he racked up a slew of individual honors, including the Golden Boot for the 1985-1986 season when he scored 37 goals in 26 league appearances for Ajax. He won the Ballon d’Or three times (1988, 1989, 1992), World Soccer Player of the Year twice (1988, 1992), FIFA World Player of the Year once (1992), and UEFA Player of the Year three times (1989, 1990, 1992). More amazingly, he led the Eredivisie in scoring every single season he played at Ajax, except for his rookie season, and was the top scorer in Serie A twice (1989-1990, 1991-1992).

He won Euro 88, scoring 5 goals, including a hat trick against England and their legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the group stage. He also led the Netherlands to the semi-finals of Euro 1992, where they lost to Denmark in a shootout. Van Basten only played in one World Cup, which was in 1990. His Netherlands team lost to eventual champions West Germany in the Round of 16.

Van Basten eventually retired because of a serious ankle injury. His career may have been cut short, but his brilliance was unquestionable.

Marco van Basten VIDEO:

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Hristo Stoichkov
BULGARIA
1982-2003
Hebros Harmanli (1982-1984) CSKA Sofia (1984-1990, 1998) FC Barcelona (1990-1995, 1996-1998) Parma (1995-1996) Al-Nassr (1998) Kashiwa Reysol (1998) Chicago Fire (2000-2002) DC United (2003)

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The fiery forward was known for his explosive dribbling and shooting and his equally explosive temper on the pitch. He was an excellent free-kick taker and played most of his career on the left side of the field, where his pace and dribbling gave defenders fits and his great crossing skills produced opportunities for his teammates. His on field tantrums and antics didn’t detract from his legendary status, though, and he was voted to FIFA’s 100 and was named Bulgaria’s greatest player of the last 50 years.

Stoichkov’s well traveled career saw him star at CSKA Sofia and Barcelona, where he had his best years. He won three Bulgarian League titles, four Bulgarian Cups, and was awarded the Golden Boot in 1989 after scoring 38 goals in 30 games for CSKA Sofia. At Barcelona, he experienced even more success by winning five La Liga crowns, one Copa del Rey, one Cup Winner’s Cup, and one European Cup.

Despite Bulgaria’s lack of strength on the international stage, Stoichkov was able to achieve some success while representing his country. At the 1994 World Cup, he led Bulgaria to the Semi-Finals, where they lost to Italy, 2-1. Stoichkov was the co-leading scorer of the tournament with six goals, and half of them came in the knock out round. He scored the equalizer against Germany in the Quarterfinals, and scored Bulgaria’s lone goal against Mexico in the Round of 16. Along the way, Stoichkov also scored against Argentina, helping to lead his country to a huge upset of one of the pre-tournament favorites (FYI: this was the first match Argentina played after Maradona was thrown out). Bulgaria finished fourth, which was their best World Cup showing.

With Stoichkov, controversy was never far away, and he amassed an impressive resume when it came to on-the-field incidents. He was once suspended for two months after stomping on a referee’s foot. He also broke an opposing player’s leg while playing in MLS. As a manager, he’s continued his controversial ways, clashing with players and getting sent off in matches for arguing with referees. Clearly, he has not mellowed with age.

Hristo Stoichkov VIDEO:

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Roberto Baggio
ITALY
1982-2004
Vicenza (1982-1985) Fiorentina (1985-1990) Juventus (1990-1995) AC Milan (1995-1997) Bologna (1997-1998) Inter Milan (1998-2000) Brescia (2000-2004)

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One of the most popular Italian players to play the game, Baggio more than lived up to the adoration and adulation of the fans. With his good looks and charisma, he became a bonafide superstar and ranks as possibly the most famous Italian player of all time. He wasn’t just flash, though, as he averaged nearly a goal every two matches despite playing his entire career in defensive-minded Italy, and he scored 27 times in 56 appearances for the Italian national team. Even his playing style was attractive, as he became known for his dazzling runs into the box, his ability to elude defenders, and his skill at flicking passes or shots with either foot.

Baggio won Serie A titles with both Juventus and AC Milan. He also won a Coppa Italia while with Juventus, and added a UEFA Cup title to his haul in 1995. Baggio won the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 1993, after leading Juventus to the UEFA Cup and scoring 30 goals in all competitions. In 2002, he was named to FIFA’s All-Time Dream Team, alongside players like Pele, Maradona, Beckenbauer, Cruijff, and Platini.

Obviously, he is most famous (or infamous) for missing a penalty kick during the shootout in the 1994 World Cup Final against Brazil. While his miss didn’t cost the Italians the match, as Brazil were ahead and would have won if they had converted their next kick, his miss clinched the title for Brazil. The miss overshadowed what had been a great tournament for him, as he named to the World Cup Starting XI and his 5 goals were tied for second-most among all players. He also played well in 1990, scoring the “Goal of the Tournament” against Czechoslovakia, and in 1998, when he became the first Italian player to score in three World Cups.

He accomplished so much and he was such a special player that it’s a shame that many people only know about his penalty miss in 1994.

Roberto Baggio VIDEO:

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