The Top 250 Players of All-Time: 110-101
In February 2013 up in the attic bedroom of our student house, Gareth Thomas, Ben Jones and Ollie Jackson after another prolonged football debate decided it was time we did something about the question, 'Who is the best player in the World?'. Housemate Liam suggested setting out to find the greatest 50 players of all time, this swiftly grew to 100, 150 and 200 before we settled on 250. Our original website www.top250.webs.com is still there to answer the debate but we furthered our work to blogging about the beautiful game starting up www.thefootballhistoryboys.blogspot.com.
110. Diego FORLAN
NATION: Uruguay (107/36);
CLUB(s): Independiente (ARG), Manchester United (ENG), Vilarreal (SPA), Atletico Madrid (SPA), Inter Milan (ITA) Internacional (BRA), Cerezo Osaka (JAP);
CLUB HONOURS: 1x Premier League, 1x FA Cup, 1x Europa League, 1x Super Cup, 1x Rio Grande do Sul State League;
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x Copa America
"The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the highlight of Diego Forlan’s very successful career. At the age of 31, the striker from Uruguay was elected the best player of the tournament in South Africa. “It was unexpected and is very impressive”, said Forlan, when he became the fourth South American after Argentine Diego Maradona (1986) and Brazilians Romario (1994) and Ronaldo (1998) to receive the award."
Conti Soccer World
POSITION: Defender;
"Mauro Tassotti debuted with the Rossoneri shirt during the 1980/1981 season, after playing two years with SS Lazio. Tassotti was a great tenacious player. He shortly became a modern wing player, he was an important element for the attack and along with Baresi, Maldini and Costacurta he played a pivotal role in the AC Milan defence that was considered one of the best in the world. He got the nickname "Dijalma Santos" and “the professor” that accompanied him throughout his career, even when he was called to play with the national team at the age of thirty-two and the following title of Vice Champion of the World after the American FIFA World Cup in the 1994."
"I think he deserves to be in there,[England's Greatest Ever Players] I look at the players I played with throughout my career and I think he's been one of the most consistent."
109. Mauro TASSOTI
POSITION: Defender;
NATION: Italy (7/0);
CLUB(s): Lazio, Milan (Both ITA)
CLUB HONOURS: 5x Serie A, 3x UEFA Champions League, 3x UEFA Super Cup, 2x Intercontinental, 4x Supercoppa Italia
AcMilan.com
POSITION: Defender;
108. Ashley COLE
POSITION: Defender;
NATION: England (106/0);
CLUB(s): Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea (All ENG);
CLUB HONOURS: 3x Premier League, 7x FA Cup, 3x FA Community Shield, 1x Football League Cup, 1x UEFA Champions League, 1x Europa League;
Steven Gerrard
POSITION: Goalkeeper;
NATION: Wales (92/0);
CLUB(s): Bury, Everton, Port Vale, Southend United, Stoke City, Doncaster Rovers, Torquay United, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, York City (All ENG), Rhyl (WAL), Shrewsbury Town, Dover Athletic, Dagenham and Redbridge (All ENG);
CLUB HONOURS: 2x Football League First Division, 2x FA Cup, 4x FA Charity Shield, 1x UEFA Cup Winner's Cup;
To be the best player in your position is the target most professional footballers aim towards. At his best, which was most of the time throughout the 1980s, Neville Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world. He has played more matches for the club than any other player in 121 years of Everton history. But it is his enduring excellence in those matches which have established him as an Everton legend. "I am a firm believer that you never win trophies without an outstanding goalkeeper," said Howard Kendall.
POSITION: Forward;
NATION: Holland (73/22);
CLUB(s): Groningen, PSV Eindhoven (Both NED), Chelsea (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER);
CLUB HONOURS: 1x Eredivise, 1x Johan Cruyff Shield, 2x Premier League, 1x FA Cup, 2x League Cup, 1x FA Community Shield, 1x La Liga, 1x Supercopa Espana, 3x Bundesliga, 2x DFB-Pokal, 2x DFL-Supercup, 1x UEFA Champions League, 1x UEFA Super Cup
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x FIFA World Cup - Runner Up
"2013 was been an odd year for Arjen Robben. But then again, it's been an odd career for the Dutch winger, too. Forever polarizing one fan to the next, the Bayern forward has always been just as infamous for his inconsistency as he has been famous for his brilliance. The year began with a blistering heat of attention and adoration as his Bayern side marched to the Champions League final and eventually won thanks to his last-minute goal."
POSITION: Defender;
"Cool on the ball, calm under pressure and an integral member of the meanest defence in Liverpool history, Alan Hansen in a red shirt was class personified. Rated by many as this club's finest ever central defender, Hansen can boast one of the most impressive medal collections in football. He was at the heart of the Liverpool back four for 13 years and during that time it's difficult to remember him turning in a poor performance."
107. Neville SOUTHALL
POSITION: Goalkeeper;NATION: Wales (92/0);
CLUB(s): Bury, Everton, Port Vale, Southend United, Stoke City, Doncaster Rovers, Torquay United, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, York City (All ENG), Rhyl (WAL), Shrewsbury Town, Dover Athletic, Dagenham and Redbridge (All ENG);
CLUB HONOURS: 2x Football League First Division, 2x FA Cup, 4x FA Charity Shield, 1x UEFA Cup Winner's Cup;
To be the best player in your position is the target most professional footballers aim towards. At his best, which was most of the time throughout the 1980s, Neville Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world. He has played more matches for the club than any other player in 121 years of Everton history. But it is his enduring excellence in those matches which have established him as an Everton legend. "I am a firm believer that you never win trophies without an outstanding goalkeeper," said Howard Kendall.
Everton FC
106. Arjen ROBBEN
POSITION: Forward;NATION: Holland (73/22);
CLUB(s): Groningen, PSV Eindhoven (Both NED), Chelsea (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER);
CLUB HONOURS: 1x Eredivise, 1x Johan Cruyff Shield, 2x Premier League, 1x FA Cup, 2x League Cup, 1x FA Community Shield, 1x La Liga, 1x Supercopa Espana, 3x Bundesliga, 2x DFB-Pokal, 2x DFL-Supercup, 1x UEFA Champions League, 1x UEFA Super Cup
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x FIFA World Cup - Runner Up
"2013 was been an odd year for Arjen Robben. But then again, it's been an odd career for the Dutch winger, too. Forever polarizing one fan to the next, the Bayern forward has always been just as infamous for his inconsistency as he has been famous for his brilliance. The year began with a blistering heat of attention and adoration as his Bayern side marched to the Champions League final and eventually won thanks to his last-minute goal."
Bleacher Report
105. Alan HANSEN
POSITION: Defender;
NATION: Scotland (26/0);
CLUB(s): Partick Thistle (SCO), Liverpool (ENG);
CLUB HONOURS: 1x Scottish First Division, 8x Football League First Division, 2x FA Cup, 4x League Cup, 1x UEFA Super Cup, 6x FA Charity Shield, 3x UEFA European Cup
"Cool on the ball, calm under pressure and an integral member of the meanest defence in Liverpool history, Alan Hansen in a red shirt was class personified. Rated by many as this club's finest ever central defender, Hansen can boast one of the most impressive medal collections in football. He was at the heart of the Liverpool back four for 13 years and during that time it's difficult to remember him turning in a poor performance."
Liverpool FC - Players Who Shook The Kop: #12
POSITION: Forward;
POSITION: Forward;
NATION: Italy (12/4);
CLUB(s): Alfa Romeo, Venezia, Torino (All ITA);
CLUB HONOURS: 5x Serie A, 2x Coppa Italia
"Sometimes, the figures tell only a half the story. In the case of Valentino Mazzola, they relate an even cruder fraction, the Torino legend having earned himself a place in the pantheon of Italian football in the space of seven short seasons and 12 international appearances. Revered in the same hushed tones as Giuseppe Meazza and Silvio Piola, Mazzola’s reputation is even more remarkable given that he achieved immortality despite never appearing in a FIFA World Cup™ due to the Second World War.
Mazzola’s was a talent of the purest kind. Captain of the Grande Torino side that excelled in the 1940s and provided the backbone of the Italy team, he could take up any position on the pitch and still perform to the same rarefied standard. “If I had to choose one indispensable player for my team, I wouldn’t choose Pele, [Alfredo] Di Stefano, [Johan] Cruyff, [Michel] Platini or [Diego] Maradona – I’d only go for those players after choosing Mazzola,” commented former Juventus President Giampiero Boniperti.
Nine years before Manchester United lost eight players in the Munich Air Disaster, however, Mazzola’s life was ended in similarly tragic circumstances. Torino’s superlative array of international stars was wiped out in the Superga catastrophe on 4 May 1949, with Mazzola one of 18 players killed that day. Taken from the game in his prime, his impact has nonetheless never been forgotten, and his son Sandro later went on to bring even more honour to the family name."
104.Kevin KEEGAN
NATION: England (63/21);
CLUB(s): Scunthorpe United (ENG), Liverpool (ENG), Hamburger SV (GER), Southampton (ENG), Newcastle United (ENG), Blacktown City FC (AUS);
CLUB HONOURS: 3x Football League First Division, 1x FA Cup, 1x FA Charity Shield, 1x UEFA European Cup, 2x UEFA Cup, 1x Bundesliga;
"Kevin Keegan, superstar of the seventies, owner of the most famous 'bubble' perm of his day and a dynamic attacking force that helped inspire Liverpool to success during a glorious period in Anfield history. In the six years he wore a red shirt, Keegan went from unknown rookie to an internationally renowned star, attracting a type of hero-worship that was almost pop idol-esque at times. Like Michael Owen two decades later, he became not only a Kop hero but also the golden boy of English football and a player who shouldered the hopes of a nation."
Liverpool FC - Players Who Shook The Kop: #8
103.Valentino MAZZOLA
POSITION: Forward;NATION: Italy (12/4);
CLUB(s): Alfa Romeo, Venezia, Torino (All ITA);
CLUB HONOURS: 5x Serie A, 2x Coppa Italia
"Sometimes, the figures tell only a half the story. In the case of Valentino Mazzola, they relate an even cruder fraction, the Torino legend having earned himself a place in the pantheon of Italian football in the space of seven short seasons and 12 international appearances. Revered in the same hushed tones as Giuseppe Meazza and Silvio Piola, Mazzola’s reputation is even more remarkable given that he achieved immortality despite never appearing in a FIFA World Cup™ due to the Second World War.
Mazzola’s was a talent of the purest kind. Captain of the Grande Torino side that excelled in the 1940s and provided the backbone of the Italy team, he could take up any position on the pitch and still perform to the same rarefied standard. “If I had to choose one indispensable player for my team, I wouldn’t choose Pele, [Alfredo] Di Stefano, [Johan] Cruyff, [Michel] Platini or [Diego] Maradona – I’d only go for those players after choosing Mazzola,” commented former Juventus President Giampiero Boniperti.
Nine years before Manchester United lost eight players in the Munich Air Disaster, however, Mazzola’s life was ended in similarly tragic circumstances. Torino’s superlative array of international stars was wiped out in the Superga catastrophe on 4 May 1949, with Mazzola one of 18 players killed that day. Taken from the game in his prime, his impact has nonetheless never been forgotten, and his son Sandro later went on to bring even more honour to the family name."
FIFA
POSITION: Striker;
NATION: West Germany (72/43);
CLUB(s): Hamburg (GER), Cork Celtic (IRL);
CLUB HONOURS: 1x Bundesliga, 1x DFB-Pokal;
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x FIFA World Cup - Runner Up
"Diminutive even by the standards of the day at just 1.68 m tall, he scored 43 goals in 72 appearances for his country and earned a reputation as one of their best centre-forwards of all time. There was to be no trophy for the German national team during his era, but Seeler still finished with the impressive record of coming runner-up, third and fourth at the FIFA World Cup."FIFA
POSITION: Striker;
NATION: Mexico (58/29);
CLUB(s): UNAM (Mex), San Diego Sockers (USA), Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid (Both ESP), Club America (MEX), Rayo Vallecano (ESP), Atlante (MEX), Linz (AUT), FC Dallas (USA), Celaya (MEX);
CLUB HONOURS: 2x Mexican League, 2x CONCACAF Champions Cup, 1x Copa Interamericana, 5x La Liga, 2x Copa Del Rey, 4x Supercopa de Espana, 1x UEFA Cup, 1x Austrian League;
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x CONCACAF Gold Cup;
"There are few centre-forwards in the history of the game who can match Hugo Sanchez’s record. The top scorer in the Spanish league in five separate seasons and the leading marksman in Mexico once, he also won a European Golden Shoe, represented his country at three FIFA World Cup™ finals, and was named in Real Madrid’s all-time greatest XI. And as if that were not enough, his unique version of the overhead-kick also has its very own name."
102. Uwe SEELER
NATION: West Germany (72/43);
CLUB(s): Hamburg (GER), Cork Celtic (IRL);
CLUB HONOURS: 1x Bundesliga, 1x DFB-Pokal;
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x FIFA World Cup - Runner Up
"Diminutive even by the standards of the day at just 1.68 m tall, he scored 43 goals in 72 appearances for his country and earned a reputation as one of their best centre-forwards of all time. There was to be no trophy for the German national team during his era, but Seeler still finished with the impressive record of coming runner-up, third and fourth at the FIFA World Cup."FIFA
101. Hugo SANCHEZ
POSITION: Striker;NATION: Mexico (58/29);
CLUB(s): UNAM (Mex), San Diego Sockers (USA), Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid (Both ESP), Club America (MEX), Rayo Vallecano (ESP), Atlante (MEX), Linz (AUT), FC Dallas (USA), Celaya (MEX);
CLUB HONOURS: 2x Mexican League, 2x CONCACAF Champions Cup, 1x Copa Interamericana, 5x La Liga, 2x Copa Del Rey, 4x Supercopa de Espana, 1x UEFA Cup, 1x Austrian League;
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 1x CONCACAF Gold Cup;
"There are few centre-forwards in the history of the game who can match Hugo Sanchez’s record. The top scorer in the Spanish league in five separate seasons and the leading marksman in Mexico once, he also won a European Golden Shoe, represented his country at three FIFA World Cup™ finals, and was named in Real Madrid’s all-time greatest XI. And as if that were not enough, his unique version of the overhead-kick also has its very own name."
FIFA
Voted for by the public between Aug-Dec 2013
The rest of the #TFHBTop250-
Voted for by the public between Aug-Dec 2013
The rest of the #TFHBTop250-
- 120-111
- 130-121
- 140-131
- 150-141
- 160-151
- 170-161
- 180-171
- 190-181
- 200-191
- 210-201
- 220-211
- 230-221
- 240-231
- 250-241
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