#TFHB100 Players of All-Time: 60-51
To mark our 4th birthday we have decided once more develop a list of the greatest players of all-time. In our infancy, we attempted to countdown the top 250 players through a public vote. However, over the past year a new poll was created gaining a far greater number of votes from almost 50 countries around the world! Alongside the public vote is a judging panel made up of:
60. Marcel DESAILLY
D.O.B: 07.09.68
Place in #TFHB250: 131
Nation: France
Club(s): Nantes, Marseille, Milan, Chelsea, Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC
League Apps (Goals): 539 (23)
International: 116 (3)
Honours: UEFA Champions League x2; Serie A x2; Supercoppa Italiana; UEFA Super Cup x2; FA Cup; Charity Shield; FIFA World Cup; UEFA European Championship; FIFA Confederations Cup x2
Individual: FIFA 100; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 1998; FIFA World XI 1996
Telegraph:
"Played outstandingly as AC Milan’s midfield ‘octopus’ in front of Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi, winning two Serie A titles and a Champions League. Marcel Desailly joined Chelsea on the eve of the 1998 World Cup which he won with France after forming a centre-back partnership for the final with new team-mate Franck Leboeuf following Laurent Blanc’s red card in the semi. He was a defender of muscular elegance, strong, a master of positioning and anticipation, ruthlessly larcenous when he had a sight of the ball and the forward had his back to him. Lesser defensive talents than him later won more at the Bridge but Desailly had already been to the mountaintop with Marseille, Milan and France and never let his impeccable standards drop."
59. Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC
D.O.B: 03.10.81
Place in #TFHB250: New Entry
Nation: Sweden
Club(s): Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG, Manchester United
League Apps (Goals): 507 (317)
International: 116 (62)
Honours: Eredivisie x2; KNVB Cup; Johan Cruyff Shield; Serie A x4; Supercoppa Italiana x3; La Liga; Supercopa de Espana x2; UEFA Super Cup; FIFA World Club Cup; Ligue 1 x4; Coupe de France x2; Coupe de la Ligue x2; Trophee des Champions; Community Shield
Individual: Serie A Footballer of the Year x3; UEFA Team of the Year x4; FIFA World XI 2013; FIFA Puskas Award 2013; Ligue 1 Player of the Year x3
58. Sir Tom FINNEY
D.O.B: 05.04.22
Place in #TFHB250: 207
Nation: England
Club(s): Preston North End
League Apps (Goals): 433 (187)
International: 76 (30)
Honours: Football League Second Division
Individual: FWA Footballer of the Year 1954 1957
The Guardian:
"Tom Finney, who has died aged 91, was perhaps the most complete British footballer of all time, yet he failed to win a single major honour for either club or country. Blessed with exquisite balance, skill and tactical intelligence, he played the game with a grace – or indeed good grace – given to very few: he was never booked, sent off or even ticked off by referees. Stanley Matthews may have been the public's favourite, but to purists Finney was the greater all-rounder."
57. Alessandro DEL PIERO
D.O.B: 09.11.74
Place in #TFHB250: 64
Nation: Italy
Club(s): Padova, Juventus, Sydney FC, Delhi Dynamos
League Apps (Goals): 585 (234)
International: 91 (27)
Honours: Serie A x6; Coppa Italia; Supercoppa Italiana x4; FIFA World Cup; UEFA Champions League; UEFA Super Cup; UEFA Intertoto Cup; Intercontinental Cup
Individual: FIFA 100
56. Billy MEREDITH
D.O.B: 30.07.1874
Place in #TFHB250: New Entry
Nation: Wales
Club(s): Chirk; Northwich Victoria; Manchester City; Manchester United
League Apps (Goals): 681 (169)
International: 48 (11)
Honours: Welsh Cup; Football League First Division x2; FA Cup x2; FA Charity Shield; Home Championship x2
Individual: Manchester City Hall of Fame
Ben Jones - TFHB:
Who is Billy Meredith? I hear you ask! Simply put, he was football's first real 'superstar'. Playing for Manchester United and Manchester City - Meredith's record speaks for itself. Famous for playing with a toothpick in his mouth, Meredith was one of the game's first pioneers. Born to a working-class family in North Wales, his early life was spent down mines, working hard and developing a grit which would be evident in his style of play. Later, he became one the initial voices for a removal of the maximum wage, challenging the establishment and internationally amassing 48 caps, playing his last at the ripe old age of 45! A footballing legend!
- @Benny_J and @GJ_Thomas from @TFHBs
- @Art_of_Football
- @MyFootballToday
- @GoaldenTimes
- @Dispenssoccer
- @BeautifulGame15
60. Marcel DESAILLY
D.O.B: 07.09.68
Place in #TFHB250: 131
Nation: France
Club(s): Nantes, Marseille, Milan, Chelsea, Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC
League Apps (Goals): 539 (23)
International: 116 (3)
Honours: UEFA Champions League x2; Serie A x2; Supercoppa Italiana; UEFA Super Cup x2; FA Cup; Charity Shield; FIFA World Cup; UEFA European Championship; FIFA Confederations Cup x2
Individual: FIFA 100; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 1998; FIFA World XI 1996
Telegraph:
"Played outstandingly as AC Milan’s midfield ‘octopus’ in front of Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi, winning two Serie A titles and a Champions League. Marcel Desailly joined Chelsea on the eve of the 1998 World Cup which he won with France after forming a centre-back partnership for the final with new team-mate Franck Leboeuf following Laurent Blanc’s red card in the semi. He was a defender of muscular elegance, strong, a master of positioning and anticipation, ruthlessly larcenous when he had a sight of the ball and the forward had his back to him. Lesser defensive talents than him later won more at the Bridge but Desailly had already been to the mountaintop with Marseille, Milan and France and never let his impeccable standards drop."
59. Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC
D.O.B: 03.10.81
Place in #TFHB250: New Entry
Nation: Sweden
Club(s): Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG, Manchester United
League Apps (Goals): 507 (317)
International: 116 (62)
Honours: Eredivisie x2; KNVB Cup; Johan Cruyff Shield; Serie A x4; Supercoppa Italiana x3; La Liga; Supercopa de Espana x2; UEFA Super Cup; FIFA World Club Cup; Ligue 1 x4; Coupe de France x2; Coupe de la Ligue x2; Trophee des Champions; Community Shield
Individual: Serie A Footballer of the Year x3; UEFA Team of the Year x4; FIFA World XI 2013; FIFA Puskas Award 2013; Ligue 1 Player of the Year x3
58. Sir Tom FINNEY
D.O.B: 05.04.22
Place in #TFHB250: 207
Nation: England
Club(s): Preston North End
League Apps (Goals): 433 (187)
International: 76 (30)
Honours: Football League Second Division
Individual: FWA Footballer of the Year 1954 1957
The Guardian:
"Tom Finney, who has died aged 91, was perhaps the most complete British footballer of all time, yet he failed to win a single major honour for either club or country. Blessed with exquisite balance, skill and tactical intelligence, he played the game with a grace – or indeed good grace – given to very few: he was never booked, sent off or even ticked off by referees. Stanley Matthews may have been the public's favourite, but to purists Finney was the greater all-rounder."
D.O.B: 09.11.74Place in #TFHB250: 64
Nation: Italy
Club(s): Padova, Juventus, Sydney FC, Delhi Dynamos
League Apps (Goals): 585 (234)
International: 91 (27)
Honours: Serie A x6; Coppa Italia; Supercoppa Italiana x4; FIFA World Cup; UEFA Champions League; UEFA Super Cup; UEFA Intertoto Cup; Intercontinental Cup
Individual: FIFA 100
56. Billy MEREDITH
D.O.B: 30.07.1874Place in #TFHB250: New Entry
Nation: Wales
Club(s): Chirk; Northwich Victoria; Manchester City; Manchester United
League Apps (Goals): 681 (169)
International: 48 (11)
Honours: Welsh Cup; Football League First Division x2; FA Cup x2; FA Charity Shield; Home Championship x2
Individual: Manchester City Hall of Fame
Ben Jones - TFHB:
Who is Billy Meredith? I hear you ask! Simply put, he was football's first real 'superstar'. Playing for Manchester United and Manchester City - Meredith's record speaks for itself. Famous for playing with a toothpick in his mouth, Meredith was one of the game's first pioneers. Born to a working-class family in North Wales, his early life was spent down mines, working hard and developing a grit which would be evident in his style of play. Later, he became one the initial voices for a removal of the maximum wage, challenging the establishment and internationally amassing 48 caps, playing his last at the ripe old age of 45! A footballing legend!
55. Frank LAMPARD
D.O.B: 20.06.78
Place in #TFHB250: 56
Nation: England
Club(s): West Ham United; Swansea; Chelsea; Manchester City; New York City FC
League Apps (Goals): 647 (193)
International: 106 (29)
Honours: Premier League x3; FA Cup x4; League Cup x2; Community Shield x2; UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League; UEFA Intertoto Cup
Individual: FWA Footballer of the Year; PFA Player of the Year; Baloon d'Or Silver; FIFA World XI 2005; England Player of the Year x2; MLS All-Star; UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 2004
Squawka:
"Lampard’s best qualities have never been up for discussion. His value to a team is obvious rather than vague, opaque or mystical. There is no context required to appreciate what he has always been about. He excelled at being exactly the kind of midfielder he set out to be, and there is no doubt that he was the very best at what he did. A record of 274 goals from midfield in 913 competitive appearances is pure end product. In 11 out of his 22 seasons as professional player, he hit double figures for league goals. In 2010 bagged 22 in 36 Premier League games. That’s a return that would have won him the Golden Boot in seven seasons since the relaunch and re-branding of the English topflight in 1992."
54. Sandor KOCSIS
D.O.B: 21.09.29
Place in #TFHB250: 196
Nation: Hungary
Club(s): Ferencvaros; EDOSZ; Honved; Young Fellows Zurich; Barcelona
League Apps (Goals): 335 (296)
International: 68 (75)
Honours: Hungarian League x4; La Liga x2; Copa Del Rey x2; UEFA Cup; Olympic Gold Medal
Individual: FIFA World Cup Golden Boot; FIFA World Cup All Star Team 1954
53. Carlos ALBERTO
D.O.B: 17.07.44
Place in #TFHB250: 30
Nation: Brazil
Club(s): Fluminense; Santos; Flamengo; New York Cosmos; California Surf
League Apps (Goals): 743 (64)
International: 53 (8)
Honours: Campeonato Carioca x3; Campeonato Paulista x4; Taca Guanabara x2; Taca de Prata; Recopa Sul-Americana; FIFA World Cup 1970; NASL SoccerBowl x4
Individual: FIFA 100; Brazil Football Hall of Fame; World Team of the 20th Century;
D.O.B: 20.06.78
Place in #TFHB250: 56
Nation: England
Club(s): West Ham United; Swansea; Chelsea; Manchester City; New York City FC
League Apps (Goals): 647 (193)
International: 106 (29)
Honours: Premier League x3; FA Cup x4; League Cup x2; Community Shield x2; UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League; UEFA Intertoto Cup
Individual: FWA Footballer of the Year; PFA Player of the Year; Baloon d'Or Silver; FIFA World XI 2005; England Player of the Year x2; MLS All-Star; UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 2004
Squawka:
"Lampard’s best qualities have never been up for discussion. His value to a team is obvious rather than vague, opaque or mystical. There is no context required to appreciate what he has always been about. He excelled at being exactly the kind of midfielder he set out to be, and there is no doubt that he was the very best at what he did. A record of 274 goals from midfield in 913 competitive appearances is pure end product. In 11 out of his 22 seasons as professional player, he hit double figures for league goals. In 2010 bagged 22 in 36 Premier League games. That’s a return that would have won him the Golden Boot in seven seasons since the relaunch and re-branding of the English topflight in 1992."
54. Sandor KOCSIS
D.O.B: 21.09.29
Place in #TFHB250: 196
Nation: Hungary
Club(s): Ferencvaros; EDOSZ; Honved; Young Fellows Zurich; Barcelona
League Apps (Goals): 335 (296)
International: 68 (75)
Honours: Hungarian League x4; La Liga x2; Copa Del Rey x2; UEFA Cup; Olympic Gold Medal
Individual: FIFA World Cup Golden Boot; FIFA World Cup All Star Team 1954
UEFA.com
"When Luis Suárez chipped his cross to the back post in Berne, the outcome seemed inevitable. Sándor Kocsis nipped in and headed FC Barcelona into the lead in the 21st minute of the 1961 European Champion Clubs' Cup final and scored one of the most memorable of his 151 goals for the club.
"There has never been anybody better with his head," Gusztáv Sebes, coach of the legendary Magical Magyars, said of the striker whose 11 goals took Hungary to the 1954 FIFA World Cup final. "He had a great leap and combined fierce power with pinpoint accuracy."
"When Luis Suárez chipped his cross to the back post in Berne, the outcome seemed inevitable. Sándor Kocsis nipped in and headed FC Barcelona into the lead in the 21st minute of the 1961 European Champion Clubs' Cup final and scored one of the most memorable of his 151 goals for the club.
"There has never been anybody better with his head," Gusztáv Sebes, coach of the legendary Magical Magyars, said of the striker whose 11 goals took Hungary to the 1954 FIFA World Cup final. "He had a great leap and combined fierce power with pinpoint accuracy."
D.O.B: 17.07.44
Place in #TFHB250: 30
Nation: Brazil
Club(s): Fluminense; Santos; Flamengo; New York Cosmos; California Surf
League Apps (Goals): 743 (64)
International: 53 (8)
Honours: Campeonato Carioca x3; Campeonato Paulista x4; Taca Guanabara x2; Taca de Prata; Recopa Sul-Americana; FIFA World Cup 1970; NASL SoccerBowl x4
Individual: FIFA 100; Brazil Football Hall of Fame; World Team of the 20th Century;
There has to be only one option here....
52. Paul SCHOLES
D.O.B: 16.09.74
Place in #TFHB250: 85
Nation: England
Club(s): Manchester United
League Apps (Goals): 499 (107)
International: 66 (14)
Honours: Premier League x11; FA Cup x3; League Cup x2; FA Community Shield x5; UEFA Champions League x2; FIFA Club World Cup x2
Individual: PFA Team of the Year x2; English Football Hall of Fame
Zinedine Zidane:
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation."
David Beckham:
"Paul Scholes was always unbelievably talented. Quiet. And dirty. When he got his tackle right, it was a great tackle. But when he got it wrong, he could kill someone. He was so talented and a player I feel honoured to have played with."
D.O.B: 16.09.74Place in #TFHB250: 85
Nation: England
Club(s): Manchester United
League Apps (Goals): 499 (107)
International: 66 (14)
Honours: Premier League x11; FA Cup x3; League Cup x2; FA Community Shield x5; UEFA Champions League x2; FIFA Club World Cup x2
Individual: PFA Team of the Year x2; English Football Hall of Fame
Zinedine Zidane:
"My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation."
David Beckham:
"Paul Scholes was always unbelievably talented. Quiet. And dirty. When he got his tackle right, it was a great tackle. But when he got it wrong, he could kill someone. He was so talented and a player I feel honoured to have played with."
51. Lothar MATTHAUS
D.O.B: 21.03.61
Place in #TFHB250: 43
Nation: Germany
Club(s): Borussia Monchangladbach; Bayern; Inter; MetroStars
League Apps (Goals): 595 (161)
International: 150 (23)
Honours: Bundesliga x7; DFB-Pokal x3; DFB Supercup; Fuji Cup x4; DFB Liga-Pokal x3; UEFA Cup x2; Serie A; Supercoppa Italiana; UEFA European Championship; FIFA World Cup
Individual: FIFA World Cup Silver Ball; Onze d'Or; FIFA World Player of the Year 1991; Ballon d'Or 1990; FIFA XI 1996 1997 2001; FIFA 100
Who Ate All the Pies:
"Matthaus wasn’t just a terrifically talented midfielder in a bygone era when central midfielders were expected to dabble in both defensive and offensive graft (can you even imagine?) – he also had presence, tons of the stuff. Matthaus was imposing, dominant, fiercely competitive, tireless. He was arguably the best (or perhaps most influential) player at Italia ’90, quashing entire teams – including a very handy Yugoslavian side – on his lonesome. He was nuts and bolts, but world class nuts and bolts. Such was his influence, Matthaus retired aged 40 following a brief stint in the US having won more caps for Germany than any other player (150) and having appeared at nine major international tournaments over the course of two entire decades with Die Mannschaft."
Keep track of the list so far:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Keep tuned in to find out the next 10 in the #TFHB100 shortlist! Check out our judges' websites!!
D.O.B: 21.03.61Place in #TFHB250: 43
Nation: Germany
Club(s): Borussia Monchangladbach; Bayern; Inter; MetroStars
International: 150 (23)
Honours: Bundesliga x7; DFB-Pokal x3; DFB Supercup; Fuji Cup x4; DFB Liga-Pokal x3; UEFA Cup x2; Serie A; Supercoppa Italiana; UEFA European Championship; FIFA World Cup
Individual: FIFA World Cup Silver Ball; Onze d'Or; FIFA World Player of the Year 1991; Ballon d'Or 1990; FIFA XI 1996 1997 2001; FIFA 100
Who Ate All the Pies:
"Matthaus wasn’t just a terrifically talented midfielder in a bygone era when central midfielders were expected to dabble in both defensive and offensive graft (can you even imagine?) – he also had presence, tons of the stuff. Matthaus was imposing, dominant, fiercely competitive, tireless. He was arguably the best (or perhaps most influential) player at Italia ’90, quashing entire teams – including a very handy Yugoslavian side – on his lonesome. He was nuts and bolts, but world class nuts and bolts. Such was his influence, Matthaus retired aged 40 following a brief stint in the US having won more caps for Germany than any other player (150) and having appeared at nine major international tournaments over the course of two entire decades with Die Mannschaft."
Keep track of the list so far:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Keep tuned in to find out the next 10 in the #TFHB100 shortlist! Check out our judges' websites!!
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