Saturday, 10 September 2011

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Leonardo


DoB: Sep 5, 1969

PoB: Niterói, Brazil

Position: Attacking midfielder, left back

Clubs represented: Flamengo, São Paulo, Valencia, Kashima Antlers, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan

Total appearances/goals:

Total caps: 60/8

Honours:
4 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups, 1 regional league title
2 Recopa Sudamericana, 1 Intercopa Sudamericana, 1 Intercontinental title

WC94; runner-up: 98
Copa America 97; runner-up: 95
Confederations Cup 97

Highs:

Peter Beardsley


DoB: Jan 18, 1961

PoB: Hexham, England

Position: Forward, Midfielder

Clubs represented: Carlisle United, Vancouver Whitecaps, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Fulham, Hartlepool United, Melbourne Knights

Total appearances/goals: 756/237

Total caps: 59/9

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup, 3 domestic super cups

WC90: 4th place

PFA Team of the Year: 90, 94
English Football Hall of Fame

Highs:

Fernando Gómez


DoB: Sep 11, 1965

PoB: Valencia, Spain

Position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs represented: Valencia, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Castellón

Total appearances/goals:

Total caps: 8/2

Honours:
1 secondary league title

u-20 WC85 runner-up

Spanish Player of the Year: 89

Highs:

Thomas Doll

DoB: Apr 9, 1966

PoB: Malchin, DDR

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Hansa Rostock, Berliner FC Dynamo, Hamburger SV, Lazio, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bari

Total appearances/goals: 357/62

Total caps: 29/7 (18/1 for Germany)

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups

Euro 92 runner-up

Highs:

Daniel Amokachi


DoB: 30 Dez, 1972

PoB: Kaduna, Nigeria

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: Ranchers Bees, Club Brugge, Everton, Besiktas

Total appearances/goals:

Total caps: 42/14

Honours:
1 domestic cup

CAN94
Olympic Games 96 Gold Medal

Highs:
Confederations Cup 4th place: 95

Stanley Menzo

DoB: Oct 15, 1963

PoB: Paramaribo, Suriname

Position: Goalkeeper

Clubs represented: Ajax Amsterdam, Haarlem, PSV, Lierse, Bordeaux

Total appearances/goals:

Total caps: 6/0

Honours:
4 domestic league titles, 5 domestic cups
1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 UEFA Cup

Dutch Goalkeeper of the Year: 90

Highs:

Anders Limpar


DoB: Sep 24, 1965

PoB: Solna, Sweden

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: IF Brommapojkarna, Örgryte, Young Boys, Cremonese, Arsenal, Everton, Birmingham City, AIK Stockholm, Colorado Rapids

Total appearances/goals: 399/66

Total caps: 58/6

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups, 1 domestic league cup

WC94 Third Place

Swedish Player of the Year: 91

Highs:

Драган Стојковић (Dragan Stojković)


DoB: Mar 3, 1965

PoB: Niš, Yugoslavia SFR

Position: Attacking Midfielder, Forward

Clubs represented: FK Radnički Niš, Red Star Belgrade, Marseille, Hellas Verona, Nagoya Grampus Eight

Total appearances/goals: 417/125

Total caps: 84/15

Honours:
2 domestic cups
1 Champions League

Olympic Games 84 Bronze Medal

Yugoslav League MVP: 88, 89
Japanese League MVP: 95
Japanese League Best Eleven: 95, 96, 99

Nicolas Ouédec


DoB: Oct 28, 1971

PoB: Lorient, France

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: Nantes, Espanyol, Paris Saint-Germain, Montpellier, Louviéroise, Dalian Shide, Shandong Luneng

Total appearances/goals:

Total caps: 7/1

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup, 2 domestic super cups

League 1 Top Scorer: 94

Highs:
Nantes Top Scorer in the Champions League: 14 goals

Antonio Conte


DoB: Jul 31, 1969

PoB: Lecce, Italy

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Lecce, Juventus

Total appearances/goals: 384/30

Total caps: 20/2

Honours:
5 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup, 4 domestic super cups
1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 minor european cup

Highs:

Txiki Begiristain


DoB: Aug 12, 1964

PoB: Olaberria, Spain

Position: Winger

Clubs represented: Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruña, Urawa Red Diamonds

Total appearances/goals: 514/106

Total caps: 22/6

Honours:
4 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups, 5 domestic super cups
1 Champions League, 1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 European Super Cup

Highs:

Abel Balbo


DoB: Jun 1, 1966

PoB: Empalme, Argentina

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: Newell's Old Boys, River Plate, Udinese, Roma, Parma, Fiorentina, Boca Juniors

Total appearances/goals: 417/171

Total caps: 37/11

Honours:
1 domestic league title

WC90 runner-up
Copa America 91, 93; Third Place: 89

Highs:

Paul Scholes


DoB: Nov 16, 1974

PoB: Salford, England

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Manchester United

Total appearances/goals: 466/102

Total caps: 66/14

Honours:
10 domestic league titles, 3 domestic cups, 2 domestic league cups, 5 domestic super cups
2 Champions Leagues, 2 Intercontinental Cups

u-18 Euro93

PFA Team of the Year: 01, 03, 07
Premier League 10 Seasons: Domestic Team of the Year
Premier League 10 Seasons: Overall Team of the Year
English Football Hall of Fame

Highs:

Andreas Möller


DoB: Sep 2, 1967

PoB: Frankfurt am Main, BRD

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Schalke 04

Total appearances/goals: 485/129

Total caps: 85/29

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 3 domestic cups, 2 domestic super cups
1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

WC90
Euro96; runner-up: 92

Highs:
More closely associated with Borussia Dortmund, he also played for his hometown club of Frankfurt in 3 different stints.
Between 96 and 97 won the Euro and the CL, being an influential player in both of those winning teams.

Lows:
Missed the WC90, Euro92 and Euro96 finals.

Андрій Канчельскіс (Andrei Kanchelskis)


DoB: Jan 23, 1969

PoB: Kirovograd, USSR

Position: Winger

Clubs represented: Dynamo Kyiv, Shaktar Donetsk, Manchester United, Everton, Fiorentina, Rangers, Manchester City, Southampton, Al-Hilal, Saturn Moscow, Krylia Sovetov

Total appearances/goals: 397/72

Total caps: 36/4 for Russia (17/3 for Soviet Union, 6/0 for CIS)

Honours:
4 domestic league titles, 5 domestic cups, 3 domestic league cups, 2 domestic super cups
1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 European Super Cup

Premier League Team of the Year: 95

Highs:
His time at Manchester United stands as the best in his career, being instrumental in breaking the team's 26 year fast of league titles.

Lows:
Having fallen out with manager Alex Ferguson, was unduly replaced with young starlet David Beckham. Unfortunately, as he was only 26 at the time, it meant his career was on the way down, at too much a young age, although his time at Everton was also personally successful (although the team wasn't).

Cláudio Taffarel


DoB: May 8, 1966

PoB: Santa Rosa, Brazil

Position: Goalkeeper

Clubs represented: Internacional, Parma, Reggiana, Atlético Mineiro, Galatasaray

Total appearances/goals: 379/0

Total caps: 101/0

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 1 regional league title, 4 domestic cups
1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 1 Copa CONMEBOL

WC94; runner-up: 98
Copa America 89, 97; runner-up: 91, 95
Olympic Games 88 Silver Medal
Gold Cup 98 Third Place

Brazilian Football Hall of Fame
Brazilian League Player of the Year: 88

Highs:
He is the most capped brazilian keeper, and 4th overall.
Had a great run with Galatasaray, being named MVP in 00's UEFA Cup final win, and being a fundamental part in the club winning a quadruple of titles that year.

Lows:
Never really played for a top european club, his only two domestic titles coming in Turkey at a time when Galatasaray was absolutely walking the league.
Due to this fact had somewhat of a lower recognition, unlike some of the other top goalkeepers of his day who were getting Champions League football every season.


Iván Zamorano


DoB: Jan 18, 1967

PoB: Santiago, Chile

Position: Striker

Clubs represented: Cobresal, Cobreandino, St. Gallen, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Internazionale, América, Colo-Colo

Total appearances/goals: 490/233

Total caps: 69/34

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 1 secondary league title, 2 domestic cups, 1 domestic super cup
1 UEFA Cup

Copa America: runner-up (87), 3rd place (91)
Olympic Games 00 Bronze Medal

La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 95
Olympic Games Top Scorer: 00
La Liga Top Scorer: 95
Swiss League Top Scorer: 90
Chilean Player of the Year: 90
Chosen for the FIFA 100

Highs:
Had a wonderful season in 95, scoring 28 goals as Real Madrid finally broke Barcelona's run of 4 league titles in a row. Goalscoring-wise this was his best season.

Lows:
Although he won the UEFA Cup in 98, in 97's final he missed his penalty in the shootout, costing the team the trophy.

Friday, 29 July 2011

Angelo Peruzzi


DoB: Feb 16, 1970

PoB: Blera, Italy

Position: Goalkeeper

Clubs represented: Roma, Verona, Juventus, Internazionale, Lazio

Total appearances/goals: 478/0

Total caps: 31/0

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup
1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup

WC06

Italian League Player of the Year: 97
Italian League Goalkeeper of the Year: 97, 98, 07

Highs:
His €17,9 million transfer from Internazionale to Lazio made him the world's most expensive goalie (now 4th).
He is currently Serie A's 15th player with the most games (the 4th most of goalkeepers).

Lows:
Injuries cost him starting places in WC98 and Euro00 to Gianluca Pagliuca and Francesco Toldo, respectively. The extraordinary range of choices (also later with Gianluigi Buffon) for his playing position was also detrimental to his international career.

Franck Sauzée


DoB: Oct 28, 1965

PoB: Aubenas, France

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Sochaux, Marseille, Monaco, Atalanta, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Hibernian

Total appearances/goals: 502/102

Total caps: 39/9

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 2 domestic secondary league titles, 2 domestic cups
1 Champions League

u-21 European Cup: 88

Highs:
Was part of France's only European Cup winning team of 93 with Marseille.
Gave his career a new lease at 34, joining Hibernian, qualifying the team for the UEFA Cup through a 3rd place finish in 01, and being considered one of the club's greats.

Lows:
Played his last international match at only 28, after France missed qualification for WC94 (in a team with, among others, the likes of Éric Cantona, Jean-Pierre Papin and Didier Deschamps).
Missed the 91 CL final as Marseille lost to Red Star Belgrade, after having switched that same year to Arséne Wenger's Monaco.

Julio Salinas


DoB: Sep 11, 1962

PoB: Bilbao, Spain

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: Bilbao Athletic, Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruña, Sporting Gijón, Yokohama Marinos, Alavés

Total appearances/goals: 557/246

Total caps: 56/22

Honours:
6 domestic league titles, 3 domestic cups, 2 domestic super cups
1 Champions League, 1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 European Super Cup

Spanish Second League Top Scorer: 84
Highs:
He is currently 16th in La Liga's ranking for the most goals, and the 7th best scorer for the national team.
Won back to back league titles for Bilbao and then 4 in a row with Barcelona.
Despite his advancing years, never really stopped scoring regularly in the limelight of his career.

Lows:
His career with Spain is entirely forgettable, with no noteworthy achievements.

Kennet Andersson


DoB: Oct 6, 1967

PoB: Eskilstuna, Sweden

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: IFK Eskilstuna, IFK Göteborg, VK Mechelen, IFK Norrköping, Lille, Caen, Bari, Bologna, Lazio, Fenerbahçe, Gårda BK

Total appearances/goals: 488/163

Total caps: 83/31

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup
1 European Super Cup, 1 minor european cup

WC94: 3rd place
u-21 European Cup 92 runner up

Swedish League Top Scorer: 91

Highs:
Most of his national honours came between 92 and 94, with the 3rd place in WC94, semi-final in Euro92 and runner up in the u-21 Euro92 (although he was 25 at the time).
He is currently the 5th best swedish scorer for the national team.

Lows:
Changed clubs very often, although he never played for a really top club.

Marco Bode


DoB: May 8, 1960

PoB: Osterode am Harz, BRD

Position: Forward, Midfielder, Defender

Clubs represented: Werder Bremen

Total appearances/goals: 379/101

Total caps: 40/9

Honours:
1 domestic league title, 3 domestic cups, 3 domestic super cups
1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 minor european cup

Euro 96
WC02 runner up

Top Werder Bremen scorer in the Bundesliga

Highs:
Played for 14 years for his only club, Werder Bremen.
During this time he collected only 10 bookings and was never sent off.

Lows:
His loyalty to the club barred him from achieving more trophies.
Low goalscoring average for the national team, although he was never a first choice for striker.



Battling it out with Cafu...............................................Misery in Euro00..............Scoring in the run-up to CWC glory in 92

Bryan Robson


DoB: Jan 11, 1957

PoB: Chester-le-Street, England

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Middlesbrough

Total appearances/goals: 568/115

Total caps: 90/26

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 3 domestic cups, 1 domestic league cup, 3 domestic super cups
1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 European Super Cup

WC90: 4th place

Football League 100 Legends
English Football Hall of Fame
OBE

Highs:
He is currently the 6th most capped English player, having captained the side for 9 years. He was also Manchester United's skipper for 12 years.
Broke the British transfer record with a £1,5 million move from WBA to Man Utd in 1981.
Despite his injuries was curiously a case of longevity, ending his career as Middlesbrough's player-manager at age 40.

Lows:
A very unlucky player as far as injuries are concerned, forcing him to miss large parts of various seasons and depriving his club and national team of one of their most influential players.
Endured a barren spell of 5 years without a trophy, between 85's and 90's FA Cups, with his first league trophy coming only in 93, when he was already 36 years old!

Mazinho


DoB: Apr 8, 1966

PoB: Santa Rita, Brazil

Position: Anchor midfielder

Clubs represented: Vasco da Gama, Lecce, Fiorentina, Palmeiras, Valencia, Celta de Vigo, Elche

Total appearances/goals: 356/17

Total caps: 22/0

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 4 regional league titles, 2 regional cups, 1 interregional cup

WC94
Copa America: 89; runner-up: 91
Olympic Silver medal: 88

Brazilian League Team of the Year: 87, 88

Highs:
Very successful at national level, being one of the cornerstones of Brazil's 24-year-drought-ending team of 94.

Lows:
Very low goalscoring record for a midfield player, with a career total of only 17 in 15 years!

Pavel Nedvěd


DoB: Aug 30, 1972

PoB: Cheb, Czechoslovakia

Position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs represented: Sparta Prague, SS Lazio, Juventus

Total appearances/goals: 465/106

Total caps: 91/18

Honours:
8 domestic league titles, 3 domestic cups, 4 domestic super cups, 1 secondary league title
1 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 European Super Cup

Euro 96 runner-up
Confederations Cup 97 3rd place

Ballon d'Or: 03
Euro 04 Team of the Tournament
UEFA Team of the Year: 03, 04, 05
Italian League Player of the Year: 03
Czech Player of the Year: 98, 00, 03, 04
Czech Press Player of the Year: 98, 00, 01, 03, 04, 09
Chosen for the FIFA 100

Highs:
He led Juventus to its first CL final in 5 years in 03, finishing the year with the European footballer of the year accolade for his superb efforts.
Although second fiddle to the likes of the older Patrick Berger and Karel Poborský, was an important part of the czech team that reached the Euro96 final, upsetting the likes of France, Italy and Portugal.

Lows:
Missed the 03 final due to a booking in the semifinal.
Was just shy of coming up with a more brilliant trophy case, as his teams reached but failed to win a UEFA Cup (98), CL (03) and Euro (96), which would have given him an almost perfect score.
Played only in one World Cup, in 06, at already 34, with the Czech Republic being knocked out in the group stage.

Saturday, 23 July 2011

홍명보 (Hong Myung-Bo)


DoB: Feb 12, 1969

PoB: Busan, South Korea

Position: Defender

Clubs represented: Pohang Steelers, Bellmare Hiratsuka, Kashiwa Reysol, Los Angeles Galaxy

Total appearances/goals: 281/21

Total caps: 136/10

Honours:
1 domestic league title, 1 domestic cup, 2 domestic league cups
1 Asian Club Championship

WC02 4th place
Asian Cup 3rd place: 00

WC02 Bronze Ball
WC02 Team of the Tournament
Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 00
Korean League MVP: 92
Korean League Team of the Year: 92, 94, 95, 96
Japanese League Team of the Year: 00
United States League Team of the Year: 03

Chosen for the FIFA 100

Highs:
He was the first asian player to play in 4 consecutive WC tournaments, and he was the skipperin 02's historic 4th place finish, playing in home ground.
He is also South Korea's most capped player.

Lows:
The one trophy missing seems to be the Asian Cup, with only a 3rd place his best result.

Luis Hernández


DoB: Aug 17, 1968

PoB: Veracruz, Mexico

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: Cruz Azul, Querétaro, Monterrey, Necaxa, Boca Juniors, UANL, Los Angeles Galaxy, América, Veracruz, Jaguares de Chiapas, BUAP

Total appearances/goals: 362/132

Total caps: 87/35

Honours:

Gold Cup: 96, 98
Copa America 3rd place: 97, 99
1 Confederations Cup

Mexican Player of the Year: 97, 98
Copa America 97 Top Scorer
Top Mexican Goalscorer in World Cups

Highs:
Copa America 97 was his peak, as he scored 6 goals in the tournament and helped Mexico to a 3rd place finish.
His 4 goals for Mexico in WC98 make him the only Mexican to score over 2 goals in World Cups.

Lows:
The fact that he never played in Europe, means he was never put to test by the best.
He was also a flop in the more competitive Argentinian league, with Boca Juniors.

Александр Мостовой (Aleksandr Mostovoi)


DoB: Aug 22, 1968

PoB: Lomonosov, Soviet Union

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Spartak Moscow, Benfica, Caen, Strasbourg, Celta Vigo, Alavés

Total appearances/goals:

Total caps: 50/10 (15/3 for USSR, 2/0 for CIS)

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup
1 minor european cup

U-21 European Cup: 90

Highs:
Helped Celta to consistent top of the table finishes, including 4th in 03.
His time at Strasbourg is also fondly remembered.

Lows:
Played at Euro96 and WC94 but was excluded from WC02 through injury and Euro04 for disciplinary reasons. In any case, he never really left his mark.

Mario Basler


DoB: Mar 3, 1972

PoB: Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, BRD

Position: Winger

Clubs represented: Kaiserslautern, Rot-Weiss Essen, Hertha Berlin, Werder Bremen, Bayern München, Al-Rayyan

Total appearances/goals: 405/85

Total caps: 30/2

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups, 3 domestic league cups

Euro 96

German League Top Scorer: 95

Highs:
His 20 goals in 95 earned him a joint top scorer award and boosted the team to a 2nd place finish, just a point shy of the title.
Scored in the CL99 final, which Bayern lost in the stoppages, costing him his only chance at an european trophy.

Lows:
Although he was in the squad at Euro96, didn't play a single game due to injury. He was also in the squad for WC 94, but those were the only international tournaments he was in.

Juninho Paulista


DoB: Feb 22, 1973

PoB: São Paulo, Brazil

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Clubs represented: São Paulo, Middlesbrough, Atlético Madrid, Vasco da Gama, Celtic, Palmeiras, Sydney FC

Total appearances/goals: 353/73

Total caps: 49/5

Honours:
1 domestic league title, 1 regional league title, 1 interregional cup, 1 domestic league cup
1 Copa Libertadores, 1 Recopa Sudamericana, 1 Copa Sudamericana, 1 Supercopa Sudamericana, 1 Intercontinental Cup

WC: 02
1 Confederations Cup
Olympic Games Bronze Medal: 96
Copa America runner-up: 95

Highs:
Despite being extremely successful with his hometown club of São Paulo, has a greater affinity with Middlesbrough FC, which he represented in 3 different stints, totalling 5 seasons overall. He was voted by fans as one of the 10 "Legends", alongside celebrated greats like Wilf Mannion or Brian Clough.
He is quoted for having said winning the League Cup for the club meant more to him than WC02 with Brazil.

Lows:
Endured relegation with Boro in 97, even though they had reached the finals of both the League and FA Cups, losing both.
Didn't sustain a regular place in the national side, being overlooked for WC98 and Copa America 97 and 99.

Ian Rush


DoB: Oct 25, 1961

PoB: St. Asaph, Wales

Position: Striker

Clubs represented: Chester City, Liverpool, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Wrexham, Sydney Olympic

Total appearances/goals: 828/384

Total caps: 73/28

Honours:
5 domestic league titles, 3 domestic cups, 5 domestic league cups, 5 domestic super cups
1 Champions League

PFA Young Player of the Year: 83
PFA Player's Player of the Year: 84
FWA Player of the Year: 84
European Golden Boot: 84
English League Top Scorer: 84

All Time Welsh International Goal Scorer
All Time Liverpool Goal Scorer: 346

Highs:
84 was a golden year, seeing him win player of the year accolades, clinching the Golden Boot with 32 goals, as well as a league + European Cup double. That season's total came at 47 goals in 65 matches.

Lows:
His spell at Juventus was disappointing, seeing him net the ball only 8 times that season.

Patrick Kluivert


DoB: Jul 1, 1976

PoB: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Position: Striker

Clubs represented: Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan, Barcelona, Newcastle United, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven, Lille

Total appearances/goals: 343/149

Total caps: 79/40

Honours:
4 domestic league titles, 2 domestic super cups
1 Champions League, 1 European Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

WC98: 4th place

Dutch Young Player of the Year: 95
Euro 00: Top Scorer, Team of the Tournament
All-time leading Dutch Goal Scorer: 40
Chosen for the FIFA 100

Highs:
Came off the bench to score, at just 18, the winner to CL95, in Ajax's favour, reaching the final again the following year.
Euro 00 saw him at his finest, having him win the Golden Boot (5 goals in 5 games, including a hat-trick in the quarter-finals).

Lows:
His transfer to Milan on a Bosman was high profile, but he disappointed with just 6 goals in the Serie A.
Despite an early start, his career was relatively burnt out by the time he left Barcelona at 28.

Gianluca Vialli


DoB: Jul 9, 1964

PoB: Cremona, Italy

Position: Striker

Clubs represented: Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus, Chelsea

Total appearances/goals: 488/167

Total caps: 59/16

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 5 domestic cups, 1 domestic super cups, 1 domestic league cups
1 Champions League, 2 Cup Winner's Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 European Super Cup

WC 90: 3rd place

Italian League Top Scorer: 91

Highs:
His time at Sampdoria was historic for the club, as his partnership with Roberto Mancini saw them win their first Serie A title, 3 cups, a Cup Winner's Cup (Vialli scoring both goals in the final) and reaching the final of the CL against Barcelona.
Later captained Juventus to a CL in 96.
He is one of only 9 players that have won all 3 main European club competitions. Of these 9 he is the only one to have won one of them twice.

Lows:
Despite his success at club level, was never an undisputed choice for the Italian team. He retired from international competition shortly before WC94 after a row with manager Arrigo Sacchi, having took part in just 3 tournaments (WC86 and 90 and Euro88)

Fernando Hierro


DoB: Mar 23, 1968

PoB: Málaga, Spain

Position: Centre back, defensive midfielder

Clubs represented: Valladolid, Real Madrid, Al Rayyan, Bolton Wanderers

Total appearances/goals: 545/109

Total caps: 89/29

Honours:
5 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups, 4 domestic super cups

3 Champions Leagues, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Intercontinental Cups

UEFA Best Defender: 98
WC Team of the Tournament: 02

Highs:
3 CL in 6 years is a hard feat to accomplish, having had the honour to captain the team in 02's final against Leverkusen.
Is Spain's 3rd top goal scorer, a surprising achievement for his field position.

Lows:
Although he participated in a lot of international tournaments, Spain never did manage a respectable finish.
Was rather uncerimoniously dispatched by Real Madrid after 15 years of service.

Diego Simeone


DoB: Apr 28, 1970

PoB: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Vélez Sársfield, Pisa, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Internazionale, Lazio, Racing Avellaneda

Total appearances/goals: 513/84

Total caps: 106/11

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 2 domestic cups, 1 domestic super cup

1 UEFA Cup, 1 European Super Cup

Copa America: 91, 93
Olympic Silver Medal: 96
1 Confederations Cup

Highs:
He is currently the 3rd most capped Argentinian player, having once been the most overall. He was also the first Argentinian player to achieve over one hundred caps.
Won two doubles with outsider teams, first with Atletico Madrid in 96 then Lazio in 00.

Lows:
Not much to speak of, but Argentina's World Cup record during his times were disappointing, and the fact he played for just one really top team, Internazionale, who were down on their luck, hampered his chances of winning more trophies, domestically and internationally.

Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Duncan Ferguson


DoB: Dec 27, 1971

PoB: Stirling, Scotland

Position: Striker

Clubs represented: Dundee United, Rangers, Everton, Newcastle United

Total appearances/goals: 360/100

Total caps: 7/0

Honours:
1 domestic league title, 1 domestic cup, 1 domestic super cup

Highs:
Broke the transfer record between British clubs with a £4m move to Rangers from Dundee in 93.
Was called up for Euro 92, playing one game as Scotland exited at the group stage, in their very first European Cup presence.
Was inducted to Everton's Hall of Fame (Giants) for his great contribution to the club.

Lows:
Had plenty of career hindering injuries, missing good chunks of 94, 95, 99 and 03 seasons.
An on-field scuffle had him suspended for 3 months, and ultimately broke apart his relationship with the SFA, ending his international career after only 7 caps, at age 26.

Torsten Gütschow


DoB: Jul 28, 1962

PoB: Görlitz, DDR

Position: Striker

Clubs represented: Dynamo Dresden, Galatasaray, Carl Zeiss Jena, Hannover 96, Chemnitzer FC

Total appearances/goals: 420/190

Total caps: 3/2

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 5 domestic cups

East German Footballer of the Year: 91
East German League Top Scorer: 89, 90, 91
UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 89

Highs:
Was the top scorer in each of the last 3 seasons of DDR-Oberliga with 17, 18 and 21 goals scored.
Although he only stayed for 6 months,
scored 10 goals in 15 matches, helping Galatasaray to a domestic double.

Lows:
Played only two seasons in the Bundesliga, although his 12 goals are still best for Dynamo Dresden.
Largely irrelevant international career, playing in just 3 friendlies, and never for the unified team.







Striking for goal.........................................Celebrating in Turkey.....................................The last Golden Boot in the DDR

Enzo Scifo



DoB: Feb 19, 1966

PoB: Haine-Saint-Paul, Belgium

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Anderlecht, Internazionale, Bordeaux, Auxerre, Torino, Monaco, Charleroi

Total appearances/goals: 478/121

Total caps: 84/18

Honours:
5 domestic league titles, 1 domestic cup

WC 86: 4th place

WC Best Young Player: 86
Belgian League Top Scorer: 84

Highs:
Appeared in 4 World Cups (86, 90, 94, 98), one of only 3 Belgian players to achieve this feat.
He is the 4th most capped Belgian player

Lows:
Lack of international success, even though he did play for some top European clubs.
Came runner up in UEFA Cup in 84 and 92, losing the first with Anderlecht on penalties (he scored his, in his debut season at 18) and the second with Torino on away goals. He played in both legs of each of the finals.


Juan Román Riquelme


DoB: Jun 24, 1978

PoB: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs represented: Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Villareal

Total appearances/goals: 377/92

Total caps: 51/17

Honours:
2 domestic league titles

3 Copa Libertadores, 1 Recopa Sudamericana, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 minor European trophy

Olympic Games Gold Medal: 08
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 97
Copa America 07 runner-up
Confederations Cup 05 runner-up

South American Footballer of the Year: 01
Argentine Footballer of the Year: 00, 01, 08
Spanish League Foreign Player of the Year: 05
Copa Libertadores MVP: 07
Confederations Cup Player of the Tournament runner-up: 05

Highs:
Captained Argentina to the Gold Medal in 08, coming from a Libertadores cup and a Copa America finalist medal in 07 and the league title earlier that year. He was also denominated the Argentine footballer of the year along with Lionel Messi.

Lows:
Had a hard time adjusting to Barcelona, due to mostly tactical reasons and poor form, making most of his appearances at this time as a sub.
Was called up for WC98 and 02, but never got to play.

Thomas Brolin


DoB: Nov 29, 1969

PoB: Hudiksvall, Sweden

Position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs represented: Näsvikens IK, GIF Sundsvall, IFK Norrköping, Parma, Leeds United, FC Zürich, Crystal Palace, Hudiksvalls ABK

Total appearances/goals: 280/58

Total caps: 47/26

Honours:
1 domestic cup

1 Cup Winner's Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 European Super Cup

WC 94: 3rd place

Swedish Player of the Year: 90, 94

Highs:
Between 92 and 94 won most of his accolades.
Had back to back Cup Winner's Cup finals with Parma, winning the first in 93, but losing the second in 94.
Despite his short career, and his position on the pitch, he is currently the 10th best scorer for the swedish team.

Lows:
Retired at only 29, due to poor form and injury during the past 3 years of his career.
Never won a domestic league title, coming close with Norrköping in 90 and Parma in 97, as they finished runner up.


http://youtu.be/REA8P-h2360 (our apologies for not being imbedded)

Mark Hughes


DoB: Nov 1, 1963

PoB: Ruabon, Wales

Position: Forward

Clubs represented: Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton, Blackburn Rovers

Total appearances/goals: 606/163

Total caps: 72/16

Honours:
2 domestic league titles, 4 domestic cups, 3 domestic super cups, 3 domestic league cups

2 Cup Winner's Cup, 1 European Super Cup

PFA Players' Player of the Year: 89, 91
PFA Young Player of the Year: 85
English Football Hall of Fame

Highs:
Both of his runs at Manchester United were quite successful, with domestic and european honours abound, as well as personal distinctions.
Consistent form from 85 to 94 saw him score always over 10 goals (except for the two years he played abroad).

Lows:
Never scored over 20 goals in a single season, with his best at 17 in 86.
Like many welsh players, never had a chance to play in an international tournament.
Relative failures at Barcelona and München (moreso on the latter than the former).

Angelo Di Livio



DoB: Jul 26, 1966

PoB: Rome, Italy

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Reggiana, Nocerina, Perugia, Padova, Juventus, Fiorentina

Total appearances/goals: 609/28

Total caps: 40/0

Honours:
3 domestic league titles, 1 quaternary league title, 2 domestic cups, 2 domestic super cups

1 UEFA Champions League, 1 European Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup

Highs:
Played in every international tournament from 96 to 02.
Was the only player to stay on Fiorentina's team after they were relegated to the 4th tier, successfully assisting them to climb back up to the top.


Lows:
A very low goal average, for either club or country, with a season best of 4 in 04.

Richard Witschge


DoB: Sep 20, 1969

PoB: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Position: Midfielder

Clubs represented: Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bordeaux, Blackburn Rovers, Alavés, Oita Trinitá

Total appearances/goals: 358/26

Total caps: 31/1

Honours:
6 domestic league titles, 4 domestic cups, 1 domestic super cup

1 Champions League, 1 Cup Winner's Cup

Dutch Young Player of the Year: 89

Highs:
Was part of big European teams in early 90s Barcelona and mid-90s Ajax, achieving all of his titles between these two teams.

Lows:
Was not called up for the CL 92 final with Barcelona, due to restrictions on foreign player avaiability (Koeman, Laudrup and Stoichkov being called up instead).
Missed Euro92 due to injury, and was just not called up for WC94, 98 or Euro00, tournaments where his career could justify a call up.
A low goal average for a midfielder who wasn't particularly defensive.

Franco Baresi


DoB: May 8, 1960

PoB: Brescia, Italy

Position: Libero

Clubs represented: AC Milan

Total appearances/goals: 719/33

Total caps: 81/1

Honours:
6 domestic league titles, 2 secondary league titles, 4 domestic super cups

3 UEFA Champions League, 3 European Super Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups

WC: 82; runner-up: 94, 3rd: 90
Olympic Games 84: 4th place

European Player of the Year/Ballon d'Or 2nd place: 89
Italian League Player of the Year: 90
AC Milan Player of the Century
Italian Player of the Century
Chosen for the FIFA 100

Highs:
He is currently the second player with the most games played for AC Milan, from 77 to 97.
His usual number 6 shirt was retired, an unusual honour in italian football.

Lows:
Didn't play in CL94 final due to suspension. Was called up for Italy's WC82 win, but didn't play a single game, debuting in a World Cup only in 90 when he was finally an undisputed first choice.
In his first 6 years with the national team, managed only 17 caps.


Rivaldo


DoB: Apr 19, 1972

PoB: Paulista, Brazil

Position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs represented: Santa Cruz, Mogi Mirim, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Deportivo La Coruña, Barcelona, AC Milan, Cruzeiro, Olympiakos, AEK Athens, Bunyodkor, São Paulo

Total appearances/goals: 482/240

Total caps: 74/34

Honours:
9 domestic league titles, 2 regional league titles, 6 domestic cups

1 UEFA Champions League, 2 European Super Cups

WC: 02
Copa America: 99
Confederations Cup: 97

FIFA World Player of the Year: 99
European Player of the Year/Ballon d'Or: 99
Onze d'Or: 99
WC Team of the Tournament: 98, 02
Copa America 99 MVP
Spanish League Footballer of the Year: 99
Greek League Foreign Player of the Year: 06, 07
Brazilian League Team of the Year: 93, 94
Champions League Top Scorer: 00
Copa America 99 Top Scorer
Uzbek League Top Scorer: 09
Chosen for the FIFA 100

Highs:
In 99-00 had arguably his best seasons, clinching best player awards, the Copa America and spanish titles, and an honourable semi-final finish in the CL.
Never really stopped scoring in his senior years, even if he doesn't play as much competitive football.

Lows:
In his only CL final, with Milan, didn't come off the bench.
Was dropped at 31 from the international squad, which might seem early, considering he's still playing to this day.

Saturday, 9 July 2011

Christian Wörns


DoB: May 10, 1972

PoB: Mannheim, West Germany

Position: Defender

Clubs represented: Waldhof Mannheim, Bayer Leverkusen, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund

Total appearances/goals: 531/32

Total caps: 66/0

Honours:
1 domestic league title, 1 domestic cup, 1 domestic super cup, 1 domestic league cup

Euro 92: runner-up

Highs:
Was considered Germany's player of the tournament in WC98.
Finally won a league title in 02, at 30, 13 years after his debut. That same year reached the final of the UEFA Cup, losing 3-2 to Feyenoord.

Lows:
Failed to hit the net even once at international level.
Missed Germany's Euro96 triumph and WC02 (when they were defeated finalists) due to injury.
Lack of european titles. Missed both Dortmund's and Leverkusen's best seasons, always at the wrong club when the right time had come along.