The Legends of Football

Davor Suker

2009-02-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

Davor Suker

Full name: Davor Suker
Born: 01.01.1968
Born in: Osijek, Croatia
Nationality: Croatia
Yugoslavia
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 78 kg

Statistic Club Career

07/2001 - 06/2003 ==> TSV 1860 München, Germany
07/2000 - 06/2001 ==> West Ham United, England
07/1999 - 06/2000 ==> Arsenal FC, England
07/1996 - 06/1999 ==> Real Madrid, Spain
07/1991 - 06/1996 ==> Sevilla FC, Spain
07/1989 - 06/1991 ==> Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia
07/1984 - 06/1989 ==> NK Osijek, Croatia

Career in Spain

Suker made his Primera División debut for Sevilla on November 17, 1991, coming off the bench as a last-minute substitute in their 1-1 away draw at RCD Espanyol de Barcelona. In the following match, at home against Real Sociedad, he made his first appearance from the beginning and went on to score a brace to secure his club a 2-2 draw. He finished his first Sevilla season with 6 goals in 22 appearances, but the following season he improved his record to 13 goals in 33 matches. Especially successful for him was Sevilla's first match of the season, away at Albacete Balompié, where scored his first Primera hat-trick and helped his club to drive home a 4-3 victory.

In the 1993-94 season, he turned into one of the best players in the Spanish Primera and became the second-best goal scorer of the league with 24 goals, six less than FC Barcelona's Romário. He made a total of 34 Primera appearances that season and also netted five braces and one hat-trick. After this, he played another two seasons for Sevilla, scoring 33 goals in 64 appearances in the Spanish Primera. Suker also played with Maradona at Sevilla that time (1992-1993).

He went on to move to Real Madrid for the 1996-97 season, in which he repeated the success of scoring 24 goals, only he made 38 appearances that season and was third-best goal scorer of the league, behind FC Barcelona Ronaldo and Real Betis Alfonso Pérez. During the same 1996-97 season, he managed to score three hat-tricks in the Primera and led Real Madrid to winning the league title. The realization of his dream of capturing major trophies continued the following season, when he won the Champions League with Real Madrid, although he only played a couple of stoppage-time minutes in the Final against Juventus. In the Primera, he scored 10 goals in 29 appearances that season. In the 1998-99 season, his role at Real Madrid nevertheless became largely diminished, despite the fact that he performed well at the 1998 World Cup that preceded the season, and he only scored 4 goals in 19 Primera appearances. By the end of the season, he decided to leave the club after three seasons of playing for them.

His decision to leave Real Madrid also marked the end of his eight-season-long career in the Spanish Primera, which ended with a total of 114 goals in 239 appearances.
Ivan Suker, Croatia's Finance Minister (left), and Davor Šuker (right)

Moving to England

For the 1999-2000 season, Suker decided to make a move to the English Premiership and signed with Arsenal. He made his league debut on August 221999 in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Highbury, coming on as a substitute for the final 15 minutes. He subsequently played another two matches as a substitute before finally making his first start in Arsenal 3-1 home victory over Aston Villa, where he scored his first two goals in the Premiership. He scored 8 goals, including three braces, in 22 Premiership appearances for Arsenal before moving to West Ham United for the 2000-01 season. With Arsenal, he also played in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final as an extra-time substitute. Arsenal lost the Final to Turkish side Galatasaray on penalties, with Suker missing his.

At West Ham, he never managed to find his place in the first team for a longer period and only made 11 Premiership appearances for the club throughout the season, scoring twice. His career in England ended with the end of that season as he decided to make a move to German side 1860 Munich for the 2001-02 season.

Last two seasons in Germany

At 1860 Munich, Suker did not manage to make his Bundesliga debut until the 15th matchday of the season on December 1, 2001, when he played all 90 minutes in the club's 1-0 home victory over Energie Cottbus. His first goal for the club came in their first match after winter break, a 3-0 home victory over 1. FC Köln, where he scored the third goal with a header. His highlight of the season came on the final matchday in a 4-2 away victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he netted his only brace in the Bundesliga. He finished his first Bundesliga season with a modest record of 4 goals in 14 appearances.

In his last season in 2002-03, he once again only occasionally played for the club and only scored once in 11 Bundesliga appearances throughout the season. He scored his last goal on November 2, 2002 in 1860 Munich's 3-1 home victory over Arminia Bielefeld and the last match of his professional career was on March 16, 2003 in his club's 1-0 home defeat to VfB Stuttgart. In two seasons of playing Bundesliga football, he only scored five goals in 23 appearances. In this two seasons with 1860 Munich, he also made a total of five German Cup appearances in which he managed to score three goals.

International Career

World Cup 2002, Japan/South Korea : Team Croatia
World Cup 1998, France : Team Croatia
World Cup 1990 Italy : Team Yugoslavia
Friendlies 2000 : Team Croatia
EURO 1996 England : Team Croatia

Already in his youth, Suker made 25 international appearances and scored 15 goals for various Yugoslav youth national teams.He was the second best scorer on World Youth Championship in Chile 1987 and Yugoslavia won the title.Yugoslavia also set a new FIFA World Youth Championship scoring record (which still stands today): they banged in an average of 2.44 goals per game, finishing with 22 goals for and 9 against and the best attack was Yugoslavian which scored 17 goals on tournament with Suker domination (6 goals, second scorer of tournament and won an adidas golden shoe award). In 1990, he was named to the Yugoslav national team's 22-man squad for the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, but did not receive any playing time during the tournament.

On December 22, 1990, he made his debut for then newly founded Croatian national team in their friendly match against Romania. In 1991, he nevertheless also won his only two caps for Yugoslavia (on 27/02/91 against Turkey, and 16/05/91 against Faroe Islands), since Croatia was registered with neither FIFA nor UEFA at the time, and scored his first international goal with the team (against Faroe Islands). In his second match for Croatia, a friendly against Mexico in 1992, he scored a brace in Croatia's 3-0 victory. He then led Croatia to their first major international tournament, the 1996 European Championship, with a then record of 12 goals in 10 matches during the qualifying tournament.

At the final tournament in England, he scored three goals in four matches, including two in the 3-0 group-stage win over defending champions Denmark, where he set the final score with an unforgettable looping shot over Denmark's keeper Peter Schmeichel. It is still remembered as one of the greatest goals in EURO history, which also earned him a place in the EURO 96 Team of the Tournament.

He then went on to help Croatia to qualify for their first World Cup as he scored five goals in nine appearances during the qualifying for the 1998 finals in France. He went on to claim the Golden Boot at the tournament, scoring six goals in seven matches and leading the Croatian team to their sensational third-place finish in the country's very first World Cup appearance since becoming independent. He netted one goal in every match where Croatia scored, also scoring the winning goals in 1-0 victories over Japan in the group stage and Romania in the round of 16 as well as in the 2-1 success against the Netherlands in the third-place play-off. He also brought the team to the doorstep of the Final by scoring the opening goal of the semifinal against France before Lilian Thuram switched the lead with his only two international goals and gave France a 2-1 victory for a place in the Final.

After the 1998 World Cup, Suker continued to play for Croatia in their unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2000 European Championship as Croatia just missed out on qualification. Davor was however remembered as he kept Croatia's hopes of qualification alive when he scored a 94th minute winner against Ireland at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. The win ensured Croatia would have a strong chance of qualifying, but would unfortunately miss out due to their final qualifying game, a 2-2 draw at home to his previous teammates of Yugoslavia. He did manage to score a late goal which was later disallowed, and would have sent Croatia through had it been counted. He finished his qualifying campaign that year with four goals in seven matches. He was also part of the Croatian team at the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea, but only played 63 minutes in their unsuccessful opening match against Mexico, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Croatia. In the qualifying for the tournament, he only scored once in six matches. After the 2002 World Cup, he retired from international football but went on to be an icon for many children around the world, but mostly in Croatia where he is still seen as a national hero.

Suker won a total of 71 international caps during his professional career, 2 for Yugoslavia and 69 for Croatia, and scored a total of 46 international goals. With 69 international caps, he is currently the sixth most-capped player in the Croatian national team, but his goalscoring record of 45 goals for the team will probably remain unbeaten for decades as it has been since his retirement, since no other player has scored even 20 goals for Croatia (as of June 2008).

His 12 goals during the qualifying campaign for Euro 96 was a record until beaten in 2007 by Northern Ireland's David Healy during qualifying for the 2008 European Championships as the Northern Irish star managed 13 goals.

SOLSKJAER

2009-01-30T00:39:00.001-08:00

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Full name: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
born: 26.02.1973
born in: Kristiansund, Norway Norway
Nationality: Norway
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 74 kg

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Knight First Class, Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (born 26 February 1973 in Kristiansund, Møre og Romsdal) is a Norwegian former footballer who spent the majority of his career playing for Manchester United, often dubbed the "Baby-faced assassin". He is the current Manchester United Reserve team manager. He played 366 times for the Red Devils and scored 126 goals during a very successful period for the club. Solskjær's defining moment in football came in injury time of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final where he scored the winning last-minute goal against Bayern Munich, completing a remarkable comeback and winning The Treble for United.

Before he moved to England, Solskjær completed a year's national service in the Norwegian army, and played part time for Third Division Norwegian Clausenengen F.K., later moving to Norwegian Premier League Molde F.K. in 1994. He joined United on 29 July 1996, for a transfer fee of £1.5m. He is a patron of the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (formerly Shareholders United).

On 27 August 2007, Solskjær announced his retirement from football after failing to recover from a serious knee injury. However, Solskjær remained at Old Trafford in a coaching role, as well as in an ambassadorial capacity. On 20 May 2008, Solskjær was announced as Manchester United's first full-time Reserve team manager since 2006, taking over from Brian McClair and Jimmy Ryan, who had filled the role in a caretaker capacity.

In November 2007 Solskjær was made a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav by King Harald V of Norway.[4] He was presented with the award in a ceremony on 25 October 2008 in his hometown of Kristiansund. Solskjær is the youngest ever recipient of the knighthood, usually bestowed upon notable members of society in their later years.

For his commitment to Manchester United, Solskjaer was granted a testimonial which took place in the pre-season preparations for the 2008-09 season. The match was against Espanyol and was played on August 2nd. The game ended 1-0 to Manchester United, with the only goal coming from Fraizer Campbell shortly after the 80 minute mark. The testimonial gathered 68,868 spectators, the 2nd largest attendance for a testimonial in Great Britain, only beaten by Roy Keane's testimonial.

Statistic Club Career

07/1996 - 08/2007 ==> Manchester United, England
01/1994 - 06/1996 ==> Molde FK, Norway

Early Manchester United years

Solskjær had scored 31 goals in 42 matches for Molde in the Norwegian Premier League, and he did not disappoint at the start of his United career, scoring six minutes into his debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in the Premiership in the 1996-97 season.

Solskjær scored 18 Premiership goals for United in his first season, helping United win the title in the last weeks of the season. The British media nicknamed him the "Baby-Faced Assassin" because of his youthful looks and his deadly finishing. He will perhaps be best remembered as a "super-sub", having earned wide acclaim for a remarkable habit of coming into matches late on as a substitute and scoring goals. Alex Ferguson remarked that Solskjær has a knack of sitting on the bench and studying the game without taking his eye off the action. One of his most impressive feats was coming off the bench to score four goals in the last twelve minutes of United's 8-1 thrashing of Nottingham Forest.

Solskjær stayed at Old Trafford even though other clubs showed interest in the player in 1998. The Norwegian went on to score the winning goal in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final, helping the team secure the Treble and cementing his own place in the United folklore. These feats made him a favourite among the United supporters, inspiring songs such as "Who Put the Ball in the Germans' Net?" and "You Are My Solskjær". Although he had been absent on the pitch for a long time due to injury, United fans still fill matches with chants sung in Solskjær's honour.

After a few years of playing in the role of super-sub, Solskjær got a chance as a starter in the 2001-02 season, paired up with striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. He took the opportunity with characteristic incisiveness, forcing Andrew Cole and Dwight Yorke onto the bench.

By 2002-03, after both Andrew Cole and Dwight Yorke had left Old Trafford, Solskjær had only Diego Forlán and Van Nistelrooy to compete with for a place in the starting line-up. Still, Ferguson's persistence in playing van Nistelrooy up front as a lone striker meant that opportunities were limited.

Solskjær was subsequently given his time again when David Beckham picked up an injury and Ferguson played the Norwegian on the right wing. While proving himself to be an able crosser of the ball, Solskjær also popped up with goals, scoring a total of 16 goals for the season. He was selected to play on the right in important matches, such as in the league game against Arsenal and the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, while Beckham was left on the bench. He also captained the team in a number of matches.

Solskjær played for Norway in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and has 67 international caps.

Injury-plagued seasons

In 2003-04, Solskjær found himself in and out of the United squad as he struggled with a recurring knee problem. Coupled with the arrival of Louis Saha from Fulham in January 2004, Solskjær found himself out of the first team and found himself either in his original role of super-sub or in central midfield. Solskjær still returned from injury in time to play in the 2004 FA Cup final, which the club won. The arrival of Alan Smith in summer 2004 nonetheless led to rumours that Solskjær was to leave Old Trafford, along with Nicky Butt, who eventually moved to Newcastle United, and David Bellion, who had been largely replaced by Wayne Rooney. Solskjær underwent intensive knee surgery in August 2004 and had to miss the 2004-05 season entirely. While he eventually recovered his fitness, it was difficult for the 32-year-old to carve his niche again among the heavy-weight attack of Manchester United. The Old Trafford faithful, however, displayed almost fanatical loyalty in their desire to see Solskjær in action again.

To show their continuing support, fans added a banner to the collection that lines the Stretford End reading "20 LEGEND" (Solskjær wore number 20 for United). Solskjær further solidified his status amongst United fans when he became a patron of the supporters action group, Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), previously Shareholders United.

Statistic International Career

World Cup 1998, France
Friendlies 2007
Friendlies 2006
Friendlies 2004
Friendlies 2003
Friendlies 1999
EURO 2000, Holland/Belgium
EURO Qualifiers 2006/2007
EURO Qualifiers 2002/2003

Future career as player-coach

On 31 March 2006, Solskjær signed a new contract with Manchester United until the end of the 2008 season, with a provision to allow him to develop his coaching awards. He also acted in an ambassadorial role for the club, when he travelled to Hong Kong in 2006 and played with students at the Manchester United Soccer School in Hong Kong. In July 2006, Solskjær participated in a pre-season game against Orlando Pirates, playing for 45 minutes and scoring 2 goals in United's 4-0 win. He also scored in matches against Preston North End and F.C. Porto. Ferguson praised the player and said he would re-consider his plan to buy a new striker.[11] On 16 August 2006 Solskjær returned for the Norwegian national team and played for 45 minutes against Brazil in a 1-1 draw.

On 2 September 2006, Solskjær scored his first goal for the national team after his injury, when he scored the first and last goals in a 4-1 win against Hungary in a Euro 2008 qualifying match. It was also his first post-injury professional match where he played the full game.

On 19 April 2007, Solskjær stated that he could not see himself playing professional football past his contract expiry date, at the end of the 2008 season. He has already been granted a testimonial following his long service to the club—and in recognition of his popularity with supporters. The match took place on August 2nd 2008, a 1-0 win over RCD Espanyol. Solskjaer played the final 25 minutes of the match, coming close to scoring on two occasions.

In an interview in July covered on ManUtd.com, Solskjær refused to put a timescale on his professional career, but he was confident he would play out the one year left in his contract at Manchester United. He said, "The knee will never be 100 percent again, but as long as it doesn't hurt I'll continue to play. I don't know how long I can continue. It might be over after this season or I might be able to play another season." When interviewed by Setanta Sports in August 2007, Solskjær confirmed he would train to be a coach after retiring from professional football, and would start to earn the required badges after his last season with Manchester United. He also stated that unless his knee returned to a better state by the end of the 2007-08 season, that would definitely be his last season.

On 27 August 2007, it was announced that Solskjær had retired from football with immediate effect due to his ongoing knee injury. Finally, on September 4 at the home game against Sunderland, his retirement was officially announced over the Old Trafford tannoy, with Solskjær walking onto the pitch to a standing ovation. As of his retirement, Solskjær holds the record for the most goals scored for Manchester United as a substitute, scoring 28 goals off the bench.

CHRISTIAN ZIEGE

2009-01-28T01:20:00.000-08:00

CHRISTIAN ZIEGE

Full name: Christian Ziege
Born: 01.02.1972
Born in: Berlin, Germany
Nationality: Germany
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 73 kg

Statistic Club Career

07/2005 - 10/2005 ==> Bor. Mönchengladbach, Germany
07/2004 - 06/2005 ==> Bor. Mönchengladbach, Germany
07/2001 - 06/2004 ==> Tottenham Hotspur, England
07/2000 - 06/2001 ==> Liverpool FC, England
07/1999 - 06/2000 ==> Middlesbrough FC, England
07/1997 - 06/1999 ==> AC Milan, Italy
07/1995 - 06/1997 ==> Bayern München, Germany
07/1990 - 06/1995 ==> Bayern München, Germany

At club level, Ziege played for Bayern Munich (1990-97), AC Milan (1997-99) and Middlesbrough (1999-2000). In summer 2000 Liverpool F.C. made a £5.5m bid which exactly matched a get-out clause in Ziege's contract. Middlesbrough insisted they had received offers in excess of £8m for Ziege, but were forced contractually to allow Ziege to talk to Liverpool, who then signed him. He made his debut for Liverpool in a 3-2 home win over Manchester City on 9 September, 2000, replacing Steven Gerrard in the second half. Although the Anfield crowd saw flashes of Ziege's brilliance down the left flank during the season, a combination of knee injuries and the improving form of Jamie Carragher, meant he was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur after one year and 32 appearances in all competitions.

On 14 March 2002, Liverpool were fined £20,000 by The Football Association for making an illegal approach for Ziege, while the player himself was fined £10,000. However, by this time Ziege's injury problems were escalating, and by 2004 his contract was terminated by mutual consent so he could return to Germany.

Ziege returned to Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach in June 2004, but announced his retirement in October 2005, having not played since the previous December due to a persistent ankle injury.

International Career

World Cup 2002, Japan/South Korea
World Cup 1998, France
WC Qualifiers Europe 2002
WC Qualifiers Europe 1998
WC Qualifiers Relegation 2002
Friendlies 2004
Friendlies 2002
Friendlies 2001
Friendlies 2000
Friendlies 1999
Friendlies 1998
Friendlies 1997
Friendlies 1996
Friendlies 1995
Friendlies 1993
EURO 2004, Portugal
EURO 2000, Holland/Belgium
EURO 1996, England
EURO Qualifiers 2002/2003
EURO Qualifiers 1998/1999
EURO Qualifiers 1994/1995

Ziege was capped 72 times for Germany, scoring nine goals. Other than the Euro 96 win, he also played for his country at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups (during which he played the final game), as well as Euro 2000 (he was a member of the Euro 2004 squad, but didn't play).

Managerial Career

Following retirement from the game due to injury in October 2005, Ziege picked up his UEFA diploma for coaching. In 2006 he moved into coaching with his last professional club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he was named head coach of the club's Under-17 team, succeeding Thomas Schumacher. In 2006-07 the club's U17 team had won ten out of seventeen matches with Ziege in charge when, in March 2007, he was handed the role of Director of Football at the club, as the replacement for the outgoing Peter Pander. At the time of his appointment, with ten matches to go until the end of the season, Mönchengladbach were at the bottom of the Bundesliga, with five points between them and safety. On 15 December 2008 Ziege left Borussia Mönchengladbach.

ROY KEANE

2009-01-28T00:33:00.001-08:00

Roy Maurice Keane

Full Name: Roy Maurice Keane
Born: 10.08.1971
Born In: Cork, Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 77 kg

Statistic Club Career

01/2006 - 06/2006 ==> Celtic Glasgow, Scotland
07/1993 - 11/2005 ==> Manchester United, England
07/1990 - 06/1993 ==> Nottingham Forest, England
07/1989 - 06/1990 ==> Cobh Ramblers, Ireland

Keane was born into a working class family in the Mayfield suburb of Cork. His father, Maurice, took work wherever he could find it due to the economic hardships of the time, which led to jobs at a local knitwear company and a Guinness factory, amongst others. His family were keen on sport, football especially, and many of his relatives had played for junior clubs in Cork, including the renowned Rockmount A.F.C. Before choosing football as his preferred sport, Keane took up boxing at the age of nine and trained for a number of years, winning all of his four bouts in the novice league. During this period he was developing as a much more promising footballer at Rockmount, and his potential was highlighted when he was voted Player of the Year in his first season.

Keane supported Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur as a child, citing Liam Brady (a former Arsenal player) as his favourite player, but as time progressed, Manchester United's Bryan Robson became the footballer he most admired due to the all-action, box-to-box style for which 'Captain Marvel' had become famous. These were qualities which Keane also had in abundance, and little did he know that he would eventually become Robson's long-term replacement at Old Trafford.

Despite his growing promise, a future career in football began to look uncertain. He was turned down from the Ireland schoolboys squad after a trial in Dublin; one explanation from former Ireland coach and scout Ronan Scally was that the fourteen-year-old Keane was "just too small" to make it at the required level. Undeterred, he began applying for trials with English clubs, but he was turned down by each one. As his childhood years passed, he took up temporary jobs involving manual work whilst waiting for a breakthrough in his football prospects. In 1989, he eventually signed for the semi-professional Irish club Cobh Ramblers after persuasion from Ramblers' youth team manager Eddie O'Rourke. Keane was one of two Ramblers representatives in the inaugural FAI/FAS scheme in Dublin, and it was through this initiative that he got his first taste of full-time training. His rapid progression into a promising footballer was reflected by the fact that he would regularly turn out for Ramblers' youth side as well as the actual first team, often playing twice in the same weekend as a result.

In the tough, physical world of the Irish First Division, Keane more than held his own against players much more experienced than himself, his dedication to training noticed by many. In an important FAI Youth Cup match against Belvedere FC of Dublin, Keane's performance attracted the attention of watching Nottingham Forest scout Noel McCabe, who asked him to travel over to England for a trial. Keane impressed Forest manager Brian Clough and his staff, and eventually a deal for Keane worth £47,000 was struck with Cobh Ramblers in the summer of 1990.

International Career

World Cup 2002, Japan/South Korea
World Cup 1994, USA
WC Qualifiers Europe 2006
Friendlies 2005
Friendlies 2004

When called up for his first game at international level, an Under-21s match against Turkey in 1991, Keane took an immediate dislike to the organisation and preparation surrounding the Irish team, later describing the set-up as "a bit of a joke." He would continue to hold this view throughout the remainder of his time spent with the national team, which led to numerous confrontations with the Irish management. Keane declared his unavailability to travel with the Irish squad to Algeria, but was surprised when manager Jack Charlton told him that he would never play for Ireland again if he refused to join up with his compatriots. Despite this threat, Keane chose to stay at home on the insistence of Forest manager Brian Clough, and was pleased when a year later he was called up to the Irish squad for a friendly at Lansdowne Road. After more appearances, he grew to disapprove of Charlton's style of football, which relied less on the players' skill and more on continuous pressing and direct play. Tensions between the two men peaked during a pre-season tournament in the United States, when Charlton berated Keane for returning home late after a drinking session with Steve Staunton.

Keane was included in Ireland's squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA and played in every game, including a famous 1-0 victory over tournament favourites and eventual finalists, Italy. Despite a second-round exit at the hands of Holland, the tournament was considered a success for the Irish team, and Keane was named the best player of Ireland's campaign. Keane, however, was reluctant to join the post-tournament celebrations, later claiming that, as far as he was concerned, Ireland's World Cup was a disappointment: "There was nothing to celebrate. We achieved little."

Keane missed crucial matches during the France 1998 qualification matches due to a severe knee injury, but came back to captain the team to within a whisker of qualifying for Euro 2000, losing to Turkey in a play-off. Ireland secured qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup under new manager Mick McCarthy, greatly assisted by a number of match-winning performances from Keane. In the process of qualification, Ireland went undefeated, both home and away, against international football heavyweights Portugal and the Netherlands, famously beating the latter 1-0 at Lansdowne Road.

Managerial Career

His former manager Sir Alex Ferguson had previously said that he wanted Keane to succeed him as Manchester United coach when he retired. However, in the wake of Keane's acrimonious departure from the club, Ferguson became evasive regarding Keane's prospects as a manager: "Young managers come along and people say this one will be England manager or boss of this club, but two years later they're not there. It's not an easy environment to come into, I wouldn't forecast anything."

Sunderland

During his time at Celtic, Keane was suggested as a potential managerial successor to Gordon Strachan by former Celtic player Charlie Nicholas. However, it was Championship club Sunderland where Keane chose to launch his managerial career, re-uniting him with the club's chairman and outgoing manager, Niall Quinn. The two men, publicly at least, were on opposing sides during the fall-out from the Saipan incident, but they were on good terms at the time of the managerial appointment, with Quinn urging Sunderland fans to "support and enjoy one of football’s true greats".

Keane signed a three year deal immediately after Sunderland's victory over West Bromwich Albion on 28 August, the Mackems' first win of the 2006-07 season after a dreadful run of four consecutive defeats under Quinn's temporary management. With his new club sitting in the relegation zone already, second bottom of the Championship table, Keane chose to enforce changes quickly. His first actions as manager were deciding to keep the existing assistant manager, Bobby Saxton, and to appoint his former Nottingham Forest colleague Tony Loughlan as head coach. He wasted no time in bringing in new additions to the squad, with a total of six players signing on the final day of the August transfer window. The most notable signings were Keane's former Manchester United team-mates Dwight Yorke and Liam Miller, supported by former Celtic colleagues Ross Wallace and Stanislav Varga, as well as Wigan Athletic pair Graham Kavanagh and David Connolly.

Keane's first two games as manager could not have gone much better; first coming from behind to beat Derby County 2-1, followed by an easy 3-0 victory over Leeds United. Sunderland began to steadily creep up the league standings under Keane's management, and by the turn of the year they had escaped the bottom half of the league. Five further players were signed during the January 2007 transfer window, three (Anthony Stokes, Carlos Edwards and Stern John) on permanent contracts and two (Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson) on loan from Manchester United, Keane's old club. Results continued to improve, and Keane was rewarded with the February and March "Manager of the Month" awards,while his team began to challenge for the automatic promotion places. Meanwhile, Keane tackled his players' non-professional approach with a firm hand. When three players were late for the team coach to a trip to Barnsley, in March 2007, he simply left them behind.

Sunderland secured promotion to the Premier League along with Birmingham City on 29 April when rivals Derby County were beaten by Crystal Palace. A week later, the Coca-Cola Championship title was sealed, and Sunderland's revival under Keane was complete. His achievements also earned him the Championship "Manager of the Year" award. A sign of Keane's bigger ambitions was shown by his decision not to celebrate promotion with an open-top bus parade through the city.

Some argue that Sunderland's 2007-08 season in the Premier League was marred with bad luck, both in terms of injuries and the notable refereeing decisions that went against them. However, many pundits hailed their fighting spirit under Keane and backed them for survival. The lowest point of their season came at Goodison Park, where they were beaten 7-1 by Everton, which Keane described as "one of the lowest points" of his career. However in the second half of the season the team's form was much improved (especially at home) and survival in the division was guaranteed with two games to go with a home win against Middlesbrough. Meanwhile, Keane carried on his trend of buying ex-Manchester United players with the addition of Kieran Richardson, Paul McShane, Danny Higginbotham, and Phil Bardsley. He has also continued his strict disciplinary policy by putting Liam Miller (one of Sunderland's apparently more consistent players) on the transfer list for being regularly late for training and other team meetings.

The beginning of the 2008-09 season would prove to be tumultuous. In September 2008 Keane became embroiled in a row with FIFA Vice President Jack Warner over the withdrawal of Dwight Yorke from the Trinidad and Tobago national team. Warner accused Keane of being disrespectful towards small countries. Keane responded by calling Warner "a clown" and insisted that Yorke was retired from international football. That same month Keane experienced "one of the worst and longest nights" of his career when Sunderland had to come from 2-0 down at home in a League Cup tie against Northampton. The game ended 2-2, with Sunderland progressing narrowly on penalties.

Despite some positive performances, including the historic 2-1 home victory against local rivals Newcastle United on 25 October (the first time the club had accomplished this in 28 years), as well as good showings by recent signings like Djibril Cissé and Anton Ferdinand, the team's general form remained inconsistent. By the end of November, Sunderland were 18th in the Premier League, having lost five of their six previous games. Keane stood down as manager on 4 December after bringing doubt on his own future with comments made in the wake of the 4-1 home defeat by Bolton the previous weekend.

HENCHOZ

2009-01-12T20:49:00.000-08:00

STEPHANE HENCHOZ

Full Name : Stephane Henchoz
Born : 07.09.1974
Born in: Billens, Switzerland
Nationality: Switzerland
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Statistic Club Career

09/2006 - 06/2008 ==> Blackburn Rovers, England
07/2005 - 06/2006 ==> Wigan Athletic, England
01/2005 - 06/2005 ==> Celtic Glasgow, Skotland
07/1999 - 01/2005 ==> Liverpool FC, England
07/1997 - 06/1999 ==> Blackburn Rovers, England
07/1995 - 06/1997 ==> Hamburger SV, Germany
07/1992 - 06/1995 ==> Neuchatel Xamax FC, Switzerland

International

WC Qualifiers Europe 2006
Friendlies 2005
Friendlies 2004
Friendlies 2003
Friendlies 2002
EURO 2004 Portugal
EURO 1996 England
EURO Qualifiers 2002/2003

born September 7, 1975 is a former Swiss international footballer who last played for Blackburn Rovers as a defender. He has been capped 72 times and played for his country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2004.

Henchoz first came to notice playing in the German Bundesliga for Hamburger SV. After signing for Blackburn Rovers in 1997, Henchoz enjoyed two personally successful seasons in a relatively underperforming Rovers team. As Blackburn were relegated at the end of the 1998-99 season, Henchoz remained a Premiership player after being purchased for 3.5 million pounds by Liverpool.

At Liverpool, Henchoz became a regular member of the first team during his five-and-a-half year stay at Anfield. Henchoz proved to be an inspirational signing and was popular with the Liverpool fans. He formed an effective central defensive partnership with Sami hyypia. This partnership played an important part in Liverpool's historic cup treble in 2001, although it was Henchoz's handball in the 90th minute of the League Cup Final against Birmingham that led to extra time (the match itself was only settled on penalties).

Unfortunately his last two seasons were interrupted due to spells of injury but he still surpassed the 200 mark of games for Liverpool in 2003/04.

With injury problems and Gerard Houllier preferring Igor Biscan at centre half, Henchoz became something of a bit part player appearing as an occasional right back. Eventually, the Henchoz-Hyypia partnership was rekindled in 2003-04, helping Liverpool to fourth place in the league.

When Rafael Benitez replaced Gerrard houllier as manager, his decision to try versatile English defender Jamie Carragher in partnership with Hyypia spelled an end to Henchoz's Anfield career. Carragher, previously employed as a full-back, was a revelation at centre back and Henchoz consequently joined Celtic for free on a six-month contract. However, upon the expiration of that contract, Henchoz opted to move back to the Premiership with newly promoted Wigan Athletic.

Henchoz left Wigan after only a year, signing a contract until the end of the 2006-07 season back with Blackburn Rovers. He was used sparingly during the season to fill in for injuries, but performed suitably. His second spell at Blackburn Rovers came to an end on May 19, when he was released by Mark Hughes. He was reported of ending his career on 13 October 2008, he now intends to study for his coaching badge.

Hasselbaink

2008-12-01T19:47:00.000-08:00

Jerrel Floyd Hasselbaink

Full Name: Jerrel Floyd Hasselbaink
Born: 07.03.1972
Born in: Paramibo, Suriname
Nationality: Netherlands
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 85 kg

Statistic Club Career

08/2007 - 09/2008 ==> Cardiff City, Wales
07/2006 - 06/2007 ==> Charlton Athletic, England
07/2005 - 06/2006 ==> Middlesbrough, England
07/2004 - 06/2005 ==> Middlesbrough, England
07/2000 - 06/2004 ==> Chelsea, England
07/1999 - 06/2000 ==> Atletico Madrid, Spain
07/1997 - 06/1999 ==> Leeds United, England
07/1996 - 06/1997 ==> Boavista, Portugal
01/1993 - 06/1996 ==> Campomaiorense, Portugal
01/1991 - 07/1993 ==> AZ Alkmaar, Netherland
07/1990 - 12/1990 ==> Telstar, Netherland

Netherlands

Hasselbaink began his footballing career in the Netherlands, first with Telstar for whom he played until 1991, and then AZ Alkmaar. He stayed at Alkmaar for three seasons before being released by the club and ended up playing non league football.(Neerlandia/SLTOVV)

Portugal

He signed for Portuguese side Campomaiorense in August 1995 but, after only one season, Hasselbaink was signed by Boavista where he first came to prominence. He scored 20 goals in 29 league appearances for the club as well as helping them win the Portuguese Cup.

England

His prolific goalscoring caught the attention of several European clubs, and he was transferred to English Premier League side Leeds United for £2 million in June 1997. He continued his prolific goalscoring record with Leeds, netting 23 goals in all competitions in his debut season, and 21 in the next, helping Leeds finish 4th in the Premiership. His 18 league goals that season made him the Premier League's joint top goalscorer.

Spain

After rejecting a new contract offer from Leeds and subsequently requesting a transfer, Hasselbaink was sold to Spanish club Atletico Madrid for £12 million in 1999. He adapted to the Spanish game well and scored prolifically, this time scoring 24 goals in 34 La Liga appearances and 32 in all competitions, though the club were still relegated.

Back to England

Once again, he stayed with a club for only a brief period and a year later returned to England, this time with Chelsea, for a club record fee of £15 million.

Hasselbaink scored 23 goals in 35 league appearances in the 2000-2001 season, including a volley from outside the penalty area against Manchester United and a four-goal haul against Coventry City, he finished the season as the Premier League's top goal scorer. He formed a prolific partnership with Icelandic striker Eiður Guðjohnsen in his second year with Chelsea, scoring 29 goals in all competitions and helping Guðjohnsen to 23 in a season which also saw Chelsea reach th FA Cup final. Hasselbaink was injured in the game prior to the final and, clearly unfit, he was substituted early on at Millennium Stadium as Chelsea lost 2-0. In his last two seasons with Chelsea the goals dried up. He scored only 11 goals in 27 games in 2002-2003, though in the next season he scored 17 goals in all competitions which, despite the arrival of new strikers Adrian Mutu and Hernan Crespo, made him top scorer at the club for the third time in four years. He ended his Chelsea career with 87 goals in 177 games.

In 2004, Hasselbaink joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer. In his first season he scored 13 goals in 36 league games. He struck the winner in 1-0 wins at Grasshoppers in theUEFA Cup and Everton in the League Cup. He also captained the side in a 4-1 win over Manchester United and scored the second goal for Boro. In his final season with the club, he helped them reach the UEFA Cup final, where they lost 4-0 to Sevilla FC.

When Gareth Southgate took over from new England boss Steve McClaren as Middlesbrough manager, Hasselbaink found himself surplus to requirements and was made available on a free Transfers. His reported £40,000 per week wages at Middlesbrough looked to be an issue especially when negotiations with Celtic failed. He left Middlesbrough as a hero with his fine goals and leadership which contributed massively to Middlesbrough's success domestically and in Europe in the two years he was at Middlesbrough. He signed for Charlton Athletic July 11.

On 31 July 2006 Hasselbaink was charged by The FA with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute for his claims about Chelsea. The player alleged his former club paid players a bonus after the 2004 Champions League win over Arsenal. A Premier League inquiry into what would have been illegal bonus payments found no evidence to support the claims, which were denied by Chelsea.

Jimmy scored his first goal for Charlton against his old team Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 9 September 2006, but he didn't celebrate out of respect for the fans. Chelsea's fans in turn gave him a round of applause, even though his goal had brought Charlton level. Hasselbaink was also instrumental in advising Scott Carson that Frank Lampard's penalty would be struck down the middle of the goal, true to form this event transpired and Carson went on to save the penalty and keep Charlton in the game despite their subsequent loss. After a long goal drought, Hasselbaink scored against yet another of his former clubs, Middlesbrough on 13 January 2007, a game which Middlesbrough went on to win. Hasselbaink was released by Charlton at the end of the 2006-2007 season on 14 May 2007.

Crossing the Border into Wales

Jimmy was on the verge of joining Championship side Leicester City on 14 August 2007, but the club later withdrew their offer. On 16 August, Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale, who worked with Hasselbaink at Leeds United, brought him to the club on a one-year deal, teaming up with former Liverpool and Leeds United Striker Robbie Fowler.

Both Fowler and Hasselbaink started the season out of the team due to both lacking fitness and they eventually went on to make their debuts for the club in the same game, a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient in the League Cup. On Wednesday 19 September 2007 Jimmy scored his first goal for Cardiff with a 20-yard low drive in the 2-1 home defeat to Watford in the Championship. After an impressive performance against Wolves in the fifth round of the FA Cup he was nominated for the player of the round after a fantastic goal as he powered the ball in to the top corner. Jimmy has remained as a regular starter for Cardiff throughout the season, only losing his place for a handful of matches to an in-form Steve Thompson, although due to his age he rarely finishes a match. On 15 March 2008, Hasselbaink received the first red card of his Cardiff career for a foul on Colchester City, goalkeeper Dean Gerken. Cardiff appealed the red card but it was upheld.

Hasselbaink also made appearances in 5 of the 6 matches Cardiff played to reach the FA Cup final for the first time in 81 years, which they went on to lose 1-0 to Portsmouth, where he played 70 minutes before being substituted for Steve Thompson. At the end of the season Cardiff decided against extending his contract and he was released.

On August 16th 2008, during the 1-1 draw between Norwich City and Blackpool at Carrow Road, it was revealed that Hasselbaink had attended the game at the personal invitation of Norwich Chairman Roger Munby however on 29th August Manager Glenn Roeder revealed that Hasselbaink would not be joining the club permananently. Said Roeder: “He only ever came here for training and people mustn't make too much of it. If I was to sign Jimmy Hasselbaink he wouldn't be here on trial or a test or anything like that - I wouldn't embarrass the man like that."

International Career

World Cup 1998, France
Friendlies 2002
Friendlies 2000
EURO Qualifiers 2002-2003

Hasselbaink made his debut for the Dutch national side at a late age. His time as an international suffered due to fierce competition for the strikers' role, with the presence of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Roy Makaay, greatly limiting his opportunities.

In 2004 Hasselbaink decided to quit the Dutch national team and no longer made himself available. His most noteworthy accomplishment as an international was playing at the 1998 World Cup in France, and having started for the Netherlands in their opening game against Belgium.

Hasselbaink is one of only five Dutch football players to be selected for the Dutch national team while never having played in the Dutch Eredivisie. The others capped player are Jordi Cruyff, son of Johan, Rob Reekers, Willy Lippens and Wim Hofkens.

Bern Schuster

2008-10-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Bernhard Schuster

Full Name : Bernhard Schuster
Born : 22.12.1959
Born in : Augsburg, Germany
Height : 181 cm
Weight : 74 kg
Position : Midfielder

Statistic Club Career

01/1997 - 06/1997 ==> Pumas UNAM, Mexico
07/1993 - 06/1996 ==> Bayer Leverkussen, Germany
07/1990 - 06/1993 ==> Atletico Madrid, Spain
07/1988 - 06/1990 ==> Real Madrid, Spain
07/1980 - 06/1988 ==> Barcelona, Spain
07/1978 - 06/1980 ==> FC Koln, Germany
07/1976 - 06/1978 ==> FC Augsburg, Germany

Schuster was an important part of the FC Barcelona team during the 1980s, leading the game from midfield and scoring many goals. His club president Josep Lluis Nunez and some trainers like Helenio Herrera, Udo Lattek Terry Venables and Luis Aragones had difficult relations with him. At age 21, in 1981, he received a bad injury on his right knee by Athletic Bilbao defender Andoni Goikoetxea and never reached the level of the early seasons. He won, however, the European Bronze Ball in 1981 and 1985.

His move to Real Madrid was controversial due to the strong rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid. His style complemented the group of home-grown Madrid players known as la Quinta del Buitre who led the team to a dominance of the Spanish Championship through the 1980s.

Schuster started his professional career with FC Koln at age 18 in 1978 after a number of promising performances with the West German Under-18 National team. He was part of the West Germany side that won the 1980 UEFA Europen Football Championship in Italy, appearing in two of Germany's four matches. His performances there helped him earn the Silver Ball Trophy honour as the Europe's second best player in 1980 behind Golden Ball winner, and Germany team-mate Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Schuster left Köln after the 1980 European campaign to sign with Spain's FC Barcelona, where he flourished. During his career, he played for clubs such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkussen. In the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll to name the finest European players of the last five decades, he finished 40th.

Internationals Career

Friendlies 1984
Friendlies 1983
Friendlies 1981
Friendlies 1980
Friendlies 1979
EURO 1980, Italy
EURO Qualifiers 1982/1983
EURO Qualifiers 1978/1979

Schuster won twenty-two caps for the West German national team and retired from international football at the age of 24, due to his repeated disagreements with the German Football Assosciation, then national team manager Jupp Derwall and teammates including Paul Breitner. His refusal to take part in a match against Albania in order to be home for the birth of his second son David caused a sporting scandal at the time

Management Career

07/2007 - 06/2010 ==> Real Madrid, Spain
07/2005 - 06/2007 ==> Getafe CF, Spain
07/2004 - 05/2005 ==> Levante UD, Spain
07/2003 - 06/2004 ==> Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine
07/2001 - 06/2003 ==> Xerez CD, Spain
07/1998 - 06/1999 ==> FC Koln, Germany
07/1997 - 06/1998 ==> Fortuna Koln, Germany

Fortuna Koln

After his retirement as a player in 1997, Schuster successfully managed a small club in Cologne, SC Fortuna Koln in 2, Fussball-Bundesliga (Germany's second league division).

FC Koln

Following this, he managed his former club FC Koln, also in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga, but was unable to get the club promoted and so left. In 2000, he applied for the manager job at Scottish club Dundee FC but the Dundee chairman rejected his application.

Xerez CD

In 2001 he received an offer from the small club Xerez CD in Southern Spain and he managed the team, very successfully, for two seasons; the best two seasons in the history of the club. However, he could not promote the team to Primera Division.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Upon receiving no good offers from Spain, he accepted a deal to coach the Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk where he established a club record number of consecutive victories. However, the team did not win the championship and did not reach the final round of the Champions League with a match against Lokomotiv Moscow. Schuster was fired one week before his team played and won the Ukrainian Cup in 2004.

Levante

He went back to Spain in summer 2004 to coach Levante UD and made a good start with the small club from Valencia. The president fired him with a 5-point advantage over the relegation places just five games from the end of the season. Levante could not win a game and fell to Segunda Division (Spanish second division) again.

Getafe

In summer 2005, Getafe CF, a small side from Madrid, had their best season in team history. Schuster coached Getafe in their second successful season under his guidance and the team did even better, 7th in La Liga. Getafe have also secured entry to the 2007-2008 UEFA Cup as a result of reaching the final of the Copa Del Rey after overcoming a 5-2 first leg defeat against Barcelona, beating them 4-0 in the second leg.

Real Madrid

Schuster was then appointed manager of Real Madrid on 9th July 2007. He was required to buy-out his existing contract with Getafe for €480'000, which he paid for out of his own pocket. He has since made a successful start with Real taking them to top of the La Liga standings. As manager beautiful football returned again to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with Real Madrid having the strongest offence, not beaten at home from the start of the league and defeating their arch rival Barcelona at their home ground Camp Nou with a goal scored by Julio Baptista thus increasing their lead to seven points between them and the second place (Barcelona). The team also qualified to the second round of the UEFA Champions League leading their group which also contained Olympiakos, Werder Bremen and SS Lazio. He has improved Real Madrid's style of play significantly. He managed to switch from the unattractive defensive football during the reign of Capello to fast paced, attacking football. After losing 2-1 to AS Roma in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League which meant the elimination of Real Madrid, many doubted that Schuster would continue to be Madrid's coach, but the club denied such allegations. Schuster continues to have the full confidence of President Ramon Calderon and the Board of Directors. On 4th May 2008, Schuster guided Real Madrid to their 31st title with 3 games to spare. On 18th May 2008, Schuster's Real Madrid achieved the highest point total (85 points) a record that was set by rivals Barcelona.

Zenga

2008-10-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

Walter Zenga

Full Name : Walter Zenga
Born : 28.04.1960
Born in : Milano, Italy
Height : 188 cm
Weight : 84 kg
Postion : Goalkeeper

Statistic Club Career

07/1997 - 06/1998 ==> New England Revolution, USA
07/1996 - 06/1997 ==> Calcio Padova, Italy
07/1994 - 09/1996 ==> Sampdoria, Italy
07/1982 - 06/1994 ==> Inter, Italy
07/1980 - 06/1982 ==> Sambenedettese, Italy
07/1979 - 06/1980 ==> Savona, Italy
07/1978 - 06/1979 ==> Salernitana, Italy
07/1977 - 06/1978 ==> Inter, Italy

Zenga came back to Inter Milan in 1982, after starting his professional career in 1978 in the lower divisions of Italian soccer (his first team was Salernitana in Serie C1, and he also played for Savano and Sambendettese). Zenga became Inter's starter in his second year with the team, and continued in that position for 11 seasons, until 1994, winning a Scudetto in the 1988-1989 season and the UEFA Cup in 1991 and 1994, his last season with the club. After being one of the backup goalkeepers (third choice) at the 1986 World Cup, Zenga became the starter when during the 1998 European Championship in West Germany, Zenga was still first choice goalkeeper when Italy hosted the tournament in 1990, and led the team to a third-place finish during which he set a record of five consecutive clean sheets, and a total of 518 minutes without conceding a goal, a record still standing. He finished his international career with 58 caps for his country.

In 1994, Zenga transferred to Sampdoria, and then to Padova two years later. He then moved on to New England Revolution and Major League Soccer. Zenga played in goal for them in the league's second season in 1997, then left to pursue an acting career (he and his girlfriend starred in an Italian soap opera). During a game versus the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1997, he celebrated a goal by running to the sidelines and making out with his girlfriend, as the Mutiny barely missed the open net straight from the kickoff. Zenga came back to the Revs in 1999, as a player-coach, but only lasted a year in both those positions.

Internationals Career

World Cup 1990, Italy
World Cup 1986, Mexico
EURO 1988, Germany

Manager Career

04/2008 - 06/2009 ==> Calcio Catania, Italy
09/2007 - 11/2007 ==> Dinamo Bucuresti, Rumania
07/2006 - 01/2007 ==> Gaziantepspor, Turkiye
07/2005 - 06/2006 ==> Crvena Zvezda, Serbia
07/2004 - 05/2005 ==> Steaua Bucuresti, Rumania
07/2002 - 12/2003 ==> National Bucuresti, Rumania

After he left New England Revolution, Zenga retired from active football, choosing to pursue a coaching career. After a short stint with Milan amateurs Brera Calcio, Zenga moved to Romania in 2002, first managing National Bucharest and then Steaua Bucharest. In the summer of 2005, after being fired from Steaua before the end of the season, Zenga joined Red Star Belgrade. leading the Serbian team to a double (national league and national cup in Serbia & Montenegro). In the 2006 summer, Zenga was called to coach Turkish side Gaziantepspor; however, after a poor beginning (5 wins in 17 league matches), he resigned in January 2007 in order to accept an offer from United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain FC. After just 5 months in charge Al-Ain sacked Zenga, who was announced in September 2007 as new Dinamo Bucharest coach, replacing Mircea Rednic, but resigning only two months later following a 1–0 loss in a local derby lost to Steau. He worked as a football commentator and pundit for Italian public broadcasting service RAI until 1 April 2008when he replaced Silvio Buldini as manager of Catania. He made his Serie A debut on April 6 with a crush 3–0 home win to Napoli. leading them to a dramatic relegation escape during the final minutes of the league, after a 1–1 home draw against AS Roma.

During his playing career, Zenga was nicknamed Uomo Ragno (Spider Man) due to his goalkeeping skills, especially his agility.

Recently, Zenga declared in an interview that he would like to manage Brazilian side Palmeiras.

Davor Suker

2008-10-08T01:52:00.000-07:00

DAVOR SUKER

Full Name: Davor Suker
Born : 01.01.1968
Born in : Osijek, Crotia
Nationality : Croatia - Yugoslavia
Height : 183 cm
Weight : 78 kg

Statistic Club Career

07/2001 - 06/2003 ==> TSV 1860 Munchen, Jerman
07/2000 - 06/2001 ==> West Ham Unite, England
07/1999 - 06/2000 ==> Arsenal, England
07/1996 - 06/1999 ==> Real Madrid, Spain
07/1991 - 06/1996 ==> Sevilla FC, Spain
07/1989 - 06/1991 ==> Dinamo Zagreb, Crotia
07/1984 - 06/1989 ==> NK Osijek, Croatia

Early years

Šuker began playing football in his home town of Osijek with the club NK Osijek, where he played for the first team between 1984 and 1989. He then moved to Dinamo Zagreb, where he played in the following two seasons and scored 34 goals in 60 Yugoslav First League matches, impressing so much that he earned his first call-up to the Yugoslav national team as well as the attention of foreign clubs. In 1991, he moved to Spanish side Sevilla FC.

Career in Spain

Šuker made his Primer Division debut for Sevilla on November 17, 1991, coming off the bench as a last-minute substitute in their 1-1 away draw at RCD Espanyol de Barcelona. In the following match, at home against Real Sociedad. he made his first appearance from the beginning and went on to score a brace to secure his club a 2-2 draw. He finished his first Sevilla season with 6 goals in 22 appearances, but the following season he improved his record to 13 goals in 33 matches. Especially successful for him was Sevilla's first match of the season, away at Albacete Balompie, where scored his first Primera Hat-trick and helped his club to drive home a 4-3 victory.

In the 1993-94 season, he turned into one of the best players in the Spanish Primera and became the second-best goal scorer of the league with 24 goals, six less than FC Barcelon's Romario. He made a total of 34 Primera appearances that season and also netted five braces and one hat-trick. After this, he played another two seasons for Sevilla, scoring 33 goals in 64 appearances in the Spanish Primera. Šuker also played with Maradona at Sevilla that time (1992-1993).

He went on to move to Real Madrid for the 1996-97 season, in which he repeated the success of scoring 24 goals, only he made 38 appearances that season and was third-best goal scorer of the league, behind FC Barcelona's Ronaldo and Real Betis's Alfonso Perez. During the same 1996-97 season, he managed to score three hat-tricks in the Primera and led Real Madrid to winning the league title. The realization of his dream of capturing major trophies continued the following season, when he won the Champions League with Real Madrid, although he only played a couple of stoppage-time minutes in the Final against Juventus. In the Primera, he scored 10 goals in 29 appearances that season. In the 1998-99 season, his role at Real Madrid nevertheless became largely diminished, despite the fact that he performed well at the 1998 World Cup that preceded the season, and he only scored 4 goals in 19 Primera appearances. By the end of the season, he decided to leave the club after three seasons of playing for them.

His decision to leave Real Madrid also marked the end of his eight-season-long career in the Spanish Primera, which ended with a total of 114 goals in 239 appearances.

Moving to England

For the 1999-2000 season, Šuker decided to make a move to the English Premiership and signed with Arsenal. He made his league debut on August 22, 1999 in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Highbury. coming on as a substitute for the final 15 minutes. He subsequently played another two matches as a substitute before finally making his first start in Arsenal's 3-1 home victory over Aston Villa, where he scored his first two goals in the Premiership. He scored 8 goals, including three braces, in 22 Premiership appearances for Arsenal before moving to West Ham United for the 2000-01 season. With Arsenal, he also played in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final as an extra-time substitute. Arsenal lost the Final to Turkish side Galatasaray on penalties, with Šuker missing his.

At West Ham, he never managed to find his place in the first team for a longer period and only made 11 Premiership appearances for the club throughout the season, scoring twice. His career in England ended with the end of that season as he decided to make a move to German side 1860 Munich for the 2001-02 season.

Last two seasons in Germany

At 1860 Munich, Šuker did not manage to make his Bundesliga debut until the 15th matchday of the season on December 1, 2001, when he played all 90 minutes in the club's 1-0 home victory over Energie Cottbus. His first goal for the club came in their first match after winter break, a 3-0 home victory over FC Koln, where he scored the third goal with a header. His highlight of the season came on the final matchday in a 4-2 away victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, where he netted his only brace in the Bundesliga. He finished his first Bundesliga season with a modest record of 4 goals in 14 appearances.

In his last season in 2002-03, he once again only occasionally played for the club and only scored once in 11 Bundesliga appearances throughout the season. He scored his last goal on November 2, 2002 in 1860 Munich's 3-1 home victory over Armina Bielefeld and the last match of his professional career was on March 16, 2003 in his club's 1-0 home defeat to VFB Stuttgart. In two seasons of playing Bundesliga football, he only scored five goals in 23 appearances. In this two seasons with 1860 Munich, he also made a total of five German Cup appearances in which he managed to score three goals.

Internationals Career

World Cup 2002, Japan/South Korea. Team Crotia

World Cup 1998, France. Team Croatia

World Cup 1990, Italy. Team Yugoslavia

Friendlies 2000. Team Croatia

EURO 1996. Team Croatia

Already in his youth, Šuker made 25 international appearances and scored 15 goals for various Yugoslav youth national teams.He was the second best scorer (scored six goals) on World Youth Championship in Chile 1987 and Yugoslavia won the title.Yugoslavia also set a new FIFA World Youth Championship scoring record (which still stands today): they banged in an average of 2.44 goals per game, finishing with 22 goals for and 9 against and the best attack was Yugoslavian which scored 17 goals on tournament with Suker domination (6 goals,second scorer of tournament and won a adidas golden shoe award). In 1990, he was named to the Yugoslav national team's 22-man squad for the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, but did not receive any playing time during the tournament.

On December 22, 1990, he made his debut for then newly founded Croatian national team in their friendly match against Romania. In 1991, he nevertheless also won his only two caps for Yugoslavia, since Croatia was registered with neither FIFA nor UEFA at the time, and scored his first international goal with the team. In his second match for Croatia, a friendly against Mexico in 1992, he scored a brace in Croatia's 3-0 victory. He then led Croatia to their first major international tournament, the 1996 European Championship, with a then record of 12 goals in 10 matches during the qualifying tournament.

At the final tournament in England, he scored three goals in four matches, including two in the 3-0 group-stage win over defending champions Denmark, where he set the final score with an unforgettable looping shot over Denmark's keeper Peter Schmeichel. It is still remembered as one of the greatest goals in EURO history, which also earned him a place in the EURO 96 Team of the Tournament.

He then went on to help Croatia to qualify for their first World Cup as he scored five goals in nine appearances during the qualifying for the 1998 finals in France. He went on to claim the Golden Boot at the tournament, scoring six goals in seven matches and leading the Croatian team to their sensational third-place finish in the country's very first World Cup appearance since becoming independent. He netted one goal in every match where Croatia scored, also scoring the winning goals in 1-0 victories over Japan in the group stage and Romania in the round of 16 as well as in the 2-1 success against the Netherlands in the third-place play-off. He also brought the team to the doorstep of the Final by scoring the opening goal of the semifinal against France before Lilian Thuram switched the lead with his only two international goals and gave France a 2-1 victory for a place in the Final.

After the 1998 World Cup, Šuker continued to play for Croatia in their unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2000 European Championship as Croatia just missed out on qualification. Davor was however remembered as he kept Croatia's hopes of qualification alive when he scored a 94th minute winner against Ireland at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. The win ensured Croatia would have a strong chance of qualifying, but would unfortunately miss out due to their final qualifying game, a 2-2 draw at home to his previous teammates of Yugoslavia. He did manage to score a late goal which was later disallowed, and would have sent Croatia through had it been counted. He finished his qualifying campaign that year with four goals in seven matches. He was also part of the Croatian team at the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea, but only played 63 minutes in their unsuccessful opening match against Mexico, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Croatia. In the qualifying for the tournament, he only scored once in six matches. After the 2002 World Cup, he retired from international football but went on to be an icon for many children around the world, but mostly in Croatia where he is still seen as a national hero.

Šuker won a total of 71 international caps during his professional career, 2 for Yugoslavia and 69 for Croatia, and scored a total of 46 international goals. With 69 international caps, he is currently the sixth most-capped player in the Croatian national team, but his goalscoring record of 45 goals for the team will probably remain unbeaten for decades as it has been since his retirement, since no other player has scored even 20 goals for Croatia (as of June 2008).

His 12 goals during the qualifying campaign for Euro 1996 was a record until beaten in 2007 by Northern Ireland's David Healy during qualifying for the 2008 European Championships as the Northern Irish star managed 13 goals

Magnus Hedman

2008-10-07T00:15:00.000-07:00

MAGNUS CARL HEDMAN

Full Name : Magnus Carl Hedman
Born : 19.03.1973
Born in: Huddinge, Sweden
Nationality: Sweden
Height: 194 cm
Weight: 92 kg

Statistic Club Career

11/2006 - 06/2007 ==> Chelsea FC, England
07/2004 - 06/2005 ==> Celtic Glasgow, Scotland
01/2004 - 06/2004 ==> Ancona Calcio, Italy
07/2002 - 01/2004 ==> Celtic Glasgow, Scotland
07/1997 - 06/2002 ==> Coventry City, England
01/1990 - 06/1997 ==> AIK Solna, Sweden

Internationals

World Cup 2002, Japan/South Korea
World Cup 1994, USA
WC Qualifiers Europe 2006
Friendlies 2004
Friendlies 2003
EURO 2004, Portugal
EURO 2000, Holland/Belgium
EURO Qualifiers 2002/2003

Biography

Hedman started his career with AIK in 1990 . He won the 1992 Allsvenskan championship with AIK, and was chosen as a backup for first-choice keeper Thomas Ravelli at the 1994 World Cu He debuted for the Swedish national team in February 1997, and moved abroad to play for English club Coventry City in July that year. Hedman was chosen for the Swedish squad at the Euro 2000 where he played all Sweden's matches. He won the 2000 Guldbollen award. He also played full time for Sweden at the 2002 World Cup.

Hedman was replaced by future England international Chris Kirkland in the Coventry City team during their relegation from the F.A. Premier League in the 2000/2001 season. He regained his place following Kirkland's transfer to Liverpool after a single game of the 2001/2002 season. His Coventry City career came to an acrimonious conclusion towards the end of that season, when he was approached on the pitch during an away match against Preston North End on 6th April 2002 by a 'fan' who was questioning his commitment to the club and desire to play in the Football League Championship.

Hedman played two further games for Coventry that season before moving on to Celtic in the Scottish Premier League in 2002. He had a loan Spell at Italian team A.C. Ancona in 2004, a time in which he later claimed to have witnessed bribery on part of his Ancona teammates. While at Ancona, he was chosen to represent Sweden at the Euro 2004, where he served as a back-up for keeper Andreas Isaksson. He played a further season for Celtic, before being released at the start of the 2005-06 season. He then retired from professional football.

In September 2006, he was rumoured to be making a sensational comeback at English Premier League side Newcastle United. According to himself he denied an offer from the club, citing it was too short of a contract to be interesting. The club itself has denied ever contacting the goalkeeper. On November 9, 2006 it was announced that Hedman would join English Premiership Champions Chelsea on a week's trial, due to Chelsea's current lack of fully fit goalkeepers except for Henrique Hilario and youth team keeper Yves Makamlambay. The move was eventually completed on November 14, 2006, taking the No. 22 shirt previously worn by Eidur Gudjohnsen. The same day he made his debut for Chelsea in a friendly against Crystal Palace which resulted in a 3-1 win. Hedman has since been released from his contract, having made no appearances for Chelsea.

Sutton

2008-10-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

CHRISTOPHER ROY SUTTON

Full Name : Christopher Roy Sutton
Born : 10.03.1973
Born in: Nottingham, England
Nationality : England
Height : 192 cm
Weight : 76 kg

Statistic Career Club

10/2006 - 06/2007 ==> Aston Villa, England
01/2006 - 06/2006 ==> Birmingham City, England
07/2000 - 01/2006 ==> Cetic Glasgow, Skotland
07/1999 - 06/2000 ==> Chelsea FC, England
07/1994 - 06/1999 ==> Blackburn Rovers, England
07/1990 - 06/1994 ==> Norwich City, England

Norwich City (1991-1994)

He started his career at Norwich City, initially as a centre-half before being converted into a striker by manager Dave Stringer. In Stringer's final season as manager, 1991-1992, Norwich were FA Cup semi-finalists and Sutton gradually broke into the first team.

He quickly found success in his new position as Norwich spent most of the first season (1992–1993) of the new Premiership as league leaders, before eventually slipping back to third place under new manager Mike Walker.

In the autumn of 1993, he was part of the Norwich side which famously eliminated Bayern Munich from the UEFA Cup. He scored 25 Premiership goals that season, but after Mike Walker defected to Everton in January to be succeeded by assistant John Deehan. Norwich slipped out of the top five and finished a disappointing 12th in the final table. By now, Sutton was being linked with some of the biggest clubs in the country.

Blackburn Rovers (1994-1999)

He became the most expensive player in English football in July 1994, when he was transferred from Norwich City to Blackburn Rovers for £5 million. In his first season at Ewood Park he developed a strong partnership (known as 'The SAS Partnership') with Alan Shearer and scored fifteen Premiership goals to secure the club's first league title since 1914.

A succession of injuries, combined with a loss of form, saw him make just 13 Premiership appearances during 1995-1996 and fail to score a single league goal. He regained his form over the next three seasons and even won an England cap in November 1997, although he was left out of the World Cup squad after a fall-out with national manager Glenn Hoddle. Having been relegated to the England B team Sutton refused to play, and Hoddle never selected Sutton for an England squad again.

Sutton was involved in further controversy in the final game of the 1996–97 season against Arsenal. Late in the game with the Gunners leading by a single goal, the ball was kicked out of play by Arsenal to allow an injured team-mate to receive treatment. From the throw in, Arsenal chose to take the ball into the corner area to run down the clock. However, Sutton chased the ball and his pressure resulted in a corner, from which Blackburn scored. As a result Arsenal missed out on a lucrative place in the Champions League to Newcastle on goal difference. Following the incident Blackburn's manager described Sutton as "a boy who is sometimes a bit dizzy ... a bit silly".

1997/98 season was a success for Sutton as he finished the season as the joint top scorer in the premiership with 18 goals helping Blackburn to finish 6th and qualify for the uefa cup

Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the Premiership at the end of 1989-1999, just four years after being crowned champions and Sutton missed most of the season due to injury

Chelsea (1999-2000)

Sutton was sold to Chelsea for £10 million after Blackburn's relegation. His time at Stamford Bridge proved an unhappy one, as he struggled both to live up to the price tag and to adapt to Chelsea's style of play, scoring just one league goal in 28 appearances, in the 5–0 destruction of Manchester United. He failed to even make the bench for the club's FA Cup final win against Aston Villa and was sold to Scottish Premier League side Celtic for £6 million in the summer of 2000.

Celtic (2000–2006)

Sutton scored the winner on his debut against Dundee United in 2000, and in his first Old Firm match against Rangers he scored the first and last goals in a dramatic 6–2 victory for Celtic.

Sutton's goals helped Celtic win three SPL titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups as well as reaching a UEFA Final Cup. Sutton formed a prolific partnership with Swede Henrik Larrson, one to rival his earlier one with Shearer.

Sutton also holds the record for the quickest goal ever in an Old Firm Clash, scored at Ibrox in 2002, scoring inside just 18 seconds. Sutton was voted SPFA Player of the Year for the 2003-2004 season.

At the end of season 2002-2003, Sutton accused Dunfermline of 'lying down' to in order for Celtic to lose the title. He was charged with 'bringing the game into disrepute' and received a four-match ban.

Birmingham City (2006)

He joined Birmingham City on a free transfer in January 2006 but injuries restricted him to just eleven appearances, scoring once in the derby defeat to Aston Villa in mid-April. Following Birmingham's relegation to the Championship and his high wages, he was released.

Aston Villa (2006–2007)

Sutton signed for Aston Villa on 3 October 2006 until the end of the 2006-2007 season. The move saw Sutton link up with former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill. Sutton scored his first goal for the club with a winning goal against Everton on 11 November 2006.

However, in a game against Manchester United in December 2006, he suffered blurred vision, and having visited several specialists, did not recover. O'Neill is quoted as saying:

"Chris has got a genuine concern. His concern is that no-one can give him any guarantees about what might be the consequences if he got cracked on the head again. Whatever eyesight Chris has now, he would obviously want to keep, so he must bear that in mind when deciding his whole future and career."

On 05 July 2007 Sutton retired from football due to this eye injury

Agustin Aranzabal

2008-10-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

AGUSTIN ALKORTA ARANZABAL

Full Name : Agustin Alkorta Aranzabal
Born : 15.03.1973
Born in : San Sebastian, Spain
Nationality : Spain
Height : 186 cm
Weight : 78 kg

Statistic Career Club

07/2004 - 06/2007 ==> Real Zaragoza, Spain
07/1994 - 06/2004 ==> Real Sociedad, Spain
01/1994 - 06/1994 ==> Sanse, Spain
07/1992 - 12/1993 ==> Real Sociedad, Spain

Internationals

World Cup 1998, France
EURO 2000, Holland/Belgium
EURO Qualifiers 2002/2003

Mancini

2008-09-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Roberto Mancini

Full Name: Roberto Mancini
Born: 27.11.1964
Born in: Jesi, Italy
Nationality: Italy
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 78 kg

Statistic Career Club

01/2000 - 02/2001 ==> Leicester City, England
07/1997 - 06/2000 ==> Lazio Roma, Italy
07/1982 - 06/1997 ==> Sampdoria, Italy
07/1981 - 06/1982 ==> Bologna, Italy

One of the most talented players of his age, Mancini debuted in Italian Serie A for Bologna on September 12, 1981. The following year he was bought by Sampdoria, for which he played until 1997. Later he played for Lazio (1997–2000) and Leicester City (2001).

With Sampdoria, he formed a dynamic strike partnership with Gianluca Vialli, and led the club to its only scudetto in 1991, four Coppa Italy (1985, 1988, 1989 and 1994) and a Cup Winners' Cup in 1990. He also lost the final of the 1991–1992 European Cup against Barcelona. With Lazio he won his second scudetto (2000) and Cup Winners' Cup titles (1999) as well as two more Coppa Italias (1998 and 2000).

Statistic Coaching Club

02/2001 - 01/2002 ==> ACF Fiorentina, Italy
07/2002 - 06/2004 ==> Lazio Roma, Italy
07/2004 - 05/2008 ==> Internazionale Milano, Italy

After retiring as a player, Mancini coached Fiorentina (2001) and Lazio (2002–04) before moving to Inter in 2004. He won the Coppa Italia with both Fiorentina (2001) and Lazio (2004). During his tenure with Fiorentina, Mancini was occasionally willing to come out and play for the team due to the club having financial problems with its players. With Inter, he won two Coppa Italia (2005 and 2006), two Supercoppa Italiana (2005 and 2006) and three Scudetti (2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007-08), becoming the most successful Inter coach of the last 30 years. However, Mancini failed to replicate his domestic successes with Inter at the European level, as he never managed to win the UEFA Champions League during his time as nerazzurri boss.

On March 11, 2008, Mancini announced his intention to stand down at the end of the 2007-8 season after his side were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League after a 3-0 aggregate loss to Liverpool in the round of 16. Mancini rescinded this decision on March 12 after meeting with Inter president Massimo Moratti. On May 29, 2008, Inter officially announced to have sacked Mancini, following an encounter with club chairman Massimo Moratti, motivating the decision with his comments made immediately after the Liverpool defeat. He was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

International

World Cup 1990 Italy
EURO 1988 Germany

Despite his success at club level, Mancini never became a regular for Italy. He only won 36 caps and scored four goals for his country (including a goal against West Germany at Euro 88). He was also a non playing member of the Italian squad at 1990 World Cup, being kept out of the side by the likes of Andrea Carnevale and Roberto Baggio. At U-21 level, Mancini finished runner-up in UEFA U-21 Championship 1986, and reached the semi-finals in UEFA U-21 Championship 1984. His international career came to an end after a dispute with national team coach Arrigo Sacchi when Mancini found he would not be guaranteed a first team place at USA 94.

Reinke

2008-09-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

Andreas Reinke

Full Name: Andreas Reinke
Born: 10.01.1969
Born in: Krakow am See, Germany
Nationality: Germany
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 83 kg

Statistic Football Career Club

07/2003 - 06/2007 ==> Werder Bremen, Germany
07/2001 - 06/2003 ==> Real Murcia, Spain
07/2000 - 06/2001 ==> Iraklis Saloniki, Greece
07/1994 - 06/2000 ==> FC Kaiserslautern, Germany
07/1993 - 06/1994 ==> St. Pauli, Germany
07/1991 - 06/1993 ==> Hamburger SV, Germany

Roberto Baggio

2008-08-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

Roberto Baggio

Full Name : Roberto Baggio
Born : 18.02.1967
Born In : Caldogno, Italy
Nationality : Italy
Height : 174 cm
Weight : 73 kg
Position : Forward

Statistic Football Career Club

07/2000 - 06/2004 ==> Brescia Calcio, Italy
07/1998 - 06/2000 ==> Inter Milan, Italy
07/1997 - 06/1998 ==> Bologna FC, Italy
07/1995 - 06/1998 ==> AC Milan, Italy
07/1990 - 06/1995 ==> Juventus, Italy
07/1985 - 06/1990 ==> ACF Fiorentina, Italy
07/1982 - 06/1985 ==> Lanerossi Vicenza, Italy

Honours

Vicenza
* Serie C1: 1984-1985

Juventus
* Coppa Italia, 1995
* UEFA Cup, 1993
* Serie A, 1994-1995

AC Milan
* Serie A, 1995-1996

Individual

* U-23 European Footballer of the Year, 1990
* UEFA Cup Winners'Cup top Scorer, 1990-1991
* European Fooballer of the Year (Ballon d'or/Golden Ball), 1993
* FIFA World Player of the Year, 1993
* Platinum Football award by TV Sorrisi and Canzoni, 1992
* Onze D'Or by French Magazine 'Onze Mondial', 1993
* Bravo award with Fiorentina, 1990
* Golden Guerin with Vicenza, 1985
* Golden Guerin with AC Milan, 1996
* Golden Guerin with Brescia, 2001
* Azzuri Team of The Century, 2000
* Most Loved Player Award via Internet Polls, 2001
* Most Loved Player Award at the Italian Oscars, 2002
* FIFA 100, 2004
*The Champions Promenade - Golden Foot, 2003
* Guerin's Sportivo 150 Grandi del Secolo
* Placar's 100 Craques do Seculo
* Planete Foot's 50 meilleurs Joueurs du Monde
* Italy All-time XI by Fooball Italia
* Juventus All-time XI by Fooball Italia
* Brescia All-time XI by Fooball Italia

Selected statistics

318 goals in all competitions
76 goals from 91 penalties (best all time record in Italy)
32 goals in European competitions
9 goals in World Cup finals (Italia 90, USA 94, France 98)

Internationals

Baggio totalled 27 goals in 56 caps for his national team, the fourth-highest of all time for Italy. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups, with a total of 9 career World Cup goals which puts him even with Christian Vieri and Paolo Rossi as Italy's top World Cup scorers. For all his talent he was never rewarded with a victory in an international competition.

World Cup 1998, France
World Cup 1994, USA
World Cup 1990, Italy
Friendlies 2004

After retirement

Baggio was given an international send-off match on 28 April 2004 against Spain.

He was invited to play for the European XI at the Football for Hope Indian Ocean Tsunami relief benefit on 15 February 2005 at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, but he declined the invitation.

Baggio wrote an autobiography titled Una porta nel cielo (A Goal in the Sky, but also A Gate...). In it, he told of many rifts with managers.

Baggio is known as Il Divin Codino (The Divine Ponytail), for the hairstyle he wore for most of his career and his Buddhist background.

On his 40th birthday ( February 18, 2007), Baggio started his new website to converse with his fans. As per his website he doesn't intend to return to mainstream football but rather exchange words with his fans on his blogs.

Records

Baggio played in 16 World Cup matches for Italy. Ireland is the only team against which Baggio played more than once in his 16 games of FIFA World Cup play. He is the highest Italian goalscorer of all-time in the World Cup, with 9 goals from 16 appearances (along with Rossi and Vieri). But Baggio is the only Italian to have scored in three World Cups. Baggio has scored 86 percent of his penalties in Serie A and International football, scoring 106 out of 122 penalties, more than any other player in Italian football history.

When Baggio was in the national team, Italy always left the World Cup at penalties: in 1990 against Argentina, in 1994 against Brazil, and in 1998 against France. Therefore, In 16 world cup matches he played Italy lost only one, Italy's opening game of USA 94 against Ireland. When Baggio played his 16th and last world cup game against France, Brazil's all time player with most caps in the World Cup did not have 16 games. This was a notable achievement for Baggio especially as Brazil won the world cup three times in the 1960s with the likes of Pele.

George Weah

2008-08-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

GEORGE WEAH

Full Name : George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah
Born : 01.10.1966
Born In : Monrovia, Liberia
Nationality : Liberia
Height : 184 cm
Weight : 76 kg
Position : Forward

Statistic Football Career

Club

07/2001 - 06/2003 ==> Al-Jazeera
10/2000 - 06/2001 ==> Olympique Marseille, France
07/2000 - 10/2000 ==> Manchester City, England
07/1998 - 01/2000 ==> Chelsea, England
07/1998 - 01/2000 ==> AC Milan, Italy
07/1997 - 06/1998 ==> AC Milan, Italy
07/1995 - 06/1997 ==> AC Milan, Italy
07/1992 - 06/1995 ==> Paris St. Germain, France
07/1988 - 06/1992 ==> AS Monaco, Italy

At the pinnacle of success, Weah moved to Europe in 1988 when he was signed by Arsene Wenger. then manager of Monaco, who Weah credits as an important influence on his career. At Monaco, Weah was a member of the team that won the French Cup in 1991. In the 1990s Weah subsequently played for Paris Saint Germain (1992 - 95), with whom he won the French league in 1994; and AC Milan (1995 - 1999), with whom he won the Italian league in 1996 and 1999. In 1995 he was named European Footbller of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year. After leaving Milan in January 2000 Weah moved to Chelsea, Manchester City and Olympic Marseille in quick succession, before leaving Marseille in May 2001 for Al Jazira FC, in the United Arab Emirates.

As successful as he was at club level, Weah was not able to bring over that success to the Liberian national team. He has done everything with the squad from playing to coaching to financing it, but failed to qualify for a single World Cup, falling just a point short in qualifying for the 2002 tournament. This has all led to Weah being known as one of the best footballers never to have played in a World Cup.

African Player

Weah won the African player of the year in 1989 when he was with AS Monaco and 1995 with AC Milan, the year he won almost every award a footballer could win. When he won the award in 1989, it was his first major award and he took it back home for the entire country to celebrate, similar to what he did when he won the world best title and the Onze Mondial title.

European Player of the Year 1995

Weah won the European Player of the Year in 1995, becoming the only African to win the award. Sports writers from all over Europe voted and awarded Weah as the best player in Europe for the year.

Football and children

Weah has tried to use football as a way to bring happiness and promote education for children in Liberia. In 1998, Weah launched a CD called Lively Up Africa featuring the singer Frisbie Omo Isibor and eight other African football stars. The proceeds from this CD went to children's programmes in the countries of origin of the athletes involved.

Weah is President of the Junior Professionals, a football team he founded in Monrovia in 1994. As a way to encourage young people to remain in school, the club's only requirement for membership is school attendance. Many of the young people, recruited from all over Liberia, have gone on to play for the Liberian national team.

In 1998 a documentary about Weah's footballing career at AC Milan was made broadcast on The A - Force BBC-TV, it was made by Pogus Caesar a British award winning producer and director.

Political career

Although he had denied interest in politics during his football career, in mid-November 2004, Weah announced his intention to stand in the October 2005 presidential election, having previously been the subject of a petition urging him to run; he received a hero's welcome upon his arrival in Monrovia in late November and was widely considered a favorite in the election. His eligibility was initially questioned due to debates over his citizenship (Weah having allegedly adopted French citizenship whilst at PSG; he has also lived in Staten Island, New York for many years now) but he was officially confirmed on 13 August 2005 as the candidate for the Congress for Democratic Change when the election commission published its final list. He won the most votes of any candidate in the first ballot on 11 October, but did not secure the required overall majority. A run-off vote took place on 8 November, pitting Weah against former World Bank employee and finance minister, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who won the vote and is now the first elected female president in Africa. Weah disputed the electoral process, but on 21 December 2005 he dropped his legal challenge.

Much of Weah's politics are influenced by the recent Second Liberian Civil War. Starting in 1999, the conflict came to a conclusion in 2003 when the United States stationed a Marine Expeditionary with 2,300 Marines offshore while Nigeria sent in peacekeepers as part of an Economic Community of West African States force, forcing President Charles Taylor to resign on August 11, 2003, and flee into exile in Nigeria. As a result, all of the candidates pushed for the politics of peace. During his campaign Weah repeatedly emphasized the need for UN's peace mission in his country, known as UNMIL (United Nation Mission in Liberia), to stay at least through the end of what would have been his first presidential term of office.

Weah's lack of experience and of a prestigious college degree weighed heavily against him during the campaign. Opponents believed that Weah could have been manipulated if elected. One positive aspect of Weah's lack of experience is the fact that he was not involved in Liberia's conflicts. Also, some saw little risk in Weah becoming corrupt, as the football star is already quite wealthy.

Weah had also promised to bring low cost housing, electricity, running water, and better education to the countryside, where he himself lived for some time in the 1970s. He also called for the president's term in office to be reduced to four years from six.

Luis Enrique

2008-07-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

Luis Enrique

Full Name : Luis Enrique Martinez Garcia
Born : 08.05.1970
Born in : Gijon, Spain
Nationality : Spain
Height : 180 cm
Weight : 73 kg

Career:

Club
07/1996 - 06/2004 => FC Barcelona, Spain
07/1991 - 16/1996 => Real Madrid, Spain
07/1989 - 06/1991 => Sporting Gijon, Spain

After starting his career with Sporting Gijon, Luis Enrique spent most of it with the two biggest Spanish clubs: first Real Madrid in 1991-96 and, in a stunning move, he saw out his contract and moved to fierce rivals FC Barcelona on a free Transfer. The Catalan club's supporters were at first understandably hesitant about their new acquisition, but he soon won the cules heart, staying eight years with the club (1996-2004), and even becoming first-team captain.

On August 10, 2004, at the age of 34, Luis Enrique announced his retirement, feeling that he could no longer keep up to the standards he set for himself. He was named by Pele as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Coach
07/2008 - 06/2009 --- FC Barcelona B

In June 18, 2008, Enrique returned to Barcelona, taking over the reins of Barcelona B, which was renamed Barcelona Atlètic for 2008-2009. He stated: "I have come home", and "I finished playing here and now I will start coaching here.

Internationals

EURO (1996)
World Cup (1994, 1998, 2002)

Luis Enrique played for Spain in three World Cups: 1994, 1998 and 2002 (as well as EURO 1996), and accumulated 62 caps, scoring 12 goals in his international career. He was also a member of the gold winning squad at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

In the 1994 World Cup, played in the United States, in the 2-1 quarterfinal loss against Italy, he was viciously elbowed by Mauro Tassotti. The action was of such impact that Enrique reportedly lost a pint of blood from his face as a result. Tassotti was banned for six games and did not play for the national team after that.

Zola

2008-07-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

Gianfranco Zola

Full Name : Gianfranco Zola
Born : 05.07.1966
Born in : Oliena, Italy
Nationality : Italy
Heigt : 168 cm
Weight : 67 kg

Statistic Career:

Club

07/2003 - 06/2005 => Cagliari Calcio, Italy
11/1996 - 6/2003 => Chelsea, England
07/1993 - 10/1996 => Parma AC, Italy
07/1989 - 06/1993 => SSC Napoli, Italy
07/1986 - 06/1989 => Torres, Italy
07/1984 - 06/1986 => FC Nuorese, Italy

International

Zola played for his country at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, making one appearance in the second round against Nigeria. He was sent off in what seemed an extremely harsh refereeing decision after only a few minutes and was suspended for the two subsequent World Cup matches. He played in all three group games at Euro 1996, and missed a penalty against Germany as Italy surprisingly crashed out in the first round. He scored the only goal of the game in a World Cup qualifying match against England at Wembley in February 1997, and won his final cap for Italy in the return fixture against England in Rome in October 1997 but was a controversial omission from the squad for France 1998. Zola won 35 international caps, scoring 10 goals.

Honours and Awards

Napoli
* Serie A Winner (1989-1990)

Parma
* UEFA Cup Winner (1995)

Chelsea
* FA Cup Winner (1997,2000)
* FA Community Shield Winner (2000)
* League Cup Winner (1998)
* UEFA Cup Winner (1998)
* European Super Cup Winner (1998)

Individual

* Awarded an OBE in 2004
* Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006 in recognition of his achievements in the English league
* Voted Chelsea's greatest-ever player
* Named in Chelsea Centenary XI

Conte

2008-07-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

Antonio Conte

Full Name : Antonio Conte
Born : 31.07.1969
Born in : Lecce, Italy
Nationality : Italy
Height : 178 cm
Weight : 73 kg

Statistic Career

Club

11/1991 - 06/2004 => Juventus, Italy
07/1985 - 10/1991 => US Lecce, Italy

Player

He began to play football in the Lecce youth team, before making his Serie A debut with the first squad in 1985. He was signed by Juventus in 1992, being later made captain before the promotion of Alessandro Del Piero to this role. During the 1998-1999 season when Del Piero suffered a horrendous leg injury, Conte returned to the captaincy temporarily and led Juventus to the UEFA Champions Leage semifinals.

In 2002-2003, Conte was part of the Juventus team which reached the UEFA Champions League final only to lose on penalties to AC Milan, with Conte himself coming closest to winning the game for Juventus in normal time when he crashed a header off the crossbar early in the second half.

Conte became one of the most decorated and influencial players of Juventus FC history.

He played for Italy national football team and was a participant at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 UEFA European Championship.

Honours

# Serie A Winner (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002 & 2003)
# Serie A Runner-up (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000 & 2001)
# UEFA Champions League Winner (1996)
# UEFA Champions League Runner-up (1997, 1998 & 2003)
# UEFA Cup Winner (1993)
# UEFA Cup Runner-up (1995)
# UEFA Intertoto Cup Winner (1999)
# Intercontinental Cup Winner (1996)
# UEFA Super Cup Winner (1996)
# Italian Cup Winner (1995)
# Italian Cup Runner-up (1992, 2002 & 2004)
# Supercoppa Italiana Winner (1995, 1997, 2002, & 2003)

Coach

After having retired as footballer, Conte worked as assistant manager for Siena alongside Luigi De Canio in the 2005-2006 season. In July 2006 he was appointed coach of Serie B side Arezzo: however, after a series of disappointing results, he was sacked on October 31, 2006; on March 13, 2007 he was reinstated at the Arezzo head coaching position, as his predecessor failed to gain any significant improvement. In his second time at Arezzo he led the team to five consecutive wins in a row, and 19 points in 7 matches, which allowed the Tuscan side to fill the gap from the last safe spot; his team however did not manage to avoid relegation, and Arezzo dropped into Serie C1 on the final matchday, only one point behind Spezia.

On Desember 27, 2007 he was appointed by Bari to replace Giuseppe Materazzi for the second half of their Serie B 2007-08 campaign.

Internationals

World Cup 1994 USA
EURO 2000 Holland-Belgium

Eric Cantona

2008-07-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Eric Cantona

Full Name : Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona
Born : 24.05.1966
Born in : Marseille, France
Nationality : France
Height : 188 cm
Weight : 89 kg

Statistic Career

Club

Period Team Country
11/1992 - 06/1997 Manchester United England
01/1992 - 10/1992 Leeds United England
07/1991 -12/1991 Nimes Olympique France
07/1990 - 06/1991 Olympique Marseille France
07/1989 - 06/1990 Montpellier SC France
03/1989 - 06/1989 Girondins Bordeaux France
07/1988 - 02/1989 Olympique Marseille France
07/1986 - 06/1988 AJ Auxerre France
01/1986 - 06/1986 FC Martigues France
07/1981 - 12/1985 AJ Auxerre France
07/1980 - 06/1981 OGC Nice France

International Competition

* Friendlies 1990
* Friendlies 1987
* EURO 1992 Sweden

National Team

Eric Cantona was given his full international début against West Germany in August 1987 by the then national team manager Henri Michel. In September 1988, angered after being dropped from the national team, Cantona insulted Michel in a post-match TV interview and was indefinitely banned from all international matches. However, Michel was sacked shortly after that having failed to qualify for the 1990 World Cup.

The new coach was Michel Platini and one of his first acts was to recall Cantona who was a favourite of his. He claimed that Cantona would be selected as long as he was playing competitive top-class football; Platini had initiated Cantona's move to England to restart his career. France qualified for the 1992 European Football Championship held in Sweden, but failed to win a single game despite the striking partnership of Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin. Platini resigned after the finals to be replaced by Gerard Houllier.

Under Houllier, France then failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. after losing the final game 2:1 at home to Bulgaria when a draw would have sufficed. David Ginola gave away possession in the game which led to Bulgaria's winning goal by Emil Kostadinov. Cantona was reportedly angry with Ginola after the game. Houllier resigned and Aime Jacquet took over.

Jacquet began to rebuild the national team in preparation for Euro 1996 (the 1996 European Championship) and appointed Cantona as the captain. Cantona remained the captain until the Selhurst Park incident in January 1995. The suspension which resulted from this incident also prevented him from playing in international matches.

By the time Cantona's suspension had been completed, he had lost his role as the team's playmaker to another star, Zinedine Zidane, as Jacquet had revamped the squad with some new blood and built it around Zidane. Cantona, Papin and Ginola were never again selected for the French team and missed Euro 96. Though there was criticism about Cantona's omission, as he was playing his best football in the FA Premier League, Jacquet himself stated that the team had done well without Cantona, and that he wanted to keep faith with the players who had taken them so far. The decision was vindicated as Les Blues subsequently won the World Cup in 1998.

To this day, Cantona still harbours resentment for the people at the head of his national team but also admiration for his adopted football country; at EURO 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he supported England and not France.

Zinedine Zidane

2008-07-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

Zinedine Zidane

Full Name : Zinedine Yazid Zidane
Born : 23.06.1972
Born in : Marseille, France
Nationality : France - Algeria
Height : 185 cm
Weight : 78 kg

Statistic Career

Club

Period Team Country
07/2001 - 06/2006 Real Madrid Spain
07/1996 - 06/2001 Juventus Italy
07/1992 - 06/1996 Girondins Bordeaux France
07/1988 - 06/1992 AS Cannes France

Internationals

World Cup 2006, Germany
World Cup 2002, Japan/South Korea
World Cup 1998, France
WC Qualifiers Europe 2006
EURO 2004, Portugal
EURO 2000, Holland/Belgium
EURO 1996, England

Individual

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

Activities

On 24 February 2007, before a crowd of 10.000 fans at amatch in nothern Thailand for the keuydaroon children's AIDS charity, Zidane scored the first goal and set up the second for a Malaysian teammate as the match ended 2-2. The event raised $7.750

On 19 November 2007, Zidane took part in the fifth annual Match Against Poverty in Malaga, Spain, which also ended in a 2-2 draw, Zidane went scoreless, but set up his team's second goal in the 70th minute. He and former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo, who collaborated in conceiving the yearly event to benefit the United Nations Development Programme, regularly captain their respective teams consisting of active footballers, other professional athletes and celebrities.
stated before the game that "everyone can do something to make the world a better place".

STOICHKOV

2008-07-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

STOICHKOV

Full Name : Hristo Stoichkov
Born : 08.02.1966
Born In : Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Nationality : Bulgaria
Height : 178 cm
Weight : 85 kg

Statistic Career

Club

Period Team Country
01/2003 - 12/2003 D.C. United USA
03/2000 - 12/2002 Chicago Fire USA
01/1999 - 12/1999 Kashiwa Reysol Japan
03/1998 - 12/1998 Al-Ansar Lebanon
01/1998 - 02/1998 CSKA Sofia Bulgaria
07/1996 - 01/1998 FC Barcelona Spain
07/1995 - 06/1996 Parma AC Italy
07/1990 - 06/1995 FC Barcelona Spain
07/1984 - 06/1990 CSKA Sofia Bulgaria

National Team

At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Stoichkov was awarded the Golden Boot as the joint top goal scorer of the tournament (with Oleg Salenko), with six goals. He led Bulgaria past Germany to the semi finals, where they lost 2-1 to Italy. They subsequently lost the 3rd place play-off to Sweden, 4-0.

Bulgaria finished second in the qualifying group for Euro 1996 after the first place was taken by the eventual winners, Germany. Stoichkov scored 10 goals for his team during the qualifiers, as Bulgaria qualified as one of the best 6 runners-up. In the first match against Germany in Sofia 3-2, Bulgaria were 2-0 down at half-time. Stoichkov equalized with two goals from penalties and Emil Kostadinov also scored for a 3-2 win. Bulgaria lost the second match in Germany 3-1.

During the finals, Bulgaria lost 3-1 in the decisive group match against a very strong France side (the future World Champions); at the same time, in the other match, Spain won 2-1 late on against Romania and so the Bulgarians went out. In that tournament Stoichkov scored 3 goals in 3 matches, and another goal against Spain was disallowed for offside, though action replays show that he was actually on-side. Stoitchkov was the only player to score from a free kick (against France) in this tournament.

He was also part of the squad that was eliminated in the first round of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Bulgaria wasn't nearly as strong as in previous years, and scored only one goal in the tournament (by Kostadinov), in a 6-1 defeat by Spain.

Stoichkov retired from internationals in 1999 with 37 goals in 83 appearances. Subsequently he was the coach of the Bulgarian national team from 2004 to April 2007.

Individual

* Bulgarian League Top Scorer. 1989, 1990
* European Golden Boot. 1989
* UEFA Cup Winners Cup Top Scorer. 1989
* European Footballer of the Year. 1994
* FIFA world Cup 1994 Golden Shoe - Top Scorer
* Golden Foot. 2007
In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Bulgaria by Bulgarian Football Union as their most outstanding player of the 50 years.

Coaching Career

In the 2003-04 season, Stoichkov started a coaching career, serving as a forwards coach at Barça. After Bulgarian national team coach Plamen Markov resigned in the wake of the team's first-round exit from Euro 2004, the Bulgarian Football Union named him as the new national team coach on 15 July.

Stoichkov's coaching career got off to a bad start with him failing to qualify the Bulgarian national team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He brought his bad temper from his career as a player to the coaching bench. A couple of proven players quit the team due to personal differences with Stoichkov. The most notable scandal was at the 03/09/05 game against Sweden, where he was sent-off for insulting the referee.

The biggest blow to Hristo Stoichkov as a coach of the national team of Bulgaria came on 12/10/2006, when Stiliyan Petrov, the captain of the team, announced he will not play for the team as long as Stoichkov is the coach. Petrov is the third player and the second captain in two years to leave the team because of differences with Stoichkov. However, on 17/03/2007 Stiliyan Petrov announced that he had a private conversation with Stoichkov, in which they were able to work their differences out. As a result Petrov would return to the team.

On April 10, 2007, the Bulgarian Footbal Union announced they had accepted the resignation of Hristo Stoichkov from the post of national coach. That was as a result of the poor performance of the team at the current Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, followed by widely spread criticism and debate over the qualities of the coach. He had a short disappointing stint as Manager at Celta de Vigo, for which he was sacked following the team's slump which took them to the lower reaches of the Spanish second Division. On October 8, 2007 he was replaced by ex-Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro.

Pele

2008-07-17T07:50:00.001-07:00

'Pele'

Full Name : Edison Arantes do Nascimento
Date of birth : October 23, 1940
Place of birth : Tres Coracoes, Brazil
Height : 174 cm
Weight : 73 kg
Playing Position : Forward

Statistic Career

Club

Period Team Country

01/1975 - 12/1977 New York Cosmos USA
01/1956 - 12/1974 Santos FC Brazil

Internationals

Competition National Team

World Cup 1970 Mexico Brazil
World Cup 1966 England Brazil
World Cup 1962 Chile Brazil
World Cup 1958 Sweden Brazil

Individual

Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee 1999

In December 2000, Pelé was named Footballer of the Century by FIFA. The award was intended to be based upon votes in a web poll, but after it became apparent that it favoured Diego Maradona, many observers complained that the Internet nature of the poll would have meant a skewed demographic of younger fans who would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé. FIFA then appointed a "Family of Football" committee of soccer experts to decide the winner of the award. Maradona was instead awarded the title of FIFA Internet Player of the Century. Allegations that the Internet poll had been bombarded by Argentine fans still remain to this day.

Laures World Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award from South African President Nelson Mandela, 2000

A consensus of media and expert polls rank Pelé as the greatest footballer of all time.

In 2005 Pelé won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.

After Football

The most notable area of Pelé's life since football is his ambassadorial work for various bodies. In 1992, Pelé was appointed a United Nations ambassador for ecology and the environment. He was awarded Brazil's Gold Medal for outstanding services to the sport in 1995, Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso appointed him to the position of "Extraordinary Minister for Sport" and he was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. During this time he proposed legislation to reduce corruption in Brazilian football, which became known as the Pelé law. Pelé left his position in 2001 after he was accused of involvement in a corruption scandal.

In 1997 he was given an honorary British knighthood

Pelé scouted for Premier League Fulham in 2002. He was chosen to do the draw for the qualification groups for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.

Pelé has published several autobiographies, starred in documentary and semi-documentary films and composed various musical pieces, including the entire soundtrack for the film Pelé in 1977. He appeared, alongside other footballers of the 1960s and 1970s, Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, in the 1981 film Escape to victory, about an attempted escape from a World War II Nazi POW Camp. Pelé was one of the first black persons to be featured on the cover of Life magazine, and was the first sports figure featured in a video game with the Atari 2600 game Pele's Soccer.

Pelé at Bramall lane, celebrating Sheffield F.C.'s 150th anniversary

Pelé signed a major autobiographical book deal in 2006, resulting in a giant-sized, 45 cm × 35 cm, 2,500 unit limited-edition collectible "Pelé", created by UK luxury publishers, Gloria, as the first-ever football "big book". In the same period, Pelé received a lifetime achievement award from the BBC and in June 2006, helped inaugurate the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, alongside supermodel Claudia Schiffer. Pelé has also helped to promote Viagra and raise the awareness of impotency.

Pelé was guest of honour at the world's oldest football club, Sheffield FC, 150th anniversary match vs Inter Milan in November 2007. Inter won 5–2 in front of an appreciative crowd of nearly 19,000 at Bramall Line. As part of his visit, Pelé opened an exhibition which included the first public showing in 40 years of the original hand written rules of football.

Diego Maradona

2008-07-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Diego Maradona

Full Name : Diego Armando Maradona Franco
Born : 30.10.1960
Born in : Lanus, Argentina
Nationality : Argentina
Height : 167 cm
Weight : 70 kg

Career Statistics

Period Team Country

1997 Karriereende
07/1995 - 06/1997 Boca Juniors Argentina
07/1993 - 06/1994 Newell's Old Boy Argentina
07/1992 - 06/1993 Sevilla Spain
07/1884 - 06/1991 SSC Napoli Italy
07/1982 - 06/1984 FC Barcelona Spain
07/1981 - 06/1982 Boca Juniors Argentina
07/1976 - 06/1981 Argentinos Juniors Argentina

International

Started in 21 consecutive matches for Argentina in four World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
Appeared a World Cup-record 16 times as captain of the national team.
Scored 8 goals and made 8 assists in 21 World Cup appearances, including 5 goals and 5 assists in 1986
Tied for second-highest goal-scorer from Argentina in World Cup finals (Equaled Guillermo Stabile's mark in 1994, Surpassed by Gabriel Batistuta 1998)

Individual

Golden Ball for Best Player of the Fifa U-20 World Cup 1979
Argentine League Top Scorer: 1979, 1980, 1981
Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year: 1979 — 1981, 1986
South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas):1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Year: 1986
Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup: 1986
Best Footballer in the World (Once): 1986 — 1987
World Player of the Year (World Soccer Magazine) 1986
Serie-A Italy LeagueTop Scorer: 1987/1988
Golden Ball for services to football France Football 1996
Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century: 1999
"FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice: 2000
FIFA Goal of the Century (1986 (2–1) v. England; second goal): 2002
Argentina Senate "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento" recognition for lifetime achievement: 2005

Coaching

* 1994 Mandiyu de Corrientes
* 1995 Racing Club de Avellaneda

Reputation

Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona name as a token of recognition, even in remote places.
In Argentina, Maradona is often talked about in terms reserved for legends.
In the Argentina film El hijo de la Novia (The bride's son), an actor who plays a fake Catholic priest says to a bar patron:
" They idolized him and then crucified him"
When swcolded by a friend for taking the prank too far, the fake priest retorts: "But I was about Maradona".

In Rosario city, Argentina, fans organized the "Church of Maradona".
Maradona's 43rd birthday in 2003 marked the start of the Year 43 D.D. - "Después de Diego" or After Diego - for its founding 200 members. Tens of thousands more have become members via the church's official web site.

Hounded for years by the press, Maradona even fired a comressed-air rifle against reporters who, so he claimed, invaded his privacy. This quote from former teammate Jorge Valdano summarizes the feelings of many:

“

He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated.

”

A television commercial for Brazilian soft drink Guarna Antarctica portrayed Maradona as a member of the Brazilian national football team, including wearing the yellow jersey and singing the Brazilian national anthem with Brazilian caps kaka and Ronaldo.

Later on in the commercial he wakes up realizing it was nightmare after having drank too much of the soft drink. This generated some controversy in the Argentine media after its release (although the commercial was not supposed to air on the Argentine market, fans could see it via internet). Maradona replied that he has no problem in wearing the Brazilian national squad jersey, instead, only in wearing River Plate's jersey.

In May 2006, Maradona agreed to take part in UK's Soccer aid (a program to raise money for UNICEF). Maradona scored a penalty but it was too late to save the match which England won 2-1.