For some time now, I’ve been working on some lists of the greatest ever players in each position. Some of you might have seen my own thread on the greatest players in English league history www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620289 or the thread that inspired it by Gregoriak of their German equivalents https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420539 Basically over the coming months I will reveal the 100 best players (in my opinion) in each position, who have ever graced the game. These will be the finest footballers to kick a ball since the codification of the game in 1863. Let me start by outlining some of the criteria that I have applied: 1. Peak performance. How good were they at their very best. 2. Longevity and consistency. How long did they perform well for. 3. Achievements. Where did they get to in the game, how much did they win and what style did they do it in. Furthermore I have excluded all players aged below 28 today, as I do not feel they have a sufficient "body of work" on which to be judged. All eligible current players have probably been judged slightly more harshy than they might be as it is difficult to fully evaluate a career until it is over. These criteria naturally favour some of the players from the bigger nations and bigger clubs. I’m afraid that is largely unavoidable. But if you disagree with any of my selections then please let me know. That is what these threads are for. This is just a bit of fun and I've tried to include players across all eras. I'm not pretending it is in any way definitive, but it's there for some debate and hopefully a few people (including myself) can learn a bit more about some forgotten greats. I’d like to thank some of the members of the BigSoccer history group for their input on this as well. Please do not post your thoughts in this thread. I will set up a designated discussion thread for these threads. I will delete any posts in this thread. Please though do contribute. I am really going to try to get this forum back on track, but I will need the input of many members of this board. If you have any feedback or questions about this then please put them in the discussion thread. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1245347 To help people understand the positions of the players I have created this thread on the history of tactics as well as providing definitions of each position to make it easier. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1269077 Enjoy!
100. Hans Krankl Striker Austria 14/2/1953 69 caps (34 goals) Clubs: Austria Salzburg, Wiener AC, Rapid Wien, Barcelona, First Vienna, Barcelona, Rapid Wien, Wiener AC, Kremser http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Krankl
99. Klaus Fischer Striker West Germany 27/12/1949 45 caps (32 goals) Clubs: TSV 1860 Munich, Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln 96, VfL Bochum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Fischer
98. Quini Striker Spain 23/9/1949 35 caps (8 goals) Clubs: Sporting Gijon, Barcelona, Sporting Gijon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quini
97. Ivan Zamorano Striker Chile 18/1/1967 69 caps (34 goals) Clubs: Cobresal, Cobreandino, St. Gallen, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Internazionale, América, Colo-Colo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iván_Zamorano
96. Jef Mermans Striker Belgium 16/2/1922 56 caps (27 goals) Clubs: Tubantia FAC, Anderlecht, Merksem SC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jef_Mermans
95. Gianluca Vialli Striker, forward Italy 9/7/1964 59 caps (16 goals) Clubs: Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus, Chelsea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianluca_Vialli
94. Roberto Dinamite Striker Brazil 13/4/1954 20 caps (? goals) Clubs: Vasco da Gama, Barcelona, Vasco da Gama, Portuguesa, Vasco da Gama http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Dinamite
93. Ove Kindvall Striker, forward Sweden 16/5/1943 43 caps (16 goals) Clubs: IFK Norrköping, Feyenoord, IFK Norrköping, IFK Göteborg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ove_Kindvall
92. Ole Madsen Striker Denmark 21/12/1934 50 caps (42 goals) Clubs: BK Stefan, HIK, Sparta Rotterdam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Madsen
91. Fernando Morena Striker Uruguay 2/2/1952 54 caps (22 goals) Clubs: Racing Montevideo, River Plate Montevideo, Peñarol, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Peñarol, Flamengo,Boca Juniors, Peñarol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Morena
90. Davor Suker Striker Croatia 1/1/1968 2 caps (1 goal) for Yugoslavia, 69 caps (45 goals) for Croatia Clubs: Osijek, Dinamo Zagreb, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Arsenal, West Ham United, 1860 Munich http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davor_Šuker
89. Reinaldo Striker Brazil 11/1/1957 30 caps (11 goals) Clubs: Atlético Mineiro, Palmeiras, Rio Negro, Cruzeiro, BK Häcken, Telstar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Reinaldo_de_Lima
88. Filippo Inzaghi Striker Italy 9/8/1973 57 caps (25 goals) Clubs: Piacenza, Leffe, Verona, Piacenza, Parma, Atalanta, Juventus, AC Milan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Inzaghi
87. Vava Striker Brazil 12/11/1934 20 (15 goals) Clubs: Sport Recife, Vasco da Gama, Atlético Madrid, Palmeiras, América, Toros Neza, San Diego Toros, Portuguesa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vavá
86. Jose Aguas Striker Portugal 9/11/1930 25 caps (11 goals) Clubs: Lusitano Lobito, Benfica, Austria Vienna http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Águas
85. Rudi Völler Striker West Germany 13/4/1960 90 caps (47 goals) Clubs: Kickers Offenbach, 1860 Munich, Werder Bremen, Roma, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudi_Völler
84. Thadee Cisowski Striker France 16/2/1927 13 caps (11 goals) Clubs: Metz, RC Paris, Valenciennes, Nantes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thadée_Cisowski
83. Pauli Jørgensen Centre-forward Denmark 4/12/1905 47 caps (44 goals) Clubs: BK Frem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_Jørgensen
82. Alan Shearer Striker England 13/8/1970 60 caps (30 goals) Clubs: Southampton, Blackburn, Newcastle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shearer
81. Edmund Conen Striker Germany 10/11/1914 28 caps (27 goals) Clubs: 1. FC Saarbrücken, Stuttgarter Kickers, Mulhouse, HSV Groß Born, Stuttgarter Kickers, Young Fellows Zürich http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Conen
80. Hernan Crespo Striker Argentina 5/7/1975 64 caps (35 goals) Clubs: River Plate, Parma, Lazio, Internazionale, Chelsea, AC Milan, Chelsea, Internazionale, Genoa, Parma http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernán_Crespo
79. Sven Rydell Striker Sweden 14/1/1905 43 caps (49 goals) Clubs: Holmens IS, Örgryte IS, Redbergslids IK, Örgryte IS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Rydell
78. Stanley Mortensen Inside-forward England 26/5/1921 25 caps (23 goals) Clubs: Blackpool, Hull City, Southport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Mortensen
77. Samuel Eto'o Striker Cameroon 10/3/1981 101 caps (52 goals) Clubs: Real Madrid, Leganes, Mallorca, Barcelona, Internazionale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Eto'o