Robert Dennis Blanchflower Born: 10 February 1926 in Belfast Died: 9 December 1993 Nickname: Danny Position: Half back Caps: Northern Ireland 56/ 2 goals League Games for Spurs: England I. Division 337/ 15 goals European Cup Games: 12 (1961-1963) / 2 goals Domestic Cup Games for Spurs: FA Cup 33 / 4 goals English Footballer of the Year: 1958, 1961 Trophies & Tournaments: English title: 1961 FA Cup: 1961, 1962 European Cup Winner's Cup:1963 British Home Championship winner: 1958-9, 1959-60 Participant: World Cup 1958 Danny Blanchflower was unlike the other players of his time, or indeed any time. He was a man blessed with imagination, flair and intellect as much off the pitch as on it, and he possessed a rare insight into the game’s finer points. Blanchflower made his debut at Glentoran in 1945 and after impressing there earned a move to Barnsley in England in a £4,500 deal. While the move to a bigger stage proved a big success, Blanchflower’s international debut was less memorable, as he was on the receiving end of an 8-2 home thrashing from Scotland. In 1951 he moved to Aston Villa for £15,000, but it was a mixed time. Blanchflower was a player who knew his own mind, and in a time of disciplinarian mangers his opinions were not always welcome. Of chief concern to Danny was the lack of training with a ball at Villa and he was not afraid to make himself heard. On the pitch he maintained his high standards but after 3 years he moved again. Blanchflower was initially close to joining Arsenal but after that move broke down, Spurs stepped into to snatch him for a fee of £30,000, a record for a half-back at the time. Rarely have a player and club been better suited. At first Blanchflower appeared again to be an awkward customer but he was to the fore in the 1956/7 and 1957/8 seasons as Spurs finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Indeed Blanchflower was named Footballer of the Year in 1958 for his inspired performances. It was to be a momentous year for both Spurs and Blanchflower as his former team-mate Bill Nicholson was appointed manager of the club. Nicholson was Spurs through and through having joined the club at 18 and been an integral part of Arthur Rowe’s famous push and run team. He was also a man who knew how to get the best from Blanchflower. Whereas previous managers had been suspicious of Blanchflower’s leadership skills and tactical innovations, Nicholson recognised that in Blanchflower he had a player that could act as his voice on the pitch. Nicholson’s first season did not go well, with Spurs slipping to near the foot of the table but the next season they were back with a vengeance. Spurs finished 3rd again (just 2 points behind champions Burnley) and had a dramatic effect on the course of the title, beating Wolves 3-1 at Molineux, to deny them a third successive title, a feat only achieved at that time by the sides of Huddersfield and Arsenal, both managed by former Spurs player Herbert Chapman. The next season was the finest in the club’s history and probably the finest in the history of English football. Spurs got off to a dream start winning the first 11 games of the season, and dropping just one point in their first 16 league matches (a home draw against Manchester City). Remarkably at the start of January Spurs had dropped just 4 points from 25 games, losing away at Sheffield Wednesday and a draw at home with Burnley in a surreal game that they initially led 4-0. Spurs continued to turn on the style in the second half of the season, finishing with 31 league wins (the highest in the history of England and a record that still stands) and 117 goals scored (the last team to score 100 in a season in the top flight). It was a magical season, but it did not stop there. Spurs had marched to the FA Cup final where they faced Leicester aiming to be the first club to do “the double” in the 20th century. It was far from a vintage final, with Spurs struggling to get into their rhythm, but, thanks to goals from Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson, Spurs prevailed 2-0. Previously they had said the double couldn’t be done, but Blanchflower had faith in himself and his club, lecturing Stan Cullis and Joe Mercer years earlier on the subject. What’s more Spurs did it in a style befitting of the achievement, not only scoring so many but having just one booking and conceding one penalty all season. Blanchflower was the man at the centre of most of it and was duly recognised as the player of 1960/1 by the Football Writers’ Association, becoming only the second man to win the award twice after Tom Finney. The following season Spurs set out with the hope of going one better and adding the European Cup to the their domestic double. They made a good start seeing off the likes of Feyenoord and Dukla Prague to progress through the early stages while maintaining good league form. Then Nicholson went out and made the best even better, bringing Jimmy Greaves back to England from Milan for a fee of £99,999 in December, an English record. However, while Greaves soon set about destroying domestic defences he was unable to play in the European Cup until the semi-final stage where Spurs met Benfica, the defending champions. In Lisbon Spurs were soon on the back foot and conceded 2 early goals to Aguas and Augusto. Bobby Smith managed to pull one back for Spurs but Augusto hit back and left Spurs two down. Spurs were incensed by the conduct of the referee who had denied them two goals for offside on from Greaves and one from Smith, despite all independent observers agreeing that both were clearly onside. Blanchflower and Spurs were confident though that the deficit could be overhauled, indeed he had once said while on Northern Ireland duty “we equalise before the opposition”. The return leg at White Hart Lane did not get off to the start Spurs had hoped for as Aguas extended Benfica’s lead after 15 minutes. Greaves then unbelievably had yet another goal disallowed for offside, before Bobby Smith finally put Spurs on the score sheet. Just after half time Spurs were awarded a penalty and Blanchflower, one of the games coolest ever penalty takers, slotted the ball away to leave Spurs needing just one more goal to level the tie. Spurs pressed and pressed hitting both posts, before with just seconds remaining Dave Mackay leapt and headed powerfully against the bar. It was not to be Spurs night or tie, having hit the woodwork three times and had three goals disallowed they crashed out of Europe. Yet Spurs still had the FA Cup, having seen their league form drop off with European commitments, and a final against Burnley. Spurs led early on through a superb goal from Jimmy Greaves, but Burnley, the league runners up, hit back with a Jimmy Robson goal. The deadlock didn’t last long though, within a minute Bobby Smith restored Spurs lead, and Blanchflower sealed the win with a penalty ten minutes from time. Spurs thus became only the second team to retain the FA Cup in the twentieth century. It was little reward for a season that had promised so much, and had two games turned out differently (the tie with Benfica and the home league match against Ipswich in march) they could well have won the lot. The next season saw Spurs determined to make up for their disappointment of the previous year. Spurs started in the Cup Winners Cup and faced Rangers in a “Battle of Britain” in the second round, thrashing them 8-4 on aggregate, but the victory came at some cost. Danny Blanchflower was caught by two Rangers players and damaged his knee, forcing him to miss 22 games through injury. It went a long way to explain Spurs’ failure to regain their title, missing their most influential player they finished 2nd behind Everton. However, even without their skipper Spurs had the quality to force their way into the Cup Winners’ Cup final where they met the defending champions Athletico Madrid. The build up to the final did not run smoothly though as Dave Mackay, the tough tackling, no-nonsense midfield general that allowed Blanchflower the chance to dictate the pace of so many games was ruled out with a stomach upset. Added to this was the fact that Blanchflower had still not fully recovered to full fitness, but such was his importance to the side that he simply had to play. The usually unflappable Nicholson was said by many to be distracted by the loss of Mackay and gave a less than inspiring dressing room address. It was left to Blanchflower to rouse his troops, and he did not disappoint, giving each man the motivation to go out and claim yet more silverware. Spurs took an early lead through goal-machine Greaves and doubled it in the 35th minute when John White, “the ghost”, netted to put them in a commanding position. Early in the second half Atheltico were awarded a penalty which was converted by Collar, and they pressed Spurs frantically for an equaliser. Yet just as the Spaniards were starting to dominate the game, the ball broke to Terry Dyson on the left flank and, spotting the keeper off his line, he managed to hit a perfect lob to give Spurs some breathing space. From there the game became a rout as Greaves and Dyson both added more goals to give Spurs an amazing victory. It was Spurs 4th major trophy in jut 3 seasons, and the first European trophy won by a British club. Blanchflower never did regain his full fitness and the next season he retired at the age of 38. Such was his intellect and way with words that he soon became well respected and admired within the media, and carved out a successful journalistic career. In the late 1970s he had spells as manager of both Chelsea and Northern Ireland but despite his tactical acumen and motivational skills he enjoyed little success. Blanchflower died poor and alone in 1993, a tragic end to the life of one of the games most respected figures. Blanchflower once said “Football is not really about winning, or goals, or saves or supporters- it’s about glory. It’s about doing things in style, doing them with a flourish; it’s about going out to beat the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom; it’s about dreaming of the glory that the Double brought.” Never has a quote better summed up a player, a club, an era better. For Blanchflower and Spurs, the football, the winning, was of secondary importance, the way in which the game was played came first. Thus that the team which Blanchflower marshalled so expertly, also proved so successful is testament to quite how good the players it possessed were and what can be achieved with the right philosophy. 1945-1948 Glentoran Belfast 1948-1949 Swindon 1948-1951 Barnsley FC 1951-1954 Aston Villa 1954-1964 Tottenham Hotspur
To close out the fourth round, I select: Name: Jair "Jairzinho" Ventura Filho Born: December 25, 1944 Nationality: Brazilian Position: right wing Caps/Goals: 82 caps/34 goals Honors 1 World Cup (1970) 4 Rio de Janeiro state championships (1961, 1962, 1967, 1968) Clubs Botafogo (1959-1970) Olympique Marseille (1970-1971) Cruzeiro (unknown) Portuguesa (unknown) Biography: (from Wikipedia) Jaïrzinho, birth name Jair Ventura Filho, (born December 25, 1944) was a member of the Brazilian national team that won the 1970 World Cup. He is the only player to have scored in every game of a World Cup finals, a feat he achieved in 1970. However, his seven goals at those finals were not enough to win the Golden Boot, which went to West Germany's Gerd Müller, who scored a record ten goals. Jaïrzinho made his professional debut with Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo as a left winger at the age of 15. His hero Garrincha, whom he would eventually replace for both club and country also played there. Jairzinho spent most of his early games playing on the left or as a centre forward. However, when Garrincha was injured he filled in as a right winger, which was by far his strongest position. Jaïrzinho made his international debut as a 19 year old in 1964 against Portugal, again when Garrincha was injured. He played in the 1966 World Cup in England, however, and with Garrincha back in the side, he played as a left winger and struggled to be effective. Jairzinho, with Garrincha retired from international football, played as a right winger in 1970, and revealed his talent to the world. Unsurprisingly, following his display in Mexico Jairzinho moved to Europe to play for French side Marseille. However, he struggled with Marseille and soon returned to Brazil to play for Cruzeiro. Jaïrzinho scored two goals in the 1974 World Cup, which would prove to be his last World Cup for Brazil. He did, however, continue to play for Brazil for another eight years. His final game was on March 3, 1982 against Czechoslovakia in a game which Brazil drew 1-1. He scored 34 goals in 82 games during his international career. Jaïrzinho finished his career playing for Portuguesa in Venezuela. Following his retirement Jairzinho became a coach and coached the Gabon national team. However, Jaïrzinho was sacked by Gabon's Football Federation after a crushing defeat against Angola in a World Cup 2006 Qualifier held in Luanda. Perhaps his greatest achievement as a coach was spotting Ronaldo as a 14 year old whilst he was coaching São Cristóvão. He kick-started the career of the future three-time FIFA World Player of the Year by recommending him to Cruzeiro, his former side, and the Brazil youth team.
And to start the fifth round: Name: Antonio Cabrini Born: October 8, 1957 in Cremona, Italy Nationality: Italian Position: left back Caps/Goals: 73 caps/9 goals Honors 1 World Cup (1982) 1 European Cup (1985) 1 UEFA Cup (1977) 6 Serie A Championships (1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986) 2 Italian Cups (1979, 1983) Clubs Cremonese (1973-1975) Atalanta (1975-1976) Juventus (1976-1989) Bologna (1989-1991) Biography: (from http://soccer-europe.com/Biographies/Cabrini.html) Antonio Cabrini was a 20 year old promising youth for Juventus and had played just 15 games for his club in the 1977-78 season (mostly as a replacement) when he was picked for the 1978 World Cup. He won his first cap and became a regular for his country in Italy's opening game against France. Cabrini and Paolo Rossi where Italy's new blood in Bearzot's team that went on to win the 1982 World Cup. Cabrini immediately established himself as a regular with Juve and won all possible titles in his 13 seasons for the club. In addition to typical outstanding Italian defensive qualities 'El Bel Antonio' was a tenacious left back that displayed exceptional enthusiasm and fighting spirit on the field, becoming a fan favorite. With the likes of Zoff, Gentile, Scirea, Tardelli, Platini and Laudrup as teammates, Cabrini played a total of 440 games for Juve in Serie A and cup competitions scoring 52 times. Cabrini played 73 times for Italy (10 as captain) scoring 9 goals (a record for a defender). In 1987 repeated injuries at a knee forced him to leave the national squad at just 30. A few months later a young Maldini made his debut for the team. Many believe that Maldini is a very close copy of the great Antonio and some say that Cabrini was even better then Maldini in some departments. Cabrini played with Juve till the 1988-1989 season then with Bologna for 2 more years before retiring.
PETER BOLESLAV SCHMEICHEL Born: 18 November 1963 in Kopenhavn. Nickname: Peter the Great, The Great Dane, Mr. Clean Sheet. Position: Goalkeeper. Caps: Denmark 129 (1987-2001) / 1 goal League Games: Denmark 182 (1984-1991) / 0 goals England 292 (1991-1999) / 0 goals European Cup Games: 65 (1986-2000) / 0 goals International Club Cup Games: European Champions Cup 42 (1986-1999) / 0 goals European Cup Winners’ Cup 3 (1992-1995) / 0 goals UEFA Cup 19 (1987-2000) / 0 goals European Super-Cup 1 (1992) / 0 goals Domestic Cup Games: Danish Cup 27 (1981-1991) / 0 goals FA Cup 41 (1991-1999) / 0 goals European Footballer of the Year: 1992 (5th), 1993 (12th), 1997 (8th), 1999 (17th) English Footballer of the Year: never Trophies & Tournaments: World Cup participant: 1998 European Champion: 1992 European Championship participant: 1988, 1996 European Champions’ League winner: 1999 European Super-Cup winner: 1991 Danish Champion: 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 Danish runner-up: 1989 Danish Cup winner: 1989 Danish Cup beaten finalist: 1988 English Champion: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999 English runner-up: 1992, 1995, 1998 English Cup winner: 1994, 1996, 1999 English Cup finalist: 1994 English League Cup winner: 1992 English League Cup beaten finalist: 1994 English Charity Shield winner: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 Portuguese Champion: 2000 Schmeichel began his career playing for local team Hvidovre, before earning a move to Danish giants Brondby. He made his international debut in 1987 against Greece, and kept a clean sheet in a 5-0 thrashing. He rose to prominence at the 1988 European Championships where he replaced Troells Rasmussen as Denmark’s number one for the games against W Germany and Italy, but was unable to prevent the Danes crashing out. When Schmeichel first signed for United in a £500,000 move, they were far from the giants they were to become. Although the European Cup Winners Cup holders, United had not won a title since 1967 and were very much in the shadow of rivals Liverpool. In his first season United finished a close second to Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds in the race to win the last ever first division title. The Premiership was to be more kind. In 1992 Schmeichel went off to the European Championships with little realistic expectations of success. The Danes had failed to qualify for the tournament and were only drafted in as late replacements for Yugoslavia, a country in the middle of a bitter civil war. To further compound their difficulties the Danes were missing their inspirational playmaker Michael Laudrup. They started in a tough group alongside France, England and hosts and Scandinavian rivals Sweden. In the opening game against England they drew 0-0 before a 1-0 loss to Sweden. The result meant that they had to beat France in their final game to progress. They achieved it in a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Elstrup and L. Larsen. In the semi finals the Danes faced the favourites Holland who had already topped their group and were looking to retain the trophy they had won 4 years earlier. Henrik Larson put Demark ahead with an early goal before Bergkamp, the star of the tournament pulled one back midway through the first half. The Danes though took the lead again with a second from Larson and almost held out until Frank Rijkaard scored a scrambled goal with just 5 minutes left. Extra-time came and went with no more goals and so a shootout was forced. It was here that Schmeichel made his mark. After exchanging goals Marco Van Basten, probably the world’s best striker stepped up but Schmeichel saved well down low. The Danes, the supposed no-hopers, were into a final against the Germans. Even now very few people gave them a chance against the World Champions, but goals by John Faxe Jensen and Kim Vilfort and two crucial saves before half-time by Schmichel saw off the German threat and brought the Danes their first international trophy. Schmeichel returned to a United determine to gain revenge for their failure last season, but had to watch as minnows Norwich made the early pace. In response to his team’s lack-lustre form, Alec Ferguson swooped for Leeds’ French attacker Eric Cantona in a £1.2m deal. It was to prove the catalyst for a tremendous United season which saw Schmeichel establish himself as the Premiership’s leading keeper, United conceded just 31 goals in 42 league games, and after seeing off a strong challenge from Aston Villa the side captured their first league title in 26 years. Having gained a taste for success, United proved to be even stronger the next season, and the league title proved to be something of a procession as they set a new record for the most number of points in a season of 92 (the rule of 3 points for a win was introduced in 1981). However, the cups proved more hazardous. Schmeichel himself was sent off in the FA Cup quarter final against Charlton Athletic, and they were nearly eliminated in the semi-finals by Oldham before being saved by superb Mark Hughes volley. The league cup final saw United line up against Aston Villa, struggling to emulate their superb previous season, as they bid to become the first ever winners of a domestic treble. Sadly for United it was not to be as they went down 3-1 to goals from Dalian Atkinson and two from Dean Saunders. However, the FA Cup final was a different matter as United thrashed Chelsea, a team they had lost to at old Trafford just a couple of months earlier, 4-0 the biggest winning margin since United demolished Brighton in 1983.It was United first ever double and they joined an illustrious club of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Liverpool as the only sides to achieve the feat in the 20th century. Despite being European champions Schmeichel’s Denmark woefully failed to qualify for the World Cup of 1994 in the USA, finshing 3rd behind Spain and Ireland. The next season was a bitterly disappointing one, as United narrowly missed out on both the league title and the FA Cup. In the league the Reds went into the last day of the season second behind Kenny Dalglish’ free-spending Blackburn Rovers, needing to beat West Ham and hoping that rivals Liverpool could hold Blackburn at Anfield. Liverpool duly obliged by beating Blackburn, but United could not respond and only managed to draw 1-1 with West Ham. The FA Cup was seen as the perfect antidote to United’s woes but they were beaten 1-0 by Everton in a shock result at Wembley with Paul Rideout scoring the only goal of the game. Schmeichel could do nothing, he found himself in limbo after Graham Stuart’s shot had rebounded off the underside of the bar. It had been an excellent season for Schmeichel as United conceded just 28 league goals, and it was certainly not the Dane to blame for their failure to collect any silverware. The following season saw major changes at United with established stars Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andriy Kancheskis all departing, and the side looking towards youth as they sought to recapture their pre-eminence of the English game. Despite being written off in some quarters, United rose to the challenge and completed an historic second double, the first club to do so, coming from 12 points down in January to beat Newcastle to the title. In the Cup final it was Cantona again who managed to steer the ball though a sea of bodies to defeat Liverpool and win yet another FA Cup for United. In the summer of 1996 Schmeichel remained in England as he aimed to retain the European Championship with Denmark. The Danes were fortunate to avoid all the heavy hitters and were instead placed in a relatively easy group alongside dark horses Croatia and Portugal, and no-hopers Turkey. The opening game against Portugal resulted in a 1-1 draw, but it was the second against Croatia that was ultimately to decide the group. In the event it was a poor day for Schmeichel as he suffered the ignominy of being chipped by Davor Suker, a goal to rival that of Paul Gascoigne against Scotland for the best of the tournament, and almost being caught out from the halfway line by Suker again. In fairness the game was an illustration of Suker’s place as one of the world’s finest forwards much more than of any faults in the game of the giant Danish keeper. The final game was largely immaterial with Denmark requiring a Portuguese defeat and a heavy victory over Turkey. Although they beat the Turks 3-0 it was not enough as the Portuguese won the final game comfortably by the same score line. United comfortably retained the title in the 1996/7 season, but lost out the following year as Arsenal completed the double. The 1998/9 season proved to be the finest of Schmeichel’s career and the greatest in the illustrious history of Manchester United. The league season was one full of twists and turns as United and Arsenal duelled to be champions. In the end it went to the last day of the season, with United knowing that victory at home to Spurs would guarantee the title. Yet shockingly Spurs went 1-0 up through Les Ferdinand to the disappointment of both sets of fans. United though were able to fight back and eventually won the game with a superb goal by David Beckham. The FA Cup proved to more hazardous and it was again Arsenal that offered the greatest opposition. Having made it past Liverpool, Fulham and Chelsea, United drew 0-0 to set up a replay at Villa Park. United took the lead through David Beckham after a superb throw out from Schmeichel, but Arsenal hit back with an excellent Dennis Bergkamp equaliser. Roy Keane was then sent off for arguing with the referee, before Phil Neville conceded a penalty in the dying moments of the game. Bergkamp stepped up, but Schmeichel made a great save down low to his left to deny the Dutchman. In extra-time Ryan Giggs intercepted a stray Vieira pass and beat the entire Arsenal team to score perhaps the greatest FA Cup goal ever and put united into yet another FA Cup final. The final itself could not live up to the semi, and was something of a stroll for united as they beat Newcastle 2-0. In the Champions League United were drawn in a group with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Brondby. It was a tough group and many questioned Schmeichel’s age and abilities after a number of errors, most notably against Bayern. However, United managed to progress after drawing twice with both Barca and Bayern and two wins against Brondby. In the quarter finals United played Internazionale, and managed to win through, thanks in no small part to a superb save from Schmeichel to deny Ivan Zamorano. The semi-finals pitted United against Juventus, who were aiming to reach a fourth successive CL final, and so be the first team since Real Madrid to do so. The first leg ended 0-0, meaning that everything rested on the return match at the Delle Alpi. United got off to the worst possible start conceding two early goals, one of which reared up over Schmeichel’s head from a deflected Inzaghi shot. To make matters worse Roy Keane United’s inspirational captain was booked for a tackle on Zidane and so ruled himself out of the final in the unlikely event that United could get there. What followed was an incredible performance, from United, most notably Keane, as they came from 2 down to win 3-2 and secure a match with FC Bayern in a repeat of their group encounters. The Nou Camp in Barcelona, Europe largest stadium, was the perfect setting for what proved to be an unforgettable final. In the sixth minute Ronny Johnsen fouled Jancker and conceded a freekick around 25 yards from the United box. Mario Basler stepped up, and slotted the ball tamely to Schmeichel’s left. It was a soft goal for Schmeichel to concede in his final United game. Bayern continued to dominate the game, twice hitting the woodwork, before Alec Ferguson made two bold changes to try and alter the course of the game. With seconds remaining Schmeichel was sent up for a late corner, it didn’t fall to him but to Ryan Giggs whose shot was turned in by the waiting Teddy Sheringham. Having dramatically levelled the game, United won another corner which was flicked on by Sheringham and steered home by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Bayern had been hit by the most cruel twist to a CL final and United had won an historic treble. In his last game at Manchester United Schmeichel lifted the Champions League trophy and the image of him cart-wheeling in delight is one that will endure for years to come. Schmeichel left United for two years in Portugal where he won a league title with Sporting Lisbon before making a surprise return to the Premiership with Aston Villa. He stayed there a season before ending his career at Manchester City on their return to the Premiership. His final professional game coincided with City’s last ever game at Maine Road, and both were emotional farewells. Schmeichel now works as a pundit for the BBC and writes for the Sunday Times, his son Kasper is a goalkeeper for Manchester City. Schmeichel stands as one of the truly great goalkeepers, not just of the modern era, but of any era. His command of his defence was second to none, and for a big man was exceptionally athletic. The difficulties Manchester United have had in replacing him, are testament to the Great Dane’s phenomenal ability. League Statistics per Season Season - Club - Games – Goals 1981......Gladsaxe-Hero...............III. Division 1982......Gladsaxe-Hero...............IV. Division 1983......Gladsaxe-Hero...............IV. Division 1984......Hvidovre IF..................30 / 00 1985......Hvidovre IF..................30 / 00 1986......Hvidovre IF..................II. Division 1987......Bröndby IF..................26 / 00 1988......Bröndby IF..................26 / 00 1989......Bröndby IF..................26 / 00 1990......Bröndby IF..................26 / 00 1991......Bröndby IF..................18 / 00 1991/92 Manchester United........40 / 00 1992/93 Manchester United........42 / 00 1993/94 Manchester United........40 / 00 1994/95 Manchester United........32 / 00 1995/96 Manchester United........36 / 00 1996/97 Manchester United........36 / 00 1997/98 Manchester United........32 / 00 1998/99 Manchester United........34 / 00 European Cup games Season - Club - Games – Goals 1986/87 Bröndby IF..............EC I........02 / 00 1987/88 Bröndby IF..............EC III......04 / 00 1988/89 Bröndby IF..............EC I........02 / 00 1989/90 Bröndby IF..............EC I........02 / 00 1990/91 Bröndby IF..............EC III......10 / 00 1991/92 Manchester United....EC III.....03 / 00 1992/93 Manchester United....EC II......01 / 00 1993/94 Manchester United....EC I.......04 / 00 1994/95 Manchester United....EC I.......03 / 00 1995/96 Manchester United....EC II......02 / 00 1996/97 Manchester United....EC I.......09 / 00 1997/98 Manchester United....EC I.......07 / 00 1998/99 Manchester United....EC I.......13 / 00 1999/00 Sporting Lisboa.........EC III.....02 / 00
Andreas Brehme Born: November 9, 1960 in Hamburg Position: Leftback Career Span: 1980-1998 Nationality: German Caps/Goals: 86 / 8 Club Teams: 1980-1981 Saarbrücken 1981-1986 Kaiserslautern 1986-1988 Bayern Munich 1988-1992 Internazionale 1992-1993 Real Zaragoza 1993-1998 Kaiserslautern Stats: German League, Bayern Munich (1987) Italian League, Inter Milan (1989) UEFA CUP, Inter Milan (1991) German Cup, Kaiserslautern (1996) German League, Kaiserslautern (1998) World Cup, Germany (1990) Bio(from Wikipedia) Andreas Brehme (born November 9, 1960 in Hamburg) is a German football coach and former football defender. Brehme played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern from 1981 to 1986 and again from 1993 to 1998, winning the German Cup in 1996 and becoming German champion in 1998. He was a member of Bayern Munich from 1986 to 1988, becoming German champion in 1987. After that he joined Inter Milan, playing there from 1987 to 1992, and winning the Italian Championship in 1989 and the UEFA Cup in 1991. Before returning to Germany, Brehme played the 1992/1993 season with Real Zaragoza. As a member of the German national team, Brehme participated in the 1986 World Cup, losing the final to Argentina, and he won the World Cup in 1990. In the final of that competition, a 1-0 victory over Argentina, he scored the decisive goal through a penalty. Brehme's last matches for the national team came during the 1994 World Cup, which ended with a disappointing quarter-finals exit for his team. Brehme's special skill is the fact that he is one of the few players in the world who was able to play with both feet with equal strength making him very valuable as a field player. He was well known for taking penalties with his right foot and taking free kicks and corners with his left. After the win of the German Championship with Kaiserslautern in 1998, Brehme ended his career as a football player and went on to become a coach. He managed the 1. FC Kaiserslautern from 2000 to 2002, when he was dismissed because his team was in danger of being relegated. He then managed 2. Bundesliga club SpVgg Unterhaching, but was released there in April 2005, again because the club was in danger of being relegated. He is now assistant coach along with Giovanni Trappatoni for VfB Stuttgart.
Profile taken from Draft of Drafts written Argentinian soccer fan. This is the best profile I found in the internet. Player: Silvio Marzolini Born: Barracas, Argentina, October 4, 1940 Position: Left Back Career Span:1958 - 1972 Nationality: Argentine Caps/Goals: 25/1 Club Teams: Ferrocarril Oeste, Boca Juniors Profile / Stats: World Cup Participation: 1962, 1966. Argentine league titles: 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970. Copa Argentina: 1969 Official tournament matches with Boca Juniors: 366 matches, 9 goals To many experts Marzolini is the finest full-back of the modern era. He was a strong and fast left-back who could tackle and intercept with the best of them but also displayed the technique and virtuoso skill of a forward when he had the opportunity to go on attack. At only 13 Marzolini won the Buenos Aires youth title with Ferrocarril Oeste and became a first division regular at 19. In 1960 he was bought by Boca Juniors, winning five league titles. He played in the World Cup finals of 1962 and 1966 - where he rose above all the unpleasant mayhem of the quater-final defeat by England at Wembley and was chosen to the all-tournament team. After retiring he enjoyed some success as a TV and film actor before he returned to Boca as coach and took them to the league title in 1981. He was forced to retire because of a heart condition. During his career he refused to consider several offers from European clubs, choosing to remain with his beloved Boca Juniors. Perhaps for this reason more than any other, he remains to fans of Boca Juniors an eternal idol, one of the most popular players to ever play in Argentina.
Round: 5 (Week 5) Overall Pick: 81st Player: Paulo Roberto Falcao Birth: 10/16/1953 Played for: Internacional: 1973 - 1980 Roma: 1980 - 1985 São Paulo: 1985 – 1986 Palmares/Titles: Rio Grande do Sul champion (1973/74/75/76 e 1978) Brasileiro champion (1975/76 and 1979) Coppa Italia winner (1981 and 1984) Serie A title (1983) Sao Paulo championship (1985) Biography: By the time he became known as “King of Rome” Falcao had for many, many years been a midfield maestro. Born to a very humble family, Falcao sold empty bottles in order to raise money to pay for the bus fare to train at the Internacional grounds at 11 years of age. He ascended quickly through the ranks and made his professional debut at 18 years of age. At Inter he became the midfield general of a sensational squad (which included the Chilean Figueroa) which dominated the RS state league and that won 3 Brasileiro’s in the 1970’s. Inter’s championship in ’79 was won without a single game in the loss column for an entire Brasileiro!...and Falcao was acclaimed the championship’s best player. In his 13 years defending Inter he became, and still is considered today, the greatest player in that team’s illustrious history. It was an already established star that moved to Roma in 1981 - a team that had not won anything of note since 1942. He quickly became a Roma favorite, with his masterful reading of the game, his pinpoint passing, tireless galloping, defensive acumen and overall tactical sense. A major contributor to Roma’s titles in the early 80’s, Falcao is cited in all Roma All-Time XI squads. [Rumor has it that at some point Internazionale was negotiating to purchase him from Roma and that John Paul II called the Roma brass to voice displeasure and help kill the deal.] A serious injury at the end of 1984 laid him off for almost a year. Fall-out with an impatient management precipitated a move to Sao Paulo, where he recovered just in time to play in the deciding game of the 1985 Paulistao. That was to be his last title. Falcao only had one WC to show his wares to the world at large. In 1978, the Brasilian football pundits were in an uproar that he was left off of the team by Claudio Coutinho. It’s still a mystery to this day, as he was by then considered easily in the top 3 true midfielders in Brasil (cementing his status as the best a year later). The other side of the coin came in 1986, when still suffering the effects of his injury and no longer the same player, he was the beneficiary of favorable selection by Tele Santana and took the place of another more deserving player. His contributions to that squad were limited. Spain WC 1982…that’s when his class was on display to the whole world.
Marco Tardelli Born: Capanne di Careggine, 24/9/54 Position: Midfield Serie A debut: Juventus 2-1 Verona, 5/10/75 Last Serie A game: Inter 1-0 Fiorentina, 26/4/87 Club: Pisa, Como, Juventus, Inter, San Gallo International debut: Italy 3-1 Portugal, 7/4/76 Last cap: Italy 1-2 Norway, 25/9/85 International caps: 81 International goals: 6 Honours: World Cup (1982) Lo Scudetto (1977, 78, 81, 82, 84) Coppa Italia (1979, 83) European Cup (1985) Cup-Winners’ Cup (1984) UEFA Cup (1977) European Super Cup (1984) Many believe Italy has never properly replaced Tardelli, whose last appearance for the Azzurri came in September 1985, in a 2-1 home defeat against Norway. It was a sad way to end his international career. He was a complete midfield player, Italy’s answer to Johannes Neeskens, the midfielder who epitomised Holland’s ‘Total Football’ during the 1970s. He may have been surrounded by some more illustrious superstars in both the Italian and Juventus side, but Tardelli’s tenacious tackling and intelligent ball play were vital to both sides for the best part of a decade. Success would have been difficult without him. Born in Capanne di Careggine, near the Tuscan town of Lucca, Tardelli began his career in 1972, as a full-back with Serie C club Pisa before moving to Como in Serie B two years later. After just one year in Lombardy, Juventus took him to Turin and during his time with the Bianconeri he won all three European trophies - the UEFA Cup in 1977, the Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1984 and the European Cup in 1985. As well as those triumphs in Europe he won five League titles and two Italian Cups - all with Juve. Tardelli - at his peak one of the hardest men in European football - was a midfield workhouse renowned for his ferocious tackling. His commitment could not be questioned and he boasted a competitive streak second to none. But the man from Lucca frequently lent himself to the attack and had an uncanny knack of steaming into the opponent’s penalty area from midfield to score, as England found to their cost in a European Championship match in 1980 which Italy won 1-0 Tardelli’s rise was nothing short of meteoric. One year after leaving Pisa in the Third Division he was playing for the reigning champions of Italy and in his very first season with the Bianconeri he made the national team. Azzurri Coach Enzo Bearzot, rebuilding after the disaster of the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, was looking for new blood and was impressed by the 21-year-old’s displays in the Stadio Comunale. So on April 7, 1976 Tardelli played in the friendly against Portugal, fittingly in Turin. The Azzurri won 3-1 and since that day ‘Schizzo’ became one of Bearzot’s figli prediletti - favourite sons. He travelled to Argentina for the 1978 World Cup and played in six of Italy’s seven matches as the inexperienced Azzurri defied the pessimists to finish fourth. But it was in Spain at World Cup 1982 where Tardelli confirmed his greatness. Italy’s emergence in the second round coincided with his growing influence. In the 2-1 victory over Argentina in Barcelona, the game that really launched the Azzurri’s challenge for the trophy, Tardelli scored Italy’s brilliant second goal. Breaking through the middle of the pitch, he overlapped Paolo Rossi who slipped him the ball. Tardelli then beat Fillol with a low, hard shot with his right foot from the edge of the area. His goal against the Germans in the final - one of six he scored for the Azzurri - rounded off a marvellous tournament for Tardelli who emerged as one of the stars of Espana’82. There, on the hard, sun-soaked pitches of Spain, he demonstrated the qualities that would earn him 81 appearances for Italy and make him a lynchpin of the Juventus midfield for a decade. source
Josef Masopust Born: 1931 Position: Midfield Club:Dukla Prague, Molenbeek International caps: 63 International goals: 10 Honours: World Cup Runner up (1962), 3rd place Euro 1960, 8 League titles and a Champion's Cup semi-final with Dukla Prague. European PLayer of the Year, 1962 Dukla destiny In another age, the first Czech Golden Ball winner might have been even more celebrated than Nevded. But conditions in communist Czechoslovakia meant that Masopust spent 16 seasons with army side FC Dukla Praha before finally moving abroad aged 37 to play for Belgium's R. Crossing Club Molenbeek. He did, nonetheless, line up alongside three other greats of his generation - Alfredo di Stéfano, Raymond Kopa and Francisco Gento - when representing FIFA or UEFA in prestige friendlies. Career path Masopust's journey to such thrilling fields as Wembley began on 9 February 1931 when he was born the fourth of six children. His first club was lowly Baník Most, but FK Teplice signed him as a 19-year-old left-half and gave him his top-flight debut. Then, in 1952, he joined Dukla Praha, the dominant club, and as midfield general, won eight league championships. Silver medallists Dukla also impressed in Europe, and were European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finalists in 1966/67. Their success was no surprise given that Dukla formed the backbone of the Czechoslovakia team that finished second at the 1962 FIFA World Cup. World Cup dream Capped 63 times, Masopust's international career started against Hungary in 1954. He played at the 1958 World Cup and then the 1960 UEFA European Championship, claiming a bronze medal in the latter. However, it was at the Chile tournament two years later that he peaked. "Like every boy, I dreamt of playing in a World Cup final. I also dreamt of scoring in one." That dream came true when he gave Czechoslovakia a 16th-minute lead against Brazil in Santiago on 17 June 1962. Golden Ball Although the Brazilians rallied to win 3-1, Masopust received a hero's welcome back in Prague. Several months later, he was handed the Golden Ball before Dukla's Champions' Cup quarter-final against SL Benfica. "There was no ceremony," he recalled. "Eusébio just shook hands with me, I put the trophy in my sports bag and went home on the tram." Masopust's slalom Considered a playmaker for his passing ability, he was also a scorer of great goals. Speed might not have been his greatest asset, but he was able to dribble past opponents before hitting the net. "I could jink to the right, then to the left, by controlling the ball with either foot." 'Masopust's slalom' was the terrace term for these solo runs. Coaching glory When he eventually went abroad in 1968, he helped Molenbeek win promotion to the Belgian first division as player-coach. His coaching career continued at Dukla, yet his greatest achievement on the bench was winning the Czech league with Zbrojovka Brno in 1978. Later, in the 1980s, he led the Czechoslovakian national team before a spell in Indonesia. 'Nothing remains' Masopust was born in the northern Bohemian village of Strimice, which was subsequently demolished to make way for a coal mine. Dukla Praha met a similar fate, being renamed FC Príbram in the early 1990s and leaving their famous Juliska stadium. And, of course, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist after 1993. "Nothing remains from my day," said Masopust. Save for the Golden Ball on the shelf of his modest Prague apartment. Bio from uefa.com and stats from wikipedia and uefa.com.
Drafter: Sempre Pick: Fifth Overall Pick: 84th Player: Grzegorz Lato Position: Right wing Nationality: Poland National team caps: 95 Goals: 42 League appearances: 272 League goals: 111 Remarkable Facts: Lato scored 10 goals and notched 7 assists in 20 WC finals games. He won the Golden Boot in 1974 and was twice semi- finalist with Poland at the World Cup. Brief Biography from Planet World Cup: Grzegorz Lato is one of the great World Cup legends due to the fact that he remains one of surprisingly few attacking players to have done really well in three different World Cups. The speedy right-winger spent most years of his career at Stal Mielec where he made 272 league appearances and scored 111 goals. Lato helped the club win the Polish league championship twice and was also topscorer in the league twice. The Polish FA prohibited transfers abroad until a player was 30 and that hampered Lato's chances to show off his skills on a weekly basis for a larger audience on the continent. But whenever he was given the chance at national team level to compete with the best internationally, he always stood the test and shone as bright as anyone else out there. Lato was not the typical crowd pleaser who would run circles around his full-back showing off magical skills, instead he was the complete team player. He knew instantly when to cut inside going for goal and when to make another decision with the ball that would benefit the team. Poland impressed greatly in the World Cup 1974 in West Germany - two years after winning the Olympics in Munich - and Lato more so than anyone else. He became topscorer in the finals with seven goals and was match winner against Argentina, Sweden, Yugoslavia and Brazil. Poland came third behind Beckenbauer's Germany and Cruijff's Holland. For his contribution Lato won the Player of the Year award in Poland. On a personal level Lato did fine also in Argentina '78, but Poland did not have the same fortunes as four years earlier and finished fifth in the finals. In a tough second phase group where the match against Argentina was decisive, Lato had a goalbound header saved by **** with his fist. The following penalty was missed and **** was later matchwinner. Lato took on a senior role in 1982, still instrumental, setting up *** for some of his goals. Poland finished third again and Lato picked up his second bronze medal in eight years. In the 20 World Cup finals matches he played, Lato scored 10 goals (no penalties) and had 7 assists. Lato turned down a personal invitation from Pelé to play for New York Cosmos, but would finally later move abroad to Lokeren in Belgium and then in fact across the pond to Mexico and Canada where he ended his career. Despite his achievements on football's greatest stage, Lato was not on the European Top 50 best players' list compiled by UEFA for their 50th anniversary in 2004. It underlined what many feels - that Lato is one of the most underrated players in European football history. Today Grzegorz Lato works as a politician. Statistics: Here is a link to an RSSF page on Lato. He scored 42 goals in 95 international appearances, a fabulous haul for a winger. His assists to teammates would have approached a similar number perhaps: http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/lato-intl.html (League statistics unavailable at the moment--will post if available.)
Name: Matthias Sammer Date of Birth: 05 Sep 1967 Birth Place: Dresden (GDR) Height: 181 cm Weight: 75 kg Career Position: SWE/CB/RB/DM/CM/RM Clubs: Dynamo Dresden (1985-1990), VfB Stuttgart (1990-1992), Inter Milan (Ita/1992), Borussia Dortmund (1992-1998) International appearances: 51 (+ 23 with East Germany) International goals: 8 (+ 6 with East Germany) Last international goal: 23/06/1996, Germany-Croatia (2-1) World Cup Appearances:[/b] 1 (1994), 4 matches Quarter-finalist (1994) Honours European Championships Winner (1996), finalist (1992) Champions League Winner (1997) East German Championship Winner (1989, 1990) East German Cup Winner (1990) German Championship Winner (1992, 1995, 1996) Other Honours European footballer of the year (1996) Coaching Career Borussia Dortmund (since June 2000) UEFA Cup Finalist (2002) German Championship Winner (2002) Biography "Red" Matthias When Borussia Dortmund pipped Bayer Leverkusen for the German Championship in 2002 the smile on the face of their coach, the 1996 European player of the year Matthias Sammer, told an uplifting story. Sammer, whose brilliant playing career had been cut short by injury, had put one over on his cruel destiny by making the grade as a coach. He began his career under the watchful eye of his father Klaus at his home town club Dinamo Dresden. In 1990, after the Berlin wall was pulled down, he crossed over to the West and began a spell at VfB Stuttgart. Having made history by scoring a brace during East Germany's final match against Belgium (2-2), "Red Matthias" became the first "Ossi" (the nickname given to East Berliners) to wear the unified Germany strip on December 19, 1990. In Beckenbauer's footsteps The flame-haired midfielder enjoyed an exceptional career, during which he had abandoned the flanks for a position as sweeper. His new role was perfectly suited to his technique and elegant style of play, and reminded aficionados of Franz Beckenbauer, whose own transition from the middle to the back line was highly similar. Having won the German league title with Stuttgart in 1992, he returned to triumph in 1995 and 1996 after spending what turned out to be a less productive few months with Inter Milan in 1992. It was not until 1996, however, that he fulfilled his potential, helping Germany to become European champions, and winning the European footballer of the year award. In doing so, Sammer became the first defender to receive the award since... Beckenbauer. Sammer had the final pleasure of adding a Champions League title to his honours list with Borussia Dortmund in 1997. When Sammer was appointed coach at Dortmund in 2000 there was an outcry from the dresssing room. But Sammer was equal to the challenge and he saved the club from relegation that season. By 2002 Sammer's Dortmund side had become a major force in Germany, lifting the League title and reaching the final of the UEFA Cup, where they were beaten by Dutch outfit Feyenoord in a 3-2 thriller. http://www.wldcup.com/euro/2004/players_past/492_matthias_sammer.html
With the 10th pick in the fifth round of the All Time Draft, I select... KARLHEINZ FORSTER KarlHeinz Forster was born July 25 1958 in Mosbach, Germany. After playing youth soccer for several clubs he caught the attention of VFB Stuttgart in 1975. He played for Stuttgart for 11 seasons, winning the Bundesliga title in 83/84, and finishing second in 78/79 and 85/86. During this time he became one of the best central defenders in the world. In 1982 he was named the best player of the Bundesliga, a rare feat for a defensive stopper. He made his debut for West Germany's national team as a sub against Brazil in 1978. By 1980 he was one of the pillars of the team which won the European Championship that year. He also played in the European championships of 1984. He played every match in the World Cups of 1982 and 1986. In both occasions he was a defensive key in helping West Germany reach the final. The 1986 final against Argentina was his last match representing his country. He played 81 matches for West Germany, scoring 2 goals. After his memorable career at Stuttgart, he moved to France and played for Olympique de Marsella. He had four very succesful seasons, winning two French league titles, in 88/89 and 89/90, as well as the French Cup, in 89. In 1991 he returned to Germany and finished his career playing for TSV Badenia Schwarzach, a club for which he had played as a youth. He retired in 1993 at the age of 35, and is now a players representative. Forster was a solid and practical player, an excellent man-marking stopper who prepared well for whoever he had to mark. He was very uncompromising in his job but also a fair player who rarely had to resort to dirty play. He was an intelligent player, solid and reliable with the ball at his feet, and strong in the air game. He provided security for his team, because of his characteristics and also his strong personality. (Some of these comments about Forster's characteristics are courtesy of Gregoriak) Förster, Karlheinz *1958, (West) Germany, center back 81 Caps (2 goals): 1978-1986 World Cup finals 1982, 1986 European Champion 1980 375 league appearances (23 goals) 1977-1986 VfB Stuttgart 1986-1990 Olympique Marseille
My fifth selection: GUNTER NETZER http://www.wldcup.com/euro/2004/players_past/503_günther_netzer.html Gunter Netzer proved Borussia Monchengladbach's lucky charm for the best part of ten years until 1973, playing a total of 230 matches for the club and scoring 82 goals. Having proved himself in his homeland, Netzer later went to Spain in where he won more trophies at Real Madrid, (including two league titles) and banked a salary which allowed him to live a life of luxury. A powerfully-built player who put his size and huge feet to good use, Netzer was also gifted with superb dead-ball skills. His ability allowed him to control the trajectory of the ball perfectly every time so that defences and goalkeepers never knew what was coming. He was able to spray long, hard passes all over the pitch with devastating accuracy, causing panic in the opposition. In the colours of Monchengladbach, Netzer made an unforgettable impression in the German Cup final when his team beat Cologne 2-1 in 1973. Sitting miserably on the subs bench throughout the match, trying to absorb the recent death of his mother, Netzer suddenly decided it was time to play a part in his team's performance, and he promptly scored the winning goal four minutes after going on. The Karajan of European football Clearly not slow in coming forward, Netzer once said "I have the ability to pull off something extraordinary during a match in extraordinary circumstances." The German picked up the nickname of the "Karajan of European football", in reference to the great Austrian conductor. A player who had a true passion for football, always exploring new ways to control, shoot and pass, Netzer played a decisive role in the German national side's European title conquest in 1972. Indeed, his character was such that he became one of the first players whose opinion on the tactical state of the game was taken into account by the team coach. Just too late After spending three seasons at Real, Netzer moved closer to home for a spell with Zurich Grasshoppers, where success, compared to his Spanish sojourn, was in relatively short supply. At international level his career continued, although the arrival of a player who would go on to dethrone him, Rainer Bonhof, denied him an active role in the 1974 World Cup. Netzer was getting older, and it must have hurt him to play just 21 minutes of World Cup football in his country's triumphant march to the world title. After a 13-year playing career, Netzer moved into coaching and led Hamburg to three Bundesliga titles between 1979 and 1983. Like many of the great West German players of his era, he recently played a considerable role in Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Position: Midfielder Clubs: Borussia Monchengladbach (1965-73), Real Madrid (Spa/1973-76), Grasshoppers Zurich (Swi/1976-78) International appearances: 37 International goals: 6 International debut: 09/10/1965, West Germany-Austria (4-1) Last international appearance: 11/10/1975, West Germany-Greece (1-1) First international goal: 22/11/70, Greece-West Germany (1-3) Last international goal: 15/11/1972, West Germany-Switzerland (5-1) World CupAppearances: 1 (1974) 1 match Winner (1974) European ChampionshipWinner (1972) West German ChampionshipWinner (1970, 1971) West German CupWinner (1973) Spanish ChampionshipWinner (1975, 1976) Spanish CupWinner (1974, 1975) Coaching careerClubs: Hamburg (1978-86) West German ChampionshipsWinner (1979, 1982, 1983)
Fifth Selection: Nandor Hidegkuti Born: 3- 3-1922 Died: 14- 2-2002 Country: Hungary Caps: 69 (W53-D8-L8 - GF246-GA83 - %82.61) Goals: 39 (% 0.56 per match) Age First Cap: 23 yr 211 d 30- 9-1945 vs. Romania 7-2 Age Last Cap: 36 yr 104 d 15- 6-1958 vs. Mexico 4-0 National Team Career: 12 yr 258 d Hidegkuti played in one of most revolutionary positions of his time, that of a withdrawn central forward, in the Hungarian national team. Defenders were uncertain whether to follow him as he dropped deep, leaving him to wreck havoc as he popped forward to score goals. He was most famous for scoring a hat-trick against England in Hungary's 6-3 win at Wembley in 1953. Between 1945 and 1958, he won 69 international caps and scored 39 goals. During that time, he helped Hungary to Gold in the Olympic football tournament in 1952 and to the 1954 World Cup Final. In terms of a club career, he spent 14 years at MTK, helping the club to three championships: in 1951, 1953 and 1958, before going on to lead Fiorentina to the Cup Winners' Cup as coach in 1961. Two years after that, he coached Gyor to the Hungarian championship, before enjoying a successful coaching spell in Egypt. Hidegkuti had been suffering from heart and lung problems for some time before his death.
13th pick of round 5 (89th overall) Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri (born January 26, 1962 in Corral de Bustos, Argentina) is a former football player. Nicknamed "El Cabezon" (big headed), Ruggeri is one of the most successful defenders ever to come out of Argentina. Ruggeri started his career at Boca Juniors, playing with Diego Maradona, with whom he won a league title in 1981. In 1985 he moved to rivals River Plate, where he won the Libertadores Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and another league title in 1986. In 1988 he left for Europe where he played for Spanish clubs Logroñes and Real Madrid, where he won yet another league championship. He also played for Vélez Sársfield, Ancona in Italy, América in Mexico, San Lorenzo and Lanús, where he ended his career. During his career he represented his country in three World Cups, many times as Captain of the team. Was also a key piece in the Argentina teams that won the trophy in 1986 and lost the final to West-Germany in 1990. After losing to Romania in the 1994 tournament, Ruggeri retired from international football having played 97 international games. After retirement he coached the following teams: San Lorenzo (Argentina) (1998~2001) Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico) (2001~2002) Tecos (Mexico) (2003) Independiente (Argentina) (2003) Elche (Spain) (2003~2004) América (Mexico) (2004). Club History Season Club Games Goals 1980 Boca Juniors (arg) 21 2 1981 Boca Juniors (arg) 31 1 1982 Boca Juniors (arg) 43 3 1983 Boca Juniors (arg) 19 1 1984 Boca Juniors (arg) 28 1 1985 Boca Juniors (arg) 13 1 1985~86 River Plate (arg) 35 1 1986~87 River Plate (arg) 18 1 1987~88 River Plate (arg) 28 2 1988~89 Logroñes (esp) 34 1 1989~90 Real Madrid (esp) 31 2 1990~91 Vélez Sársfield (arg) 31 1 1991~92 Vélez Sársfield (arg) 24 4 1992 Ancona (ita) 7 1 1992~93 América (mex) 27 4 1994 San Lorenzo (arg) 22 1 1995 San Lorenzo (arg) 35 3 1996 San Lorenzo (arg) 27 5 1997 San Lorenzo (arg) 17 1 1997 Lanús (arg) 13 2 Titles (as player) World Cup 1986, with Argentina 2 Copas América 1991 and 1993, with Argentina Copa Libertadores de América 1986, with River Plate Intercontinental Cup 1986 with River Plate Spanish Liga 1990, with Real Madrid 3 Argentine leagues 1981 Metropolitano with Boca Juniors; 1985/86 with River Plate; 1995 Clausura with San Lorenzo Awards 1991 South American Footballer of the Year Bio from Wikipedia
Pick by: ChaChaFut Round: 5 Selection: 14 (90th overall pick) Photo courtesy of http://www.memoriadofutebol.com.br ---------------------------------- JOSE ELY DE MIRANDA "ZITO" Born: 08.08.1932, Sao Paulo, Brazil Position: Half Back/Centre Half Height: NA ---------------------------------- During the time when Pelé started to shine and overshadow his teammates, there was still another player who led the team. That player who gave orders to his good friend Pele was Zito. The Paulista was one of the most talented and combative midfielders ever. He was the boss, in both his club and national teams. His ability to orient his teammates made him more than an advisor on the pitch. When playing, he directed and positioned the other players, while inspiring them to play to their best. Zito started his career in 1952 for Santos, club in which he became famous and where he was part of one of the best teams in Brazilian football history, a team that a few years later would include Pelé. There, he formed a legendary duet in midfield, alog with Mengálvio. He played his entire career for Santos, one of the most successful individual careers to date. During that 15 year career he won a good number of titles: 9 Paulista Championships (1955/57/56/58/60/61/62/64/65 and 67), 4 Taças do Brasil (1961/62/63 and 64), 4 Rio-Sao Paulo Tournaments (1959/63/64 and 66), 2 Libertadores Cup (1962, 1963) and 2 Intercontinental Cups (1962, 1963). He played his first international match in 1955, and was a regular starter for the NT since 1957. Zito played in the 1958 and 1962 world cups, where he paired with Didi in a majestic duo. He belongs to the select list of 2-time world champions, helping Brazil win their first 2 world cups, in 1958 and 1962 (in the latter he scored in the final against Czechoslovakia). He retired from international play after the 1966 world cup, where he was part of the roster. One year later, at 35, he retired from club play. An underrated crack, Zito was one of the best midfielders of all-time. He was a strong player with a high sense of sacrifice, without lacking talent. His was an extraordinary leader and a motivator for the "Scratch du Ouro" Sources: "El futbol, una pasion mundial" (Revista de Geografia Universal, c.1980) http://www.futbolfactory.futbolweb.net/index.php?ff=historicos&f2=00001&idjugador=315 NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS Brazil NT record* 1955-1966 Matches played: 45 Goals scored: 3 * Official games only WORLD CUP CAREER STATISTICS Code: Year # GP GS Min G 1958 19 4 4 360 - 1962 4 6 6 540 1 [B]Total 10 10 900 1[/B] CAREER HONORS Brazil national team 1955-1966 2 World Cups (1958, 1962) Santos FC 1952-1967 Games Played: 733 Goals scored: 57 9 Paulista Championships (1955/57/56/58/60/61/62/64/65, 67) 4 Taças do Brasil (1961/62/63 and 64) 4 Rio-Sao Paulo Tournaments (1959/63/64 and 66) 2 Libertadores Cup (1962, 1963) 2 Intercontinental Cups (1962, 1963)
Luis Suárez Miramontes Born March 2 1935 Inside Left/Midfield 32 Caps 14 Goals: Spain 1957-1972 World Cup Appearances: 2 (1962, 1966), 4 matches, 0 goals European Championships Winner (1964) European Cup Winner (1964, 1965), Finalist (1961) Fairs Cup Winner (1958, 1960) Intercontinental Cup Winner (1964, 1965) Spanish Championship Winner (1953, 1959, 1960) Spanish Cup Winner (1953, 1957, 1959) Italian Championship Winner (1963, 1965, 1966) Other Honours European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) (1960) Coaching career Clubs: Inter Milan (Italy/1974-75), Sampdoria (Italy/1975-76), Spal (Italy/1976-77), Como (Italy/1977-78), Deportivo La Coruna (Spain/1978-79) Assistant coach to Spanish national team (1980-82) Head coach of Spanish national team (1988-91) Management Technical advisor: Inter Milan (since 2001) Clubs 1951-53 Deportivo La Coruna 1953-61 Barcelona 216 games 112 goals 1961-70 Inter Milan 328 games 55 goals (signed for then world record fee) 1970-73 Sampdoria From http://www.wldcup.com/euro/2004/players_past/507_luis_suarez.html Luis the "Milanais" Having spent his early years kicking a ball around the beaches of La Coruna it seemed a natural progression for Luis Miramontes Suarez to begin his professional career with his local club Deportivo...albeit for just 24 hours. Three weeks after his 18th birthday Suarez played his first match for Deportivo against Barcelona at the legendary Nou Camp stadium. By the end of the game the Galician had so impressed the Catalan club's management that he was immediately invited to sign a contract. "Luisito" went on to play for Barcelona for nine seasons, during which time he won a number of prestigious league and European titles, making him one of the most successful players on the Iberian peninsula. In total he played 216 matches with the "Azulgrana", scoring 112 goals and collecting the European Footballer of the Year award in 1960. The brains behind Inter Before joining Helenio Herrera and his Inter Milan side in Italy's Serie A, during which time he became the driving force behind the team, Suarez had won almost every major honour with the exception of the European Cup. A finalist in the tournament in 1961, he finally filled the gap in his trophy cabinet three years later when Inter beat Benfica 1-0 in the final. Suarez' reading of the game and the precision of his passing gave Jair and Sandro Mazzola the perfect support up front - a combination which helped Inter capture three Italian league titles, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. After a brief spell at Sampdoria he retired, although he remained in the game as a coach, leading such clubs as Inter Milan and Deportivo, enjoying moderate success. He was apppointed Spain's coach in 1988, and led the team to the 1990 World Cup in Italy where they were elimated in the second round.
Robson, Bryan (“Robbo”) *1957, England, midfielder 90 Caps (26 goals): 1980-1991 World Cup finals 1982, 1986, 1990 European Cup II 1991 527 league appearances (111 goals) 1974-1976 West Bromwich Albion (II. Division) 1976-1982 West Bromwich Albion 1981-1994 Manchester United 1994-1995 Middlesbrough 1995-1997 Middlesbrough Cheers Gregoriak Few players have earned their nickname more than Bryan Robson, who was lauded, during his career, as `Captain Marvel`. Bryan endured THREE broken legs during his time at his first club, West Bromwich Albion, IN ONE YEAR, but bounced back with the steely determination that was an integral part of his game. During his time at The Hawthorns a less than endowed physique was `boosted` by a combination of stout and steak and eggs and soon Bryan`s physical strength gave him the foundation on which to build a sparkling career at domestic and international level. In seven years with West Brom Bryan Robson scored 39 goals in 197 league appearances but the pivotal point in his career came after Ron Atkinson left Albion to become manager of Manchester United. Almost immediately Atkinson took Robson to Old Trafford for a record £2 million and the 24 year old, from Chester-le-Street , was a revelation as skipper of his new club. For many Bryan Robson was the perfect midfielder. He had stamina, aggression and was a fearless tackler but was also able to pass the ball with a shrewdness that belied the physical side to his game. A powerful header of the ball it was probably Bryan`s priceless scoring ability that set him apart. He scored 97 goals for Manchester United in 432 games and for England he netted 26 times, including one hat-trick, against Turkey in 1984-85, as well as a record-setting goal, against France in the 1982 World Cup Finals, after just 27 SECONDS. By the time he retired from international football Bryan was seventh in the list of England`s All-time goalscorers. Bryan Robson won 90 caps for his country, many as captain, and would surely have topped the 100 mark were it not for the injuries that blighted his career. He had to fight to overcome a dislocated shoulder to lead his country into the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico but further damage to the shoulder saw him led off from the opening two games of the group stage, against Portugal and Morocco . But Bryan bounced back to lead his country to the 1990 finals in Italy and he won the last of his 90 caps the following year, ironically, against Turkey . Before he left Manchester United, in 1994, to become player-manager of Middlesbrough , he led United to their first ever `Double` of league and cup. He departed Old Trafford 12 th in the club`s All-time league appearance table, 345, and 16 th in the list of United`s league goalscorers, with 74. His impact at `Boro was immediate and he took the club into the Premiership at the first time of asking. But the success wasn`t to last and despite reaching both domestic cup finals in 1996-97 Middlesbrough were relegated and Bryan Robson decided to call time on the career that deservedly saw him dubbed `Captain Marvel`. (http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/Hall of Fame/bryanrobson.htm)
JÜRGEN KOHLER Born: 6 October 1965. Nick name: Der Kokser. Position: Central defender. Caps: 105 (1986-1998) / 2 goals League Games: 500 (1983-2002) / 36 goals Trophies & Tournaments: World Cup Champion: 1990 World Cup participant: 1990, 1994, 1998 European Champion: 1996* European Championship participant: 1988, 1992, 1996 European Championship runner-up: 1992 Champions League winner: 1997 UEFA Cup winner: 1993 Intercontinental Cup winner: 1997 Bundesliga Champion: 1990, 1996, 2002 Serie A Champion: 1995 Bundesliga runner-up: 1988, 1989, 1991 Serie A runner-up: 1992, 1994 German Cup winner: - Italian Cup winner: 1995 German Super Cup winner: 1990, 1996 * = did not play in final. "An mir kommt keiner vorbei" was the apt title of Jürgen Kohler’s 1998 biography – “No one will get past me”. One could not have described the ways of Jürgen Kohler any better. A hard working lad equipped with an iron will, "Der Kokser" always kept this simple sounding principle as his career leitmotif, developing thereby into one of the best man-marking defenders of all time. No other player of his generation symbolized absolute will on the pitch more than he did. Kohler debuted in the 1983-84 Bundesliga season as an 18-year-old for Waldhof Mannheim under coach Klaus Schlappner. It was not coincidence that the national defenders Karlheinz and Bernd Förster of VfB Stuttgart had already begun their respective careers at Waldhof. Soon the "Mannheime school of central defenders" became a household name in German football, as Kohler replaced Karlheinz Förster in the German national team in 1986 after Förster had called it a day in the aftermath of the World Cup. A year later, Kohler moved from Waldhof to Cologne, spending two seasons there, finishing runners-up in the Bundesliga twice in a row (1988 and 1989). In 1989 he moved from Cologne to Bayern Munich, where Kohler won the German championship in his first season 1990, thus celebrating his first of numerous titles. His greatest success was to follow only a few months, as West Germany won the World Cup in Italy, with Kohler playing his part as a reliable man-marking stopper. The tournament in Italy however had begun anything than but good for Kohler. He didn’t get to play a single second in the first three games due to an injury. His first task in the tournament thus came in the second round clash against the European Champions Holland, where he was appointed to mark no one less than Marco van Basten. The duels of the two became legendary, and the defender nearly always kept the upper hand. In numerous duels of the two national teams and also in the Italian Seria A, the world class forward of AC Milan was regularly outmarked by world class defender Kohler, except for their first ever meeting, the 1988 European Championship semifinal when van Basten scored the crucial 2-1 gamewinner in Hamburg in the 89th Minute thanks to a small inattentiveness by Kohler. Before that, Kohler had already been blamed for causing a penalty against van Basten, which Ronald Koeman converted to score the 1-1. Thus two years later, Kohler was looking forward to meeting van Basten again to gain his personal revenge, being highly motivated, van Basten got to see almost no ball, however seconds before time, the Dutchman earned another questionable penalty against Kohler, that again Koeman converted - although this time it was too late for the Dutch to matter. In 1991, Kohler had been bought by Italian giants Juventus, his four year spell proved to be a successful one, as he won the scudetto and the Coppa Italia in 1995, as well as the UEFA Cup in 1993. In 1995, Kohler from Italy to the Bundesliga to join Borussia Dortmund, a club where he would spent the longest chapter of his career. With Borussia, he not only won the German Championship twice (1996 and 2002) but also the Champion League in 1997, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1997. That year proved to be the pinnacle of his career, as he convinced his critics with a series of world class performances for Borussia in defence, the best one being his great game vs. Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League semi final second leg, proving to be an insurmountable obstacle in front of Borussia’s goal. At the end of the year, Kohler was voted "German Footballer of the Year", a most prestigious award for a defender. Capped 105 times for Germany (2 goals), he had by then won all big titles in the world of football, as a year previously, Germany had remained triumphant in the European Championship held in England. However he was unlucky that he got injured already in the first game and thus missed the rest of the tournament. After 500 league appearances in Germany and Italy (36 goals), Kohler crowned his career with winning the Bundesliga championship for a third time in his last season 2001-02. Unfortunately for him, a last international triumph was denied, as Borussia lost the UEFA Cup final in Rotterdam to Feyenoord 2-3, with one own goal by “Der Kokser”. League Statistics per Season Season - Club - Games – Goals 1983/84 Waldhof Mannheim........05 / 00 1984/85 Waldhof Mannheim........26 / 02 1985/86 Waldhof Mannheim........32 / 01 1986/87 Waldhof Mannheim........32 / 03 1987/88 Cologne......................30 / 02 1988/89 Cologne......................27 / 00 1989/90 Bayern Munich.............26 / 02 1990/91 Bayern Munich.............29 / 04 1991/92 Juventus.....................27 / 03 1992/93 Juventus.....................29 / 01 1993/94 Juventus.....................27 / 03 1994/95 Juventus.....................19 / 01 1995/96 Borussia Dortmund........29 / 05 1996/97 Borussia Dortmund........30 / 02 1997/98 Borussia Dortmund........23 / 03 1998/99 Borussia Dortmund........29 / 02 1999/00 Borussia Dortmund........30 / 02 2000/01 Borussia Dortmund........28 / 00 2001/02 Borussia Dortmund........22 / 00
My personal selection #5: Giuseppe Bergomi Born: December 22, 1963 Giuseppe Bergomi was born in Milan and devoted his entire career to his beloved Internazionale. This central defender or right-back blossomed early and broke into the first team already during the 1980/81 season as a 17 year-old. He was soon acknowledged by national team coach Enzo Bearzot and was included in the 1982 World Cup squad having barely played 30 senior matches in the Italian league. Bergomi started the tournament on the bench, but came on as a substitute against Brazil in the memorable 3-2 second phase win. He did a great job and was included in the starting line-up against Poland in the semifinal because Gentile was suspended. Everyone was impressed with how mature he played and Bearzot could not drop him for the final against West Germany. Bergomi was given the job of marking Rummenigge and completely took him out of the game. The German star was substituted in the second half as Italy ran out 3-1 winners. Giuseppe was a World Cup winner just over a year after making his first appearance in a senior match! At clublevel, Bergomi and Inter were in the shadow of AC Milan for much of the time. Having won an Italian Cup title in 1982, it took seven more years until another title was won. This time the Serie A, Bergomi’s only league championship title in his nineteen seasons at Inter. He experienced more success in European competitions winning the UEFA Cup on three occasions. Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990 and Bergomi captained his country and played in every game as the Azzurri captured bronzemedals. A painful semifinal defeat on penalties to Argentina was all that stood betweem them and the final. Giuseppe didn’t figure frequently in the Italian line-up as the 1990s progressed. In a Euro 92 qualifying game against Norway, he came on from the bench only to be sent off seconds later for a bad foul! He wasn’t wearing the blue shirt of the Azzurri again until he, against all odds, was called up for the 1998 World Cup by Cesare Maldini. He made three appearences in his fourth World Cup, took one more domestic season with Inter, before retiring at the age of 36. Ref: http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/bergomi.html
Round 5 pick 19 96th overall pick Domingos Antonio Da Guia , El Divino Mestre (The Divine Master) taken from tpmezembe post in the draft of drafts thread\https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2628041&highlight=guia#post2628041 Born: Nov. 11, 1912, RJ, Brasil; Death May 18, 2000 Position: Defender Career Span: 1929-1947 Nationality: Brasilian Club Teams: Bangu (1929 - 1932, 1948, 1949), Vasco da Gama (1932, 1934), Nacional-URU (1933), Boca Juniors-ARG (1935- 1936), Flamengo (1936- 1943) e Corinthians (1944- 1947) National Team: 25 Caps Career Highlights: Campeão uruguaio (1933) pelo Nacional; carioca (1934) pelo Vasco; argentino (1935) pelo Boca Juniors; carioca (1939, 1942 e 1943) pelo Flamengo[/size] One of the greatest defenders SA ever produced Domingos was known for his abilities with the football, as being one of the first defenders to not limit themselves with clearing the ball out of danger, but conducting it out of the area with class and technique. At 18 he became a Selecao regular and soon after (age 20) was purchased by Nacional (Uruguay). Through stints with Nacional and Boca Juniors (Arg) his fame expanded throughout SA (he is still revered at both clubs).
Round 6 pick 1 97th overall pick Name: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Place of birth: Lippstadt (Germany) Date of birth: 25th September 1955 Height: 1.84m Positionn: Foward Teams: Borussia Lippstadt, Bayern Munich, Inter de Milán and Servette Games: 424 Goals: 220 Palmarés 2 Bundesliga Titles 1979-1980, 1980-1981 2 German Cups 1981-1982, 1983-1984 1 German Supercup 1982 2 European Cups 1974-1975, 1975-1976 1 Intercontinental cups 1976 1 Euro trophy 1980 3 German topscorer titles 1979-1980, 1980-1981, 1983-1984 Twice chosen Best Player in Europe 1980, 1981 Carrear 1973-1974 Borussia Lippstadt 1974-1984 Bayern Munich 310 games and 162 goals 1984-1987 Inter de Milán 64 partidos and 24 goals 1987-1989 Servette 50 partidos and 34 goals National Team Games: 95 Goals: 45 World Cups: 1978, 1982, 1986 World Cup Games: 19 World Cup Goals: 9 taken from http://futbol.sportec.es/portaldefutbol/secciones/estrellas/leyendas/rummenigge.htm
WILLEM VAN HANEGEM Born: 20 February 1944. Nick name: Wim, de Kromme. Position: Midfielder. Caps: 52 (1968-1979) / 6 goals League Games: 521 (1966-1983) / 141 goals Trophies & Tournaments: World Cup beaten finalist: 1974 World Cup participant: 1974 European Championship participant: 1976 European Champions’ Cup winner: 1970 UEFA Cup winner: 1974 Intercontinental Cup winner: 1970 Dutch Champion: 1969, 1971, 1974 Dutch Cup winner: 1969, 1978 Dutch runner-up: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1983 Dutch Super Cup winner: - Willem “Wim” van Hanegem was one of the best midfielders of his era, renowned for his delicate left foot, very strong heading, his great passing but also for his toughness when not on the ball. He joined the workers club Velox of Utrecht in 1960 at the age of 16 and made his debut in the first team in 1962 at the age of 18. His coach at Velox was Daan van Beek, who became a fatherlike figure for young Willem during the six years he played for the club. Velox was a second division side that played third fiddle in Utrecht to DOS and Elinkwijk, but van Hanegem later commented that he never played at a better club in his life. During his time at Velox, van Hanegem was usually playing as an outside left or sometimes even as a left back. It wasn’t before 1966 that van Hanegem decided to leave the small club to join a (slightly) bigger club in Xerxes Rotterdam, a first division side. At Xerxes, van Hanegem was coached by the German Kurt Linder, who was focusing on iron discipline and hard training methods. Although van Hanegem collided with his new coach more than once, he managed to trim down van Hanegem’s weight from 94 kilos to 81 kilos. Also, at Xerxes, a 4-2-4 was played in which van Hanegem was moved from outside left to inside left. In his second season at Xerxes, van Hanegem scored his all-time high record of 26 league goals, only two goals short of winning the top goal scorer’s crown. Xerxes finished third in the Dutch league that season and after making his debut for the Dutch national team in May 1968, it became clear that he would have to move to a bigger club than Xerxes. In the summer of 1968, van Hanegem joined Feijenoord Rotterdam, he was going to play six seasons for this club which was to become the most successful phase in the history of the club and van Hanegem was on his way to becoming a Feijenoord legend. Already in his first season at Feijenoord, van Hanegem won the Eredivisie and the Dutch Cup and a year later even triumphed in the European Champions’ Cup final in Milan vs. Glasgow Celtic. A tense game that was decided in extra-time, Feijenoord became the first Dutch club to win top honors in European football. Later that year, they also beat South American champions Estudiantes de la Plata to win the Intercontinental Cup. A year later, van Hanegem went on to win his second Dutch championship with Feijenoord, a third would follow in 1974, that same year Feijenoord also beat Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Cup finals. By that time, the golden age for Feijenoord was about to end, finishing Dutch runners-up twice in 1975 and 1976. In 1976, Olympique Marseille offered van Hanegem and his Feijenoord colleague Wim Jansen a fortune, but van Hanegem declined and instead moved to aspiring new side AZ ’67 Alkmaar, where he won the Dutch Cup in 1978. After a season spent in the NASL with Chicago Stings, van Hanegem moved back to his hometown Utrecht, joining FC and then spent two final seasons at Feijenoord, with whom he almost won the Dutch championship in 1983, but Ajax proved too strong once more. Playing for Holland, van Hanegem was an integral part of the 1974 Dutch side that shook the football world in the World Cup held in West Germany. In previous years, the Dutch team weakened itself due to the two camps in Dutch football – Ajax and Feijenoord – almost never being willing to work together as a team. This had changed in 1974 and the result was a breathtaking new take on how football could be played (still known today as “Total Football”). Being Feijenoord’s main man, Wim van Hanegem’s acceptance of Johan Cruijff’s unquestioned leadership was one, if not the main component of making this experiment work. At the age of thirty, Wim van Hanegem had reached the pinnacle of his career, being Dutch champion, UEFA Cup winner as well as highly respected World Cup participant. He remained a fixture of the Dutch team during the next two years, but by the beginning of the 1976-77 season, Dutch coaches began to look for younger players. However he had a brief comeback in time for the 1978 World Cup, but then didn’t make the squad, as Austrian coach Ernst Happel was not willing to guarantee him a place in the team, he decided to walk out of the training camp, officially reasoning that the season which had just ended had taken too much out of him, claiming that he really needed a rest. However van Hanegem later claimed the real reason was a dispute on money (not uncommong for Dutch players of his generation). Some people argue that van Hanegem’s absence was more crucial to Holland than that of Johan Cruijff, as van Hanegem was considered to be the best passer available to Holland at the time. A year later, van Hanegem made another brief comeback for Holland versus Belgiun, now aged 35, but then finally retired from international play. League Statistics per Season Season - Club - Games – Goals 1962/63 Velox.................II. Division 1963/64 Velox.................II. Division 1964/65 Velox.................II. Division 1965/66 Velox.................II. Division 1966/67 Xerxes/DHC.........34 / 06 1967/68 Xerxes/DHC.........33 / 26 1968/69 Feijenoord...........32 / 13 1969/70 Feijenoord...........32 / 06 1970/71 Feijenoord...........34 / 13 1971/72 Feijenoord...........29 / 06 1972/73 Feijenoord...........31 / 12 1973/74 Feijenoord...........34 / 12 1974/75 Feijenoord...........28 / 11 1975/76 Feijenoord...........27 / 15 1976/77 AZ ‘67 Alkmaar.....30 / 6 1977/78 AZ ‘67 Alkmaar.....30 / 1 1978/79 AZ ‘67 Alkmaar.....15 / 03 1979/80 Chicago Stings.....27 / 06 1979/80 FC Utrecht..........27 / 01 1980/81 FC Utrecht..........27 / 02 1981/82 Feijenoord...........24 / 01 1982/83 Feijenoord...........27 / 01
Name: Manuel Amoros Born: Feb. 1, 1962, Nimes, France Position: RB or LB Height: 172cm Weight: 74kg Career Span: 1977-1997 Nationality: French Club Teams: Monaco (1977-89), Marseille (1989-93, 95-97), O. Lyonnais (93-95) National Team: 82 Caps Leagues Games: 477 League Goals: 41 Career Highlights: 5 x French League Champions (82,88,90,91,92) 1 x French Cup (85) 1 x European Nations Cup Winner (84) 2 x WC Semifinalist (82, 86) Complete back. Comfortable playing on the left (country) or right (club); staying back to defend, or joining the attack. Amoros was a key member of France's national side during the early 1980's when it was widely considered one of the world's leading teams. Born of Spanish parents, the versatile Amoros was happy in either full-back position. As a youngster, he shone at rugby union. Amoros played for Les Bleus for the first time at the age of 20 in a friendly against Italy, and remained a first choice selection for a decade. After only 4 friendlies it was evident to Michel Hildago that this player had to be inserted in the 1982 WC team. As testament to his flexibility and footballing sense, Amoros played on the left flank in order to allow Maxim Bossis to remain at his preferred RB slot. Even at the new position Manuel became one of the stand outs of the tournament. Four years later he was widely acclaimed as the best defender in WC ’86. He held the France caps record (82) until recently passed by Didier Deschamps. It was difficult to overlap him defensively due to his speed and tenacity, and he could quickly convert to an offensive winger. During WC 1982 he announced his arrival to the world with his solid defensive displays and with his - almost game winning – 83rd minute bomb on Schumacher’s post in the classic France vs. West Germany semi. Plus, the young and relatively inexperienced Amoros stepped up and took the second penalty shot for France in the shootout – imagine the coaching staff's trust in this youngster, and his own self confidence, to be chosen in that occasion. At the age of 34 he abandoned the pitch due to a chronic knee injury sustained over 20 years of battle. http://www.maxifoot.fr/joueursfrance9.php http://www.fff.fr/bleus/anciens/17986.shtml [adapted from tpmazembe - DOD]
Personal Selection No. 6: Luis Figo Full name: Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Date of birth: November 4, 1972 Place of birth: Lisbon, Portugal Nickname: Figo Current club: Inter Milan Position: Winger Professional clubs 1989-1995: Sporting Lisbon 1995-2000: FC Barcelona 2000-2005: Real Madrid 2005-Present: Inter Milan National team 1991-Present: Portugal 111 (31) Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, born November 4, 1972 in Lisbon, Portugal, is a Portuguese international footballer, who plays as a midfielder and winger, currently for Inter Milan. Figo, a devout Catholic, was the 2000 European Footballer of the Year and 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, known for his exceptional trickery and dribbling skills at either wing (though he predominantly plays on the right). He was one of the very few footballers to have played for the Spanish rival clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Background Luís Figo started his career at Sporting Lisbon, a club which developed many other great Portuguese players. He won his first senior international cap in 1991; prior to that, he won the Under-20 World Championships and Under-16 European Championships with Portugal junior sides, a significant part of the nation's so called 'Golden Generation' in football, alongside compatriot, Rui Costa. In 1995, Figo looked poised to join one of the big clubs of Europe, but a dispute between Italian clubs Juventus and Parma, Figo having signed contracts with both clubs, resulted in an Italian 2-year transfer ban on Figo, effectively stopping any moves to Italy. However, the situation was eventually resolved for Figo, with a move to Spanish club FC Barcelona, under coach Johan Cruyff, and within four years he became a fan-favourite, captain and symbol of the Catalan side. Already a great winger at the beginning of his career, Figo eventually became one of the best players in the world and, in the eyes of many, the best winger of his generation. His dazzling dribbling and the amazing amount of assists (Figo states that he enjoys assisting as much as scoring) assured him success and fame all over the world. Figo is recognized for his versatility throughout the pitch. In 2000 his transfer to Barcelona's arch-rival, Real Madrid, for a record-breaking 56 million dollars only intensified the great animosity between the two clubs. The move was very hurtful to Barcelona supporters especially after he spent the summer swearing he wouldn't transfer to Madrid. He went from being one of the most cherished players in Catalonia to being one of the most hated ones. There was a short-lived website (antifigo.com [1]) devoted to insult "judas Figo", which shows how much the fans were hurt. He missed his highly anticipated first return to the Nou Camp due to injury; in 2002, Barcelona's ground was banned after objects were thrown at Figo, while massive chants calling him Pesetero (which can be roughly translated to mercenary) echoed in the stadium; and finally, during the final match of Euro 2004 between Greece and Portugal, a Barça fan known as Jimmy Jump ran across the field and threw a FC Barcelona flag at Figo in an apparent act of defiance. Despite the niggling detractors and all the critics' cries that he was a vastly 'overrated' player, Figo played out some of the best attacking football ever seen in both an individual and even in his Real Madrid team. It was not hard to see why though, given that Figo was one of the linchpins at the heart of an ever increasing star studded squad that included Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Steve McManaman, Raul Gonzalez, and dubbed the 'Greatest Club in the World' first, and then, officially crowned as the 'Club of the Century' by FIFA in the year he joined. Alongside his equally illustrious team mates, Real Madrid with Figo at the core swept the titles for the next three years under coach Vicente Del Bosque. On August 18, 2004, Figo announced that he would "take a break" from international football. In April 2005 he announced to be ready to return, as he was sidelined in Real Madrid, and the next month Luiz Felipe Scolari announced he would talk to him about his return. He agreed to return on 13 May and resumed his international career in the match between Portugal and Slovakia on June 4. This received mixed feelings from Portuguese fans: some see his return as fixing something that should not have happened, others are fearful of the "concessions" Scolari made to bring him back. Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo had a falling-out with Figo after he relegated the Portugal international to the bench for the second half of the 2004-2005 Primera Liga season. It was widely believed that Figo would leave Los Merengues for first-team football elsewhere. During the off-season, he was linked with a move to the English Premiership with Liverpool or to Serie A's Inter Milan. On August 5, 2005, Figo moved to Inter on a free transfer and a two-year deal worth €7 million. Luís Figo is nowadays one of the main Portuguese symbols and ambassadors. Many Portuguese travelling outside southern Europe get "Oh! Figo! Figo!" as a reply, when saying they are Portuguese. He is married to Swedish model Helen Svedin. They have three daughters named Daniela, Martina and Stella. Motor Racing Along with his countryman, football manager Carlos Queiroz, Figo has bought into the A1 Grand Prix Team Portugal race team, and will act as team boss. Titles earned * UEFA Euro 2004 Finalist medal ,(Portugal) * UEFA Champions League (2002, Real Madrid) * Intercontinental Cup (2002, Real Madrid) * Cup Winners' Cup (1997, FC Barcelona) * FIFA World Youth Championship (1991, Portugal) * Spanish League (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid) * Spanish Cup (1997, 1998, FC Barcelona) * Portuguese Cup (1995, Sporting Lisbon) * Italian Super Cup (2005, Inter Milan) * Ballon d'or 2000 (France Football prize) * 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Figo