Everyone has their favorites but who are some players that you have rarely heard a bad word said about. I'll start off with... Carles Puyol Gigi Buffon Iker Casillas Pavel Nedved Gabriel Batistuta Gaetano Scirea Dino Zoff
Nedved was disliked a bit by Juve's rivals. Sometimes seen as a diver, and his tackle on Figo didn't endear him to Inter fans
Particularly agree on Scirea, Kante, Mata, probably Baggio, Iniesta, and I'd think Zoff and Silva too. Some others that come to mind: Cafu Gilberto Silva Juninho Paulista Robert Pires Kingsley Black Viv Anderson (even though he admitted he'd commit a professional foul in a book IIRC, which at the time drew some criticism) Bobby Moore Steve Stone Joao Carvalho At times I've felt otherwise about Casillas, and Batistuta back in his playing days too but maybe I'm on a different page to the majority there I don't know and it could be a case of mis-conceptions even. I'm not saying they'd join my 'agree' list necessarily, but without the Tony Adams incident maybe I'd not rule out Isco and Modric so easily (again maybe impressions can be worse than intentions, but they seemed at least very annoying and at most completely disrespectful at that moment from what I saw of it- maybe they forgot they could be spotted and were just having fun between themselves though I suppose!).
Oh also Andriy Shevchenko. Random choice - maybe Vegard Heggem! And why not Jerzy Dudek? Georgi Kinkladze too I think certainly.
I suppose I could go on with more and more ideas, but I'll stop after this! Rafael van der Vaart (his reaction re: Fabrice Muamba coming to mind) Claude Makelele (seems to be fondly remembered as a person as well as player by team-mates when making all-time 'Perfect XI' selections etc) Sandor Kocsis Nandor Hidegkuti
Maybe it's a country/ culture thing ?? I'd say the majority of Spanish players seem to be respectful and well mannered... whilst the South Americans seem kinda unpredictable and volatile ..
I agree on Bati, I think that I see what you mean. Moreover England had Shearer at this time (pre-2000s right?) and for exemple from my point of view, France had had Papin in a recent past so why all the fuss around him. He was also the favorite of many people so the reaction : yeah, he's good, why him more than another one cf? He was not particularly a very technical player too and had no so much menaingful international highlights. Later on, I failed to see how Casillas was so likeable, so good and so superior to other keepers, like keepers from a recent past too, but that was me too. It took me some time to see that he was one great keeper though I would not rate him that high still (in an AT ranking, I suppose, if i'd have to make one).[/QUOTE]
Yeah, wm, maybe those two (Batigol and Casillas) are the two most 'marmite' types mentioned, so maybe not so much to our tastes or something. It can be like you say that others are more a fan of their style, but as far as 'likeable' goes maybe those showed at times more attitude/aggression than others named (at the time when I myself was I guess more invested in England as a team, Batistuta's willingness for Beckham to get sent off in '98 might have put a black mark in my mind too lol, but I guess it wasn't an unusual reaction in such a game really even though Simeone had initially been the aggressor in the situation). I think Batistuta wasn't too well lately or something though? Of course I wish him the best for a good recovery from any problems he has. I think he had a kind of 'Roy of the Rovers' appeal in some ways, being capable of spectacular strikes and scoring a lot of goals so I can see how he got a fanbase (not so different to Shearer in that way actually). I had thought there was one particular incident with Casillas misbehaving but forget what it was now exactly.
In fact on the contrary Xavi is a VERY easy player to dislike He comes across as extremely arrogant and self conceited individual to me I understand how he is universally loved by Barcelona fans but you have to think out of the box mate
I agree. I'm a Barcelona fan and I loved that he was on 'my' team. But I can understand why he could be disliked by neutrals. I listed Batitusta mainly because when Fiorentina was relegated in '93 he could have easily asked for a transfer and the club most likely would have understood and accommodated him. Instead, he decided to help them regain their Serie A status. I gained much respect for him for that and, for me, he could almost do no wrong afterwards.
Some peruvians considered as gentlemen, inside the field: Chumpitaz, Cubillas, Julio Melendez, Lolo Fernandez
for 2-3 mins Thierry Henry was universally liked/loved by all PL fans I realise that affection and admiration did not spread to Ireland but its still worthy of an inclusion IMO