I mean the players who take every game as if it was their last. The ones who doesn't dive or fall as soon as they are touched. The ones who think team first. I think Roberto Carlos, he is on a star-studded Real Madrid, doesn't always get the limelight but still works hard every game.
Footballers with great character both on and off the pitch. People who do not, as a rule, choose for the money but really take the time to develop to the max before leaving. People who do not start crying when supporters make clear that they should work harder and stop acting like a made man when they're not (jet). Footballers who actually do have a bond with the supporters. Footballers that cry at their goodbye match, when they move on or end their career. Footballers who work hard and will always take that extra step when there is still a chance of getting the ball. Footballers who do NOT publicly speak about transfering and stuff like that because they realize it hurts the club and the supporters. There's not many of those around.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the definition. Has to come off the bench all the time, works harder than most starters and always puts the ball in the back of the net and never complains or plays dirty.
This won't be a popular choice but I'd nominate David Beckham I expect people in England will be able to understand this more than most, but after France 98 he was vilified throughout the whole country. West Ham fans pulled that stunt (or more likely it was just a newpaper set-up) where they hung an effigy of him from a lamppost. He was booed for at least a whole season at every ground up and down the country. He was slated non-stop and there was even talk of him never playing for England again. He was more or less blamed for putting us out of the World Cup and it is safe to say he was the most hated man in England for a while. To come through that as a better player and captain his country takes an awful lot of character. You have to look beyond the stupid haircuts and the ludicrous fashion sense but I'd say - in terms of footballing professionalism - there aren't many better role models around.
Shearer has a nasty streak though. I nominate Denis Irwin - Mr Consistency for well over a decade, and along with Giggs, the most decorated player from Man Utd's glory years. All the while being quiet, unassuming, and professional.
I don't like him but, Javier Zanetti-InterMilan and Argentina. I say Giggs too, he always comes in the clutch.
He was the player I was going to mention. He won't sell out to goto Real Madrid. He loves the Old Trafford Fans almost as much as they love him, he works hard on the field, gives the extra effort, doesn't complain too much, and doesn't dive, andhe actually works hard on the defensive side to. Yea he does have the crazy hair and fasion sense but every player has his quirks. Plus you never hear anything bad about him off the field. In fact its all good. Like when he publicly begged those kidknappers to release those girls, because one of them was wearing his jersey.
Its not exactly. But Figo (Barca) and Ronaldo(Inter) most certainly sold out in every way possible. I view Real Madrid as something of an evil empire. Like the Yankees.
For high quality play over many years and just being a nice guy our man Zola takes some beating. The only problem I have with Beckham is that he tends to exagerate fouls sometimes - not diving as such but 'making a meal of it'. But I have to say that is outweighed by almost every other aspect of both his play and his personal demeanour. My main man, though, would be the big Quinn.
Agree about beckham.... The amount of abuse he took after WC 98 was unbelievable .Im glad he scored the winner against the argie muppets in WC 2002 .It was only right that he should step up and score the winning goal 4 years after his worst moment.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær I completely agree with Giggs11. Not much was expected of Ole Gunnar in his first season at Old Trafford, but Solskjær came off the bench and scored in his first EPL match and then surprisingly enough ended up being the club's leading scorer. Even after such a great start, it seems like just about every year since then Solskjær has to start the season on the bench and prove himself over and over again. After a very impressive stretch a few years ago when Ole Gunnar came off the bench several times to score the winning goal in important matches, the Norwegian media was wondering why Solskjær wasn't complaining about his lack of playing time. I was really impressed when Ole Gunnar said that would rather stay at Old Trafford and work hard to earn his playing time instead of going to another club where he knew he would be starting all of the time.
George Weah. Dont know all that much about him but from what little I have read, he seems to be a solid stand-up person of good character.
Raul- Always loyal for the club, consistant performance, high strike rate, a crucial part for the team, works vey hard for the team most of the time.
Becks would have a hard time keeping a first team place in Madrid. Like MacManaman (his better, IMHO), Becks could go to Spain to get better as a player, but his commercial value overall would suffer. One player I really respect is Raúl. Made first team at seventeen and has more than held his own in what has become FC Hollywood II. He's self confident and humble as well. I've never seen or heard of him say or do anything remotely shameful on or off the field. I even think he popularized the kissing of the wedding band as a goal celebration. Shame he plays for Spain, though. Sometimes I think the US will win a WC before Spain does.
a bit from the past ... I would have to say Marco van Basten. He always came up big, and usually with 2 of the best defenders hanging all over him. Of the current group playing, I really was impressed with Roberto Carlos, even though I loath Brazil. He works very hard, plays hard, challenges fairly, and is relatively unassuming for such a talent.