- Xabi Alonso
Xabier Alonso Olano, commonly known as Xabi Alonso (born 25 November 1981 in Tolosa, Basque Country Spain, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Liverpool F.C.. He wears the number 14 shirt at Liverpool and is a central midfielder, often playing as a deep-lying playmaker. Alonso has gained the reputation as being one of the best passers of the ball in the world. He also has a reputation for scoring spectacular long range goals, …
- Michael Essien
Michael Essien (born December 3, 1982 in Accra) is a Ghanaian International footballer. He currently plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League. He is a central midfielder and plays as a deep-lying playmaker for the "Black Stars", the Ghana national football team.
- Abou Diaby
Vassiriki Abou Diaby (born May 11, 1986 in Paris) is a French football midfielder for Arsenal. He normally plays central midfielder but as of late has been playing on either wing for Arsenal. Diaby is commonly known by his middle name Abou.
- David Jones
David Frank Lloyd Jones (born November 4, 1984 in Southport, England) is an English footballer with Welsh dual nationality who plays for Derby County in the FA Premier League. A predominantly left-footed central midfielder, Jonah (as he is nicknamed by team-mates and fans) is best described as a box-to-box midfielder, equally adept at breaking up opposition attacks or creating and participating in those of his own team. He is 5'11" tall and weighs 10 stones 0 pounds.
- Sulley Muntari
Sulley Ali Muntari (born August 27, 1984) is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays for Portsmouth F.C. in England. He is a central midfielder. He has managed 26 caps and 8 goals for Ghana, as of March 2007.
- Cesc Fàbregas
Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas Soler (born May 4, 1987 in Arenys de Mar, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Arsenal in the English Premier League and for the Spanish national team. Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with FC Barcelona but was signed by Arsenal in July 2003. He did not feature much in his first season for "the Gunners", but following injuries to key midfielders in the 2004-05 season, …
- Hossam Ghaly
Hossam Ghaly (born December 15, 1981 in Kafr El-Sheikh) is an Egyptian football midfielder who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur. Ghaly plays mainly as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder, less frequently as a right full-back and due to injuries even an outside midfielder. Ghaly is a product of Al-Ahly youth team, and he broke into the first team squad in 2001. He played regularly for Al-Ahly until he moved to Feyenoord Rotterdam in 2003.
- Juninho Pernambucano
Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Júnior, commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano, is a Brazilian football player, who plays as a central midfielder for French club Olympique Lyonnais. He scored seven goals in 44 games for the Brazilian national team, before retiring from international football after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Anthony Annan
Anthony Annan (born July 21, 1986 in Accra) is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays for Norwegian club I.K. Start. He is an all-action box-to-box central midfielder who is very comfortable playing offensively or defensively. Nicknamed Pablo Aimar in comparison to the Argentine national midfield superstar, Annan combines immense skill with a physical presence that complements his average height.
- Juan Román Riquelme
Juan Román Riquelme (born June 24, 1978 in San Fernando, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine professional football attacking midfielder. Riquelme was part of the Argentina national football team that participated in the 2007 Copa América.
- Mathieu Bodmer
Mathieu Bodmer is a French Norman footballer who currently plays for Olympique Lyonnais as a central midfielder.
- Ronny Johnsen
Ronny Johnsen is a Norwegian football player. Johnsen plays as a centre back or central midfielder, but has often been sidelined because of his many injuries. He was purchased by Manchester United from Beşiktaş of Turkey in 1996. While at United, he helped the club to 4 league titles (1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001), and one FA Cup in 1999. He also contributed enormously to United's UEFA Champions League win in 1999, …
- Simon Colosimo
Simon Colosimo (born on January 8, 1979 in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian football (soccer) player. Colosimo is a cousin of Australian actor Vince Colosimo. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League club Perth Glory. Colosimo made his international debut for Australia in 1998 against Fiji at just 19 years of age.
- Mikel John Obi
Mikel John Obi (born April 22 1987 in Jos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer. He is a central midfielder who currently plays for Chelsea. He was born "John Michael Nchekube Obinna", the son of a former civil servant. Mikel was playing top-flight football for Plateau United aged 15 and, by 2003, was gaining headlines for his country at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland. After a brief spell in South Africa with Ajax Cape Town, …
- Richard Johnson
Richard Johnson is an Australian football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for A-League club Wellington Phoenix FC. When still a teenager Johnson moved to England to seek a professional football contract. He joined the youth ranks of Watford, and made his league début in the closing stages of the 1991/92 season.
- Johnnie Jackson
Johnnie Jackson (born August 15, 1982) is an English footballer currently playing for Colchester United. He usually plays as a central midfielder. Jackson began his career at Tottenham Hotspur in 1999, signing professional terms in 2000; however he rarely broke into the first-team. During his time at White Hart Lane he spent many seasons on loan at various different lower league clubs. In the summer of 2006 he was released by Tottenham.
- John Rankin
John Rankin (born 27 June 1983 in Bellshill) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Rankin, a central midfielder, began his career with Manchester United however he did not make first team appearances. He joined Ross County in 2003 and made 100 appearances for the Scottish First Division club before moving to Inverness for a reported fee of £65,000.
- Stuart Musialik
Stuart 'Stuey' Musialik (born March 29, 1985 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League club Newcastle United Jets. Born and raised in Newcastle, he played junior football for Adamstown Rosebuds and was quickly selected to play in representative sides such as Northern NSW at a young age. He was on the Australian roster for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, …
- Angelo Costanzo
Angelo Costanzo (born May 9, 1976 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for Adelaide United in the newly formed Hyundai A-League. He is instantly recognizable by his trademark long hair. He has 6 caps for the Socceroos with 1 goal scored. In 1994 at 18 years of age he won the SA player of the year award at Salisbury United, …
- Jérémy Toulalan
Jérémy Toulalan is a French footballer who plays central midfielder for Olympique Lyonnais and the France national football team. He was named in the UEFA U-21 Championship 2006 Team of the Tournament as a left winger (to accommodate central midfielders Ismaïl Aissati and Rio Antonio Mavuba, also in that selection). He is a product of the FC Nantes Atlantique youth academy, making his first-team debut during the 2001-02 season.
- Jordan Simpson
Jordan Simpson (born August 28, 1985 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays as a central midfielder. He played for the Queensland Roar in the A-League competition but was released in January 2006. He is the twin brother of Tyler Simpson. In summer 2006, he will play for BSC Young Boys of Berne, Switzerland.
- Adam D'Apuzzo
Adam D'Apuzzo (born October 20, 1986) is an Australian football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League club Newcastle United Jets. He has previously played for the Marconi Stallions in the NSW Premier League competition. Adam used to attend Trinity Grammar School which is in Summer Hill, Sydney, Australia and was the Captain of Soccer.
- Eric Addo
Eric Addo (born November 12, 1978 in Accra) is a Ghanaian International football player who, as of 2007, plays professionally for the Dutch Eredivisie Club PSV Eindhoven. Once heralded as a potential African great thanks to his combination of strength, pace and poise early on, Eric Addo, a combative central defender who can also play as a defensive midfielder had his budding career sadly blighted by knee injuries, eventhough he is still having a very colorful career.
- Andy Ferrell
Andy Ferrell (born 9 January 1984 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English footballer who currently plays for Kidderminster Harriers. He plays as a central midfielder. He began his career at Newcastle United where he progressed through the youth teams, initially at left-back. By his fourth season he was a regular in the reserve team, now playing in a midfield role, but was released at the end of the 2003-04 season without making an appearance for the first team.
- Mile Jedinak
Mile Jedinak (born August 3, 1984 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is a professional football player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League club Central Coast Mariners on a contract until 2008. Jedinak was first added to the Mariners' squad in the week leading up to their 2006 Pre-Season Cup play-off against Newcastle Jets, impressing and earning a call into the squad for the last ten games of the 2006-07 where he made 8 appearances.
- Andre Gumprecht
André Gumprecht is a German football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League club the Central Coast Mariners. He was awarded the Central Coast Mariners Members Player of the Year Award for his 2005-06 season at the Mariners. Before he played for the Mariners he won the NSL championship with Perth Glory and then lost in the last NSL grand final with Parramatta Power before the competition became defunct.
- Bruno Aguiar
Bruno João Morais Aguiar is a Portuguese footballer, who plays as a central midfielder for Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League. Aguiar started his career with Portuguese giants SL Benfica at the age of 9, eventually graduating through their youth system to the B side in 1998. To continue his development, he was then loaned to several smaller Portuguese clubs, firstly Gil Vicente, then FC Alverca and finally SC Beira-Mar.
- Terry McFlynn
Terrence (Terry) McFlynn (born 27 March 1981) is a football (soccer) player from Swatragh, Northern Ireland. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Australian A-League team Sydney FC. McFlynn began his footballing career in England as an apprentice at Queens Park Rangers in 1996. McFlynn made only two first-team appearances in his five-year stay at the club - his first-team debut was made on 28 April 2001. He was released in 2001 and signed for Woking FC.
- Lucas Pantelis
Lucas Pantelis (born March 12, 1982 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia) is an Australian football player. He currently plays for Adelaide United in the Hyundai A-League. Pantelis missed almost the entire 2006-7 season with a serious knee injury. He plays on the left wing. He returned to competitive action for United during their 2007 Asian Champions League campaign.
- Jon Wallis
Jon Wallis (born 4 April 1986 in Gravesend) is an English professional footballer who plays for Dover Athletic. He progressed through the youth ranks at Gillingham and signed his first professional contract, at the beginning of the 2005/06 season. Prior to this he had spent three months work experience at Hastings United where he made 14 appearances in all competitions, scoring 4 goals. 2 of these goals were in the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup.
- Bryan Harkin
Bryan Harkin is an Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the United States. He is a central midfielder. Harkin played for Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut from 1999-2002. He coached the womens's varsity team at Mount.St.Mary's Univesrity for 3 years while gaining an MBA in business. In 2002, the NSCAA selected Harkins as a Regional All-American.
- Tore Reginiussen
Tore Reginiussen is a norwegian football player. Reginiussen plays as a centre back, but he can also play as a central midfielder. Reginiussen started his football career with Alta IF. In late 2005, after considering offers from Brann and Bodø/Glimt he signed a contract with Tromsø IL and became a member of the Tromsø squad in January 2006. On 28 February 2006 he made his debut on Norway under-21.
- Thabo Mooki
Thabo Mooki (born October 27 1974 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a South African football (soccer) player who is usually used as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder by Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs.
- Steve Pantelidis
Steven Pantelidis (born August 17, 1983) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays as a central midfielder for the Melbourne Victory in the newly formed Hyundai A-League, although in the second season his been used more as a Utility player. Of Greek descent, Pantelidis attended Salesian College in Chadstone from Years 7-12 and was reportedly a keen soccer player who showed plenty of potential competing against other schools.
- Martin Retov
Martin Retov is a Danish professional football player, who currently plays as a central midfielder for Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga championship. He has played one game for the Denmark national football team. He started his career in the youth teams of Danish clubs Rishøj IF and Køge Boldklub, before he made his debut for Køge in the second-tier Danish 1st Division league in 1999. He was called up for the Danish under-21 national team in 2001, …
- Paul Stephenson
Paul Stephenson (born 2 January, 1968) is a former footballer who played as a winger/ central midfielder for Newcastle United, Millwall, Gillingham, Brentford and York City before he ended his career with Hartlepool. During his footballing career he made a combined total of over 500 appearances. He is now the Youth Team coach for Hartlepool. Paul Stephenson was born in Wallsend.
- Ahmed Barusso
Ahmed Apimah Barusso (born December 26, 1984 in Accra) is a Ghanaian football central midfielder, currently with AS Roma of Italian Serie A.
- Darryl Powell
Darryl Powell (born 15 November, 1971 in Lambeth, England) was a professional English born Jamaican footballer, who most recently played for Nottingham Forest in 2005, and has since retired. He usually played as a central midfielder. Powell played for several clubs, including Portsmouth, Derby County, Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest (all in England) and Colorado Rapids in the United States.
- Neil Emblen
Neil Emblen (born June 19, 1971) is an English football (soccer) player who plays as a central midfielder for Waitakere City in New Zealand. Previously, Emblen played for the New Zealand Knights in the Australian Hyundai A-League.
- Adrian Webster
Adrian Webster is a New Zealand soccer player who last played for Perth Glory in the A-league as a central midfielder. He was born on October 10th, 1980 at Hastings, New Zealand. Adrian's family moved to Australia when he was a toddler and he was brought up in Australia. However, he made his international debut for New Zealand, against Australia in London. He later returned to New Zealand for the first time since he was born in 2006, …