- Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE (born 31 December 1941 in Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United F.C. He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football and has been in charge of Manchester United for more than 1,000 matches. With 20 years under his belt, he is the second-longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United after Sir Matt Busby.
- Frank Lampard
Frank James Lampard, Jr., (born 20 June 1978) is an English football player currently at Chelsea and previously with West Ham United and Swansea City. He is a central midfielder known for his powerful long-range shots and prolific goalscoring abilities from midfield. Lampard was born in Romford, Havering, England. He is the son of Frank Lampard Sr., the former England full back and two-time FA Cup winner with West Ham United.
- David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE (pronounced) (born 2 May 1975) is an English professional football (soccer) midfielder who plays for Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. He is also currently a member of the England national team. He was twice chosen runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year, and as recently as 2004 was the world's highest-paid footballer. He was Google's most searched of all sports topics in both 2003 and 2004.
- Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry (born 17 August 1977 in (Les Ulis, Essonne) Paris, France) is a French football player. Renowned for his pace, he plays as a striker for the France national team and FC Barcelona. Henry grew up in the tough neighbourhood of Les Ulis, Essonne, where as a youngster he played for an array of local sides and showed great promise as a goal scorer. AS Monaco spotted him in 1990, and signed him up instantly.
- 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, …
- Ryan Giggs
Manchester United's Ryan Giggs became an Ambassador for UNICEF UK in August 2006 in recognition of his personal support for the organisation's work with children. On tour in South Africa in July 2006 Ryan learnt about the major challenges faced by the nation's children including HIV/AIDS and violence. Ryan Giggs ' appointment as an Ambassador follows his six-year commitment to UNICEF through Manchester United's "United for UNICEF" partnership.
- David Bentley
David Michael Bentley (born August 27 1984 in Peterborough) is an English football player who plays for Blackburn Rovers. He can play in several positions across the midfield, but he has been utilised most effectively as a wide midfielder. Bentley started his career with Arsenal F.C., but saw his playing opportunities limited by a strong senior squad. He spent several seasons on loan with Norwich City F.C. and Blackburn, …
- Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (born 20 November 1978) is an English former professional footballer, who recently played for Horden Colliery Welfare in the Northern League Division One. Robinson is a much-travelled player, having featured for no fewer than a dozen teams in his career. Due to his frequent moving, he has only passed thirty league appearances for one club, during his time with Hartlepool United. Robinson was born in Sunderland and began his career as a trainee with Darlington, …
- Phil Neville
Philip John "Phil" Neville (born January 21, 1977 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English footballer, who has spent most of his professional career at Manchester United, the team he joined as a youngster, but now plays for Everton. He is younger brother of Manchester United captain Gary Neville, and the twin of England netball international Tracey Neville. A versatile player, Neville was much-decorated during his United career, winning six Premiership titles, …
- Ian Wright
Ian Wright is a retired English footballer who played as a central defender. He started his career at Stoke City and later played for Bristol Rovers and Hull City before dropping down into non-league football with Hereford United. On his arrival at Edgar Street a £10 bet was placed by two supporters, at odds of 250-1, that he would score 30 goals in his first season as they thought Hereford had signed the former Arsenal and England striker.
- Gilberto Silva
Gilberto Aparecido da Silva, commonly known as Gilberto Silva, is a Brazilian football (soccer) player. He has played most of his club football for the English club Arsenal, as a defensive midfielder. Gilberto was raised in a poor family and as a child he balanced playing football with various labour jobs. He began his football career in 1997 with América Mineiro, where good form earned him a move to Atlético Mineiro in 2000.
- Patrick Vieira
Patrick Donalé Vieira is a French football midfielder who currently plays for Internazionale Milano. He came to prominence during his time at Arsenal between 1996 and 2005, where he won three FA Premier League titles and four FA Cups, and eventually became club captain. He spent a single season at Juventus before joining Inter in 2006, after Juventus were relegated due to their part in a match-fixing scandal.
- Eric Cantona
Éric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premiership titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup "doubles". Cantona is often regarded as having played a major talismanic role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing powerhouse and he enjoys iconic status at the club. In 2001 he was voted their player of the century, …
- Dean Ashton
Dean Ashton (born November 24 1983 in Swindon, Wiltshire) is an English footballer who currently plays for West Ham United in the Premiership. Ashton is a strong, powerful forward who is good in the air and a constant threat. He is widely-considered to be one of the most promising young strikers around, having consistently scored goals at every tier of English football he has played in. Ashton is a product of Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra academy.
- Emile Heskey
Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey (born January 11 1978 in Leicester, England) is an English footballer. Known for his pace and strength, he is a striker currently playing for Premier League side Wigan Athletic. He also has the versatility to play down the left flank. Heskey started his career with Leicester City in 1996. He then made a £11 million move to Liverpool in 2000, which was a record transfer fee paid by the club.
- Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock (born December 1, 1948) is a football manager, formerly of Sheffield United. He was appointed as manager of Sheffield United in December 1999 and resigned on 2007-05-16. Warnock was born in Sheffield and is a lifelong fan of the Blades.
- John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE (born 10 July 1945, Salford, Lancashire), known as Motty, is an English football commentator. The son of a Methodist minister, 'Motty' was educated at Culford School, where much to his disdain rugby, hockey and cricket were played and football not. He was in the same year as Gary Newbon, who still holds the record for the most appearances in the school's 1st XV rugby.
- Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE (born September 20, 1971 in Helsingborg, Skåne) is a Swedish footballer. Larsson is best known for seven successful years with Scottish club Celtic. He subsequently had a two-year spell at Barcelona of Spain, where he won the Champions League. Having left Barcelona in the summer of 2006, he returned to his home town club of Helsingborgs IF. He later joined Manchester United on a short term loan in January 2007, …
- Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE (born 26 May 1909 in Orbiston, Scotland; died 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945-1969 and again for the 1970-1971 season. He is the longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United, ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson.
- David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE (born 19 September 1963 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire) is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal and most recently with Manchester City. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury. He was awarded the MBE in 1997 for services to the sport.
- Marlon Harewood
Marlon Harewood (born August 25, 1979) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Aston Villa. He started his career at Nottingham Forest, had a successful spell on loan to FC Haka before joining West Ham United in 2003 and then Aston Villa in 2007.
- Simon Davies
Simon Davies, (born October 23 1979), is a Wales international football player who currently plays for Fulham. His favoured position is the right side of midfield.
- Liam Brady
Liam Brady (born February 13, 1956 in Dublin) is a former Irish footballer, who is now a coach and television pundit. He was renowned as a midfielder with elegant technical skills, most notably his left foot, his high-quality passing and close control. He found success both with Arsenal (one FA Cup title) and Juventus (two Serie A titles), and won 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland. He is currently Arsenal's Head of Youth Development.
- Roy Carroll
Roy Eric Carroll (born September 30 1977 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh) is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.
- Kevin Ratcliffe
Kevin Ratcliffe (born 12 November 1960 in Mancot, near Queensferry in North Wales) is a former footballer for mainly Everton and Wales. Ratcliffe was considered one of the fastest central defenders ever to play football. On arrival at Everton he challenged the whole first team squad to a sprint race and won. He was not the most skillful of footballers but he anticipated superbly, tackled ferociously and did the simple things well.
- Rob Styles
Robert "Rob" Styles (b. 21 April1964) is an English football referee who hails from Hampshire. He officiates at many FA Premier League matches; his highest honour so far was his selection as referee for the 2005 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester United.
- Chris Eagles
Christopher Eagles (born 19 November 1985 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire) is an English footballer whose most favoured position is as an attacking right-sided midfielder. He currently plays for Manchester United. Originally coming through the youth system at Watford, he left when he was 14 to join the Manchester United academy. The compensation owed to Watford for this move would later form part of the package which took Danny Webber in the opposite direction.
- Neville Southall
Neville Southall (born September 16, 1958 in Llandudno, Wales) is a professional footballer, currently playing for Rhyl in the Welsh league. Southall's career spanned much of the 1980s and 1990s. Southall entered the game relatively late, and before becoming a professional worked as a binman, waiter and hod carrier. Most famously he played for Everton where he made a club record 578 league appearances (over 750 in all competitions) and won two Football League championships, …
- Alex Young
Alex "Sandy" Young is a former Scottish footballer. He was a prolific goal-scorer in Everton's 1962/63 championship season. He first played for Newtongrange Star in Midlothian but soon joined Hearts making his debut at the age of 18. He helped Hearts win the Scottish First Division chanpionship in 1958 with 20 goals. Two seasons later he scored 23 goals when Hearts won the title again.
- Colin Harvey
James Colin Harvey (born November 16, 1944 in Liverpool) is an English footballer.He was born in Liverpool, and joined Everton as an apprentice in 1960. Harvey was often described as an elegant and skilful player and was nicknamed the "White Pele" by Everton fans. "<i>It was when I made my debut for Sheffield Wednesday at Bolton. My dad had brought me back and I got a few phone calls asking how the game had gone, …
- Paul Parry
Paul Parry (born August 19, 1980) is a Welsh football player who currently plays for Cardiff City. Parry was born in Chepstow and attended Chepstow Comprehensive School. He plays as a left-winger. Parry started his career at Hereford United as a YTS trainee, turning professional in the 1998-99 season. His profile was raised after an excellent FA Cup performance against Leicester City in the 1999/00 season.
- Steve Clarke
Steve Clarke (born August 29, 1963 in Saltcoats, Scotland) is a former Scottish international footballer, who supported Celtic as a boy. Clarke started his professional football career with St Mirren F.C. before transferring to Chelsea F.C in February 1987. He stayed at Chelsea until 1998, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup.He was retained as the assistant manager of Chelsea in the summer of 2004, after the arrival of manager José Mourinho, …
- Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles (born November 6 1940 in Dublin) was an all-round association football midfielder who played for Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s. Giles, alongside skipper Billy Bremner, formed a memorable central midfield partnership which was one of the best and toughest in club football and yielded several trophies in what was the club's finest - and most controversial - era. Giles began his English career with Leeds' great rivals Manchester United, joining in 1957.
- Victor Anichebe
Victor Anichebe (born April 23, 1988 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a young footballer currently playing for Everton. He made his first team debut on January 28, 2006 as a substitute in the 89th minute of Everton's FA Cup 4th round tie against Chelsea, replacing Simon Davies. Several top pundits expect Anichebe to go on to do great things in the game. He has been described as a fast and powerful player, in the mould of a "traditional" centre forward, …
- Mario Melchiot
Mario Melchiot (born November 4, 1976 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League. Having been part of the youth system at Ajax Amsterdam, Melchiot played three seasons for the club, winning the Eredivisie in 1998 and the KNVB Cup in 1998 and 1999. He moved to Chelsea under the Bosman ruling in the summer of 1999, where he won the FA Cup in 2000.
- Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Ferguson (born December 27, 1971 in Stirling) is a Scottish professional football player. Ferguson began his footballing education at Carse Thistle before being signed to Dundee United in 1990 on his first professional contract. From that time he has played for Rangers, Everton and Newcastle United; his career often punctuated by controversy and injury. When not affected by those, his strength and stature made him a potent player.
- Trevor Sinclair
Trevor Lloyd Sinclair (born March 2, 1973 in Dulwich, London) is an English footballer who currently plays for Cardiff City. The versatile winger is able to play on both the left and right flanks. Prior to Manchester City, Sinclair played for Blackpool (1989-93), Queens Park Rangers (1993-98), and West Ham United (1998-2003). He earned 12 caps for England, four of which came in the 2002 World Cup, in which he was a last-minute replacement for the injured Danny Murphy.
- David Weir
David Weir (born 1863 in Aldershot, died 1933 in Bolton) was an English footballer who played for several clubs in the 19th century, including Bolton Wanderers and Ardwick (Manchester City), and won two caps for England. In the infancy of professional football Weir played for a number of teams, including Hampton, Glasgow Thistle, Maybole and Halliwell. He then signed for Bolton Wanderers, where he was an ever-present in the first ever season of the Football League.
- Jaap Stam
Jakob Stam (known as Jaap Stam, born July 17 1972 in Kampen in the Netherlands) is a Dutch football player, currently playing for Ajax Amsterdam. His nickname is "de Rots van Kampen" (the Rock of Kampen). He was voted best defender in the 1999 and 2000 UEFA Champions League. Stam started his career with local amateur football club DOS Kampen. In 1992, Stam made his professional debut for FC Zwolle.
- Hayden Mullins
Hayden Mullins (born March 27, 1979) is a professional English footballer. He is a versatile player equally at home in midfield, in central defence, and less so at full back. During the 2006-2007 season his main position has been in the centre of midfield.