nice post arfy!

Dalglish is probably the main reason why in England I support the Reds.

 

:shades: cool.

You got any players in mind, your thinking of posting about

 

BILLY LIDDELLPOOL​

Extract from http://www.bobpaisley.com/liddell.htm
How do you start a Story about a LEGEND ?

The answer is quite simple really, its easier than you think. "WITH A TEAR IN YOUR EYE"

The 'Flying Scotsman' was born in Dunfermline on January 10, 1922, and could play as either a winger or centre forward. But by the time he made his 'official' first team debut for Liverpool, delayed by the war, Billy was 23-years-old but it wasn't long before he embarked on the success story that made him a legend in our City and earned the club he played for the nickname 'Liddlepool'. After 21 years and 537 games in which he scored 229 goals Billy 'hung up his boots' in 1960 as a hero.

And so the story starts.

Billy throughout his life, lived up to the highest standards and was a role model and inspiration to all playing the game then and for future generations to come, both ON & OFF the field. A superb athlete, he was one of the most complete players of his day and to many OLD FOGEY'S like meself, is still the greatest performer the club has seen. Away from the game he did a vast amount of voluntary work for local boys' clubs and after his retirement he became a magistrate, a lay preacher and bursar of Liverpool University. The unselfishness and sense of duty that guided his life outside football was also echoed on the park. Billy was never anything less than a model professional.

Billy was unfortunate that for the greater part of his career at Anfield, there were not enough other players of his ability at the club. A very modest man, he would deny that he was forced to carry the team by himself for long periods of any game. The fact that our team was called by the nickname "Liddellpool" only proved to be an emarassment to our Billy. Liddell won 28 caps for Scotland, a figure that does no justice to his amazing skills. Billy's modest international career was only compensated for by the sheer ADULATION he earned from his beloved KOP.

On his full debut, after the war, the hat-trick he scored showed that the powerful outside-left intended wasting little time in making his presence felt. Although Albert Stubbins scored the goals that won the championship that year, Albert never hid the fact that the vast majority of his chances were carved out for him by Liddell. During the 50's Billy's goals often pulled Liverpool out of trouble. But throught the same period the team began to go into decline and even Billy's individual brilliance and bravery could not prevent them from dropping out of the top flight.

The task of trying to haul Liverpool to promotion grew tougher and tougher, and when Billy finally decided to hang up his boots in1960 the Anfield side were still stranded in the Second Division. It took another Billy (SHANKS) to restore them to the top flight, but the exploits of OUR BILLY throughout his 20yr + career devoted to Liverpool Football Club show that greatness should not always be measured by a single Championship medal. Fans should always remember that Billy was Liverpool Football Club. He was its spirit. He was also its honesty, he was it's integrity, he was it's heart, and last but not least, it's passion.

To fans such as my Dad, Grandad and others of the pre-Bill Shankly generation he represented the true way the game should be played. The "Liddellpool" tag the club was awarded was no hype or coincidence. It was fact. My Dad always told me that Billy kept the team going virtually single-handed during that dispiriting eight year Second Division spell we endured in the fifties. I only saw Billy play once meself and so I have no real understanding of what he truly meant to the masses who adorned the KOP week in, week out.

Liverpudlians really did appreciate the knowledge that in "Our Billy" they possessed someone who was as good as any other footballer around including Mathews and Finney who were plying their trade at that time. Billy Liddell was the REAL DEAL. Billy's skills meant he was virtually unstoppable down either left or right wing, he was just as unstoppable at centre forward too. How hard he could hit that ball with either foot. His right foot was Dyamite and his left foot Thunder (borrowed from me DAD) Above all else he was a gentleman and a true sport. Whatever the provocation, whatever the circumstances, he was always a peerless ambassador for his club, his adopted City and his Country.

A man to be revered. I suppose it was the reverence for him that stood out above everything else. The sheer respect that existed for this truly unassuming man. Believe me when I say that, both Red and Blue alike had a mutual respect and awe of Billy Liddell. I have only ever encountered this for two others, one was Dixie Dean (another Billy) and the other was Bill Shankly himself. I think that says everything about the man.

Billy Liddell, I salute you. You were a true legend. You were my first footballing hero. You were the best of all because of your LOYALTY, you were ours alone. A true Hero. For the likes of me growing up in Liverpool during the late 50s, ie too young to have seen the man at his best, we simply hung onto the stories that our parents and families told, with a determination and gobsmacked awe. Liverpool were not the most successful side when I was a lad and we were desperate for any success (especially the FA Cup) which we still hadn't won and we were reminded daily by the snotty blue noses in our street. Even at that young age, deep down I knew our lowly place in the footballing echelon and craved success with every breath, but this was not something that you mentioned when talking to the SNOTTY's.

Every new season that started I stood firm in our street and shouted from up the tallest lampost that we would indeed win both the League and Cup that year. I had to be up the lampost they were all bigger than me and certainly too fat to climb a lampost. 40 years have passed now and I'm far too old to be climbing lamposts, but remember this....

You're never too old to stand in the middle of your street and scream at the top of your voice...

"LIVERPOOL ARE GONNA WIN THE CUP"
"LIVERPOOL ARE GONNA WIN THE PREM"
"LIVERPOOL ARE GONNA WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE"

and so the LEGEND grew ....................

The present generation of 30 to 40 year olds out there will no doubt one day reminisce themselves about King Kenny to their grandkids and rightly so, Kenny was the most outstanding talent of his time and deserves all the plaudits they will give him. Rushie will also have his apostles and his goals record I believe will never be beaten, that's right never ! Our present star Michael Owen is a great player, but he won't break the record that Rush set.

So here goes.

Indulge me for a while and try and imagine with this Old Fogey if our greatest player Billy Liddell had been born in 1981 and had been blessed with half the footballing talent that those that saw him play knew he had.

He would now once again be a strapping 21 year old and just beginning his career. He'd have just signed a lucrative 5 year contract and would be a millionaire in the making. Liverpool and Scotland would be boasting a world class footballer, something Scotland would die for at the moment. The Kop would drool over his every touch and we would have a winger who was likely to score 20 goals a season. "3 goal a season" Damien Duff eat your heart out, this new winger can really play and has a ferocious shot in both boots. His popularity would not only rival that of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, it would dwarf it. The club shop would do a roaring trade in replica shirts emblazoned 'LIDDELL 11'. Funny really as Liddell played most of his games without a number.

The media would no doubt be full of speculation of the possibility of £35 million swoops from all the top European clubs, including the likes of Juventus, Inter or AC Milan, Real Madrid or Barcelona. But there would be no chance of Gerard Houllier parting with the jewel in the Anfield crown. Imagine as well a Liverpool attack boasting Liddell, Heskey, Baros, Owen and Diouf ! I know it sounds daft, but in those days 2 wingers, 2 Insides and a Centre forward was the norm.

We would be the scourge of the Premiership and the giants of Europe would bend at the knee in his presence, but Billy Liddell would have probably hated it all as well, because he was a very modest man. He was above all the stuff and nonsense of the so called great players of today, Yes, there was only one Billy Liddell.

"One Billy Liddell, there's only one Billy Liddell,
"One Billy Liddell, there's only one Billy Liddell"

"He gets the ball, he scores a goal, Billy, Billy Liddell.

"I'd walk a million miles for one of your goals, oh BILLY"

"Left foot Goal, Right foot Goal, up with his head and its another Goal".

Hat-tick king Liddell strikes again. Billy strikes more often than the miners, Fords and Standards does together.

OK dream over, Billy came from a different era, but I still doubt he would have been seen celebrating a goal by running to the corner flag or worse diving along the floor. 'sniffing' the touch line ? I think not. Also despite his God given talent he would never earn more than the majority of his team-mates of the forties and fifties. His career came to a finish with players earning around twenty quid a week, plus a few extra pound notes if they won and not the £40,000 a week earned today. Fair enough, back in the fifties that sort of money would have meant a reasonable standard of living, but it was hardly the sort of money that would allow a footballer to retire once he turned thirty, let alone drive around in custom made cars. You were more likely to see Billy riding a bike!

Today we fans often get criticised for daring to criticise the multi millionaires that are supposed to be entertaining us. The players did not create the ever increasing wage bill, rather it was directors who offered the money and lengthy contracts. So all this furore about asking players to take a cut should, well first tell their directors to look at their own wages and then beggar off. Following the Treble year, the Kopites were a happy bunch and so, no doubt, were all the players as their bank balances increased by a few more noughts. Yet even last season we had players doing more or less nothing to earn their money, ie sitting on the sick list (sorry Jamie Redknapp Lar, I couldn't help it) whilst throughout the nightmare nineties we had players earning a mere ten grand a week complaining that they were underpaid.

In Billy's day fans would vent their feelings, probably far more strongly than they do today, if they thought that someone wasn't pulling their weight, but even during the worst of times nobody could ever level that charge against Billy Liddell and the Famous Kop never booed the team off the pitch. No manager ever had to tell Billy Liddell to go out and do his best because Billy never gave anything less than his best in every game he played and he played EVERY week.

I argue with mates regularly about the pampered and over protected players of today. I am more of a cynic now than I ever was. People try and tell me how different the game is now and I have to agree that it has changed. But Billy Liddell never had the benefit of being part of a thirty-man squad. The manager couldn't rotate the team then and anyway if any of them had been brave enough to drop Billy Liddell the walls of the Kop would have come tumbling down around their ears. The game in the fifties might have been different but the likes of Billy Liddell would face uncompromising defenders week in week out and those defenders would have one thing on their mind and that would be to kick Billy Liddell as hard and as often as they could. Did Billy roll around the pitch like he'd been shot ? Of course not, he just picked himself up and carried on. If someone kicked him on the right leg, he'd start shooting with his left, if someone kicked him in the left leg, he'd just shoot with his right.

Many defenders thought it wise to kick him in both legs, what was Billy's answer ? Yes, you're right, he'd head the ball home from anywhere in the area. Can you think of any attacker now who can boast the same ? Owen is a world class striker, there is no doubt in my mind, but I aint kidding when I say me Mam could kick a better ball with her left peg than Mikey. Heskey's talent of playing in a variety of roles and trying his best wherever he plays is admirable, but the chances of him scoring as regularly as Billy did is about as likely as the Mersey Tunnel stopping the toll (anyone old enough will remember it was only going to be tolled for the first year ?).

Fowler was the next hero of mine after King Kenny hung up his boots, and I think his stance on the dockers strike earned him much deserved popularity, but his off the field activities often got him into trouble. Billy on the other hand spent a lot of his time helping boys clubs and never made the headlines unless it was refering to a game. Why ? Well he didn't drink for a start. It also wasn't the done thing to go to a nightclub in Chester and show yer ARSEnal like another favourite player of mine. Here's where someone will pick holes in this, I dont think Billy was ever booked, let alone SENT OFF and as for getting locked up by the local plod, Billy never gave anyone the opportunity or the reason.

If players think that facing the likes of some of todays hard men is a chore they should think themselves lucky because in Billy's day they would come up against some real hard nuts, the sort that would have made Tommy Smith think twice. Billy would be out there facing the likes of Stan Milburn, Frank Mountford, Eddie Clamp, Maurice Setters, Alf Ramsey and a few others, and if you haven't heard of them, ask yer Dad or Granddad. Yet despite knowing that a kicking awaited him, you'd never question the desire or commitment of Billy Liddell.

In the fifties Billy Liddell was in an elite group of players. A group that included the likes of Stan Matthews, Tom Finney and the late great Duncan Edwards. I've written before about Duncan as my old fellah still goes on about what a talent he was. OK he played for the Mancs, but according to my Dad there had never been the likes of Duncan in his time. Hence references to Stevie G being Edwards-like is very high praise indeed. Stanley was a wizzard on the wing also according to the old fellah, but very one footed and scored goals only rarely. I believe Stanley only got more praise than Billy because he was English.

These were the players that everyone wanted to see play. Although Liverpool spent a good part of that decade in the second division the fans of our rivals loved it when Liverpool were due to pay a call. So did their club's chairman and treasurer because they knew that if Billy Liddell was in the Liverpool line-up then a few extra thousand would be added to the gate! Dads would take misty-eyed sons to games and those lads would soon tell their schoolmates, "I've seen Billy Liddell" play. The reason being was that fans of teams like Bristol Rovers, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby or Leyton Orient didn't get too many opportunities of seeing a genuine world class player gracing their grounds. In fact to be honest in the fifties world class players weren't in great abundance anywhere on these shores, but Liverpool definitely had one.

I was a bit young to go to Anfield when Billy played, therefore never got the opportunity to watch him peel an orange with either foot (yes he was that good), but my one opportunity came at Holly Park, Garston (South Liverpool FC). Billy may have been past his sell by date, but the match will always remain special to me. It was the Billy Liddell International All Stars vs Merseyside Select XI. I'll never forget that match and the chance to see Billy play but had no momento of the game when recently, with the help of a mate Andy Roper, I was able to get hold of the programme from that match for just £6. Yes six quid! I dare not tell you how much I would have been prepared to go, you really will think I'd lost me marbles. (Special thanks once again to Andy - cheers la).

Given the history of the club for much of the second half of the twentieth century it is hard to understand that for so much of an era one man carried the hopes of the fans. But as I've said before these were the LIDDELL days and we were proud at the time to call our team LIDDELLPOOL. You see as the club slid from the level of Championship Winners to Championship contenders and Cup Finalists to having what many fans believe was our worst ever team there was only one ray of hope and that was Billy Liddell.

Once the rot had set in the decline was swift and as the press reports of the time would tell you only Billy Liddell kept the team afloat. Yes I know you've heard it all before, but you're going to hear it again and again until my fingers bleed. There was a time when one man did make a team and when one man was bigger than the club. When the inevitable relegation came there wasn't any transfer demand from Billy Liddell, there was just a determination to restore pride and status to a fallen club and Billy was determined to play his part.

He showed a LOYALTY to Liverpool unlike any player had ever done and in todays mercenary climate of playing for whoever pays the highest, Billy deserves a lot of respect and that is why so many of the older fans still sing his praises. On the other hand the club would never have dared sell him anyway because it would have led to a rebellion in the Red parts of the city and that is fact. Yet thinking back had Liverpool been brave enough and daft enough to have done just that, the money, even back then that a transfer would have commanded, would have been enough to have brought in at least three or four new players. However, such was the status and standing of Billy Liddell the idea would never have been even considered.

In September 1959 'King Billy' was presented on Sportsview with a cheque for £2,000 to mark his twenty years with the club. Yes, you're right £100 a season doesn't seem alot. However, It was a measure of his standing in the game that the BBC deemed it a worthy enough event to show on what was then Prime Time TV. Other players received awards like this, but they didn't televise them. They broke new ground that night did the BBC, and it was all for Billy Liddell. And don't forget Billy wasn't playing for one of the nations top sides at the time, he was playing for a second division team called Liverpool.

Shortly after this Billy broke the Club appearance record and was awarded a drinks cabinet, yes, a drinks cabinet. Of course the funny thing was Billy was a teetotaller and you've got to think it was another Billy's sense of humour that picked the present. I can hear Shanks now, make sure its got Scotch in it Billy when I come round with Nessie and the kids.

The only time I ever saw Billy Liddell at Anfield was when he strode onto the pitch at the 'Kops Last Stand.' I was in tears, I really wish I could have seen him play when he was in his prime. I cried twice that night, anyone who could hold the tears back, when Nessie came on the pitch to roars from the Kop of "Shankly, Shankly" mustn't have had a heart. I wonder what he and the team would have achieved had he played for Shankly? I also wonder what he and the team would have achieved had he played for Paisley? I know it would have been hard to improve on Bob's record, but when Billy and Bob played together on the left for Liverpool they seemed to have a telepathic understanding.

We watch football now in an age where the also rans of the game get paid a king's ransom. We watch as other clubs honour their greats. Its a real sickener to me to see Denis Law honoured at Man Utd, after all he was the one who scored the goal that put the Mancs in Div 2 not so long back and they still honoured him !

None of them will ever be able to hold a candle to the man they called 'King Billy' and a smaller section referred to him as "William the Conquerer". God Bless you Billy, you will always have pride of place in our house mate, and I'm sure others who can remember your God given talent will always have a special place in their hearts.

One Footed Wonders of Today beware

Wooltonian

 

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Very educational mate and so true. I don't agree with you on that last bit about Denis Law though (who should also have his place on this thread if there's a ******* fan old enough). He was only doing his job that day and had tears in his eyes after scoring it. I can still remember it as if it was yesterday and it was the only time my dad let me get on top of his car to celebrate.

 

6. Tony Adams
Date of Birth: October 10, 1966
Birthplace: Romford, London
Position: Centre-back
Games: 504; Arsenal captain 1988-2002.
Goals: 32
Caps/goals: 65/5; England captain 1992-1996.

From wikipedia:
Adams was born in Romford in the London Borough of Havering and, having supported the club as a boy, joined Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1980. He made his first team debut on November 5, 1983, at the age of 17 against Sunderland. Together with Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn and Steve Bould, Adams was part of the "famous four" that lined up in Arsenal's defence, which under George Graham was renowned for its well disciplined use of the offside trap. On January 1, 1988, he became Arsenal's youngest ever captain at the age of 21; he would remain club captain for the next 14 years.

With their strong defence playing a huge part, Arsenal won the League Cup in 1986-87, and followed that by lifting the First Division trophy in 1988-89 and again in 1990-91. In 1992-93 Adams became the first player to captain his side to a League Cup and FA Cup double, and lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup the year after.

By then he had also made his mark on the international stage; he made his debut for England against Spain in 1987, and played in Euro 88. Adams' international career suffered a couple of setbacks after such early promise; he was surprisingly left out of the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad by manager Bobby Robson, and missed Euro 92 due to injury. However, he still maintained a regular place in defence, and after the retirement of Gary Lineker in 1992, Adams unofficially shared the captaincy of England with David Platt, though Adams got the job outright before Euro 96, as Platt's place in the side became less secure. England reached the semi-finals of Euro 96, before losing on penalties to Germany.

However, at the same time his life was increasingly blighted with alcohol problems. He was reportedly often involved in fights in night clubs and was fined for driving in a drunken state several times. In 1990 he was imprisoned for three months after being caught drink-driving. Following Euro 96, Adams admitted that he was an alcoholic, and after seeking treatment, sought to reinvent himself and find a more sensitive side to his character, which included a return to education and an attempt to learn the piano. He is one of the most high-profile recovering alcoholics in the UK - his battle with alcohol is heavily detailed in his autobiography, Addicted, which was released in May 1998 to enormous critical acclaim.

His recovery and rehabilitation were helped in no small part by the arrival of Arsène Wenger as Arsenal manager in September 1996, who reformed the club's dietary practices and the players' lifestyles. Wenger stuck by Adams following his confessions about his drink problem, and the improvements in the regime probably extended Adams's career by several years. Adams rewarded his manager's understanding handsomely, captaining the club to two Premiership and FA Cup Doubles, in 1997-98 and 2001-02; he is the only player in English football history to have captained a League-winning team in three different decades.

Meanwhile, England manager Glenn Hoddle had given Alan Shearer the captain's armband in 1996, a decision which surprised and angered Adams and left many England fans puzzled. Adams continued to play for the national side, however and he finally appeared in a World Cup finals in 1998. His international swansong was England's largely unsuccessful Euro 2000 campaign. With Shearer retiring from international football after the tournament, Adams regained the captaincy. However, within months, England lost a World Cup qualifier to Germany in October 2000, the match being the last to be staged at Wembley Stadium before the stadium was torn down for rebuilding. That match was Adams's 60th Wembley appearance, a record. With Sven-Göran Eriksson eventually taking the helm and under increasing pressure for his place from the emerging and improving Rio Ferdinand, Adams retired from international football before Eriksson picked his first squad.

After his second Double win in 2002, Adams retired from professional football altogether, his last match being the 2002 FA Cup Final. He played 668 matches for Arsenal (only David O'Leary has played more) and was the most successful captain in the club's history. The number 6 shirt that Adams wore when playing was not used from his retirement at the end of 2001/2002 to the end of the 2005/2006 season, but Philippe Senderos recently acquired this number. He is nicknamed "Mr. Arsenal". In May 2002 he was honoured by Arsenal with a testimonial game against Celtic. Many Arsenal legends played, including Ian Wright, John Lukic and Adams' fellow back four stalwarts, Dixon, Winterburn and Bould. The game finished 1-1 with Lee Dixon, in his final appearance for the Gunners, getting their goal.

In 2004, Adams was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his impact on the English game.

-----------------------

At least in my opinion.

 

Onree, I disagree with you.

I think David O'Leary was more of an Arsenal man and a better player then Tony Adam.

 

O'Leary is a ******.

An Arsenal man wouldn't celebrate when the team he manages costs Arsenal the title. Twice. :irritate:

 

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Very educational mate and so true. I don't agree with you on that last bit about Denis Law though (who should also have his place on this thread if there's a ******* fan old enough). He was only doing his job that day and had tears in his eyes after scoring it. I can still remember it as if it was yesterday and it was the only time my dad let me get on top of his car to celebrate.

I didn't write it mate, I wish I could take credit for it but it was written by WOOLTONIAN, wonderful and informative piece about a legend whos legacy is often forgot by the Liverpool faithful. :moan:

 

Wonder where Liddell would end up in '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' list that is down to the final 10 now,which I really don't agree with their criteria of selection.Its hardly a greatest players' list,IMO.

 

Wonder where Liddell would end up in '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' list that is down to the final 10 now,which I really don't agree with their criteria of selection.Its hardly a greatest players' list,IMO.

Well I imagine Dalglish and Gerrard rollani will be the top two but the rest of the top 10 who knows.

If Liddell played 10 or 20 years ago oppose to 60 years ago he would win it without any doubt in my mind.

 

Bobby Moore for England, don't think you can look past him. Although R. Charlton was more important in my mind but not as iconic... the hair betrayed him there.

 

Darko Pancev

A Macedonian legend
In the early 1990s, he was widely recognised as one of the best strikers in the world. His playing career started in 1982 at Vardar Skopje, then in 1988 he moved to Red Star Belgrade, with whom he played for four years, scoring 84 goals, and winning the European Cup in 1991. Red Star fans remember Pancev as being the player that scored the winning penalty in the 1991 European Cup final, bringing Red Star the most prestigious trophy in European football. Pancev's career abroad was far from successful though. The outstanding scoring abilities of the "Cobra", as he was nicknamed by some, will be only remembered in the former Yugoslav republics. In July 2006 Pancev was named the sports director of F.C. Vardar Skopje.

Pancev receives Golden Boot with 15 years delay
UEFA admits mistake and corrects an injustice

09.08.2006 by JadranSport

Former Yugoslavia and Crvena Zvezda striker, Darko Pancev, received the prestigious Golden Boot award 15 years after he won it. The vice-president of UEFA, Michel Platini, arrived in Skopje last Thursday to "right an injustice," the Utrinski Dnevnik daily said. Former Yugoslav and Red Star stars Dragan Dzajic and Dragan Stojkovic were also at the ceremony in the capital Skopje at which the trophy, which is awarded annually by France Football, was given to Pancev.

Cypriots fooled UEFA
Macedonia's most celebrated player Darko Pancev received French sports daily L'Equipe's "Golden boot" prize as best European striker on Friday, 15 years after originally being awarded the honour. Pancev, who scored 37 goals in the 1990/1991 season for Serbia's Red Star Belgrade, was prevented from collecting his award at the time after a protest from Cyprus which claimed one of their players had scored 40 goals. But after a lengthy inquiry L'Equipe rejected the Cypriot football federation's appeal and Pancev, now 41 years old, was finally handed the Golden Boot by French football legend Michel Platini. Platini, who is among the candidates to succeed Lennart Johansson as president of European Football's governing body UEFA, said: "The award, although delayed, is now in the right hands."

 

for Holland, Ajax & Barcelona obviously Johan Cruijff. Check his quotes & what other people say about him :

source: Wikipedia

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (Johan Cruijff (help·info)) - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football trainer/coach and former star player, regarded as one of the greats of the game. Named three times European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, 1974) and European Player of the Century by the IFFHS in 1999, he was a silky exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed by his coach Rinus Michels.

He has been named as one of the best football players of his generation, alongside Maradona, Garrincha, Pelé, and Franz Beckenbauer, although he did not win a cup or tournament with his national team.

Cruijff was also highly successful as manager of Ajax and FC Barcelona; he still remains as an influential advisor to Barça. He was voted European player of the century by the IFFHS ahead of Franz Beckenbauer.
Contents

* 1 Style of Play
* 2 Career
o 2.1 Professional
o 2.2 International
o 2.3 As a manager
* 3 Miscellany
* 4 Quotes
o 4.1 By Cruijff himself
o 4.2 About Cruijff
* 5 External links

Style of Play

As a player, Cruijff was known for his technical ability: his mesmeric ball skill, speed and acceleration, the ability to change direction at will and his tactical insights make him one of the most gifted footballers of all time.

He also perfected a move called the "Cruyff Turn". To do this move, he would run to a defender, then pretend to make a pass, when the passing leg was almost at the ball, it went around the ball to dribble it the other way.

Cruijff was at the center of Total Football. Although he was fielded as centre forward, he wandered all over the pitch, popping up wherever he could do most damage to the opposing team. His teammates adapted themselves flexibly around his movements regularly switching positions, so that the tactical roles in the team were always filled, although not always by the same person.

Total Football recieved widespread attention during the 1972 European Cup final against Internazionale, in which Cruijff scored twice for Ajax.

Career

Professional

Cruijff played successively for Ajax, FC Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante UD and Feyenoord.

At the pinnacle of his professional playing career, he won the European Cup three times (consecutive titles from 1971-1973 with Ajax), which earned the club the right to keep the trophy. He was also named Ballon d'Or (European Player of the Year) thrice (1971, 1973 - 4).

At the age of 32 he signed a lucrative deal with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He had previously been rumoured to be joining the New York Cosmos but the deal did not materialise. He did however play in a couple of exhibition games for the Cosmos. He stayed at the Aztecs for one season, finishing as the NASL's Most Valuable player of 1979. The following season he moved to the capital to play for the Washington Diplomats, he played the whole 1980 campaign for Washington, leaving soon after the start of the '81 season.

International

As a Dutch international he played 48 matches, in which he scored 33 goals. In his second Dutch national team match, a friendly against Czechoslovakia, Cruijff was the first Dutch international ever to receive a red card, and be sent off. He received a suspension from the Dutch KNVB.

Cruijff led the Netherlands to a runners-up medal in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and was named the player of the tournament. Thanks to his team's mastery of Total Football, they coasted all of way to the final, knocking out Argentina (4-0), East Germany (2-0) and Brazil (2-0) along the way. Cruijff himself scored twice against Argentina in one of his team's most dominating performances, then he scored the second goal against Brazil to knock out the defending champions. Accusations of Cruijff's 'aloofness' were not rebuffed by his habit of wearing a shirt with only two white stripes along the sleeves, as opposed to Adidas' usual design feature of three, worn by all the other Dutch players.

The Netherlands faced hosts West Germany in the final. Cruijff kicked off and the ball was passed around the Oranje thirteen times before returning to Cruijff, who then went on a rush that eluded Berti Vogts and ended when he was fouled by Uli Hoeness inside the box. Teammate Neeskens scored from the spot kick to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead, and the Germans had not even touched the ball. Only during the latter half of the final was his playmaking influence stifled by the effective marking of Berti Vogts, while Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeness and Wolfgang Overath dominated the midfield, enabling West Germany to win 2-1.[2]

Cruijff retired from international football in October 1977, despite helping his national team qualify for the upcoming World Cup. He refused to participate in the tournament finals in Argentina because it had suffered a military coup only two years earlier and he refused to play in a country where torture and murder were continuing to be perpetrated by the Junta.[3] The Netherlands emerged runners-up again that year and some believe that the outcome could have been different had Cruijff played.

As a manager

After retiring from the game, Johan Cruijff followed in the footsteps of his mentor Rinus Michels. He lacked formal coaching qualifications, but he caught the eyes of brass when he came down from the stands during a Dutch league game and started handing out unsolicited advice to Ajax coach Leo Beenhakker. Ajax were down 3-1 to FC Twente at that moment, but ended up winning the game 5-3.[citation needed]

Cruijff would go on to manage two football clubs, Ajax and Barcelona. He coached Ajax to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1987.

Cruyff returned to Barcelona as manager in 1988, assembling the so-called Dream Team, named after the US basketball team that played at the 1992 Olympic Games hosted by Barcelona. He introduced players like Josep Guardiola, José Mari Bakero, Txiki Beguiristain, Goikoetxea, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Romário and Hristo Stoichkov. This team won La Liga four times between 1991 and 1994 and beat Sampdoria in both the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup final and the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley. They also won a Copa del Rey in 1990, the European Super Cup in 1992 and three Supercopa de España. With 11 trophies, Cruyff has been the club's most successful manager to date as well as being the club's longest serving manager. However, in his final two seasons, he failed to win any trophies and fell out with Josep Lluís Nuñez. This resulted in his departure and he vowed never to coach again.

While at Barcelona, he was in negotiations with the KNVB to manage the national team for the 1994 World Cup, but talks broke off at the last minute.

His open support helped candidate Joan Laporta to victory in FC Barcelona's latest presidential elections. He continues to be an adviser for him, although he holds no official post at FC Barcelona right now, sparking controversy about his real role and influence.

Miscellany

Cruijff used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day prior to undergoing double heart bypass surgery in 1991 while he was the coach of FC Barcelona, after which he quit smoking and began chain-sucking Chupa Chups lollipops instead. He also led the anti-smoking campaign developed by the Health Department of the Catalan government.

In November 2003 Cruijff invoked legal proceedings against the publisher Tirion Uitgevers, over its photo book Johan Cruijff de Ajacied, which used photographs by Guus de Jong. Cruijff was working on another book, also using De Jong's photographs, and claimed unsuccessfully that Tirion's book violated his trademark and portrait rights.

In 2004 he ended sixth place in the election of De Grootste Nederlander (The Greatest Dutchman).

The Dutch Supercup is named after him: Johan Cruijff-schaal.

On 22 July 2006, Cruijff made a surprise return to the football field, in the opening match of the new Emirates Stadium, a testimonial match for Arsenal and Dutch international player Dennis Bergkamp. Cruijff, Marco van Basten, and Bergkamp are often considered by critics and fans to be the three greatest Dutch players of their respective generations.

Cruyff is revered at Nou Camp for his successful career as player and coach. He quickly won over the Barça fans when he told the European press he chose Barça over Real Madrid because he could not play for a club associated with Franco. He further endeared himself when he chose a Catalan name, Jordi, for his son.

His son, Jordi Cruyff, has played for teams such as FC Barcelona (while his father was manager), Manchester United and Alaves. Interestingly, the younger Cruyff sports "Jordi" on his shirt to distinguish himself from his famous father.

Cruyff won the European Cup as a player and coach, one of the few to do so. His son Jordi was a Manchester United player when they won the Uefa Champions League in 1998-99 but despite featuring some of the early matches, he had been out on loan during their final run-in to the historic treble.

In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of the Netherlands by the Royal Netherlands Football Association as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.

On May 22, 2006 Cruijff was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to football by Laureus in their annual World Sports Awards.

Cruijff also received a lifetime achievement award from the KNVB in August 2006.

Quotes

By Cruijff himself

During his career Cruijff also became a national phenomenon on account of his comments. His expressions are considered as phrases of such simple, stark logic that it either qualifies as sheer brilliance or ultimate cheesiness. It has become cult in the Netherlands, where his form of speech was dubbed "Cruijffiaans" (eng: Cruyffian). His influence on the Spanish language has been subject of the documentary En un momento dado released in 2004. Some examples:

* "Football is simple, but the most difficult thing is to play simple football."
* "You are as valuable as the time you are on TV"
* "Italians can't beat us, but we certainly can lose against them." (Italianen kunnen niet van ons winnen, maar we kunnen wel van ze verliezen.)
* "Without the ball, you can't win." (Zonder de bal kun je niet winnen.)
* On the Teamgeist football for the 2006 FIFA World Cup: "A ball is an essential part of the game." (Een bal is een essentieel onderdeel van het spel.)
* "Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster." (Snelheid wordt vaak verward met inzicht. Als ik eerder ga lopen dan de rest, lijk ik sneller.)
* "Before I make a mistake, I DO NOT make that mistake." (Voordat ik een fout maak, maak ik die fout niet.)
* "Every disadvantage has its advantage." (Elk nadeel heb z'n voordeel.)
* "To win you have to make one more goal than your opponent." (Om te winnen moet je 1 doelpunt meer scoren dan je tegenstander.)
* "I'm not religious. In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they enter the pitch. If it worked, then it would always be a draw." (Ik geloof niet. In Spanje slaan alle 22 spelers een kruisje voordat ze het veld opkomen, als het werkt, zal het dus altijd een gelijkspel worden.)
* "Coincidence is logical." (Toeval is logisch.)
* "And if you score, then it's in." (En als je scoort, dan zit ie erin.)
* On Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi: "Look, actually he can't play football at all. He's just always in the right position." (Kijk, eigenlijk kan ie helemaal niet voetballen. Hij staat alleen altijd op de goeie plek.)
* On moving from Ajax Amsterdam to Barcelona: "I don't want to be a thief of my own wallet." (Ik wil geen dief van mijn eigen portemonnee zijn.)
* "You never see a Dutchman excelling in a sport like weightlifting. It's apparently not in our nature to lift weights. We're just too lazy. But we did sail every sea and we excel in hockey, football and volleyball. Being just a little bit smarter helps. Dutch people have the edge there." (Je ziet nooit een Hollander die uitblinkt in krachtsporten. Het zit kennelijk niet in onze mentaliteit om te gaan gewichtheffen. Dat kunnen we niet opbrengen. Je ziet wel dat we alle zeeën bevaren hebben. En in hockey, volleybal en voetbal staan we bovenaan. Dus: waar ligt het gaatje en hoe kom je er? Iets slimmer zijn dan een ander. Hollanders hebben een streepje voor.)
* "Extremes, I don't like them. Every extreme is so extreme" (Uitersten, daar hou ik niet van. Elk uiterste is iets waanzinnigs."
* "People say that life is like a stream. They are right. I recently tried to spit into the wind, and I spat in my face" ( Het leven is een stroom zeggen de mensen. Dat klopt. Toen ik laatst tegen de wind in wou spuwen, spoog ik mezelf in het gezicht.)
* "Often something in life is necessary." (Vaak heeft iets in het leven waarschijnlijk een noodzaak)
* "When I come home after a sport analysis and my wife asks: What did you say? I reply ... I have absolutely no idea whatsoever." (Als ik thuiskom van een televisieanalyse, vraagt mijn vrouw: Wat heb je gezegd? Dan zeg ik: Al sla je me dood)
* "Orange is a happy colour." (Oranje is een blije kleur)
* "If it isn't going well, then it isn't going well" (Als het niet goed gaat, dan gaat het niet goed)

About Cruijff

* "He was the better player, but I won the World Cup" — Franz Beckenbauer
* "Pelé was the best, but after him comes Johan. He is the best player Europe ever produced" — Franz Beckenbauer
* "He is the best player I have ever seen." — Ron Atkinson
* "Maradona was absolutely the best player I have ever played with - but Johan Cruyff was the best player I ever played against" — Mario Kempes
* "I think along with Johan Cruyff, Pelé is the best player I have ever played against, and with Diego Maradona, the best players I have ever seen." — Alan Ball
* "Johan Cruyff was my idol. He is the best player I have seen in my lifetime" — Michel Platini
* "I loved the Dutch in the '70s, they excited me and Cruyff was the best. He was my childhood hero; I had a poster of him on my bedroom wall. He was a creator. He was at the heart of a revolution with his football. Ajax changed football and he was the leader of it all. If he wanted he could be the best player in any position on the pitch." — Eric Cantona

 

Well, Cruyff is a Barça legend, but I wouldn't say he's an icon, if you just consider his time as a player. Actually, he's a reference for Barcelona still nowadays, but for the phylosophy he established in the late 80s and early 90s, and not for his time as a player. In fact, his idea of football is what has made us huge in the last 15 years. But his time as a player was reduced to one Liga, which will be never forgotten by one generation of barcelonistas, like my dad. It was the first Liga in 14 years. But he was some more years in Barcelona and he didn't kept the level of his first season. The best Cruyff was seen in Amsterdam and just one year in Barcelona.

For me, the icon player is Ladislao Kubala. Even in Barça's official web site says that the club built the Camp Nou, because Les Corts were too small to see him playing. He brought several Ligas, Copas and Copas Latinas (which were a kind of EC of its time). One day, I'll post his story here.

 

K4 is right there and his account of Kubala is to be looked forward to. A couple more of Cruyff's quotes I remember:
"It looks as if the sacred cows will have to bail us out then". When filling the team with youth players was proving disastrous.
And "They are not serious about sending a woman to interview us, are they?" When TV Catalunya started hiring women sportscasters.

 

Nice post SM , Mods you should ban wikipedia entries, thats cheating p

But nice job guys, keep it going. :shades:

 

Nice post SM

Nah copy and paste all the way, like I said credit WOOLTONIAN.

 

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Very educational mate and so true. I don't agree with you on that last bit about Denis Law though (who should also have his place on this thread if there's a ******* fan old enough). He was only doing his job that day and had tears in his eyes after scoring it. I can still remember it as if it was yesterday and it was the only time my dad let me get on top of his car to celebrate.

yes, and it didn't send United down anyway, they were already down at that stage and the goal didn't matter.

it was quite instinctive as well, he was so used to scoring goals he would have finished a chance like that in his sleep.

the Woolton guy let his article down with the United dig at the end.

 

Charlie George
Appearances: 179 Apps, 49 Goals 1966/7-1974/75
Date of birth: 10/10/1950
Place of birth: Islington, London
Nationality: England 1 cap
Other clubs: Derby County 1975/6–1978/9, 1981/2
St Georges Budapest (Australia) (Loan) 1977
Minnesota Kicks 1978
Southampton 1978/9-1980/81
Nottingham Forest (Loan) 1980/1
Bulova (Hong Kong) 1981/82
Bournemouth 1981/2
Dundee 1982/3

Born in Islington and raised on the Council estates of Tufnell Park and Camden Town, less than a mile from the club that he had supported from the North Bank terraces, Charles Frederick George left Holloway County School in May 1966 to sign apprentice forms with the club of his dreams. “Charlie” was the archetypal football supporter given the chance to play for his club. As a youngster he once called in sick and was excused from playing for the reserves – but then travelled to Bristol without the Club’s permission, to stand on the terraces supporting the first team in an FA Cup tie. Graduating quickly through the youth team and reserves (absences to support the first team permitting), Charlie made his senior debut in August 1969 against Everton. The 19-year-old quickly became a regular in the side, playing in both legs of the 1970 Fairs Cup Final win over Anderlecht.roud:

He broke his ankle scoring against Everton in the opening match of the following season, but recovered in time to play a significant part in Arsenal’s run-in to the 1970/71 Football League Championship.roud:If he thought that his Gooner dreams had been fulfilled as he celebrated an Arsenal championship title on the White Hart Lane pitch with his team mates, Charlie George was not to know that his greatest moment for the club still lay a few days ahead of him, with a spectacular 20-yard winner in extra-time of the 1971 FA Cup Final against Liverpool, clinching Arsenal’s first League and FA Cup Double. The photos of Charlie George famously celebrating the goal by lying flat on his back with arms spread out on the Wembley turf were flashed around the world, and remain recognisable to this day roud: – he modestly claims he is better-known outside of Arsenal fans for the celebration than the goal.

George’s shooting, his one-touch passing, vision and audaciousness were legendary; he truly possessed enough talent to have propelled himself up onto the world stage alongside the likes of Cruyff and Beckenbauer.:eekani: His party piece as a teenager was to launch the ball into orbit, stand watching impassively as it raced back towards him, and then kill it on the end his toes without the slightest hint of a bounce. Every supporter of Charlie’s time has a favourite goal – it might be his extra-time 1970/71 FA Cup winner, or either one of a stunning brace at Manchester City in an earlier round, or his rocket of a shot at home to Newcastle in the league the same season, or his strike from just over the half-way line at home to Wolves in 1973. In truth, all of them represented the same thing – a goal for Arsenal, scored by a true fan from the North Bank, and celebrated with the rest.

Charlie played four more seasons at Highbury, but from 1972 onwards, his career gradually stalled through injuries and loss of form, and at the same time the club’s fortunes began to wane.He became disenchanted with the club in general and manager Bertie Mee in particular. In 1975, aged 25, Charlie George was sold by Mee to Derby County for £100,000. Fondly remembered by Rams fans, he shocked world football with a hat-trick in Derby’s 4-1 victory over Real Madrid in the European Cup. He was bought by Lawrie Macmenemy to Southampton for £350,000 in December 1978. A chronic knee condition began to limit his appearances, and his final season at the Saints included a short spell on loan at Nottingham Forest in 1981 – his four games for Brian Clough included winning the European Super Cup against Barcelona, where he scored the only goal in the home leg, then helped successfully defend the lead in a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp.

George left the Dell in the summer of 1981 and played for a season with Buloya in Hong Kong. He came back to England in 1982 and played a short cameo role for Harry Redknapp at Bournemouth, before returning to Derby for the remainder of the 1981/2 season to help in their relegation battle. He finally retired at the end of a short-term contract at Dundee United in 1983. In all Charlie George played 179 matches for Arsenal, scoring 49 goals. While at Derby, he earned a solitary cap for England, playing for just 60 minutes against the Republic of Ireland in 1976. He would surely have won far more, but for an inevitable fall-out with Don Revie, when he joined a rather exclusive band of players who have had sufficient courage of their convictions to tell their England manager to “go f*** yourself.”

Charlie George retired to enjoy the country life and run a pub in New Milton, Hampshire, but following the painful break-up of his marriage, he returned to his roots in North London, where he worked in a friend’s garage for several years. Charlie is now a tour guide at Arsenal’s club museum. In “Charlie George, My Story” the former darling of the North Bank writes: “My life at present couldn’t be happier. I work regularly at Arsenal and I’m loving it. It means I’m back home at Highbury, the place I would rather never have left.”

 

Argentina
Diego Maradona

Nothing more needs to be said.

 

He was a key catalyst in the Liverpool "pass and move" style which won us so many prestigous titles, whilst also being so talented, he was a very nice man and had a dominant aure about himself, he went on to manage Liverpool and win 3 league titles, whilst creating one of the best Liverpool sides ever, the 1988 side which even Arrigo Sacchi said he was envious of and admired vastly.

I don't seem to recall reading that That 88 Liverpool team was a good team, though the only player I'd take for a starting place in Sacchi's Milan is John Barnes.

 

GIANNI RIVERA

Born: Alessandria, 18/8/43
Clubs: Alessandria 1958-60 (26 apps, 6 goals) Milan 1960-79 (501 apps, 122
goals)
Serie A debut: Alessandria-Inter, 2/6/59 (1-1)
Last Serie A match: Lazio-Milan, 13/5/79 (1-1)
Honours: 3 Serie A titles (1962, 68, 79); 4 Coppa Italia (1957, 72, 73, 77); 2 European Cups (1963, 69); 1 Intercontinental Cup (1969); 2 Cup Winners' Cup (1968, 73); European Championship (1968); European Footballer of the Year (1969)
International caps 60
International goals 14
Debut Belgium 1-3 Italy, 13/5/62
Last cap Italy 1-1 Argentina, 19/6/74

Bambino d’Oro - Golden Boy

Every Serie A club has what is known in Italy as a Un Bandiera - a player who symbolises that club. At Milan that player is Gianni Rivera. A graceful and elegant inside forward, Rivera became known as the Golden Boy. He wore the No 10 shirt from 1961 to 1979 and the 501 appearances he made for the Rossoneri remain a club record.

Rivera helped Milan win three Serie A titles, two European Cups, two Italian Cups and the Cup-Winners’ Cup. In every poll to determine Italy’s greatest player, Rivera heads the list ahead of names such as Silvio Piola, Luigi Riva and Paolo Rossi. The son of a railwayman, Rivera joined local club Alessandria and made his Serie A debut at the tender age of 16. Even at that age Rivera looked special and some of Italy’s most respected journalists started to rave about the graceful youngster.

Giorgio Bocca eloquently wrote: "His neck is like that of a swan. His eyes and tuft belong to a rare and precious bird. When he is in full flow, he reminds me of a heron." Gianni Mottana commented: "He doesn’t touch the ball. He brushes it. He even seems to float over the ground when he runs."

In 1960, a year after his debut, he was sold to Milan for £65,000. Giuseppe Viani, one of Milan’s managers and the man who travelled to Alessandria to sign the player, was so enamoured with Rivera that he christened him ‘Bambino d’Oro’ - Golden Boy. The name would stick for the rest of Rivera’s days.

With his vision and superb passing ability, Rivera was the creative heart of Nereo Rocco’s team and at the beginning he formed a brilliant understanding with Brazilian striker Jose Altafini. In the 1963 European Cup final at Wembley Altafini scored Milan’s goals in their 2-1 win over Benfica, but it was Rivera who made both. Benfica made the mistake of giving the Italian genius too much space and Rivera ended up orchestrating the midfield.

By the age of 19, Rivera had won both Lo Scudetto and the European Cup. Not only that, Rocco had built his entire team around this exciting footballer blessed with film star looks. Rivera’s heyday was arguably the late 60s. In 1968 he won both Lo Scudetto and the Cup-Winners’ Cup. In 1969 he inspired Milan to win their second European Cup, hammering Ajax in Madrid. Rivera set up two of Milan’s four goals that night. The Dutch team boasted an exciting forward called Johan Cruyff but in 1969 Rivera was the master, proved when he won the European Footballer of the Year award - the first Italian player to do so.

Yet Rivera very nearly joined Juventus. The Bianconeri spotted him playing in a youth tournament in Turin. Claiming Rivera may have lacked the physique appropriate for top-class football, Juve offered Alessandria around £2,500 for the player - an amount that annoyed Alessandria Coach Franco Pedroni. "When they offered us that figure I was very angry," he recalled.

"I valued Rivera much, much higher. I spoke to my brother-in-law and he contacted Milan, telling Viani that here, at Alessandria, we had a phenomenon. "He came and was sceptical at first, but then he said ‘Don’t tell anyone but I’m going to recommend him. He’s a great champion’. And that’s how Rivera became a Milan player and not a Juventus one."

During the 70s Rivera continued to inspire a less talented Milan side. They did win a bad-tempered and controversial Cup-Winners’ Cup final against Leeds in 1973 and they reached the final of the same tournament the following year. Milan were favourites to retain the trophy since their opponents were rank outsiders from East Germany, FC Magdeburg. But Rivera had a poor game and Milan lost 1-0.

However, in 1979 Rivera ended his Milan career on a high note, winning Lo Scudetto for a third time. The Rossoneri were surprise winners in a decade dominated by Giovanni Trapattoni’s Juventus and they won the 1978-79 championship with a match to spare.
When he retired from football, to concentrate on a career in politics, Milan were never the same. The club fell into immediate decline, culminating in two relegations to Serie B.
Indeed, the tifosi had to wait for nearly 10 years before they had another great side to cheer.

Rivera’s Azzurri blues

It remains one of the most tragic episodes in the history of the national team - Gianni Rivera failing to repeat his Milan form for Italy. The Milan genius was a member of the Italian sides eliminated in the first round of both the 1966 and 1974 World Cups. Considering his length of service for the Rossoneri, the 60 appearances he made for the Azzurri is quite a low figure. The reason he failed to win more caps was because of Sandro Mazzola, the No 10 at Inter.

Mazzola seized his chance during the 1968 European Championships in Italy. The Azzurri faced Yugoslavia in the final. Rivera played in the first match which ended 1-1, but was injured for the replay. Mazzola came in, played well and Italy won 2-0.
Since that night in Rome, Rivera’s role in the national team was never secure. Feruccio Valcareggi was a fan of Mazzola’s, but a player of Rivera’s immense talent could not be ignored. So for the 1970 World Cup, Valcareggi dreamed up the ‘staffetta’ - the relay. Mazzola would play one half, Rivera the other.

It sounded fair in theory, but in practice it never really worked. In the first three games in Mexico - and despite Italy scoring just one goal - Rivera hardly played. Clearly upset, he threatened to return home and it took a heart-to-heart with Rocco to change his mind.

Just as well, too. Rivera, as a second-half substitute, inspired victories against Mexico in the quarter-final and West Germany in the semi-final. It was Rivera’s winning extra-time goal in a sensational 4-3 win over the German side that booked Italy’s place in the final.
But against Brazil there was more disappointment. Mazzola was Italy’s best player and Rivera, humiliatingly, came on for Roberto Boninsegna with only six minutes to spare with Italy already 3-1 down.

Rivera’s last appearance for his country was during the 1974 World Cup. Their first round elimination prompted a mammoth purge. Ironically both Rivera and Mazzola, rivals for so many years, were axed at the same time.

 

Brazil: Pelé

Flamengo: Zico

 

Denmark: Preben Elkjær

 

I don't seem to recall reading that That 88 Liverpool team was a good team, though the only player I'd take for a starting place in Sacchi's Milan is John Barnes.

that 88 Liverpool team was played off the park at Anfield by the Arsenal in the Littlewoods Cup. :thumbsup:

they were a top side though, and they did with average guys like Houghton in the team.