40 GREAT BRITISH PLAYERS - Post War.

1. Tony ADAMS, Arsenal
Made his debut as a seventeen year old in 1983, he remains a Gunner's stalwart to this day.  @
Adams has survived terrace barracking, a spell in prison and other non football related incidents @
to become one of the greatest ever Arsenal captains and a mainstay in the England side.  @
Has skippered Arsenal to two League Championships, two League Cups, an F.A. Cup and European @
Cup Winners Cup triumphs.

2. Gordon BANKS, Leicester City, Stoke City
Banks was one of the greatest keepers in the world.  He was robbed of adding to his 73 England @
caps by a car crash which left him blind in one eye.  Banks save from Pele's header in the 1970 @
World Cup finals and his penalty save from Geoff Hurst in a domestic semi final will rank as two @
of the best saves ever.

3. John BARNES, Watford, Liverpool
Barnes with over 80 England caps to his name remains as one of @
the biggest enigmas in the game, capable of superlative talent and isolated disinterest. Barnes' @
supreme skill is beyond question, Player of the Year in 1988 and 1990, he has helped Liverpool to @
a string of trophies, scoring spectacular goals and making goals for others.  His failure to perform @
consistently at international level should not detract from Barnes' sheer excellence.

4. George BEST, Manchester United, Stockport County, Fulham, Hibernian, and Tampa Bay Rowdies
Arguably the greatest talent the British game has ever seen, George Best was football's first @
superstar and it was a tragedy when he walked out on Manchester United at the age of 27.  @
Best had it all, superb balance, two good feet, brilliant dribbling skills, a powerful shot, he was @
even good in the air.  The sixties were Best's heyday, he won the a Championship medal twice, @
a European Cup medal and in 1968 was the European Footballer of the Year.  Best's decline is @
well documented, but ultimately he should be remembered for what he was - a footballing genius

5. Danny BLANCHFLOWER, Barnsley, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur 
A great player, a superb @
communicator and entertaining raconteur, Blanchflower is sorely missed.  Driving force behind @
Northern Ireland's brave 1958 World Cup bid and skipper of Spurs' famous double side of @
1961, the F.A Cup in 1962 and the Cup Winners Cup in 1963.  Blanchflower was an expert Playmaker @
who brought a touch of class to every team he played for.

6. Liam BRADY, Arsenal,Juventus, Sampdoria, Inter, Ascoli, West Ham United.
Brady was the @
standout player in the rather staid Arsenal side of the 1970's. His educated left foot brought @
success for Arsenal and the Republic of Ireland.  It was Brady's sorcery that got Arsenal to @
three successive F.A. Cup Finals in 78,79 and 80.  Brady ripped Manchester United apart in the 1979 @
classic final setting up the winner for Alan Sunderland.   Brady left Arsenal for Serie A football@
in Italy where again he prospered. Unfortunately like so many great players he has found @
management more difficult.

7. Billy BRUMNER, Leeds United, Hull City, Doncaster Rovers 
Winner of 55 Scotland caps, vital cog in the all conquering Leeds side of @
the late 60's and early 70's Billy Bremner was a Yorkshire legend. He won every domestic honour @
in the game, though his runner up medals numbered even more.  A fierce tackler, a tough @
competitor and a man for the big occasion, Bremner efforts will never be forgotten at Elland @
Road. Now a media pundit, Bremner turned his hand at management and was even boss at Leeds, @
but like so many before him, he couldn't match his playing achievements.

8. John CHARLES, Leeds United, Juventus, Leeds United, Roma, Cardiff City.  
Charles played central @
defender for Wales, but was a good enough centre forward to score 42 goals in a single season for @
Leeds.  Charles was a giant of a man, but his size betrayed superb skill and touch.  He was @
probably the best British export to play in Italy when he was transferred to Juventus in 1957 for @
a then record œ67,000.  A strike rate of two goals per three games helped Juventus land the Serie A @
title three times in five years in 1958, 60 and 61.

9. Bobby CHARLTON, Manchester United.  
An Old Trafford hero, Charlton achievements as a player @
are as amazing as they are long - 106 England Caps, a record 49 England goals, European @
Footballer of the Year, World, European, League, and F.A. Cup winner and countless other medals.  @
A ferocious shot and a sharp turn of pace were Charlton's chief attributes, he scored goal after @
thunderous goal for United and England. Now a roving football ambssador and United Director, @
Charlton's name stands for sportsmanship and integrity.

10. Steve COPPELL, Tranmere Rovers, Manchester United.
A class winger who added some skill to @
Manchester United's barren times of the late seventies and early eighties.  Good wingplay, searching @
crosses and a fierce shot earned Coppell 42 England caps and helped United reach 3 Cup Finals.  @
Coppell's career was ended prematurely by injury.  When appointed manager of Crystal Palace in @
1984, he became one of the youngest managerseder.  He guided Palace out of the second division @
and into the 1990 F.A. Cup Final before leaving to participate in soccer administration.  In 1995, @
he rejoined Crystal Palace as Technical Director.

11. Kenny DALGLISH, Glasgow Celtic, Liverpool.  
Dalglish was one of the best players of modern @
times, winning countless medals and trophies for both clubs.  Great control especially shielding @
the ball, defence splitting passes, a sharp turn of pace and a scorer of goals, Dalglish had it all.  @
In addition to his domestic and European honours, Dalglish played a record 102 times for Scotland @
scoring a record 30 goals.  Dalglish became player manager of Liverpool in 1985, leading them to @
the double in his first season.  Two more league titles followed, before Dalglish shocked the @
football world and resigned as Liverpool manager in 1991 due to stress.  Eight months later he @
took over the reins at second division Blackburn and just 4 years later, he landed the Premier @
title for the Lancashire club.

12. Duncan EDWARDS, Manchester United 
Edwards remains the youngest player ever to pull on an @
England shirt.  Only 18 when he made his debut against Scotland, a glittering career was tragically @
cut short when in 1958 Edwards perished in the Munich air crash, only 21, with 18 caps Edwards @
looked set to be one of the most capped England players ever.  A great all round player with @
devastating skill Edwards was the pick of the Busby Babes, football lost a potential legend in 1958.

13. Tom FINNEY, Preston North End
Tom Finney was a brave as a lion, a genuine two footed @
player who could turn defenders inside out.  He won the first of his 73 caps in 1947 and scored a @
then record 30 international goals in an England career that spanned 12 years.  Honours at domestic @
level were sparce but Finney will always be remembered as one of the first stars of the post war @
era.

14. Trevor FRANCIS, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Sampdoria, Atalanta, 
Rangers, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday
Francis made history as the first British million pound player @
when he transferred from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in 1979.  Francis had been a @
teenage sensation at The Blues, making his debut at the age of 16 and enthralling crowds with @
his speed, close control and goal scoring ability. Francis repaid a lot of the million pounds when @
he scored the winning goal in the 1979 European Champions Final against Malmo.  The much @
travelled striker played 52 times for England before trying his hand at management at Queens @
Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday from whom he was recently sacked.

15. Paul GASCOIGNE, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio 
Gascoigne arrived on the world @
stage with tremendous effect in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy.  His skill, vision and flair @
immediately set him apart as a major talent.  The whole of Britain knew Gazza was immensely @
talented but his consistency was questioned.  Transferred from his native Newcastle to Spurs in @
1988, Gazza soon became a North London legend scoring memorable goals and helping them to @
1991 F.A. Cup success.  The tendency to hit the self destruct button remained and this coupled @
with a string of injuries has limited Gazza to little more than 50 games in 4 years.  His Italian soujorn @
seems to have ended and at the time of going to press, it seems likely that he is going to play for @
Glasgow Rangers.

16. Ryan GIGGS, Manchester United 
Great close control, a powerful left foot, electric pace, a lean @
frame, dark looks, an Old Trafford legend. Ryan Giggs, more than most has had to put up with @
endless comparisons with George Best.  Giggs made his Old Trafford debut at the age of 17, within @
three years he had won two championship medals, an F.A. Cup winners medal, a League Cup @
medal and full international caps. Playing in a team packed with talent, Giggs has flourished and @
overcome the snipers who said he was a flash in the pan.  His presence at United should guarantee @
them continued honours throughout the 1990's.

17. Jimmy GREAVES, Chelsea, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United 
Greaves was a goal @
scoring sensation, six times he was the first division's leading scoring and his international strike @
rate of 44 goals in 57 internationals will probably never be beaten.  An instinctive and natural @
scorer, Greaves could do nothing all game and then pop up with a hattrick.  Every club he played for @
benefited from his prolific talents.  His early retirement at the age of 30 preceded a slide into @
alcoholism.  It is a testament to Greaves's character that he rose above this to become a popular @
media pundit.

18. Alan HANSEN, Partick Thistle, Liverpool
A cool, cool defender, Hansen was unflappable at the @
back.  Great going forward and equally as good defending.  Hansen won trophy upon trophy in his @
time at Liverpool and it is a scandal that in an international career spanning 8 years Hansen only @
won 26 Scotland caps.  Hansen is now a BBC pundit where he is just as sharp as he was on the @
pitch.  For a taste of his acerbic wit just keep playing the game.

19. Glen HODDLE, Tottenham Hotspur, Monaco, Swindon Town, Chelsea
Hoddle was a classy player @
who lit up many a grey day in North London. Inch perfect 70 yard passes, cheeky skill, great control @
and a penchant for the unexpected were all typical of Hoddle.  Hoddle's international career never @
lived up to expectation, although he played more than 50 times for his country, no England manager @
found a way of best utilising his talent.  In 1987, Hoddle left Spurs for France and again he inspired @
Monaco to success.  He came back to England to manage Swindon. He got them in the Premier @
Division before acrimoniously leaving to manage Chelsea.  He led them to an F.A. Cup final in 1994, @
before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1994-95 season.

20. Mark HUGHES, Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United
Mark Hughes will @
always be remembered for his spectacular goals - scissors kicks, flying volleys, 25 yard screamers @
are his bread and butter.  His all round play should not be forgotten, no player holds the ball up as @
well as Hughes, his control is also exemplary.  Hughes has scored vital goals for United and Wales.  @
His career has only one blot - an unhappy time with Barcelona in 1986 and  1987.  Hughes looked @
set to leave United in early '95.  Many United fans breathed a sigh of relief when a bizarre chain @
of events meant that Hughes stayed at Old Trafford.

21. Geoff HURST, West Ham United, Stoke City
Hurst will forever be remembered as the only man to @
score a hattrick in a World Cup Final.  A replacement for Jimmy Greaves in 1966, he made an @
immediate impact.  Geoff Hurst was a man for the big occasion, he scored 46 League Cup goals @
and 23 F.A. Cup goals before going into management at Chelsea where he wasn't nearly as @
successful as a manager.

22. Pat JENNINGS, Newry Town, Watford, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal.  
The biggest and safest @
hands in soccer was a charismatic and likeable figure in England throughout the seventies.  @
He played in four cup finals, scored from a clearance in the 1967 Charity Shield, played international @
football to the age of 41 and had over 30,000 people attend his testimonial.  A great player.

23. Kevin KEEGAN, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, Newcastle United.
Keegan was England's top @
player in the 1970's.  A midfield dynamo with limitless energy Keegan captained the national side @
and inspired Liverpool and then Hamburg.  Voted European Footballer of the year in 1978 and @
1979, Keegan was the complete footballer.  He returned to England to play for Southampton in 1980, @
before returning to his native Newcastle for a glorious swansong.  Playing in a great Newcastle side @
with Beardsley and Waddle, the geordies surged to promotion.  Keegan retired in 1984, but the pull @
of football proved too much and he returned to England to manage Newcastle United in 1984.

24. Denis LAW, Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, Torino, Manchester United, Manchester City.
Law was a fierce competitor, great in the air and scorer of spectacular goals. Law really made 
his name playing in the great Manchester United team of the 1960's. In 1964 he was European 
Footballer of the Year. He also made an impact on the international scene scoring a record 30 
goals for Scotland in only 55 appearances. Law retired from league football in 1974, in his last 
game playing for Man.City he scored the goal that relegated Manchester United to the second 
division.

25. Gary LINEKER, Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Grampus 8
Lineker is a @
modern day phenemonon, an immensely talented goalscorer who was never cautioned in his entire @
career.  Lineker made his name at unfashionable Leicester, before moving on to Everton in 1985 @
where he had one glorious goalscoring season.  After a stunning World Cup in Mexico, Lineker @
moved onto Barcelona.  He had three great years in Spain before leaving for Spurs.  At Tottenham @
Lineker, joined up with Terry Venables, his manager at Barcelona, another good World Cup in Italy @
followed as did a F.A. Cup WInners medal in 1991. By now Lineker was England Captain and chasing @
Bobby Charlton's international scoring record.  It wasn't to be, his ENgland career ended in ignomy @
in Sweden still 1 goal short of the record.  Lineker went on to play in Japan, but a troublesome @
toe ended his playing career.  Lineker has recently embarked on a career at the B.B.C

26. Ally McCOIST, St Johnstone, Sunderland, Rangers.
The immensely popular Ally McCoist came back @
to prominence after a horrific two season spell at Sunderland in the early eighties.  His misery ended @
when transferred to Rangers where he has enjoyed a glorious decade.  WIth 50 Scottish cap to his @
name, Scottish Player of the Year in 1992 and Golden Boot winner, McCoist has established himself @
as one of Europe's top marksman.

27. Stanley MATTHEWS, Stoke City, Blackpool, Stoke City
Matthews was an extraordinary player.  @
His career spanned over 30 years until Matthews finally retired at the age of 50.  He was the @
wizard of the wing, jinking, feinting, turning left backs inside out with his sublime skills.  Matthews @
made his debut for England in 1934 and played his last a remarkable 23 years later at the age of @
42.  In 1953, Matthews place in the hearts of the nation were sealed when playing for Blackpool @
he inspired a remarkable comeback in the 1953 Cup Final.  In 1961 he returned to Stoke where he @
played out his career.  Matthews was knighted and this gentleman of the game recently celebrated @
his 80th birthday.

28. Bobby MOORE, West Ham United, Fulham
Bobby Moore was the man to captain England to their @
only World Cup win in 1966, for that alone he will always be remembered.  Moore was a great @
defender, a cool head and an inspirational leader.  He captained England a record 90 times, won @
108 caps and led West Ham to a string of domestic trophies.  In that match with England 3-2 up and @
1 minute remaining, Moore found himself with the ball way back in the English half, his team mates @
and crowd screamed at Moore to hoof the ball out of play, but the ice cool skipper looked up and @
saw Geoff Hurst, found him with the perfect ball which Hurst ran on to score England's fourth.

29. Stan MORTENSON, Blackpool, Hull, Southport.
The first man to score a hat trick in a F.A. Cup Final, @
Mortensen hit the headlines when he scored three in the 1953 so called Matthews final.  He was a @
phenomenal goal scorer averaging nearly a goal a game in his 25 internationals, and hitting 225 @
league goals and 28 cup goals.

30. Stuart PEARCE, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest.
Pearce has made his name as a fierce @
defender, ferocious free kick specialist and inspirational skipper.  He really came into his own under @
Brian Clough at Forest, becoming captain and leading them to a string of domestic honours.  He won @
the first of his England caps in 1987, was England skipper for a period and now has now made over @
50 appearances.  He suffered a bad spell when Forest were relegated in 1993, but they bounced @
back and are now a premiership force.

31. Bryan ROBON, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Middlesborough
Captain Fantastic as he @
was dubbed was the major force in the English game in the 1980's.  He made his name at West Brom @
before his former manager, Ron Atkinson brought him to Old Trafford for a then record fee @
of œ1.5 million in 1981.  Robson won 90 England caps, many of them as captain and had it not been @
for injury he would have easily surpassed the 100 mark.  A good tackler, a goal scorer, brave in @
the air, Robson was the complete modern footballer.  He left United to become Player Manager @
of Middlesborough in 1994, and straight away took them out of the second division into the @
premiership.

32. Ian RUSH, Chester City, Liverpool, Juventus, Liverpool
Great finishing ability, superb running off @
the ball, inch perfect passes, Ian Rush is the best in the business.  In his two spells at Anfield @
Rush has scored over 200 league goals, he is also poised to overtake Denis Law's F.A. Cup goal @
scoring record.  He also holds the record for most international goals for Wales.  He is now along @
with Neville Southall being tipped to take over from Mike Smith as manager of Wales.

33. Peter SHILTON, Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby County, 
Plymouth Argyle, Bolton Wanderers.
Shilton earned the first of his England caps as a 20 year old @
in 1970, his 125th and last came twenty years later.  The figure would have been nearer 200 had @
Ray Clemence not been preferred to Shilton in the Revie years.  A great shot stopper and agile @
keeper, Shilton mad his name in the midlands, helping Forest to two successive European Cup @
victories.  He moved to Southampton and then Derby before an unsuccessful management career @
at Plymouth.  Since leaving Plymouth Shilton has been filling in at several league clubs as an @
emergency keeper. 

34. Alan SHEARER, Southampton, Blackburn Rovers
Shearer showed signs of things to come when @
as a seventeen year old he scored a hat trick against Arsenal on his debut.  Shearer's running off @
the ball along with a nose for goal brought a big money move to Blackburn in 1992.  Shearer's @
fairly modest record of 23 goals in 118 league games at Southampton was blown away by his @
spectacular scoring at Blackburn.  By the time Rovers had taken the 94-95 title at Anfield in @
dramatic circumstances, Shearer had scored nearly 80 league goals in only 100 games.  At only @
24, Shearer could go on to become a legendary goalsorer.

35. Graham SOUNESS, Spurs, Middlesborough, Liverpool, Sampdoria, Glasgow Rangers.
Souness was @
a world class midfielder, he won over 50 caps for Scotland and inspired all those around him.  His @
forte was passing and tackling, even though the latter often fell on the wrong side of the law.  @
Souness arrived at Liverpool in 1978, and for his next 6 years before going to Italy, save the F.A. @
Cup Souness won every honour in the game.  He came back to Britain in 1986 when appointed @
player manager at Rangers.  He soon turned them into a major force before going south to become @
manager of Liverpool..  Although he won the F.A. Cup in 1992, it didn't work out and Souness left @
in early 1994. He is now to take over at Galatasary in Turkey.

36. Gordon STRACHAN, Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United, Coventry City
A tenacious, skillful midfield player who made his mark both north and south of the border.  @
Strachan's impish skill made him a firm favourite with the home fans and in his time he won F.A @
Cup medals and Championship medals both in England and Scotland and a European Cup Winners @
medal for Aberdeen in 1983.  Strachan won 50 caps for Scotland and announced his retirement from @
the game in 1995.  He joined the coaching staff at Coventry, but a string of injuries meant that @
Strachan played in Coventry's last few matches helping them beat the drop.

37. Chris WADDLE, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday
The word enigma could have been created for Waddle, a man of immense natural talent and @
ability Waddle like his England counterpart Barnes has been frustrating and delighting audiences @
for more than a decade.  He is a great crosser of the ball, has an abundance of tricks, a powerful @
shot and has a penchant for the unexpected.  Waddle made his mark up at Newcastle before @
transferring to Spurs in 1985. He enjoyed 4 good years at Spurs before going to Marseilles for over @
œ4 million in 1989.  He became a firm favourite in France before coming back to England in 1992.  @
He has enjoyed a late renaissance at Wednesday helping them to League and F.A. Cup final and @
being voted Player of the Year, controversially he did not add this 62 England caps.

38. Ray WILKINS, Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan, Paris St Germain, Glasgow Rangers, Q.P.R., 
Crystal Palace, Q.P.R
Wilkins won 84 England caps but never the recognition he deserved. A classy @
player who read the game brilliantly, Wilkins was a major talent.  He quickly became a firm @
favourite at Chelsea before leaving for United in 1979.  He had a mixed five years at United with @
various highs and lows, being nicknamed 'The Crab' for allegedly always going sideways by his @
then manager Ron Atkinson did not help.  He left for Milan in 1984 where his talents were more @
appreciated.  He came back to Britain and like Waddle enjoyed an Indian summer before becoming @
Q.P.R. manager late in 1994.

39. Billy WRIGHT, Wolverhampton Wanderers
The first man to win 100 England caps, Wright was a @
wing half turned centre mark whose tackling, heading and vision were all first class.  His @
England career lasted 12 years and for the majority of his 105 caps Wright was captain. Wright @
also won an F.A. Cup winners medal and two League Championships with Wolves.  He went into @
management at Arsenal, but left to become a media celebrity. His death in 1994 robbed football @
of one of its greatest sons.

40. Ian WRIGHT, Crystal Palace, Arsenal.
Ian Wright really arrived in the public's eye when he came @
on as substitute in the 1990 F.A. Cup Final to score two quick goals that nearly helped Palace @
defeat Manchester United.  At Palace, his quick thinking, inventiveness and sharp shooting helped @
him and Mark Bright form a formidable partnership.  In late 1991, he moved to Arsenal for œ2.5 @
million and set about scoring goal after goal for the Gunners. He helped Arsenal to F.A. Cup, @
League Cup and Cup WInner's Cup triumphs.  The only disappointment for Wright is that his stop @
start international career was never as explosive as his club one.
