Step 1 : Browse your way through the descriptions using the A-Z navigation, and read about Europe's Top 40 greatest football players of all time |
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George Best: Forward, Northern Ireland
37 caps / 9 goals
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A key figure of the Manchester United team of the late 60s, George Best was arguably the greatest player of his generation, and the first superstar footballer. Twice a league championship winner with United, and the inspiration behind their 1968 European Cup triumph, Best soon turned his back on a top level career, retiring to a life of alcohol and indulgence at the tender age of 26. "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered," he famously said of his lifestyle |
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Gerd Muller: Striker, West Germany
62 caps / 68 goals
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Muller was described by Helmut Schoen, the West Germany manager in the 60s and 70s as ‘my scorer of little goals’. His most famous ‘little goal’ came in the 1974 World Cup Final against Holland. Muller’s goals enabled Bayern Munich to rise out of regional League obscurity to victory in the 67 Cup Winner’s Cup inside three years. Internationally Muller scored a remarkable 68 goals in 62 for his country and was 1970 European Footballer of the Year |
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Gheorghe Hagi: Midfielder, Romania
125 caps / 35 goals
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Known as "the Maradona of the Carpathians", Hagi was a genius on the field. His ability to score from free kicks using his deadly left foot legendary. In his hometown of Constanta, the stadium was re-named in his honour. Almost single-handedly responsible for the rise of Romanian football in the 1990s, his playing style revolutionized the Romanian game. Unsuprisingly, Hagi was named Romanian player of the century |
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Gordon Banks: Goalkeeper, England
73 caps
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One of the greatest goalkeepers the world has ever seen, Gordon was nicknamed “Banks of England” – because he was as safe between the posts as money in the bank of England! He helped his country lift the World Cup in 1966 - England reached the semi-finals without Banks conceding a goal – but he’ll forever be remembered for his brilliant one-handed save to deny Pele at the 1970 World Cup. His top-level career was cut short after a car crash resulted in him losing his sight in one eye |
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