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Famous 20th Century British Football Players

Find out more about the greatest 20th Century British Football Players, including Jamie Vardy, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Dele Alli.
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 1 
David Beckham
(English Former Professional Footballer Who was One of the Greatest Midfielders of His Generation)
David Beckham
182
Birthdate: May 2, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England
David Beckham is a former English footballer who was football superstar on-field and a heartthrob off-field. A former player for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Milan, among others, Beckham was a free-kick specialist, a brilliant crosser of the ball and the first English player to win league titles in four countries. His passion for football, charisma and fashion style have made him an international sensation.  
 2 
Alan Shearer
(One of the Best Strikers of His Generation and One of the Greatest Players in Premier League History)
Alan Shearer
39
Birthdate: August 13, 1970
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Gosforth, England
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has also worked as a BBC football pundit and a football manager. The Euro 1996 Golden Boot-winner has also represented Southampton and Blackburn Rovers, winning the 1994-1995 Premier League with the latter. With 260 goals, he became the Premier League’s leading goal-scorer.
 3 
Gary Lineker
(One of the Greatest English Football Strikers)
Gary Lineker
49
Birthdate: November 30, 1960
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leicester, England

Gary Lineker is a British former football player who currently works as a sports broadcaster. Considered one of the greatest British strikers of all time, Gary Lineker is the third-highest goal-scorer for England. During his 16-year playing career, Lineker never received a red or yellow card, due to which he was honored with the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1990.

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 4 
Bobby Charlton
(One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time)
Bobby Charlton
13
Birthdate: October 11, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ashington, Northumberland, England
Died: October 21, 2023

Widely considered one of the greatest players ever, Bobby Charlton was an important member of the England national football team that emerged victorious at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. The recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Ballon d'Or, Charlton received a knighthood in 1994. 

 5 
Bobby Moore
(Captain of the England Team that Won the 1966 FIFA World Cup)
Bobby Moore
3
Birthdate: April 12, 1941
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Barking, Essex, England
Died: February 24, 1993
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 6 
Ian Wright
(Former Professional Footballer: Now a Television and Radio Personality )
Ian Wright
23
Birthdate: November 3, 1963
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Woolwich, London, United Kingdom

Ian Wright is an English former football player. Renowned for his speed, Wright played for popular clubs like Arsenal and helped his national team qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After retiring from the sport, Wright went on to become a TV and radio personality; he currently contributes as a commentator for ITV Sport and BBC Sport.

 7 
Dixie Dean
(Footballer)
Dixie Dean
5
Birthdate: January 22, 1907
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Birkenhead, England
Died: March 1, 1980
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 8 
Steven Gerrard
(One of the Greatest Liverpool Footballers of All Time)
Steven Gerrard
24
Birthdate: May 1, 1980
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Whiston, England, United Kingdom
Steven Gerrard spent most of his career as a Liverpool midfielder and also captained Liverpool and the English national team. His phenomenal performance in the 2006 FA Cup Final led it to be called The Gerrard Final. The Order of the British Empire member now manages the Scottish club Rangers.
 9 
James Maddison
(Football player)
James Maddison
5
Birthdate: November 23, 1996
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Coventry, England
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 10 
Kalvin Phillips
(Football player)
Kalvin Phillips
4
Birthdate: December 2, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leeds, England
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 11 
Joe Gomez
(Football player)
Joe Gomez
6
Birthdate: May 23, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Catford, England
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 12 
Ian Rush
(Association football player, Association football manager)
Ian Rush
4
Birthdate: October 20, 1961
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: St Asaph
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 13 
Michail Antonio
(Footballer)
Michail Antonio
8
Birthdate: March 28, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Wandsworth, London, United Kingdom
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 14 
Brian Clough
(English Football Player Who Played as a Striker)
Brian Clough
4
Birthdate: March 21, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Middlesbrough, England, United Kingdom
Died: September 20, 2004
Footballer and manager Brian Clough is remembered as one of the highest goal-scorers of the Football League. He had successful stints with Derby County and Nottingham Forest, as a manager, with Peter Taylor as his assistant manager. His rivalry with Don Revie inspired the book The Damned Utd.
 15 
Rio Ferdinand
(English Former Professional Footballer Who Played as A Centre-Back)
Rio Ferdinand
6
Birthdate: November 7, 1978
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Camberwell, England
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 16 
David Seaman
(Footballer)
David Seaman
7
Birthdate: September 19, 1963
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rotherham, England
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 17 
Danny Rose
(Footballer)
Danny Rose
8
Birthdate: July 2, 1990
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Doncaster, England
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 18 
David James
(association football player)
David James
5
Birthdate: August 1, 1970
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Welwyn Garden City
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 19 
Rhian Brewster
(Association football player)
Rhian Brewster
13
Birthdate: April 1, 2000
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chadwell Heath, England
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 20 
Mark Noble
(Football player)
Mark Noble
5
Birthdate: May 8, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Canning Town, England
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 21 
Tyrone Mings
(Football Player)
Tyrone Mings
12
Birthdate: March 13, 1993
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bath, England, UK
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 22 
Jonny Evans
(Association football player)
Jonny Evans
4
Birthdate: January 3, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Belfast
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 23 
Paul Merson
(Football Player)
Paul Merson
6
Birthdate: March 20, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Harlesden, London, England
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 24 
Matt Le Tissier
(Former Professional Football Attacking Midfielder)
Matt Le Tissier
4
Birthdate: October 14, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint Peter Port, Guernsey
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 25 
Gareth Southgate
(British Football Manager and Former Player Who Played as a Defender and Midfielder)
Gareth Southgate
12
Birthdate: September 3, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Watford, Hertfordshire, England

Gareth Southgate is an English football manager. A former player, he used to play as a defender and midfielder for Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, and Crystal Palace. He retired in 2006, after more than 500 league appearances and began his stint as a football manager. He has been managing the England national team since 2016. 

 26 
Jonjo Shelvey
(Association football player)
Jonjo Shelvey
6
Birthdate: February 27, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Romford
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 27 
Gary Neville
(Former Football Player)
Gary Neville
1
Birthdate: February 18, 1975
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bury, England
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 28 
Paul Scholes
(English Former Football Player Who was One of the Best Midfielders of His Generation)
Paul Scholes
7
Birthdate: November 16, 1974
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Salford, England, United Kingdom
Paul Scholes, former Manchester United midfielder, had a 20-year stint with the team, winning major titles, including 11 Premier Leagues, 3 FA Cups, and 2 UEFA Champions Leagues. Over the course of his 718 appearances for the team, he has won 25 trophies. He now coaches Salford City.
 29 
Demarai Gray
(Association football player)
Demarai Gray
5
Birthdate: June 28, 1996
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Birmingham
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 30 
Jimmy Johnstone
(Association football player)
Jimmy Johnstone
3
Birthdate: September 30, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Uddingston
Died: March 13, 2006
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 31 
Wes Brown
(Football player)
Wes Brown
4
Birthdate: October 13, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Longsight, Manchester, England
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 32 
Kelly Smith
(Football player)
Kelly Smith
4
Birthdate: October 29, 1978
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Watford, England
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 33 
Ray Wilkins
(English Football Player and Coach)
Ray Wilkins
5
Birthdate: September 14, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hillingdon, England
Died: April 4, 2018
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 34 
Steve McClaren
(Association football player, Association football manager)
Steve McClaren
5
Birthdate: May 3, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Fulford
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 35 
Leslie Ferdinand
(English Football Coach, Former Professional Footballer and Television Pundit)
Leslie Ferdinand
9
Birthdate: December 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Acton, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 36 
Nathaniel Clyne
(Association football player)
Nathaniel Clyne
8
Birthdate: April 5, 1991
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Stockwell
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 37 
Jimmy Greaves
(British Professional Footballer Who Played as a Forward)
Jimmy Greaves
3
Birthdate: February 20, 1940
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Manor Park, Essex, England
Died: September 19, 2021
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 38 
Stanley Matthews
(Footballer)
Stanley Matthews
3
Birthdate: February 1, 1915
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hanley, England
Died: February 23, 2000
 39 
Jonathan Woodgate
(Association football player)
Jonathan Woodgate
3
Birthdate: January 22, 1980
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Middlesbrough
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 40 
Chris Hughton
(British Professional Football Manager and Former Player)
Chris Hughton
3
Birthdate: December 11, 1958
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Forest Gate, Essex, England

Born to a Ghanaian father and an Irish mother, Chris Hughton became the first biracial footballer from Ireland. Mostly known for his stint with Tottenham Hotspur as a player, he later also coached the team. He was part of the FA Cup- and UEFA Cup-winning squads of Tottenham.

 41 
Andy Cole
(British Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Striker)
Andy Cole
5
Birthdate: October 15, 1971
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 42 
Ryan Bertrand
(Association football player)
Ryan Bertrand
4
Birthdate: August 5, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Southwark
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 43 
Nigel Pearson
(Association football player, Association football manager)
Nigel Pearson
4
Birthdate: August 21, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Nottingham
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 44 
Mike Thalassitis
(Football player)
Mike Thalassitis
4
Birthdate: January 19, 1993
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Died: March 15, 2019
 45 
Tom Cleverley
(Association football player)
Tom Cleverley
4
Birthdate: August 12, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Basingstoke
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 46 
Calum Chambers
(Association football player)
Calum Chambers
4
Birthdate: January 20, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Petersfield
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 47 
Phil Jagielka
(Association football player)
Phil Jagielka
5
Birthdate: August 17, 1982
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sale
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 48 
Kevin Phillips
(English Professional Football Coach and Former Player)
Kevin Phillips
4
Birthdate: July 25, 1973
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England
 49 
Peter Beardsley
(Footballer)
Peter Beardsley
4
Birthdate: January 18, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 50 
Chris Wilder
(Football player)
Chris Wilder
4
Birthdate: September 23, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Stocksbridge, England
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
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