honoured
FARA WILLIAMS
& WAYNE ROONEY
At Grosvenor House on Monday 7th October, Legends of Football, in aid of music charity Nordoff and Robbins, honoured Manchester United’s all-time record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney and England’s most capped women’s player, Fara Williams MBE.
EVENT
PACKAGES
STANDARD
PREMIER
LEGENDS
ABOUT
LEGENDS OF
FOOTBALL
THIS YEARS EVENT
£9,330,000 RAISED
WHO ARE
NORDOFF AND ROBBINS?
Today, informed by more than 60 years of practice and research, our music therapists work with people of all ages living with conditions such as dementia or acquired brain injuries to break through the barriers that can cause social isolation.
The impact of our work for people and society can be truly transformative.
THE
LEGENDS
GALLERY
From the East End of London to the banks of the River Clyde, World Cup winners, transfer record breakers, from The Premier League to La Liga – Legends of Football has honoured the greatest football legends of our time, from the Wizard of Dribble, Sir Stanley Matthews to the larger than life genius of Brian Clough. We salute each and every one of our brilliant, mercurial League of Legends.
2023
WAYNE ROONEY & FARA WILLIAMS
Manchester United’s all-time record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, and England’s most capped women’s player, Fara Williams MBE, were the latest stars to receive the prestigious Legends of Football award.
Rooney netted an incredible 253 goals in 559 games for Manchester United following his record-breaking £25.6m move from Everton, while Williams enjoyed a stellar career both domestically and internationally, winning multiple WSL titles, FA Cups, and earning an astonishing 172 caps for England.
2023
IAN WRIGHT & EMMA HAYES
In 2023 Legends of Football honoured Arsenal goal-scoring hero Ian Wright and six-time FA Women’s Super League winning manager, Emma Hayes.
The former England striker played amateur Sunday league and semi-professional football until the age of 21, Ian Wright signed his first professional contract with Crystal Palace just before his 22nd birthday. His storied career saw him go on to break Arsenal's goal scoring record and win the Premier League, FA Cup twice, League up and European Cup Winners' Cup and represent England 33 times.
Since becoming Chelsea FC Women's manager in 2012, Emma Hayes' side has dominated domestically winning six Women's Super League titles as part of 13 trophies won since she joined the club, including a domestic treble in 202-21. Hayes has also received an OBE from Prince William, Prince of Wales for her services to football and won The Best FIFA Women's Coach Award for 2021.
2022
ELLEN WHITE MBE & GARETH SOUTHGATE OBE
Legends of Football inducted England women’s record top goalscorer Ellen White into its Hall of Fame.
White played a key role in The Lionesses’ victorious UEFA Women’s Euros 2022 campaign playing in every game and adding two goals to her international tally leaving her just one goal behind Wayne Rooney’s all-time England record of 53.
Gareth Southgate was inducted into the 2022 Legends of Football, Hall of Fame off the back of his recent successful runs as England manager in the 2018 World Cup and 2022 Euros tournament.
A semi final and final appearance in major tournaments marks the best performance from an England manager in recent history.
2019
ARSÈNE WENGER OBE
In 2019, Legends of Football celebrated Arsène Wenger’s illustrious Arsenal career during which he won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and seven FA Community Shields. One of the crowning glories of his reign as Arsenal manager was the 2003/04 Invincibles season in which his side romped to the Premier League title with 26 wins, 12 draws and an unprecedented 0 defeats.
2018
FRANK LAMPARD OBE
A true legend of the game, winning everything there is to win at club level with Chelsea, including the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. He also amassed 106 England caps, scoring 29 goals. Honoured in 2018, Frank is now plying his trade in the Championship as manager of Derby County.
2017
STEVEN GERRARD MBE
A Liverpool great who’s performance in the 2005 Champions League Final will go done as one of the best of all time. He is the only player to score in an FA Cup Final, League Cup Final, UEFA Cup Final and Champions League Final and win on each occasion. He also won 114 England Caps and played at 6 major tournaments.
2016
THE PREMIER LEAGUE 100 CLUB
In 2016, we celebrated 25 seasons of the Premier League, and honoured a special group of players who hold the accolade of scoring a century of Premier League goals. With Robin Van Persie being awarded with the Premier League 100 Club’s Greatest Goal award.
2015
DAVID BECKHAM OBE
One of Footballs biggest stars, with ability to match. Beckham was a member of Manchester United’s famous “Class of ’92” that went on to win the treble in 1999. Beckham won 6 Premier League Titles at United, before going on to win leagues with Real Madrid, PSG and LA Galaxy. He was also capped 115 times for England, a record for an outfield player.
2014
RYAN GIGGS OBE
The most decorated player in the history of English football. At Manchester United he won an incredible 34 trophies, including 13 Premier League tiles and 2 European Cups. His greatest achievement may be his longevity, playing for 22 consecutive seasons in the top division and making a record 672 appearances for United.
2013
PELE
Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Pele won 3 World Cups with Brazil, the first in 1958 when he was just 17 years old. With 77 goals for his country and over 600 for his club Santos, Pele is one of the most prolific goal-scorers of all time, and the first global superstar of the game.
2012
THE PREMIER LEAGUE 500 CLUB
In 2012, Legends of Football honoured the 500 Club – players who had made 500 or more Premier League appearances. The exclusive group included six players at the time: Ryan Giggs, David James, Emile Heskey, Frank Lampard, Sol Campbell and Gary Speed, who was honoured posthumously.
2011
JOSE MOURINHO
“The Special One” is a serial winner. He has won league titles in Portugal, England, Spain, and Italy, as well as the European Cup twice. With 23 major trophies as a manager and counting, Mourinho will go down as one of the greatest managers ever.
2010
ERIC CANTONA
The enigmatic Frenchman was the catalyst to Manchester United’s success under Sir Alex Ferguson. Signed from rivals Leeds for just £1million, Cantona inspired United to the title in his first season. He went on to win 4 Leagues in total as well as 2 FA Cups including a “double double” He was the first player from outside Britain or Ireland to lift the FA Cup as captain in 1996.
2009
HARRY REDKNAPP
One of the most experienced managers in the country, he is one of a select few managers to have taken charge of over 1000 games. Harry managed 7 clubs in a managerial career spanning 35 years. An unlikely FA Cup win with Portsmouth in 2008 led to him taking over at Tottenham, where he guided the club to the Champions League Quarter Finals.
2008
DENIS LAW CBE
“The King of Old Trafford” European Footballer of the year in 1964, and a part of the “Holy Trinity” at Old Trafford. Denis Law scored 237 goals for Manchester United, helping the club to 2 league titles and a European Cup.
2007
TEDDY SHERINGHAM MBE
The first winner of the Premier League Golden Boot in 1992, Teddy was a regular scorer for Spurs until he joined Manchester United in 1998. A key part of the 1999 treble winning side, he scored in both the FA Cup and Champions League Finals. He continued playing at the top level past his 40th birthday, and is the oldest outfield player to play and score in the premier league.
2006
ALAN SHEARER OBE
The Premier Leagues all time leading goalscorer. “Super Al” was twice the Britains most expensive player. Blackburn Rovers paid Southampton £3.75 million for Shearer in 1992, and he rewarded them by scoring 34 goals as Blackburn won the Premier League in 1995. In 1996, his boyhood club Newcastle United paid £15 million to bring him home. He went on to become the clubs all time leading goalscorer, scoring 148 times.
2005
SIR ALEX FERGUSON CBE
At Manchester United, his teams dominated English football for two decades wining an incredible 13 League Titles and 2 European Cups. Before joining United he guided Aberdeen to 3 league titles in Scotland, and defeated the mighty Real Madrid in the 1983 Cup Winner Cup Final. The most successful manager in the history British Football.
2004
SIR KENNY DALGLISH MBE
Won league titles at Liverpool as a player and manager, as well as guiding Blackburn to the title as manager in 1995. “King Kenny” is universally regarded as Liverpool’s greatest ever player, wining 15 major trophies including 3 European Cups. Not to mention 9 trophies with his first club Celtic. He is also Scotlands top scorer and most capped player.
2003
TONY ADAMS MBE
“Mr Arsenal” Regarded as the clubs greatest ever captain. He won League titles in 3 different decades with the Gunners, as well as 3 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, European Cup Winners Cup and 66 England Caps.
2002
SIR BOBBY CHARLTON CBE
Sir Bobby Charlton is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. A one-club man, Charlton spent his entire professional career from 1956 to 1973 at Manchester United. A key figure in the club's recovery after the tragic Munich Air Disaster of 1958, Charlton survived the crash and went on to lead United to unprecedented success.
Charlton was renowned for his powerful shooting, exceptional vision, and sportsmanship. He helped Manchester United become the first English team to win the European Cup in 1968, scoring twice in the final. Domestically, he won three league titles and an FA Cup with the club.
On the international stage, Charlton earned 106 caps for England, scoring 49 goals—a record that stood for nearly 50 years. He played a pivotal role in England's 1966 World Cup triumph, where he was the top scorer for his team and won the Ballon d'Or the same year.
He was knighted in 1994 for his services to the game and left a lasting legacy of skill, humility, and dedication to football.
2001
SIR BOBBY ROBSON CBE
One of the most popular figures in the game, Sir Bobby guided Ipswich to FA Cup and UEFA Cup triumphs, before taking England to the 1990 World Cup Semi Final. He went on to manage some of Europe’s biggest clubs including Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and then his hometown club Newcastle United.
2000
BRIAN CLOUGH OBE
“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.” “Old Big ‘Ed” had a prolific career as a centre forward for Middlesbrough and Sunderland, scoring 251 goals in 274 appearances, but it’s his career as a manager that make him a legend. Back to back European Cups with Nottingham Forest being undoubtedly his greatest achievement.
1999
NAT LOFTHOUSE OBE
A one club man, scoring an incredible 255 goals in 452 appearances for Bolton Wanderers and 30 goals for England in just 33 caps. He captained Bolton to the 1958 FA Cup Final, scoring twice as they beat Manchester United 2-0.
1998
SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS CBE
“The Wizard of the Dribble” is the only player to be knighted while still playing. A former European Footballer of the year, he played at the highest level until he was 50 years old. His crowing glory, the 1953 FA Cup Final, Aka “ The Matthews Final” where he inspired Blackpool to victory against Bolton Wanderers.
1997
JOHN CHARLES CBE
One of Britains greatest ever footballers, most notably represented Wales, Leeds and Juventus where he was given the nickname Il Gigante Buono – “The Gentle Giant”. When Juventus signed him for £65,000 in 1957, they broke the British transfer record. In 1997 the Italian giants voted Charles their “Greatest ever foreign player”
Since 1996, legends such as John Charles CBE, Sir Stanley Matthews CBE, Brian Clough OBE, Sir Bobby Robson CBE, Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, Kenny Dalglish MBE, Alan Shearer OBE and Eric Cantona, to name a few, have received this prestigious award. In recent years the dinner has also paid tribute to Jose Mourinho, Ryan Giggs OBE as well as the man widely regarded as the greatest player of all time – Pele. To mark our 20th anniversary, global footballing icon David Beckham OBE was our legend.
In 2016, we celebrated 25 seasons of the Premier League, honouring a special group of players who have scored 100 Premier League goal. In 2017 we honoured the achievements of Liverpool and England hero Steven Gerrard MBE and in 2018, Chelsea manager and legend Frank Lampard OBE. 2019 saw Arsène Wenger OBE inducted into the Legends of Football following a trophy laden career as Arsenal manager. After a two-year hiatus, 2022 saw England manager Gareth Southgate OBE and Lionesses hero Ellen White MBE join the long list of legends of the prestigious award. In 2023, former Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes and Arsenal legend Ian Wright were honoured, while most recently, Manchester United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney and England’s most capped women’s player, Fara Williams MBE, were the latest to receive the award in October’s event.
THE LATEST FROM
LEGENDS OF FOOTBALL
WAYNE ROONEY AND FARA WILLIAMS HONOURED AT LEGENDS OF FOOTBALL EVENT
At Grosvenor House on Monday 7th October, Legends of Football, in aid of music charity Nordoff and Robbins, honoured Manchester United’s all-time record goalscorer, Wayne
COURTEENERS ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINE ACT FOR LEGENDS OF FOOTBALL 2024
London, 2nd October 2024 – Manchester rock band the Courteeners have been announced to headline Legends of Football 2024 as it returns to Grosvenor House to celebrate
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Thanks to all of our supporters and sponsors the LoF continues to be the most important charity event in the football calendar, raising vital funds for Nordoff and Robbins. With thanks to our partners for their continued support.
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