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.
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”
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.
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.
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.
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.
2002 | SIR BOBBY CHARLTON | 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.
2004 | 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2019 | ARSÈNE WENGER |
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.
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