TOM FINNEY - A LEGEND OF THE GAME

Another signed print from one of the greatest names in football history.

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SIR TOM FINNEY - SIGNED CARTOON

Sir Tom very kindly signed this print for me when he was presented with the original artwork.


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SIR TOM FINNEY - ENGLAND - 0077

Tom Finney was born in Preston on the 5th April 1922 and made his professional debut at Deepdale in August 1946 at the age of 24. He had made his name in war-time soccer competitions including the FA Cup Final of 1941 against Arsenal. His game had everything. His pace over ten yards was electric, his ball control was phenomenal, and his all-round skill was unmatched. Versatile with both feet, he was also a strong tackler and possessed great power in the air.

He would spend his entire career with Preston North End, playing 473 times for the 'Lambs', and scoring 210 goals. As a consequence, he won far fewer honours than his magnificent talents deserved. A Second Division Championship was the only prize he had to show for a glittering career. Such was his international standing, however, that in 1952, a wealthy Prince and President of Palermo FC tried to sign him for a massive £30,000 plus personal terms that would have made him rich for the rest of his life! Preston simply refused to talk and Tom continued earning just £14 a week. He made his international debut in 1946 and, due to his outstanding versatility – he could play on either wing or as centre forward - he would represent his country in all three positions. In total, he would be capped 76 times by England, play in three World Cups between 1950 and 1958, and score an impressive 30 times.

He was twice crowned Footballer of the Year, in 1954 and in 1957, was awarded an OBE. in 1961, the PFA Special Merit Award in 1979 and, in 1998, was finally given a much deserved knighthood.    Thanks to www.givemefootball.com

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DUNCAN EDWARDS - MANCHESTER UNITED - 0076

Duncan Edwards was the youngest player to represent England. Stanley Matthews, the oldest man to win a cap, would later describe the ‘Busby Babe' as the most complete footballer of the immediate post-war era.

‘You can play him anywhere and he would slot into that position as if he'd been playing there season after season,' Matthews wrote. ‘When the going gets rough, Duncan is like a rock in a raging sea.' Bobby Charlton described him ‘as simply the greatest footballer of all time'.

Tragically, the Manchester United left-half would never be able to fulfil his full potential. At the age of 21, Edwards died from injuries sustained in the Munich air crash of February 1958. For 15 days he had fought tenaciously for life. Only a month before the tragedy, Matt Busby had described him as ‘the best all-round player in Britain, if not the world'.

At the time of his death, Edward had already won nine England schoolboy caps, three FA Youth Cup medals, two First Division championship medals, an FA Cup loser's medal, and 19 full caps. 

Thanks to www.nationalfootballmuseum.com

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ARSENAL LEGEND TED DRAKE - 0075

 Drake plundered a staggering 42 League goals in the title triumph of 1934/35 but his finest  achievement came the following season in a league match at Villa Park. The hosts were on the end of a 7-1 hammering, with Drake bagging all the goals. His haul could even have been eight were it not for the crossbar; indeed, Drake seemed hard done by as the ball appeared to bounce down behind the line.  His pace, bludgeoning power and ruthlessness in front of goal earned him a fierce reputation, with international recognition duly following. He made his England bow in the 'Battle of Highbury' against Italy in November 1934 and, true to form, notched the winner in a fractious 3-2 win.
Drake topped the scoring charts in each of his five full seasons in north London ending his spell at the Club with a tally of 136 goals from 182 games. Were it not for the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 his record would almost certainly have been greater.

A legend of the game, Ted Drake died in 1995, aged 82.

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TOMMY DOCHERTY - SCOTLAND - 0074

Docherty won 25 caps for Scotland in an international career that spanned eight years. He was in the squad for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, defying the orders of Preston not to travel to the finals - a decision that resulted in his departure from Deepdale.

Thanks to: www.mirrorfootball.co.uk

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MARTIN CHIVERS - SPURS - 0073

Third in Spurs all-time list of goalscorers, Martin Chivers bagged 202 goals in a total of 415 first-team appearances - 174 in 367 competitive games - for the Club.

Signed in January 1968 to accompany Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean up front, 'Big Chiv' hit 16 goals in 34 games before an injury set him back. But he would soon return and the honours piled up with the goals.

Capped 12 times by England, Chivers scored both goals as Tottenham toppled Aston Villa in the 1971 League Cup Final and bagged another double as they beat Wolves to lift the 1972 UEFA Cup.

Thanks to www.tottenhamhotspur.com/history

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BOBBY CHARLTON - 1966 - 0072

Geoff Hurst, the hat-trick hero of the Final, grabbed the headlines as England beat West Germany 4-2 in extra time. But perhaps the crucial factor in the game that day was the German manager Helmut Schoen's decision to tie-up the great Franz Beckenbauer in a policing role on Charlton. It was a battle of wits. Charlton was the player the Germans feared most and as Beckenbauer himself said years later: "England beat us in 1966 because Bobby Charlton was just a bit better than me."
Ramsey had no doubts how crucial Charlton had been. "He was one of the greatest players I have seen," said Sir Alf. "Very much the linchpin of the 1966 team. Early in my management I knew I had to find a role suitable to Bobby's unique talents. "He wasn't just a great goalscorer, with a blistering shot using either foot. Bobby was a player who could also do his share of hard work."
The reward for Charlton was not only a World Cup winner's medal. He was also Footballer of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and voted Best Player in the 1966 World Cup. After 18 months of non-stop football, it came as no surprise that Charlton suffered a loss of form in the 1966-67 season. He went three months without scoring before getting two in a 4-0 defeat of Blackpool at the end of February. United, however, retained their title in style, wrapping up the Championship with a 6-1 win at West Ham. 

Thanks to www.ifhof.com

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WAYNE ROONEY - EVERTON - 0071

Wayne Rooney progressed through the Academy ranks and went from schoolboy to superstar in just 12 months.
The Croxteth-born striker, weighed in with eight goals in as many games during the Blues' FA Youth Cup run in 2002 and was an unused substitute when Everton defeated Southampton 1-0 in April of that year, receiving a tremendous ovation from the Blues' fans as he warmed up that day - an indication of his high regard.
He made his debut on the opening day of the 2002/03 campaign against Tottenham at Goodison, and then became Everton's youngest ever goalscorer when he netted against Wrexham in the Worthington Cup.
His first Premiership strike will never be forgotten - a dipping 25-yard shot against Arsenal at Goodison on October 19, 2002, five days before his 17th birthday!
Wayne became the youngest-ever England international in February 2003 when he came on as a substitute against Australia at Upton Park.
He became the youngest player to ever score for England with a goal against Macedonia in September 2003 at the tender age of 17 years and 317 days.
In August 2004, Manchester United paid £30 million - a world record fee for a teenager, to secure Rooney's services at Old Trafford.

Thanks to www.evertonfc.com

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MANCHESTER UNITED, CHELSEA, WREXHAM AND WALES LEGEND MICKEY THOMAS

HELLRAISING FOOTBALLER MICKEY THOMAS WITH HIS PRESENTATION CARTOON PORTRAIT

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MASSIMO MACCARONE - MIDDLESBROUGH - 0070

Massimo Maccarone (born 1979) is a striker who played for Middlesbrough F.C. He made headlines in March 2002 when he became the first Serie B player in twenty years to be picked for the Italian national side.

His transfer from Empoli in July 2002 cost Middlesbrough £8.15m and he remains the club's most expensive ever player. Despite showing fine early form in his first few matches for Middlesbrough the remainder of his spell at the club has been a struggle to justify his price tag and during the 2004/5 season he was loaned out to Serie A club Parma and later moved on to Siena.

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MATT JANSEN - BLACKBURN - 0069

Jansen scored forty-four goals for Rovers and was once touted as a future England striker, but all that changed in the summer of 2002, when he was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident in Rome. Despite staying on at Ewood park for another four seasons, he never mentally readjusted to the pressures of the top-flight. It was former Blackburn team-mate Garry Flitcroft who signed him for Leigh Genesis after he ended a brief spell with Dean Saunders’ Wrexham.

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DAMIEN DUFF - BLACKBURN ROVERS - 0068

Duffer made his Blackburn first team debut in May 1997 against Leicester City at just 18 years of age. The club was involved in a battle to avoid relegation from the Premiership. Caretaker manager Tony Parkes rang Duff, who was in Dublin on a break at the time, to ask him to get back to the club as the young Irishman would be in the squad for the Leicester match. Duff's parents returned to Blackburn with Damien only half hoping that the youngster might get on as a late substitute.
An hour before kickoff Parkes announced the starting team and the name Damien Duff was on it. While the result didn't go his way, the visiting team winning 4-2, the young Irish soccer star was voted Man of the Match. Despite the defeat Blackburn avoided relegation. Duff could look forward to Premiership football in the following season.

thanks to www.soccer-ireland.com

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JOE COLE - WEST HAM - 0067

Cole had massive potential, and signed professional forms for West Ham United. His performances for the youth teams made an early debut inevitable – he led West Ham to the FA Youth Cup in 1999, and made his first-team debut soon after aged just17 years old.

Cole’s technical skills and the exciting way in which he played the game ensured he soon became a favourite of the fans. Cole was able to beat defenders, and was an unknown quantity at that stage, which gave him the extra space to work his magic in. He soon became a first-team regular, alongside other youngsters Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick, all given their chance by manager Harry Redknapp.

After a heady season, finishing 5th, Redknapp left the club citing a lack of ambition, and some of the club’s best players were sold. Youth-team manager Glenn Roeder was given the post, and soon recognised Joe Cole’s importance to the team, making him captain at just 21 years old. The season ended badly, with West Ham relegated, and Joe Cole one of the first to admit he wanted to move clubs to continue playing in the Premier League.

Thanks to www.contacttheplayers.com

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PAOLO DI CANIO - WEST HAM - 0066

Di Canio joined West Ham United in January 1999 and helped the club qualify for the UEFA Cup during his time there, as well as becoming a hero with their fans and scoring 48 goals in 118 matches. Again his off-the-field antics forced a change, as a public spat with manager Glenn Roeder in 2003, saw Di Canio move to Charlton Athletic

Thanks to
www.talkfootball.co.uk

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NEIL CLEMENT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 0065

Neil Clement (born 3 October 1978 in Reading, Berkshire) is an England professional football (soccer)er who plays for West Bromwich Albion F.C.. Neil Clement customary position is in defence, but Neil Clement is also a versatile player who has occupied several different positions for Albion. As of June 2008, Clement had made 300 appearances for Albion in all competitions, more than any other Albion player in the 21st century. Neil Clement is also known as a set piece specialist, having scored several goals from free-kicks and penalties.

Grateful thanks to www.gfdb.com

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JASON ROBERTS - WEST BROM - 0064

Jason moved to West Bromwich Albion on 26 July 2000, for a club record £2 million fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest on 12 August 2000. He scored twice against Swansea City in the League Cup on 6 September 2000, his first goals for the club. Jason scored 15 goals in 34 appearances in 2000–01 forming a successful partnership with Lee Hughes and fired Albion into the 1st Division playoffs. During West Brom's successful promotion campaign of 2001–02 however, Jason’s season was blighted by a persistent foot injury, breaking his fifth metatarsal three times. He managed only 12 league appearances during the season, scoring seven goals.
In West Bromwich Albion's first season in the Premiership, Jason scored three goals in a total of 31 games. He was loaned out for much of the 2003–04 season to Portsmouth, where he scored one goal in four appearances, and after handing in a transfer request half way through the season earned himself a move to Wigan Athletic for a transfer fee of approximately £2 million.

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TERRY VENABLES - CHELSEA - 0063

Terry Venables was the heartbeat of the early 1960s team, the majority of which had come up through the youth team under the guidance of Tommy Docherty.
He made his debut in February 1960 shortly after his 17th birthday and was a regular within a year. Chelsea were relegated in 1962, after a season in which Venables was injured and restricted to 12 league games, but were promoted a year later with Venables an ever present.
He was outstanding as we finished fifth, third, and fifth back in the First Division. He dominated the midfield, was strong in the tackle and a brilliant passer of the ball. He also had an eye for goal and against Roma in a Fairs Cup tie in 1965 scored one of the most impudent goals ever seen at Stamford Bridge. With an Italian wall encroaching at a free kick Venables paced out ten yards before receiving the ball at the edge of the wall and turning to score.
Venables also scored in the League Cup Final win, his only major honour with Chelsea.
Sadly though Venables fell out with Docherty after being one of eight players sent home for breaking a curfew before a game at Blackpool in April 1965 and within a year was transferred to Tottenham.

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GIANFRANCO ZOLA - CHELSEA - 0062

In 1996, Zola joined Premier division football club Chelsea F.C. He won the FA Cup with Chelsea and was voted the English Football Writers' Player of the Year in 1997: the only player ever to receive the accolade without playing an entire season. He helped Chelsea win the English League Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup in 1998. He helped Chelsea to win FA Cup again in 2000.

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DEAN RICHARDS CARTOONED!

England Rugby legend Deano comes face to face with his cartoon portrait.


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Thanks

 

 

                                    Norman

 

Just a quick note to say the pictures have arrived this morning and I am absolutely delighted with them. I am sure my nephew, who is a real West Ham nut, will love his 40th birthday present.

 

Thanks for getting it to me on time.

 

Bernard

 

 

 

 

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GARY SPRAKE - LEEDS UNITED - 0061

Gary Sprake is a name synonymous with goalkeeping cock-ups: mention his name to most non-Leeds fans and they'll start humming "Careless Hands". To take an objective look at his career, you'd realise that this is an unfair assessment of an excellent keeper. He was an instinctive shot stopper, became the youngest ever keeper to appear for Wales, and for nearly 10 years was Leeds' first choice, despite the presence of David Harvey in the wings. He was prone to the odd gaffe - and they just tended to happen when the TV cameras were there to broadcast them to the rest of the country.

Some say Leeds would have won more with a different keeper: that's possible, but may be a bit coloured by the soured relationship between Don Revie and Sprake after the latter had some fairly uncomplimentary things to say about the man who had made it possible for him to win so many prizes at the very top level.

Thanks to pesstatsdatabase.com


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PETER LORIMER - LEEDS UNITED - 0060

Peter Patrick Lorimer (born 14 December 1946 in Dundee, Scotland) was a footballer who formed part of the much-admired and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s.

An attacking right sided midfielder renowned for his vicious shooting, (he has been regarded as having the hardest shot in football history) Lorimer was at the more cultured end of a Leeds United side under Don Revie which was built on a platform of out-playing and out-muscling opponents.

In 1974, Lorimer had a fine season in a Leeds United team which proved almost invincible. They started the season with an unbeaten run of 29 League games and coasted to their second title under Revie. Lorimer's season was crowned with a place in Scotland's squad for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, and he scored in the group game against Zaire.

Another eventful season with Leeds United followed for Lorimer, as he continued to score goals, managing four as Leeds United progressed to their first European Cup final. Held in Paris, they played Bayern Munich and lost 2-0, with Lorimer having a goal disallowed due to a dubious offside decision given against captain Billy Bremner.[citation needed]

That was the last major trophy for which the team built by Revie (who had left the year previously to manage England) would compete, and the ageing team began to break up. Lorimer, who also made his 21st and final Scotland appearance in 1975, was still not 30 and continued to play as an experienced head amidst a new generation of Leeds United players. Mediocrity summed up the rest of the 1970s for Leeds United and Lorimer left in 1979, no longer a regular player.

Thanks to 
pesstatsdatabase.com

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NORMAN HUNTER - LEEDS UNITED - 0059

Norman Hunter (born 29/10/1943, Gateshead) was known as the hardman of Leeds United in their successful time during the 1960s and 1970s. He was also part of the 1966 World Cup squad, receiving a medal in 2007. He was known as Norman ‘bite your legs’ Hunter because of his hard tackling. In 1998 he was included on the Football League list of 100 League Legends.

Hunter made his first-team debut in 1962, forming a partnership at the back with Jack Charlton which lasted for a decade. During his time at Leeds Hunter gained success, winning both the League Cup and the UEFA Cup in 1968 and in 1972 winning the FA Cup. Hunter also gained 28 England caps during his international career. 

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JOHN CHARLES - LEEDS UNITED - 0058

Welsh forward, nicknamed the 'Gentle Giant', who starred for Leeds United and Juventus in the 1950s.
Born in Swansea in 1931, Charles joined Leeds United in 1947 as a junior and made his debut with the club in 1949 playing at centre-half.  The following year he became the youngest player to win a cap for Wales.
Charles played as a centre-half until the 1952-3 season when he was moved to centre-forward.  His goals helped secure promotion for Leeds to the First Division in 1956 and the following year was the top goal scorer with a total of 38 goals.  He scored 150 league goals in eight years for Leeds, including 42 goals in the 1953-54 season.
In 1957 he joined the Italian giants Juventus for a then-British record £65,000 transfer fee.  Over the next five years he scored 93 goals in 155 matches, winning three Italian League championships and two Italian Cups.  The respect Charles earned from Juventus fans was shown when, on the occasion of the clubs' centenary in 1997, they voted him to be the best-ever foreign player to play for their team.


Thanks to www.soccerhistory.org.uk


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ALAN SMITH - LEEDS UNITED - 0057

Alan Smith is a hard-working footballer, who got his start with his hometown and future club at age 10, when he entered the Leeds United Centre of Excellence. Smith eventually joined up with Leeds United proper in March 1998.

His senior Premiership debut was as a substitute for Leeds vs. Liverpool at Anfield, where he displayed his natural scoring ability by scoring with his first touch of the ball. That goal helped propel him into the 1998/1999 season, as he was one-half of manager David O'Leary's first-choice striker pairing, along with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Smith continued his run through the Leeds side, as the club began to grow in stature. Smith showed his class in 2001 while helping to lead the Leeds side through the much vaunted Champions League, though his experience ended on a sour note as he was sent off in the semifinal. The following season saw Alan relegated to the midfield, his versatility working against him, as O'Leary tried to accommodate new signings. 2001 was also the year for Smith's break into the England squad. An England youth international at multiple levels, Smith made his senior England debut in May 2001. Unfortunately, Alan did not make the final cut for the 2002 World Cup, and accepted a starring role with the England Under-21 side.

A hometown hero and a teen idol for supporters of hometown club Leeds, Smith was the poster boy for the club for the 2002-2004 seasons, winning his supporter's "Player of the Year" award two years running, a first in Leeds' history. Though his goal tally was not excellent by any means, his willingness to play any role on the pitch and his tireless efforts to save "the Whites" from relegation for two seasons was met with love from his adoring public. Smith also caused controversy, when in a League Cup game against Manchester United he threw a bottle in the crowd after it was thrown on the field, incidentally hitting his best friend's sister. This incident got Smith in hot water with his club and the FA. Smith announced his desire to leave Leeds due to relegation in May of 2004, ending his Leeds career by kissing the badge and crying at his last match. His transfer to bitter rivals Manchester United, however, led to controversy and his exit was marred by accusations of treachery

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hi. just letting you know i received the drawings this morning . i didn,t expect to see them that quick, so many thanks .that was brilliant from paul.

JLLOYD SAMUEL - ASTON VILLA - 0056

Coming through the Villa ranks this Trinidad-born defender had already been selected for the full England national squad. This solid attacking full back added dimension to the left side and added a good balance off-setting the talents of Gareth Barry


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THOMAS HITZLSPERGER - ASTON VILLA & GERMANY - 0055

Thomas Hitzlsperger (born 5 April 1982 in Munich, Germany) is a midfielder for VfB Stuttgart. He signed for VfB Stuttgart in Summer 2005, having left Aston Villa on a Bosman free transfer in order to boost his chances of making Germany's World Cup squad in 2006.

Best known for his fierce left foot and comical 'Brummie/German' accent, the former German Under 21 international was called up for the senior side by Jürgen Klinsmann in 2004.


Thanks to www.123football.com

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SALIF DIAO - LIVERPOOL - 0054

Salif Diao (born 10 February 1977 in Kedougou, Senegal) is a Senegalese football player, playing as a defensive midfielder.

He began his career in his native Senegal before moving to France at the age of seventeen. He played for AS Monaco and won the French League with them in the 1999-2000 season. He also won a runner-up medal in the 2002 African Nations Cup, where Senegal lost in extra time to Cameroon.

He was signed by former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier from French club Sedan for £5 million after the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. While his natural position is that of defensive or central midfielder, Houiller often used him either as a centre back or as a right back. On January 18, 2004 Birmingham City took Diao, who had struggled to make Liverpool's first team, on loan for the rest of the season.

thanks to www.123football.com

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PELE - BRAZIL - 0053

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or better known as Pelè was born October 23rd 1940. He went on to become perhaps the best player of all time. He made his senior debut for Santos in 1956, a month before his 16th birthday and ten months later he played for Brazil against Argentina. Pelè missed the first two matches of the 1958 World Cup, before making his debut against Russia. His first World Cup goal came in the 1-0 quarter -final win over Wales and he scored a hat-trick in the semifinal against France and two more in the final over host nation Sweden. At 17, Pelé became the youngest ever winner of the World Cup.

    Brazil defended the title four years later in Chile, but Pelé was injured early on and missed most of the tournament. Injuries also plagued him in 1966 as Brazil were eliminated already in the first round, but in 1970 he was back on top of his game leading Brazil to a record third title. Pelé was excellent and partnered by Rivelino, Jairzinho and Tostao, Brazil formed perhaps the best team ever.

     Scoring goals was Pelè's trademark, but he was also a clever, quick-thinking player who could create goals for others. He scored a remarkable 77 goals for Brazil in 92 appearances, and various sources suggest that he netted 1281 in 1363 senior games overall. He played his final game for Santos in 1974, but was persuaded out of retirement the following year when he joined NASL club, New York Cosmos in a $4.000.000 deal. He played his last game for Cosmos in 1977 in front of 75.646 fans.

     Pele has achieved more than any other player in the World Cup history. Surprisingly he hasn't been topscorer in either of the four World Cups he played in, but he is on third place of the all-time topscorers table with his 12 goals. His proudest record must be the fact that he is the only player who has won three World Cups.

thanks to www.planetworldcup.com

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SOCRATES - BRAZIL - 0052

One of the most elegant midfield generals in soccer history, Socrates, began his career in Botafogo. He was never a teenage star and didn’t make his debut in the Brazilian national team until he was 25. He was blessed with wonderful skills, vision and seemed to have so many options when he was on the ball. He was able to play the ball wherever and whenever he wanted. His heel-kicks became famous world wide. These rare skills combined with the fact that he was a medical student more than justified him being nicknamed “the doctor”. Socrates captained Brazil’s fantastic World Cup team of 1982 partnering Cerezo, Falcao and Zico in midfield. He scored twice in that tournament, one of them being a marvellous goal against the Soviet Union when he dribbled past two players before firing it home from long range. Brazil didn’t reach the semifinals in that tournament, but played some wonderful soccer.

     Socrates was not an ordinary athlete, infact he didn’t look at himself as an athlete. He smoked a pack of sigarettes every day, and that was one of the reasons to why he never settled in Italy when he arrived there in 1984 to play for Fiorentina. The lifestyle didn’t suit him and he went back to Brazil a year later.

     In 1986, Socrates again was instrumental for Brazil in their attempt of winning the World Cup, but France and Platini won on penalties in the quarterfinal after a wonderful match. Socrates missed one of the penalties in the shoot-out. He was the only player of the survivors of the 1982 team who really reached the same level, but it wasn’t enough to take them through. He scored more than a goal every third game in average for Brazil, which is excellent for a midfielder and added two more to his account in the Mexico World Cup.

     At clublevel he played most of his career for Botafogo and Corinthians for whom he won three Sao Paulo state championships. Socrates also played for Flamengo winning a Rio state championship before ending his career in 1990 playing for Santos. 

thanks to www.planetworldcup.com

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GARRINCHA - BRAZIL - 0051

Garrincha was as brilliant on the pitch as he was wild off of it. He is known as the greatest dribbler in soccer history. Even though he was born with crippled legs and retained a distorted left leg even after an operation, he never let this affect his wonderful ball skills, making some of the most beautiful soccer performances ever.
Manuel Francisco dos Santos, his given name, was world champion twice, 1958 and 1962. During the World Cup in Chile, when Pele was out after the second match with an injury, Garrincha had the major role in Brazil's conquest.
Garrincha played 60 games for the Brazilian team. With Garrincha, Brazil won 52 games and had 7 draws. Brazil never lost with Garrincha & Pele playing together. His only loss for Brazil came in his last game, in the 1966 World Cup in England.
He played for Botafogo, his first professional team, in 581 games, scoring 232 goals. He was champion of the Carioca League in 1957, 1961 & 1962 and of the Rio-Sao Paulo league in 1962 & 1964.
Beseiged by marital & tax problems, Garrincha (the "songbird") died in January 1983 of alcohol abuse

thanks to www.ifhof.com

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