Cult Heroes

Xavi6

I seem to remember a season or two ago that Football Focus did a feature every week on Cult Heroes, picking one from each team and honouring them. I think most English and Scottish teams were covered.

So from your experiences both at games and on tv who is your Cult Hero from your club and your era, whether it be English, eL, international? It doesn't have to be the 'best' player. Just someone adored by the fans and who gave them reason to show up on a freezing cold Wednesday night for a league cup replay.

Manchester City - Georgiou Kinkladze

Greatest player I've seen in a blue shirt and gave me something to be proud of during those awful years in the mid 90s. Sit back and enjoy.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0DHi5gMsHs

A Dub in Glasgo

For me going to the actual games, it has to be the 7 years of Henrik Larsson

V9

I think for me it has to be Zola, the man was fantastic and a true servent to his club

kinaldo

David Ginola when he signed for Newcastle back in 95. His first few months at the club were unreal, the most naturally two footed genius I'd ever seen. Still have his name and number good as new almost on the famous grandad collar jersey.

Timans

The one and only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgGMGI6GYFs

IrishMike

LOL
Thought that was about shay given timans
Titas an all time hero.
He was to Newcastle what Traore was to liverpool!

kensutz

Iwan Roberts

therecklessone

Got to be Jurgen the German for me, never had the pleasure of ssing him play for Spurs but the way he lifted us for a season (then helped save us a couple of seasons later) makes him that bit more special.

Honourable mention to Ledley, Ginola, Teddy, Hoddle, Ossie, and rSol until he stabbed us in the back.

Xavi6

kensutz wrote: »

Iwan Roberts

Ha now there's a blast from the past. Missing teeth and all!

quad_red

As a child of the eighties I adored Robson. Cantona, what can one say? Always loved Dennis Irwin and bring on the Scholesy magic. But it for me, whether cliched or not, it can only be Keano....

As mad as a hatter, hated as much loved, the archetypal leader on the pitch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUYQojIK5d0

(the above wouldn't embed)

Guy:Incognito

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

For me going to the actual games, it has to be the 7 years of Henrik Larsson

Hardly counts as a cult hero seeing as he was universally loved by Celtic fans. Same would go for Zola and possibly Ginola.

Wiki wrote:

Cult roughly refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception

Xavi6

quad_red wrote: »

As a child of the eighties I adored Robson. Cantona, what can one say? Always loved Dennis Irwin and bring on the Scholesy magic. But it for me, whether cliched or not, it can only be Keano....

As mad as a hatter, hated as much loved, the archetypal leader on the pitch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUYQojIK5d0

(the above wouldn't embed)

I knew it wouldn't be long before he cropped up *sigh*

Stekelly wrote: »

Hardly counts as a cult hero seeing as he was universally loved by Celtic fans. Same would go for Zola and possibly Ginola.

So who's yours for 'pool?

A Dub in Glasgo

Stekelly wrote: »

Hardly counts as a cult hero seeing as he was universally loved by Celtic fans. Same would go for Zola and possibly Ginola.

Counts as a cult hero to me and that is all that matters. Take your pendantic definitions else where please

Guy:Incognito

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Counts as a cult hero to me and that is all that matters. Take your pendantic definitions else where please

How is it pedantic. Naming Larsson just means its a "who's your favourite player" thread.Thats a completely different thread.

Xavi6 wrote: »

So who's yours for 'pool?

Neill Mellor. The goal and assist against O lympiakos and the winner against Arsenal put him there.

Most people seem to think he's a bit crap.:)

Xavi6

Stekelly wrote: »

Neill Mellor. The goal and assist against O lympiakos and the winner against Arsenal put him there.

Most people seem to think he's a bit crap.:)

Lol fair enough.

If I hadn't of chosen Kinky it'd be Andy Morrison. By all accounts he was sh1te but he grabbed the players by the b*llox and hauled them out of Division 2. Scary, scary man to play against.

zAbbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVTVafb2fpY

ciaran76

MICKAEL MADAR for Everton.

http://www.toffeeweb.com/players/past/Madar.html

cant find any video footage but I know a few people who really liked him.

V9

I suppose Dennis Wise would be a cult hero, he had a great relationship with the fans when he was with Chelsea

quad_red

Xavi6 wrote: »

I knew it wouldn't be long before he cropped up *sigh*

Poor baby!

Class player + driven leader + on the edge personality = cult figure.

And when someone mentions cult hero, I always think of Matt Le Tissier.

Xavi6

quad_red wrote: »

Poor baby!

Class player + driven leader + on the edge personality = cult figure.

I've alternative adjectives I could use but I'll bite the tongue

quad_red wrote: »

And when someone mentions cult hero, I always think of Matt Le Tissier.

Cue MrJoeSoap ecstatic at another thread hijacked by Le Tiss.

Timans

Surely the greatest Cult Hero of them all is "Mark Robins".

If it wasn't for him, Alex Ferguson wouldn't be here, and Manchester United might not have been what they are today.

quad_red

Xavi6 wrote: »

Cue MrJoeSoap ecstatic at another thread hijacked by Le Tiss.

Uh oh. What have I started!?!?

In terms of cult figures in recent years in English football, you'd have to mention Di Canio (crazy fascist looney but purveyor of some of the finest goals and funniest moments), Peter Beardsley (such an unlikely candidate for brilliantly skilled footballer), Gazza (enough said).

If you're talking 'novelty' cult figures then you could mention Diego (oh-oh-ah-oh), Shaun Goater (the b**tard ), Ali Dia (the reason why Souness should NEVER be let near a top coaching job again), David May....

Dave!

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer @ Man United

Might have something to do with '99, I dunno , but every United fan has nothing but affection for that chap

Xavi6

quad_red wrote: »

Uh oh. What have I started!?!?

In terms of cult figures in recent years in English football, you'd have to mention Di Canio (crazy fascist looney but purveyor of some of the finest goals and funniest moments), Peter Beardsley (such an unlikely candidate for brilliantly skilled footballer), Gazza (enough said).

If you're talking 'novelty' cult figures then you could mention Diego (oh-oh-ah-oh), Shaun Goater (the b**tard ), Ali Dia (the reason why Souness should NEVER be let near a top coaching job again), David May....

Yeah he's number 3 on my City list. Absolute hero.

The likes of Tony Yeboah, Tino Asprilla, Alan Knight (just for FrattonFred!), Phillipe Albert and Efan Ekoku could all probably be considered too.

DaveMcG wrote: »

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer @ Man United

Might have something to do with '99, I dunno , but every United fan has nothing but affection for that chap

It's not just United fans tbh. Great player, wrong club!

quad_red

DaveMcG wrote: »

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer @ Man United

Might have something to do with '99, I dunno , but every United fan has nothing but affection for that chap

Yeah, definitely.

But that could be another category - cult heroes that are admired by fans, whatever their allegiances.

KdjaCL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Osam

Most consecutive games in which he was doubtful beforehand, also best player to ever play in the LOI.


kdjac

therecklessone

someone adored by the fans and who gave them reason to show up on a freezing cold Wednesday night for a league cup replay.

Prompted my list.

therecklessone wrote: »

Got to be Jurgen the German for me, never had the pleasure of ssing him play for Spurs but the way he lifted us for a season (then helped save us a couple of seasons later) makes him that bit more special.

Honourable mention to Ledley, Ginola, Teddy, Hoddle, Ossie, and rSol until he stabbed us in the back.

If its to be players who aren't wuite up there with the best but are still loved by the fans, then Nayim...for what he did after he left the club...:D

Steffan Freund for his time at the club.

Peyton Manning

20legend

DSB

Julian Joachim or Juan Pablo Angel.

A Dub in Glasgo

Stekelly wrote: »

How is it pedantic. Naming Larsson just means its a "who's your favourite player" thread.Thats a completely different thread.

Because you are defining what 'cult hero' means. From the original post, I am looking at 'someone adored by the fans and who gave them reason to show up on a freezing cold Wednesday night for a league cup replay'.

Here is a link to the BBC cult hero page for Celtic where Larsson was voted top.

Liverpool fans voted Fowler

MrJoeSoap

Vannnnn derrrrrr Vellllll-dennnnn

Eirebear

I wouldnt say Larsson or fowler were Cult Heroes.....they are genuine legends at Liverpool and Celtic, for me a cult hero is the kinda player who isnt really at that level but is adored by the fans for his efforts and character.

for me at Ibrox weve had a couple over the years, Ted McMinn being before my time but still the stories of him are abundant.

during my time....Scott Nisbet, mainly for his goal against Marseille...he meant it so he did!

mikemac

As mentioned before Shaun Goater at Man City fits the role perfectly.
Limited player but gave his all for the club and worshipped by fans

eirebhoy

He probably doesn't fit into the definition of cult hero but anyway, Lubo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvLDPQBPmY

Helix

DSB wrote: »

Julian Joachim or Juan Pablo Angel.

tommy johnson for me

the original ginger supersub

Guy:Incognito

quad_red wrote: »

And when someone mentions cult hero, I always think of Matt Le Tissier.

Nah, your looking for the overrated fat guy thread two pages down.

Eirebear

eirebhoy wrote: »

He probably doesn't fit into the definition of cult hero but anyway, Lubo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvLDPQBPmY

i would say lubo counts...pretty much in the same way as prso did for us, he came towarrdhe end of his career, but played some of the best football of his career when no one really expected much
good call

Another Ibrox one....for completly different reasons..Terry Hurlock!!!!

bucks73

eirebhoy wrote: »

He probably doesn't fit into the definition of cult hero but anyway, Lubo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvLDPQBPmY

Completely agree. Excellent player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03XblmAkQo&feature=related

What a night. I put a fiver on at 25-1 under the stand and actually was delighted when Van Brockhurst scored to make it 3-1. Didnt mind too much two more were stuck away.

homerjay2005

i would class a cult hero as a player who did one or 2 great things without actually being a superstar. ole was a superstar!!!

some united cult heroes -

diego forlan - for scoring those goals at anfield
john o shea - for scoring THAT goal at anfield.

mark robbins and lee martin - fa cup in 1990

OPENROAD

Perry Groves.

"What you have to understand is that no matter how good you are, you're privileged to play for Arsenal. It's the shirt that makes you."

homerjay2005

micky quinn for coventry is a another.

Rockee

Les Sealey, Rene Higuita, Jorge Campos, Michel Preud'homme, Hans Van Breuklen, Rinat Dasayev, Dmitri Kahrin, Bruce Grobbelar...the goalies were nuts back in the day!!!

Guy:Incognito

homerjay2005 wrote: »

i

diego forlan - for scoring those goals at anfield

They will always be classed as Dudek Og's as far as I'm concerned, he was far more involved in the goals than Forlan was.

20 Times 20 Times

Dundalk F.C - Tom McNulty = hero


Celtic - Has to be the "Three Amigos" Jorge Cadete along with Pierre van Hooijdonk and Paolo Di Canio.

Xavi6

For Shels as a kid I used to love Gary Haylock. No particular reason just loved to watch him play. Imagine my shock then when in my first year of college soccer he was my manager! I was a bit in awe at our first training session and couldn't say a word. 6 games in though I had a row with him, was hauled off at half time and didn't play for him again! They say you should never meet your heroes.....

20 Times 20 Times

Gary Haylock , Could well of made it too cult status as dundalk had he not sat back and done NOTING the season following his heroics in the FAI cup final.For that i cant forgive him

But i still sing the tune sometimes

tell all the bohs ya know
That gary haylock is
better then CROWE

Lands Leaving

Marc Overmars in his Arsenal days, what a player.

And good old Aldo and Ronnie Whelan for Ireland

Pigman II

Bernie Slaven. Scotsman makes scores on his debut for Ireland and then, well does pretty much nothing after that.

Middlesbrough fans love him too.

gustavo

Steve Birks for us , hard as nails , maybe the fact he always sported a zero blade haircut made him seem harder than he was but he certainly put himself about

chopperbyrne

Savo Milošević at Villa.

Xavi6

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Savo Milošević at Villa.

Don't you mean Missalotovic?