Retired but Inspired

ctrl-alt-delete

Bit of inspiration from thread in the music forum,

What would be the best player in your opinion that you have seen play in the flesh as they say, that is now retired, i.e. you can't see them play professional football anymore.

I don't have any glamour names, i'm mainly interested in seeing who others have seen and rate as the best they have witnessed,

I'm very limited, but for the purpose of the thread i'll go with..

Tugay.

_blank_

Roy Keane

dreamers75

Paulo Sousa
Zidane
Moravcik


I like a certain type of player

Le King

Paolo Maldini. Without a doubt, the greatest defender of my generation. Absolute world class. Great servant to the game. Was lucky to see him play 6 times. Legend.

The_Kew_Tour

Zidane V ireland in 2004

Cantona quiet few times when at OT

Roy keane also worth mention

The_Kew_Tour

Osu wrote: »

Paolo Maldini. Without a doubt, the greatest defender of my generation. Absolute world class. Great servant to the game. Was lucky to see him play 6 times. Legend.

What a player and for so long at that level.

Class defender

OPENROAD

Blessed to have seen Ian Wright many times, possibly does not get the credit he deserves imo.

Jazzy

Jamie Redknapp :pac:


nah, Robbie Fowler or Roy Keane. In situations like this though its best to go with God over a mere king

OPENROAD wrote: »

Blessed to have seen Ian Wright many times, possibly does not get the credit he deserves imo.

yeah he was sensational. ruined his name big time among non-arsenal supporting fans due to his massive muppetry after he left football. The Ian Wright Show anyone? I remember he left the BBC stating that he was being portrayed as a 'clown' on their programming... of course he walked straight into the new gladiators hosting job straight after. some mothers do 'ave em

mayordenis

Jazzy wrote: »

Robbie Fowler

Still chippin' away in Australia.

Jazzy

mayordenis wrote: »

Still chippin' away in Australia.

bugga. spose im gonna have to fall back on redknapp then arent i

mayordenis

Jazzy wrote: »

bugga. spose im gonna have to fall back on redknapp then arent i

Just like wright he was a ****in great player, just a questionable figure outside of the game, Ian Rush for me.

Fratton Fred

I just posted this on another forum.

easily the best player i have seen play live, but then, most of the football I have watched in ly life has been outside of the top flight

Nalz

Eddie McGoldrick

Kess73

Kenny Dalglish- the King

Graeme Souness- Best all round midfielder I have watched.

Fernando Hierro - Best passer of a ball I have ever seen and a hell of a defensive midfielder and later an amazing centre back

John Barnes - Best winger I have seen on a regular basis

Elber- Amazing striker, he was the main man for Stuttgart when I lived there, so watched him play a lot over the course of three seasons.

A Dub in Glasgo

Lubomir Moravcik
Roy Keane
Eric Cantona
Henrik Larsson
Paul McGrath

Xavi6

I saw Zidane at a Madrid training session in America and he just oozed class.

As a kid it was all about Tony Sheridan at Shels. A genius.

Boggles

Xavi6 wrote: »

I saw Zidane at a Madrid training session in America and he just oozed class.

Time to dig out that Zidane 5 a side video of late. Quality!!

For me Mark Hughes, he went over to the dark side briefly, but by jesus did every defender hate seeing his name on the team sheet.

Bodhisopha

Di Canio. Amazing player, could've, should've played for better clubs.

Gillington

Saw Torres score twice against Barca for Athletico he was immense that night.

Shaun Goater and Georgi Kinkladze,they were more heroes of mine so looked at their performances more admirably!

Against us-Shearer,Hasselbaink and Le Tiss were opposition players who I wasnt happy performed well agaisnt us but appreciated their talent*!





(*didn't use curse words when I was abusing them!)

Degag

Peter Schmeichel.

They just don't make keepers like him anymore.

everdead.ie

Paul McGrath /thread
He was something special

karma_

Thank you to the poster who said Paul McGrath first, I honestly do not believe it took a full 15 replies before his name was brought up, disgraceful stuff.

dfx-

McManaman

Tony Cousins as far as Rovers are concerned..

UnitedIrishman

Seen Batistuta play twice live and wished both times he'd somehow join United.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tJQmVsSscE

Aside from that Keano, Schmeichel or Cantona would definitely do.

JimsAlterEgo

only one - King Eric

stovelid

Roy Keane
Paul McGrath
Liam Brady
Paul Gasgcoine

Necronomicon

Cantona, Keane, Giggs and Scholes (/United bias ).

ROCKMAN

A couple of mine have been mention Keane ,Cantona etc
but two more I'd add to the list

Dennis Bergkemp
Gianfranco Zola

Dozen Wicked Words

Gianfranco Zola

Pat Nevin

Kerry Dixon

GavRedKing

Zinedine Zidane without a doubt, seen him play a couple of times on various holidays to Spain and for France against Ireland.

Absolute genius of a player, in my personnal top 5 players of time.

Mentions most also go to
Zola and Desailly, brillant players for Chelsea.

flahavaj

Zidane. Made the trek to Madrid to see him before it was too late.

Pinturicchio

Pavel Nedved/Roy Keane.

L'prof

Bergkamp.

Gary ITR

My first time in Villa Park was Villa V Chelsea and I was mesmerised by Ruud Gullit that day. He was just unbelievable and completely ran the game.

Paul McGrath was just breathtaking too, all the other players atretching and sprinting for their warm up, Paul just stood there with his hands down his bags to keep them warm and was then the best player on the pitch

Bubs101

Totti's only a few years from being top of the list but Nedved, Batistuta and Zola are mine

bullpost

Gianfranco Zola
Maradona
Bobby Charlton