Zidane - Best Euro Player Ever

[beleevdat]

Fans name Zidane No.1

A FANS poll has named French playmaker Zinedine Zidane the best European soccer player of the last 50 years.

Zidane, polled 123,582 votes, just 1013 more than "Der Kaiser" Beckenbauer, who totalled 122,569, with Cruyff third on 119,332.

Overall, more than 150,000 fans cast a total of seven million votes in the public poll, organised by UEFA to mark the Golden Jubilee of their foundation in 1954.

1. Zinedine Zidane (France)
2. Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
3. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
4. Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
5. Dino Zoff (Italy)
6. Alfredo Di Stefano (Spain)
7. Eusebio (Portugal)
8. Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
9. Michel Platini (France)
10. Paolo Maldini (Italy)
11. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
12. Paolo Rossi (Italy)
13. Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
14. Bobby Charlton (England)
15. Lothar Matthaeus (West Germany)
16. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany)
17. Franco Baresi (Italy)
18. Gerd Mueller (West Germany)
19. George Best (Northern Ireland)
20. Kevin Keegan (England)
21. Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)
22. David Beckham (England)
23. Bobby Moore (England)
24. Roberto Baggio (Italy)
25. Michael Laudrup (Denmark)
26. Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)
27. Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
28. Gheorghe Hagi (Romania)
29. Sepp Maier (West Germany)
30. Oliver Kahn (Germany)
31. Luis Figo (Portugal)
32. Raul (Spain)
33. Berti Vogts (West Germany)
34. Johan Neeskens (Netherlands)
35. Gianni Rivera (Italy)
36. Jose Camacho (Spain)
37. Marco Tardelli (Italy)
38. Just Fontaine (France)
39. Peter Shilton (England)
40. Bernd Schuester (West Germany)
41. Raymond Kopa (France)
42. Eric Cantona (France)
43. Stanley Matthews (England)
44. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
45. Valentin Ivanov (Soviet Union)
46. Gary Lineker (England)
47. Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
48. Jose Santamaria (Spain)
49. Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
50. Alessandro Costacurta (Italy)

 

[dodgey]

some interesting selections ...


No Dalglish is a surprise IMO

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

No Henry? No Bergkamp? What a crock.

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by GoalsFrom50Out
No Henry? No Bergkamp? What a crock.

Yeah, exactly.

Bah! Humbug!

They lost their credibility the moment that I realised that Diego Forlan wasn't in the top 3.

 

[TheGreatCoranzo]

Originally posted by Shinboners
Yeah, exactly.

Bah! Humbug!

They lost their credibility the moment that I realised that Diego Forlan wasn't in the top 3.

Looks like ShinIgnroance at work there - it does say 'European player' after all

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by TheGreatCoranzo
Looks like ShinIgnroance at work there - it does say 'European player' after all

Diego Forlan transcends mere human boundaries like race and nations.

A bit like Jimmy Floyd if you think about it.

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

Originally posted by Shinboners
A bit like Jimmy Floyd if you think about it.

The first time I heard him speak, I thought he was Jamaican.

Seriously.

 

[beleevdat]

Originally posted by GoalsFrom50Out
No Henry? No Bergkamp? What a crock.

Exactly !! I was wondering whether someone would pick that up - had no doubt a Gooner would though !!

Surely Thierry could've made it into the Top 30 at least... even RVN is at 44 and(even though it kills me to say this) Henry has achieved a hell of a lot more than RVN.

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by beleevdat
14. Bobby Charlton (England)
19. George Best (Northern Ireland)
22. David Beckham (England)
27. Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
42. Eric Cantona (France)
44. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)

Of the United players, they got the first two right, but there's no way known that Beckham was a better player than Schmeichel or Cantona. Not only that, both Becks and RVN would be behind Keane, Scholes, and possibly Whiteside. There's still plenty of time for Becks and RVN to overtake these other United players, but as it is, both have been rated too highly.

 

[The Shev]

They are probably still waiting for Henry to produce something when it matters.

 

[clucas91]

I actually don't know why Beckham is even on the list.

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

Originally posted by The Shev
They are probably still waiting for Henry to produce something when it matters.

Then explain the Bergkamp absence, smartarse.

 

[Weaver]

Originally posted by beleevdat

20. Kevin Keegan (England)
39. Peter Shilton (England)

Only 2 Southampton players, who are they kidding? Terry Hurlock, Carlton Palmer, Francis Benali. All these awards are rigged to favour big clubs.

 

[Borgsta]

Re: Re: Zidane - Best Euro Player Ever

Originally posted by Weaver
Only 2 Southampton players, who are they kidding? Terry Hurlock, Carlton Palmer, Francis Benali. All these awards are rigged to favour big clubs.

Wasnt this just voted by people on the UEFA website??

Although i guess that would still hold true to favouring big clubs, as they have more supporters, therefore probably more voters.

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

Originally posted by The Shev
They are probably still waiting for Henry to produce something when it matters.

Originally posted by GoalsFrom50Out
Then explain the Bergkamp absence, smartarse.

Funny how you can't explain that one.

 

[Ray Nolan]

What? No Trevor Francis!

 

[tribey]

Beckham's in the list but Gascoigne isn't?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

 

[Boro]

these polls are always controversial. In my opinion the most glaring omission is Gordon Banks. For mine, he is the best keeper of all time and certainly better than Khan, Shilton etc.

Platini would be top of my list. I doubt in ten years time whether Zidane would still be no 1. As Dyertribe said Gascoigne's omission is wrong and no Scottish players is harsh as well.

As for Bergkamp, well that is one I agree with. No doubt a great player but he failed in Italy, which is the toughest test for strikers imo, and he has never really excelled during a World Cup or Euro either.

 

[The Shev]

Originally posted by GoalsFrom50Out
Then explain the Bergkamp absence, smartarse.

Gee, you wouldn't want to give me some time to reply smartarse. I don't live on this thing like you seem to.

Frankly, I couldn't give a **** about whether Bergkamp made it or not. Henry still hasn't proved to be a big game player, like a Ronaldo or the like. Now run along and get over it.

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

So this list is based on what a player achieves and not his overall ability? You're a f*cking knob. I suppose Shearer for example shouldn't be on this list because his team has never won anything significant?

Are you mcgarnacle in disguise? Anti-Arsenal w*nker.

 

[The Shev]

Originally posted by GoalsFrom50Out
So this list is based on what a player achieves and not his overall ability? You're a f*cking knob. I suppose Shearer for example shouldn't be on this list because his team has never won anything significant?

Are you mcgarnacle in disguise? Anti-Arsenal w*nker.

Bit touchy? That time of the month? Sorry to hear. But anyway, it's not about team achievements or POTY awards or anything. It's about ability and performances (more importantly in the big matches).

Anti-Arsenal? Couldn't give a f*ck about them.

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

Originally posted by The Shev
It's about ability and performances (more importantly in the big matches).

Heh.

 

[The Shev]

Originally posted by The Shev
It's about ability and performances (more importantly in the big matches).

Maybe you should look through both eyes instead of the bias one.

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

Performances? Okay. What about just the other week against Liverpool? It was a big match and we were in a crunch situation at being 1-2 down at half time, came out and won the thing for us.

What about against Inter Milan then?

 

[The Shev]

Oh k, so it is about performances then. Good to hear. Inter Milan and Liverpool, two champion teams.



I'm getting off now. So don't take this as a sign of disrespect, like last time.

Cheers.