Gary Cahill's career was plodding along with zero trophies until a 4 year period where he won the league cup, FA cup, premier league, Europa league and champions league.
Unremarkable players that had interesting careers
- Thread starter Classical Mechanic
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Ragnar Klavan. From the Estonian league to Norwegian league to Eredivisie, which he won with AZ. Had a season in Bundesliga with Augsburg where he played every minute in the league, became the first Estonian to score in the German top flight. Two seasons at Liverpool where he became the first Estonian to score in the Premier League. With a move to Serie A now, he will have played in three out four biggest leagues in Europe and all this by being mediocre at best.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Scored 173 goals in 435 matches during his career while the biggest club he played for was Celtic. Scored his first goal for Holland seven years after his debut for the NT, the goal came against Thailand. Was a big name signing for every club he joined, making it very interesting for everyone who ever had to print his name on a kit.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Scored 173 goals in 435 matches during his career while the biggest club he played for was Celtic. Scored his first goal for Holland seven years after his debut for the NT, the goal came against Thailand. Was a big name signing for every club he joined, making it very interesting for everyone who ever had to print his name on a kit.
Not saying he was bad, but he was a water carrying type when compared to Scholes and Keano.
Steve Stone.
Paulinho?
Started in Lithuania, then Poland, failed EPL stint, China, Barca, back to China
Started in Lithuania, then Poland, failed EPL stint, China, Barca, back to China
Kevin Phillips. Playing the small man in a little-and-large partnership with Niall Quinn at Sunderland.
Got the Premier League and European golden boots on his first season at top flight. Then back to being obscure player afterward.
Got the Premier League and European golden boots on his first season at top flight. Then back to being obscure player afterward.
Beat me to it. Heard about this on the radio not long ago. Incredible.
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Sebastian Abreu. The King of Journeymen. In the Guinness Book Of World Records for having played for the most clubs. So far, at 41, he's played for 26 clubs in 11 countries.
- Defensor (Uruguay), 1995–1996
- San Lorenzo (Argentina), 1996-1998 and 2000-2001 (loan)
- Deportivo La Coruna (Spain), 1998-2004
- Gremio (Brazil), 1998 (loan)
- Estudiantes Tecos (Mexico), 1999-2000 (loan) and 2004 (loan)
- Club Nacional (Uruguay), 2001 (loan), 2004-2005, 2013-2015
- Cruz Azul (Mexico), 2002-2003 (loan)
- America (Mexico), 2003 (loan)
- Dorados de Sinaloa (Mexico), 2005-2006
- Monterrey (Mexico), 2006
- San Luis (Mexico), 2007
- Tigres UANL (Mexico), 2007
- River Plate (Argentina), 2008 (loan) and 2008-2009
- Beitar Jerusalem (Israel), 2008
- Real Sociedad (Spain), 2009 (loan)
- Aris Thessaloniki (Greece), 2009-2010
- Botafogo Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), 2010-2012
- Figueirense (Brazil), 2012 (loan)
- Rosario Central (Argentina), 2013-2014 (loan)
- SD Aucas (Ecuador), 2015 (loan)
- Sol de America (Paraguay), 2016
- Santa Tecla (El Salvador), 2016
- Bangu Atletico Clube (Brazil), 2017
- Central Espanol (Uruguay), 2017
- Puerto Montt (Chile), 2017
- Audax Club Sportivo Italiano (Chile), 2018
Marcelo Zalayeta. Was somehow on the books at Juve for ten years (the majority being loans but still managed over a 100 games for Juve).
Danilo from Manchester City. Dude doesn't strike me as any sort of special player but he's won 2 Champions Leagues, 1 La Liga and 1 Premier League.
Nah butt was class.
Jesper Blomqvist.
Played for clubs like Milan, United, Parma and Everton.
Won 3 premiership trophies, 1 FA cup and a World Cup bronze medal without playing any significant roles.
Played for clubs like Milan, United, Parma and Everton.
Won 3 premiership trophies, 1 FA cup and a World Cup bronze medal without playing any significant roles.
Steve Claridge
Didn't he start the 99 CL final?
Freddy Adu
At 14 years old he became the youngest player to sign for an MLS team. Seen as a real prodigy compared by some to Pele.
Had trials at various big clubs including United. Then everyone realised he wasn't as good as they thought.
Still has travelled the globe playing in the US, Portugal, France, Greece, Turkey, Brazil and Finland.
Still only 29 years old and signed some huge sponsorship deals in his youth so much be worth a decent amount
At 14 years old he became the youngest player to sign for an MLS team. Seen as a real prodigy compared by some to Pele.
Had trials at various big clubs including United. Then everyone realised he wasn't as good as they thought.
Still has travelled the globe playing in the US, Portugal, France, Greece, Turkey, Brazil and Finland.
Still only 29 years old and signed some huge sponsorship deals in his youth so much be worth a decent amount
Glenn Murray - Not that interesting but noticed yesterday that he was a bit of a late bloomer and a story of perseverance. A lesser Jamie Vardy or Kevin Phillips if you like.
Played for local clubs to where he was born at first with a brief move to America to play for Wilmington Hammerheads (who?) in his early career. He didn't really start scoring regularly until he was 24 or 25 after moving to Rochdale. Has played at every level from the 6th tier to the Premier League finally making it to the top division the year he turned 30. He's played for rivals Palace and Brighton.
Played for local clubs to where he was born at first with a brief move to America to play for Wilmington Hammerheads (who?) in his early career. He didn't really start scoring regularly until he was 24 or 25 after moving to Rochdale. Has played at every level from the 6th tier to the Premier League finally making it to the top division the year he turned 30. He's played for rivals Palace and Brighton.
Yes, he did - and he hadn't played for a few weeks beforehand. With Scholes and Keane both suspended, United went with a midfield four of
Giggs--Blomqvist--Butt--Beckham
Sheringham came on for Blomqvist late on.
Was going to mention him - first player that came to mind
Carlos Kaiser. Google him
Obviously Bebe. From playing for a homeless shelter to playing for Man United
Not necessarily a failed wonderkid since I don't think we ever rated him that highly, but Mark Howard left United and went to Brondby in Denmark (albeit with Rene Meulensteen) and was their player of the year in a season where they won the Danish Cup. He played quite a while in Denmark, then popped up on a second division side in Oklahoma in the US.
Jovan Kirovski is another. An American who started out in the United academy, then left for Borussia Dortmund when he couldn't get a work permit. There he became the only American to ever win the Champions League in 1997. After a brief stint in Portugal, he returned to England to play for Palace and Birmingham City, then came back to America and had a good career in MLS. He's now the technical director of LA Galaxy and signed Zlatan.
Jovan Kirovski is another. An American who started out in the United academy, then left for Borussia Dortmund when he couldn't get a work permit. There he became the only American to ever win the Champions League in 1997. After a brief stint in Portugal, he returned to England to play for Palace and Birmingham City, then came back to America and had a good career in MLS. He's now the technical director of LA Galaxy and signed Zlatan.
Carlos Kaiser, the farce footballer
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ry-of-carlos-kaiser-footballs-greatest-conman
"
In those days, before the internet, nobody was much the wiser. Even if they had the inclination to check – and Rio has never been the most anal of places – they wouldn’t have been able to do so. “Life,” says Kaiser, “is marketing” – and he told his stories with such infectious conviction that it was easy to be swept along. Bebeto, the World Cup-winning striker of 1994, says: “His chat was so good that if you let him open his mouth, that would be it. He’d charm you. You couldn’t avoid it. That would be it.”
In the first training session Kaiser usually suffered a muscle injury that would keep him out for an indefinite period, during which he would hang around the club and become an unofficial morale specialist. “He created a fun, happy and lighthearted mood,” says Alexandre Torres, the former Brazilinternational and son of Carlos Alberto. “He would tell stories and he would get players dreaming. I think that’s why everybody liked him so much.”"
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ry-of-carlos-kaiser-footballs-greatest-conman
"
In those days, before the internet, nobody was much the wiser. Even if they had the inclination to check – and Rio has never been the most anal of places – they wouldn’t have been able to do so. “Life,” says Kaiser, “is marketing” – and he told his stories with such infectious conviction that it was easy to be swept along. Bebeto, the World Cup-winning striker of 1994, says: “His chat was so good that if you let him open his mouth, that would be it. He’d charm you. You couldn’t avoid it. That would be it.”
In the first training session Kaiser usually suffered a muscle injury that would keep him out for an indefinite period, during which he would hang around the club and become an unofficial morale specialist. “He created a fun, happy and lighthearted mood,” says Alexandre Torres, the former Brazilinternational and son of Carlos Alberto. “He would tell stories and he would get players dreaming. I think that’s why everybody liked him so much.”"
Incorrect, Giggs played on the right and Beckham was in the middle.
Those are good ones. I see Kleberson has a management role in the US now too.
Lee Chapman. Tap in merchant who married a renowned actress, won cups with Brian Clough at Forest, then occasionally partnered Cantona to the title with Leeds.
Paul Lambert.
Dortmund bought him from Motherwell and they won the champions league final by the end of his first season. He played the final too.
Dortmund bought him from Motherwell and they won the champions league final by the end of his first season. He played the final too.
Rene Higuita - Goalkeeper
Rene Higuita will be mostly remembered for his unconventional goalkeeping. But his style ("sweeper-keeper") was ahead of its time.
Most of his career was confined to playing in South America, where his honours include the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Interamericana. He also featured in the Intercontinental Club Cup final against A.C. Milan in 1989.
Rene Higuita will be mostly remembered for his unconventional goalkeeping. But his style ("sweeper-keeper") was ahead of its time.
Most of his career was confined to playing in South America, where his honours include the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Interamericana. He also featured in the Intercontinental Club Cup final against A.C. Milan in 1989.
Paulo Ferreira.
Won many trophies, including 2 champions leagues, 4 premier leagues, 2 uefa cups and 4 fa cups - all without playing much football.
Won many trophies, including 2 champions leagues, 4 premier leagues, 2 uefa cups and 4 fa cups - all without playing much football.
Unremarkable for Utd or in general?
Post Utd, he was anything but unremarkable. Arguably the best striker in Europe for a solid 3-4 years :/
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Winston Bogarde. Word is he's still on Chelsea's books.
Ludovic Giuly and Christophe Dugarry come to mind, although the former was a much better player than the latter IMO.
Nicky Butt was a fabulous player.
Right you are. With hindsight using Giggs on the right seems weird, but United were out of options that night and he'd played there before.
Butt & Beckham started in central midfield that match with Giggs on the right flank.
When Teddy came on did he drop into mid or did Yorke? I remember Giggs moved to the left flank and believe Beckham moved to his normal right-wing slot.
Think it was more SAF trusted Giggs to play on the right, as like you stated he'd played there a few times, and wanted to utilize Blomqvist in his normal position versus potentially wasting him on the right. Don't think Blomqvist ever played a match on the right for United.
Oguchi Onyewu played for a few historically renowned clubs in his career. His signing with Milan was a total shock and then he blew out his knee before ever taking part in a first team match if memory serves.
Claudio Reyna had a pretty good career in Europe.
Claudio Reyna had a pretty good career in Europe.
Ooh, another pretty good one is Lee Nguyen.
He was in college in the US when he signed for PSV Eindhoven in Holland, which was pretty big news at the time. He only ever played for them a few times before leaving to sign for Randers in Denmark. While he was there, he briefly broke into the USA senior squad, but soon after, his contract at Randers wasn't renewed. His father, a former Vietnamese refugee from the Vietnam War, got an offer of huge money from the Vietnamese domestic league to pass along to Lee. He got the offer and accepted it. A 23 year old who was playing in Europe and for the US national team was going off to play in Vietnam for his prime years. He played for two clubs over two seasons and a half seasons in Vietnam and even managed a trial at Arsenal along the way due to some feeder club connections.
When Jurgen Klinsmann became USA manager, he suspected he may have a chance to get back into the US setup and he engineered a move back to MLS - signing for New England Revolution. He was at New England for five seasons, setting the MLS record for goals by a midfielder in a season and becoming club captain along the way. He did make it back into the US setup briefly, but has not played regularly. At the start of this season he was traded to the newest team in the league, LAFC. They've come out on fire and Lee has worked himself into being a key player for the team towards the end of the season and is generally thriving as LAFC are on track to make the playoffs.
He was in college in the US when he signed for PSV Eindhoven in Holland, which was pretty big news at the time. He only ever played for them a few times before leaving to sign for Randers in Denmark. While he was there, he briefly broke into the USA senior squad, but soon after, his contract at Randers wasn't renewed. His father, a former Vietnamese refugee from the Vietnam War, got an offer of huge money from the Vietnamese domestic league to pass along to Lee. He got the offer and accepted it. A 23 year old who was playing in Europe and for the US national team was going off to play in Vietnam for his prime years. He played for two clubs over two seasons and a half seasons in Vietnam and even managed a trial at Arsenal along the way due to some feeder club connections.
When Jurgen Klinsmann became USA manager, he suspected he may have a chance to get back into the US setup and he engineered a move back to MLS - signing for New England Revolution. He was at New England for five seasons, setting the MLS record for goals by a midfielder in a season and becoming club captain along the way. He did make it back into the US setup briefly, but has not played regularly. At the start of this season he was traded to the newest team in the league, LAFC. They've come out on fire and Lee has worked himself into being a key player for the team towards the end of the season and is generally thriving as LAFC are on track to make the playoffs.
Unremarkable? He was one of the best players in the world at his peak.
Lovren.
Probably one of the worst players that reached WC and CL finals in space of few months.
In general, shit player that costs his team very often, and can't catch any decent spell of form except that period at Southampton when no one watched him.
Probably one of the worst players that reached WC and CL finals in space of few months.
In general, shit player that costs his team very often, and can't catch any decent spell of form except that period at Southampton when no one watched him.
Peter Crouch. Showed that stick insects can be good at other things than just being stick insects.
He also had a career break due being arrested for drug cartel related crimes.
Darron Gibson. Starting and scoring in a fecking UCL semifinal against Schalke and QF against Bayern.
How Fergie made some of these next to good for almost nothing lads tick is unbelievable now
How Fergie made some of these next to good for almost nothing lads tick is unbelievable now