Greatest Footballers Who Never Played in England
The Guardian's 'The Knowledge' column explores a reader's question regarding the greatest footballers who never made an appearance in England during their careers. Due to incomplete historical records, the analysis offers a list of likely candidates with a caveat of 99% accuracy. The article excludes players like Marco van Basten, who participated in friendly tournaments at English venues such as Old Trafford and Wembley. Top nominations include Brazilian legend Arthur Friedenreich, who only toured Europe once in 1925, and Clodoaldo, a 1970 World Cup winner who did not play in Santos' 1973 matches against Fulham and Plymouth. Other notable figures identified are Just Fontaine, Roger Milla, Hugo Sánchez, Romerito, Abedi Pele, Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, and Hong Myung-bo. The piece highlights specific anecdotes, such as Roger Milla refusing to play in a 1991 Wembley friendly due to a fee dispute. Additionally, Uruguay's Obdulio Varela is suggested as a potential candidate. The article invites further reader contributions to compile a complete team of such players, while also briefly touching on other football trivia topics.
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Greatest Footballers Who Never Played in England
The Guardian's 'The Knowledge' column explores a reader's question regarding the greatest footballers who never made an appearance in England during their careers. Due to incomplete historical records, the analysis offers a list of likely candidates with a caveat of 99% accuracy. The article excludes players like Marco van Basten, who participated in friendly tournaments at English venues such as Old Trafford and Wembley. Top nominations include Brazilian legend Arthur Friedenreich, who only toured Europe once in 1925, and Clodoaldo, a 1970 World Cup winner who did not play in Santos' 1973 matches against Fulham and Plymouth. Other notable figures identified are Just Fontaine, Roger Milla, Hugo Sánchez, Romerito, Abedi Pele, Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, and Hong Myung-bo. The piece highlights specific anecdotes, such as Roger Milla refusing to play in a 1991 Wembley friendly due to a fee dispute. Additionally, Uruguay's Obdulio Varela is suggested as a potential candidate. The article invites further reader contributions to compile a complete team of such players, while also briefly touching on other football trivia topics.
The Guardian