Favourite foreign players of all-time?

Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
Juan Roman Riquelme

My favourite foreign player ever.

Riquelme, A true playmaker. He was technically sublime. Some football brain. He was stylish, graceful, elegant with unrivalled flair. Creative, vision for a pass, and could beat players with unbelievable dribbling. You could always rely on him for a goal too. Deadly from set-pieces.

Also, what I loved about Roman was his ability to hold off tackles and opponents. He wasn't big and strong but he used his arms well to protect himself and was never easily shrugged off the ball. I think most South American greats have a certain toughness besides great ability.

Villarreal built a team around him and almost got to a Champions League final, but sadly he missed a penalty against Arsenal in the semi-final. What might have been, eh? Won the Copa Libertadores three times. Argentina could have won the World Cup in 2006 if Pekerhead didn't sub him against the Germans.

What a maestro. What an artist. What a legend. :worthy:

Juan-Roman-Riquelme.jpg
 
F

Francis Benali (on loan)

Guest
Ruud Gullit.

87-88 was the first season I got into Forest. I'd watched Lee Glover score for Forest, Luton and Wimbledon win the cups.

Euro '88 was the first international tournament I remember. England got beat by Ireland and Ray Houghton. I loved everything about football at this point, but there was nothing cool about it.

Then Gullit showed up in the summer with his dreads, wearing the best football shirt ever made. He played in a reggae band....and he was World Player of the Year. Van Basten scored the hat trick against us, but Gullit was coolest man on the planet.

Watched European Cup highlights on Sportsnight after that. Milan won the next two with him and the other two from the Dutch trio.

 

GOBIAS

Ian Bowyer
Ruud Gullit.

87-88 was the first season I got into Forest. I'd watched Lee Glover score for Forest, Luton and Wimbledon win the cups.

Euro '88 was the first international tournament I remember. England got beat by Ireland and Ray Houghton. I loved everything about football at this point, but there was nothing cool about it.

Then Gullit showed up in the summer with his dreads, wearing the best football shirt ever made. He played in a reggae band....and he was World Player of the Year. Van Basten scored the hat trick against us, but Gullit was coolest man on the planet.

Watched European Cup highlights on Sportsnight after that. Milan won the next two with him and the other two from the Dutch trio.


Lee Glover to Ruud Gullit:LOL:

I started watching Forest in 1987 and 1988 euros was the first tournament I took interest in. I was also in awe of gullit. There was a competition in shoot at the time to win a replica shirt and I wanted the Dutch shirt, my Dad made me put England.
 

GOBIAS

Ian Bowyer
There have been loads over the years. Summer tournaments back in the day we’re great because there wasn’t the exposure like now so you knew the odd player from football italia but a new tournament meant new players, new skills, new hairstyles, new styles of play, even (as a youngster) new countries you’d never heard of. I loved the Romanian’s in 94. So georghe Hagi. What a maestro.
 
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Francis Benali (on loan)

Guest
I didn't really like it when I first saw English clubs playing in Europe in the early nineties after the ban was lifted. It took some of the mystique from the European sides. Especially if the English club won, like Man United beating Barcelona in the 91 CWC Final.
 
F

Francis Benali (on loan)

Guest
Lee Glover to Ruud Gullit

I started watching Forest in 1987 and 1988 euros was the first tournament I took interest in. I was also in awe of gullit. There was a competition in shoot at the time to win a replica shirt and I wanted the Dutch shirt, my Dad made me put England.
I have the shirt now. It's the only football shirt I wear. I still love it. My wife hates it.

All 15 matches from that tournament are actually on Daily Motion in full, complete with 80s Motty commentary for England games.

I might need to wade through it, pretend it's 1988 again.
 
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Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
There have been loads over the years. Summer tournaments back in the day we’re great because there wasn’t the exposure like now so you knew the odd player from football italia but a new tournament meant new players, new skills, new hairstyles, new styles of play, even (as a youngster) new countries you’d never heard of. I loved the Romanian’s in 94. So georghe Hagi. What a maestro.

What an excellent choice. Adored Hagi at USA 94.
 

GOBIAS

Ian Bowyer
What an excellent choice. Adored Hagi at USA 94.

I loved that tournament even though England weren’t there and some of the games were on late. There were so many exciting teams and players. Also exciting to see what Bryan Roy was like. Best WC ever for me.
 

Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
Toss up between Totti, Pirlo & Canavaro

ITALIA!! ITALIA!!

We're talking Italy 2006. Pirlo was outstanding. Loved him. Cannavaro was a complete colossus at the back. Italy only conceded 2 goals in that World Cup (a Zaccardo own-goal and a Zidane penalty). Totti had all the talent in the world, but usually on the periphery of games. Don't forget Fabio Grosso. :)
 

Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
I loved that tournament even though England weren’t there and some of the games were on late. There were so many exciting teams and players. Also exciting to see what Bryan Roy was like. Best WC ever for me.

Hagi even made Dumitrescu and Raducioiu look like world-beaters. :)
 
F

Francis Benali (on loan)

Guest
Baggio was another extremely cool all time great at that tournament. With his ponytail, Buddism and carrying Italy to the final. Very harsh that he's now remembered at the that one for a missed penalty. Think he played through injury in the final too.
 

Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
I loved Inzaghi.

Fergie said he was born offside and many of his teammates said he was shocking in training. But if a ball dropped inside the six-yard box, Super Pippo would finish.

A great goalscorer.

xin_36050424083611904271.jpg
 

Alf-engelos Mindminackers

The Artiste formally known as "Wanksy"
We're talking Italy 2006. Pirlo was outstanding. Loved him. Cannavaro was a complete colossus at the back. Italy only conceded 2 goals in that World Cup (a Zaccardo own-goal and a Zidane penalty). Totti had all the talent in the world, but usually on the periphery of games. Don't forget Fabio Grosso. :)

Yeah, those two were superb in the tourney. I have a big affection for Totti because of his club loyalty. 25 years as a player at one club, now a director there as they currently sit 5th in Seria A. It's how itshould happen at Forest :LOL:

That was a mint year all round for me too. it was like the Gods of fate could not do enough for me. good times :)
 

EmmersonForest4

Stuart Pearce
Yeah, those two were superb in the tourney. I have a big affection for Totti because of his club loyalty. 25 years as a player at one club, now a director there as they currently sit 5th in Seria A. It's how itshould happen at Forest :LOL:

That was a mint year all round for me too. it was like the Gods of fate could not do enough for me. good times :)

The ac Milan side in the mid to late 2000s were an absolute joy. I’m reciting this side so they could be wrong
———————————Dida———————————
Cafu——Maldini——Nesta——Costacurta
—————————Gattuso—————————
———-Pirlo————-Seedorf———-
—————————Kaka—————————-
—————Inzhahi—-Shevchencko—

I could pick 5 out of their that I love with Pirlo being one of them. When gattuso was great he was unbelievable but Kaka and Cafu were legends then as well. Shevchencko was my favourite on pes 4 though so many great players.
 

Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
The ac Milan side in the mid to late 2000s were an absolute joy. I’m reciting this side so they could be wrong
———————————Dida———————————
Cafu——Maldini——Nesta——Costacurta
—————————Gattuso—————————
———-Pirlo————-Seedorf———-
—————————Kaka—————————-
—————Inzhahi—-Shevchencko—

I could pick 5 out of their that I love with Pirlo being one of them. When gattuso was great he was unbelievable but Kaka and Cafu were legends then as well. Shevchencko was my favourite on pes 4 though so many great players.

My Milan squad for the mid 00s - Cafu, Maldini, Nesta, Stam, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Rui Costa, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Shevchenko, Super Pippo, Crespo etc.
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
I was going to go for Socrates but Eddie tabbed him.

So, I’ll have Lothar Matthäus: Proper Midfield General, and later on on his career, redefined the role of a Sweeper at Bayern.

Did it at the top level too:

d7ce35e08294aa067c0e9627fa75cba1.jpg
 

Taylor_82

Viv Anderson
I was going to go for Socrates but Eddie tabbed him.

So, I’ll have Lothar Matthäus: Proper Midfield General, and later on on his career, redefined the role of a Sweeper at Bayern.

Did it at the top level too:

d7ce35e08294aa067c0e9627fa75cba1.jpg

German efficiency. I like it.
 

Huxley

John Robertson
Franco Baresi.
 

Ravi

Upper Decker
Andrés Iniesta

World Cup and double Euro Championships winner.

The perfect creative midfield playmaker. Every pass was positive and for the team.
 

Kjetil Osvold's Cat

Kingsley Black
Andrés Iniesta

World Cup and double Euro Championships winner.

The perfect creative midfield playmaker. Every pass was positive and for the team.
I'm going to go with the player who was apparently his idol, and who I was aware of a couple of years before Francis knew Gullit, playing in a similarly iconic shirt (I like the Juventus one from that time too which he also played in) - Michael Laudrup:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w1C3bQrqms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XCi-I4wl1I
Maybe the smoothest dribbler and passer of all-time?
Not a tough guy but at the same time would stay on his feet rather than look to dive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkPzDdiRAsM
What an unbelievable year '94 was for Gheorghe Hagi
:tophat:

That Van Basten goal against England (the first one with the turn) was enjoyable to see even being English (although probably more of a Forest fan)! Not as good as his volley in the Final though quite!
 

EmmersonForest4

Stuart Pearce
My Milan squad for the mid 00s - Cafu, Maldini, Nesta, Stam, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Rui Costa, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Shevchenko, Super Pippo, Crespo etc.

I totally forgot about Rui Costa and Stam! That ac Milan team were heroic I was gutted when Liverpool beat them.
 
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