Gentleman players

[Wienergull]

I was watching a tape of the 1991 FA Cup replay against Liverpool the other day, and one incident reminded me of why, apart from his goals and elegant skills, I liked John Byrne as a player so much. He was brought down by Gary Ablett as he turned past him, but still tried to talk the ref out of booking Ablett. A world away from the snarling antics of the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo.

"Sir" Les Ferdinand was another in the same mould - tough and competitve, but always sporting towards his opponents. Maybe it was a QPR thing?

Pele and Eusebio are others who spring to mind. Who would you nominate?

 

[withdeanwombat]

More or less all players from the mid seventies back to the birth of league football, (ooh and Rooney and Ronaldo, and all in the Spanish Liga).

 

[Don't get me started]

Gianfranco Zola when he played for Chelsea, never made a meal out of it always got straight back up when fouled. A credit to the game and a true role model for kids

 

[Superphil]

Shearer and Linneker were both OK too.

 

[The Large One]

Francis Lee and Norman Hunter - both had little recourse in appealing to the referee for anything. Were happy to sort things out and let natural justice take place.

 

[Easy 10]

Shearer and Linneker were both OK too.

Lineker for sure, but Shearer ?
You might want to ask Neil Lennon his opinion....

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

Shearer and Linneker were both OK too.

shearer was VERY dirty

he was just good at not getting caught

 

[Taybha]

This guy gets my vote
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[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Tay I love watching the Cryuff turn more then I love wanking to videos of myself wanking. Thankyou.

 

[Taybha]

your very welcome danny,i aim to please

 

[Emily's Mum]

Gianfranco Zola when he played for Chelsea, never made a meal out of it always got straight back up when fouled. A credit to the game and a true role model for kids

He gets my vote too. I saw him play at Oakwell when Barnsley got thrashed 6 nil back in the 97/98 season. He was so respectful of other people, fans included. He always turned to help a player up & did not backchat. The nicest thing I saw him do was to replace a divot during play. He didn't have to, but made the effort.

 

[Gully]

Shearer and Linneker were both OK too.

Sorry to disagree with you Phil, but Shearer was probably the biggest whinger I can remember in the game, always complaining to the ref about something or other...can't imagine he ever tried to stop an opponent being booked.

I would include the likes of Michael Owen, who in my opinion is a model professional, often fouled but just gets up and on with the game...maybe even Robbie Fowler for the non-penalty incident.

 

[Austrian Gull]

Giggs is about as close as the modern game gets.

But Shearer?

 

[Captain Haddock]

Gianfranco Zola when he played for Chelsea, never made a meal out of it always got straight back up when fouled. A credit to the game and a true role model for kids

And considering which League he came to Blighty from, his behaviour was all the more sporting! Zola is one of my all time faves.

 

[ali jenkins]

Whats about Di Canio?

I know he didnt ALWAYS play fair but im pretty sure he won an award for catching the ball when the everton goalie was lying on the floor injured when Di Canio could have easily put it in the net to win the game!

 

[pasty]

This guy.

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/article.html?Romania_star_refuses_to_pay_the_penalty&in_article_id=607145&in_page_id=46

We can't see too many Premier League stars trying this any time soon but Rapid Bucharest midfielder Costin Lazar refused to take a penalty after insisting he had been fairly tackled in the penalty area.
During his side's 4-0 win Lazar took a tumble in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. But he refused to step up to the spot before convincing the referee to change his mind about the decision.

'I do not need a prize for this,' said Lazar. 'We do not like being helped out and this is how I felt I should react.'

 

[The Large One]

This guy.

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/article.html?Romania_star_refuses_to_pay_the_penalty&in_article_id=607145&in_page_id=46

We can't see too many Premier League stars trying this any time soon but Rapid Bucharest midfielder Costin Lazar refused to take a penalty after insisting he had been fairly tackled in the penalty area.
During his side's 4-0 win Lazar took a tumble in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. But he refused to step up to the spot before convincing the referee to change his mind about the decision.

'I do not need a prize for this,' said Lazar. 'We do not like being helped out and this is how I felt I should react.'

I can think of a few refs who would have booked him for that.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Talking of gentlemen, Becks breaks away from his interview here to tell someone to "Mind the lady - please!" BBC SPORT | Football | Our patience paid off - Beckham