Ten most iconic post war English footballers.

[Newcy Wolf]

I'm more than sure you would.

[boingy]

I'm not too keen on Lineker as a person these days but he was an amazing striker for England. I used to think his name was "Lineker goal" because I got used to hearing that on TV.

[Yarmbaggie]

For me to be iconic you need to be massively famous and representative of your time, which doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be the best footballers of their time.

Because of that I would have to include Beckham and possibly even Paul Gascogne! The one I would take out would be Jimmy Greaves, even though in my opinion he was a great footballer. As others have said I would see Kevin Keegan and Gazza ahead of him as an icon of their time.

[wbaliquidator]

I guess its all about the definition of the word
“
I which case Gazza has to be there for all the right and wrong reasons !

[holmleighchris]

Surely the great Duncan Edwards would have to get into the Top Ten, that is in in my humble opinion.

I considered Edwards. Put him on the honourable mentions list. The fact he played so few games was the reason I left him out. Keegan, Gascoine & Lineker all great players but not iconic, well not to make the 10. It's al about opinions though isn't it?

[Albionic68]

I considered Edwards. Put him on the honourable mentions list. The fact he played so few games was the reason I left him out. Keegan, Gascoine & Lineker all great players but not iconic, well not to make the 10. It's al about opinions though isn't it?

True, but if yours is the only opinion which counts it kind of defeats the object of the thread in the first instance. I'd counter that Keegan was very much an icon of his time, as were the candidates which you provided. Did they all transcend the post war period? Clearly not as Cyrille was only born in '58 and Beckham didn't make it out of his mom until the mid 70's.

Although very fine players in their own right, and achieving legendary status for a variety of reasons (I absolutely worshiped Cyrille as a lad, a genuine iconic figure), I don't think many challenged themselves by playing abroad for instance, thus enhancing their iconic status with a wider audience while also winning two Ballon d'Ors as did Keegan.

Then again playing abroad may not have been an option which was open to many of those listed. The obviously exempt Welsh man John Charles managed it, as did Greaves, although despite having a good goal return he just couldn't settle in Milan and came home after less than fif**** games.

There are many ways of defining iconic status and I'm not saying I'd exclude any from your original list. But perhaps limiting it to ten was a bit restrictive.

Still as you say Chris, it's all about opinions isn't it ?

[holmleighchris]

True, but if yours is the only opinion which counts it kind of defeats the object of the thread in the first instance. I'd counter that Keegan was very much an icon of his time, as were the candidates which you provided. Did they all transcend the post war period? Clearly not as Cyrille was only born in '58 and Beckham didn't make it out of his mom until the mid 70's.

Although very fine players in their own right, and achieving legendary status for a variety of reasons (I absolutely worshiped Cyrille as a lad, a genuine iconic figure), I don't think many challenged themselves by playing abroad for instance, thus enhancing their iconic status with a wider audience while also winning two Ballon d'Ors as did Keegan.

Then again playing abroad may not have been an option which was open to many of those listed. The obviously exempt Welsh man John Charles managed it, as did Greaves, although despite having a good goal return he just couldn't settle in Milan and came home after less than fif**** games.

There are many ways of defining iconic status and I'm not saying I'd exclude any from your original list. But perhaps limiting it to ten was a bit restrictive.

Still as you say Chris, it's all about opinions isn't it ?

I wasn't saying only my opinion counts, merely stating why I chose those 10.
Does playing abroad strengthen or diminish their standings?

[WBA1955]

Difficult one Chris.

Billy Wright? Yes.
Bobby Charlton? Yes.
Stanley Mathews? Yes.
Bobby Moore, the only England captain to lift the world cup? Yes.
Geoff Hurst, the only man to score an hat trick in a WC final? Yes.

The others are open to debate.

Cyrille is synonymous with the Three Degrees.

Laurie Cunningham became the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid, and the second black man to wear an England shirt.

David Beckham won over 100 caps, but Billy Wright did it first in the days of less internationals and having to play a full game.
David Beckham married into show business. Billy Wright did it first.
David Beckham played for Real Madrid. Laurie Cunningham did it first.

Would i say Beckham is an icon though? Yes definitely.

The three degrees changed football, it's unfair to have one without the other, thats why the statue is of all three. All of them are icons.
Brendon Batson is one of the best full backs we have had, very gifted, but he is a bit like George Harrison, forever linked with two geniuses.

Great topic for down the pub Chris.

[Albionic68]

I wasn't saying only my opinion counts, merely stating why I chose those 10.
Does playing abroad strengthen or diminish their standings?

Hang on Chris, I think we may be at cross purposes.

Holmleigh: a. “Keegan, Gascoine & Lineker all great players but not iconic (in your opinion Chris), b. well not to make the 10”.

Albionic68: a. “There are many ways of defining iconic status and I'm not saying I'd exclude any from your original list. b. But perhaps limiting it to ten was a bit restrictive”.

Holmleigh: “Does playing abroad strengthen or diminish their standings?”

Albionic68: As stated above there are many ways of defining iconic status. Steve Bull for instance is an icon for some and I can appreciate why, but just not for me. I would suggest Keegan and Laurie broadened their appeal to a wider audience by plying their trade abroad. Cyrille did not, but he is clearly a footballing icon (in our shared opinion). Greaves may be an icon to you, but given his short career perhaps not to the average AC Milan supporter; swings and roundabouts.

I highlighted in my OP that Keegan was one of the main men around when I were a lad. You discounted Keegan from your reckoning regarding your own top ten. We agree it’s all about opinion and as Des’ suggests it’s a great topic for the pub, just as it is for a football forum.

[WBA1955]

How about Joe Mayo?
He was an icon in Princes End.

Joey Mayo, helloooo