A Short Biography of Famous Soccer Player John Terry

His full name is John George Terry. He was born in London, England on 7 December 1980. Terry is a professional soccer player of England. His playing position in the field is as a centre back. In the Premier League, he is the captain of Chelsea club. Terry is considered as one of the best defenders in European soccer. And in the 2005 UEFA Champions League, he was chosen as best defender. From August 2006 until February 2010, He was captain of the England national football side as well.

In August Terry was established as the England captain, and will captain England in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. But On 5 February 2010, following accusations about Terry's personal life, Fabio Capello publicized that Terry was detached as the captain of the England side. Terry was substituted by associate defender Rio Ferdinand.

During his career as a professional soccer player, Terry won many honors. Some of them are UEFA Champions League (Runner-up: 2008), Premier League (Champion: 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2009-2010, and Runner-up: 2003-04, 2006-07, 2007-08), FA Cup (Winner: 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, and Runner-up: 2002), Football League Cup (Winner: 2005, 2007, and Runner-up: 2008), FA Community Shield (Winner: 2005, 2009, and Runner-up: 2006, 2010).

As individual honor, he won PFA Player of the Year (2004-2005), FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament (2006), FIFPro World XI (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), UEFA Club Football Awards (2005, 2008, 2009), UEFA Team of the Year (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009), and Chelsea Player of the Year (2001, 2006).

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A Football Genius - Robert Prosinecki

If you're a footy fan you've probably heard of this legendary midfielder, former member of Croatian national team. Robert Prosinecki was born in 1969. in Germany's Schwenningen, where his parents were working. He came in Croatia at early age and started playing for Dinamo Zagreb, but coach Miroslav Blazevic dismissed him saying his (in)famous sentence: 'If this lad becomes a real football player, I'll eat my coaching diploma.'

I'm not sure if his diploma still remained in one piece, but Prosinecki then signed for Red Star Belgrade and made his debut in young national team of Yugoslavia. In fact, in 1987. Robi or Zuti ('the yellow one', due to his blonde hair) came to the world's attention at the World Youth Championship in Chile where he was named player of the tournament!

Who would thought this midfielder would become the only player in World Cup history to score for two different national teams? In Italy 1990., Prosinecki scored one goal for Yugoslavia in a group match against United Arab Emirates. As Yugoslavia fell apart soon after that, Robi became prominent member of Croatian national team. Eight years later, during FIFA World Cup finals in France he scored 2 goals, in a group match against Jamaica and in the third place match against the Netherlands. The second goal included his famous technique, that fooled opponent players completely.

Croatia won third place that year (with striker Davor Suker as Golden Boot winner), but among many Croats there's a still regret for what might have happened if only coach Blazevic didn't leave Prosinecki on a bench during semi-final match against France, which Croatia lost 1:2.

However, the 3rd place in a World Cup will forever remain the crown of his career, but let's not forget he also won European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991., and played for Spain's big two clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. In Portsmouth, where he played only in season 2001/2002., Robi is even now held as a hero and his nickname was 'Croatian Magician'.

I met this football genius about 10 years ago, you never guess where - at the art gallery! No, he didn't become a painter, but he opened exhibition of painting as a special guest. Calm and down-to-earth, he gave autographs afterwards and took pictures with his fans.

Robert Prosinecki ended his playing career in 2004., but his famous dribblings, passes and goals are already part of greatest moments in football history.

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World Cup Soccer - Group A. An Overview Of The World Cup Football Tournament In Germany

World Cup group A places the home nation Germany against Costa Rica, Ecuador & Poland in a relatively easy group from which they should comfortably qualify.

Although the German team is not thought to be up to the standard of their previous victorious teams, bookmakers currently have them as joint second favourites behind Brazil, and they must be respected as possible winners on home soil.
It is difficult to see any of their three opponents being able to challenge them as Group A winners and it would appear that Costa Rica, Ecuador & Poland are competing for a chance to qualify in second spot.

History tells us that when the competition is played in Europe, the European nations tend to outperform the sides visiting from other continents. This coupled with Poland's impressive qualification from a difficult European qualifying stage must make the Poles most likely to progress along with the Germans. For the Poles, who will have an army of travelling supporters, the first game will be massively important, and a win over Ecuador in that game should ease their passage to the second stage.

Ecuador are a talented but temperamental outfit who must be respected, because on a good day they can match most national sides. Germany 2006 is only the second finals they have reached and they will be keen to add to their single victory from Japan 2002. Discipline may be a factor for Ecuador, and the strict refereeing of the Finals may not suit them.

Costa Rica will most probably be the groups whipping boys, first up for them is Germany in the tournament's opening game, a game they can't really expect to gain points from. Their second game against Ecuador will be the one that decides whether or not they can progress further in the Cup, and should provide good entertainment as both sides like to attack, sometimes at the detriment to their defensive duties.

It is difficult to see any other outcome than Germany topping group A. Poland should take the second spot if successful in their first match versus Ecuador, but anything less than a win for them will give the edge to Ecuador. Costa Rica will probably sit at the foot of the table, unless they produce a couple of shocks...

Norbert Wartle is a soccer writer for Football England [http://www.football-england.com] and will be covering the matches at the Fifa World Cup - Germany 2006 [http://www.football-england.com/fifa_world_cup_2006.html].

Norbert also covers the England Football Team's [http://www.football-england.com/england_football_team_squad.html] matches.

Soccer - The Sport That Binds The World

Soccer is famous among the layman by the name of 'Football'. The term 'Soccer' has been derived from the word 'assoc' that in turn originated from 'Association'. The game is basically about 'playing ball with the foot'.

Today, football is played at a professional level all over the world, and millions of people regularly go to football stadium to follow their favourite team, whilst billions more watch the game on television. Since, soccer evokes great passions and plays an important role in the life of individual fans, local communities, and even nations; it is therefore often claimed to be one of the most popular sports in the world.

The game of soccer, played between two teams of 11 players each, is by far the most popular sports in the world. The game is played with a ball on a rectangular grass field with a goal at each end of the field. The object of the game is to score by manoeuvring the ball into the opposing goal. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. A game is officiated by a referee, who has "full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed" and whose decisions are final. The referee is assisted by two assistant referees. A standard adult football match consists of two periods of 45 minutes each, known as halves. There is usually a 15-minute "half-time" break between halves. The end of the match is known as "full-time."

The contemporary history of soccer dates back to more than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England, when rugby football and association football branched off on their different courses and the world's first football association was founded - The Football Association in England. Both forms of football have a common base and both have a long and intricately branched ancestral tree. After the English Football Association, the next oldest are the Scottish FA (1873), the FA of Wales (1875) and the Irish FA (1880). Strictly speaking, at the time of the first international match, England had no other partner association against which to play. The spread of soccer outside of Great Britain, mainly due to the British influence abroad, started slow, but it soon gathered momentum and spread rapidly to all parts of the world and today it is an undeniable truth that the game has die-hard fans all over the globe.

Scholars might have conflicting views on the origins of the game and the influences that certain cults may have had on its evolution, but one thing is absolute truth: football has flourished for over a thousand years in diverse rudimentary forms, in the very region which we describe as its home, England and the British Isles.

Football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). The most prestigious international football competition is the World Cup, held every four years. More than 190 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments within the scope of continental confederations for a place in the finals. Since 1900, Summer Olympic Games also holds a football tournamnet. After the World Cup, the most important football competitions are the continental championships, which are organised by each continental confederation and contested between national teams. These are the European Championship (UEFA), the Copa América (CONMEBOL), African Cup of Nations (CAF), the Asian Cup (AFC), the CONCACAF Gold Cup (CONCACAF) and the OFC Nations Cup (OFC).

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Do Football - Soccer Players Get Paid Too Much Money?

I saw the other day a club chief executive moaning about the wages the club pays to the players at the club, I can't remember who he was but it just annoyed me. There he was smoking a big cigar, driving a brand new Bentley, doing nothing for the club, bar taking a big fat pay packet of his own while not actually getting out on the pitch and making a difference for the club.

Now don't get me wrong I think he had a point. There are players at every club that just because they are being paid at all means they are receiving too much. But it's the fact that the people that are telling us players get too much are the ones that are taking money away from the game that makes me think that maybe players are not getting paid too much.

Though having said that a lot do get riches beyond the amount their ability deserves. A few examples spring to mind immediately: Robbie Savage, OK a good player but is he really that good, that he is able to afford to drive a Ferrari? Not in my eyes he's not. He is far too busy play acting for my liking. Then there is Tim Sherwood, OK he may of won a League Championship medal while at Blackburn but was he really anything other than a good player?

Again I would say no, he was just lucky to be playing in the EPL before the big star influx raised the level of ability needed to make it. but at a time when the big money had entered the game. But in my view the biggest example of an overpaid footballer is Ian Walker, surely the worst 'keeper the EPL has seen, even when he dropped down a flight with Leicester he was no better than average.

However, when you see the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Pavel Nedved. These are players that make a match worth watching just to see them, it doesn't matter what team they play for it's all about them and their ability to produce magical skills that make your jaw drop in admiration.

Maybe a better answer to the question would be yes some are, but no others are not. Though of course that doesn't make for good headlines when a player signs a new contract.

Lets be honest how many Manchester United fans begrudge Roy Keane a single penny he made from the club? But that didn't stop the newspapers whining about the massive sums he was making, well so what? It is nothing compared to the sums that the likes of Martin Edwards made from Manchester United yet Edwards was not the one out on the pitch knowing that his career could be over tomorrow if he receives a bad challenge.

Sometimes I think its just jealousy that creates these headlines about overpaid players, or maybe its just a complete lack of anything interesting to write that leads to it? Either way I would rather they gave both sides of the story before whinging about it. I mean how about a list of the directors and shareholders of a club and how much they took in wages, bonuses and dividends? So that we can have a reference point to compare player's wages to. I would especially like to know how much the likes of Peter Ridsdale made from Leeds.

To my mind the only way forward is to take clubs back into the hands of the fans, like Wimbledon AFC and FC United. Let's have all their finances completely transparent, and get rid of agent's involvement in transfers. Surely the PFA could offer that as one of their services to their union members, after all they certainly have the money. Surely all clubs need to do transfers between themselves is a solicitor, a representative and an FA, UEFA or FIFA or whoever representative to make sure it is all legal and above board.

I know this will never happen as too many people are busy creaming off money from the game to line their own pockets. But at the end of the day it should be about the fans - the players should all be on performance based contracts so they can earn massive amounts but only if the club does well and the ticket prices should be as low as possible so that as many fans as possible can afford to go.

Still this will never happen because too many people would lose out and at the end of the day football is no longer a sport it is a business and that will unfortunately never change.

The author is Tris Burke, the manager of http://www.football-rumours.com A large, frequently updated football / soccer web site dealing with all facets of the game.

Ronaldinho the Soccer Player

As the soccer world cup approaches every fan is looking forward to watching the genius knowns as Ronaldinho the soccer player.

Every young boy dreams to be as good as Ronaldinho the soccer player. Ronaldinho is the best player in the world and plays soccer with a smile on his face !

Ronaldinho the soccer player is known as the best soccer player in the world. Ronaldinho video clips and soccer tricks are being sent online as soccer fans marvel at his skills.

History of Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho the soccer player became known as " little Ronaldo " in Portuguese in order to distinguish himself from the other famous Brazilian, Ronaldo. Ronaldinho's real name is actually Ronaldo de Assis Moreira and he is widely known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho in his native Brazil.

In his childhood Ronaldinho the soccer player was a star at Futsol and beach soccer and he then moved onto Brazilian club Gremio before moving to Paris SG.

His performance as part of the winning Brazil World cup squad in 2002 attracted the interest of bigger clubs and he moved on to FC Barcelona for £18 million.

Ronaldinho Profile

Club Awards

Spanish La Liga: 2004-05 , 2005-06

Champions League 2005-06

Spanish Super Cup: 2005-06 with Barcelona

International Awards

Under-17 World Cup 1996-97

Copa America: 1998-99 2004-05

FIFA World Cup: 2002

Confederations Cup: 2004-05

Ronaldinho has also won many individual awards including World player of the year and European footballer of the year.

When you watch Ronaldinho movie and video clips you will be amazed at the skill, even his official adverts for Nike are a joy to watch !

Some soccer players earn the respect of opposition fans and Ronaldinho scored two brilliant individual goals for Barcelona away to their closest rivals Real Madrid and the Madrid fans saluted Ronaldinho with a standing ovation despite Real Madrid suffering a 3-0 defeat.

The profile of Ronaldinho is impressive and there is no doubt that Ronaldinho the soccer player will be regarded as one of the greatest ever.

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Kevin McNally offers soccer tips and tricks at World Cup Soccer [http://www.worldcupsoccerfacts.info]

Famous Women Soccer Players - The Famous Mia Hamm

One of the famous women soccer players is Mia Hamm, who had been a member of the women's national team of the United States. During her professional career, she was the only player who scored 158 international goals.

Because of her excellent performance with the sport, she has been recognized twice as FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002. She was acknowledged as a role model for women engaged with the sport. She is also included among the 125 best living players of FIFA. Because of her contribution as one of the top players in the country, she was inducted by the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. In following year, she was again inducted by the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Her career with the sport started when she was 15 years old when she joined the U.S. National Team which she was the youngest among all players of the team. At the age of 19, she was able to win the World Cup Championship which makes her the youngest women in America to win the title.

With Hamm's exemplary kills, she was able to break the international goal record with 108 goals on May 22, 1999 during the match against the Brazilian team held in Orlando.

Mia Hamm is a true champion, a great inspiration to the many women athletes in the all over the world. A true icon who have brought honor for the country and a dedicated his career to the fullest making her as one of the most famous women soccer players.

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