Ranking the Top 10 English Players Who've Played in Foreign Leagues
England is the birthplace of the world's greatest game. Not only does it have the title of home of the beautiful game, but it is also home to many legendary players in the sport.
Men like Peter Shilton, who holds the record for the most caps in the English National Team at 125, and Manchester United immortal, Sir Bobby Charlton. Billy Wright also is an immortalized English man as he spent his entire career at Wolverhampton Wanderers during their glory years and also was capped 105 times by the Three Lions National Team.
However, not all Englishmen have played there entire career for clubs on their own soil. Some felt it was time to venture out at one point or another for at least several years to make a name for themselves on a different nations stage.
The following is a list of 10 of England's best exports that succeeded on European or other worldly soil. Also as a side note, many articles that I found in my research include players that were born in Wales and Scotland, so in my version I want to keep it to players strictly from England and not the entire UK. So if you wonder why you aren't seeing Paul Lambert or Graeme Souness, they were born in Scotland and Wales.
10: Michael Owen
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The Chester, England born striker will always be remembered as a legend at Liverpool. With 297 total appearances for the Reds and 158 goals during his time on Merseyside he will forever be in the record books of greats.
However, the time came that he turned his back on playing in his country to attempt a move abroad when Real Madrid came calling in 2004.
Owen made the switch to the horror of Liverpool fans and despite his time being short in the Spanish Capital at only 45 total appearances during the 2004-05 season he scored 16 goals in all competitions.
When you consider that he only started a handful of games, it is important to note that he holds the La Liga record for most goals scored in the total amount of time he was actually on the pitch during the 2004-05 season.
9. Allan Ball
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A lesser-known English footballer, Allan Ball is perhaps the most capped English Keeper in the history of Scottish Football. In a career that spanned from 1963-1982 Ball made 819 total appearances. That run included a 507 consecutive match run.
His club was Scottish Football Second Division side Queen of the South Football Club.
During his time between the pipes they won five Southern Counties Cups, 1966, 1972, 1976, 1982, and 1983, and he was a two time Second division Champion runner up.
8. David Platt
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Another Englishman to have had success in Italy and with Sampdoria is Three Lions midfielder, David Platt.
He scored 106 goals in the first years of his career between English clubs Crewe Alexander and Aston Villa before making the move to Italy with Bari in 1991.
In 29 appearances for the Cockerels Platt hit the back of the net 11 times before making the switch to Turin and Juventus in 1992. The Juve year was another stumbling block as he only made 16 appearances scoring only three goals in that time despite the Old Lady winning the 1993 UEFA Cup.
It looked as though he had been a bust but he would be given a third chance by Sampdoria from 1993-1995. His time would wield 55 appearances and 17 goals as well as the 1994 Coppa Italia.
7. Trevor Francis
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After eight years in Birmingham City Blue, Trevor Francis got his first taste of international action when he was loaned out to the Detroit Express for the 1978 inaugural season of the North American Soccer League. He scored 39 goals in 38 games and helped the Express claim 1st place in the Central Division of the American Conference.
He would then return to England for some time again as he made another name for himself at Nottingham Forrest before a stint at Manchester City and then another departure for foreign soil.
This time he found himself in Italy with Sampdoria. His time in Genoa led to 68 appearances and 17 goals as well as back to back Coppa Italia titles in 1985 and 1986.
The following two seasons would find him collect 21 appearances and 10 goals for Atalanta, and then go goalless in 18 games for Glasgow Rangers but still getting a piece of the 1987 Scottish League Cup.
6. Chris Waddle
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Chris Waddle is the only fullback to have made the list. The former England international was voted as the second best Olympique Marseille player of the 20th century in 1998. He made 140 total appearances for the Mediterranean French club scoring 28 goals.
As famous for his mullet as anything else, the now ESPN corespondent Waddle is perhaps the best Englishman to have played in the French Ligue 1.
He won three back to back Ligue 1 titles in 1990, 1991, and 1992.
5. Gary Linekar
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Gary Linekar made his name at Leicester City before a season at Everton and then his move to Barcelona following his Golden Boot winning performance for England in the 1986 World Cup.
Revered as one of the most clinical finishers in the box in memory, Linekar scored 52 goals for the Blaugrana across 138 appearances. His time in Spain also saw victory in the 1988 Copa del Rey and the 1989 European Cup Winner's Cup.
Following a return to England with Tottenham Hotspur, Linekar would end his career in Japan with a two-year stint at Nagoya Grampus Eight during which time he only managed eight goals in 24 appearances.
4. David Beckham
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English sports and pop culture icon David Beckham joins the list at No. 4. The second most capped player in England's footballing history made his name as we all know at Manchester United before making his first international switch to Real Madrid.
The Galacticos days for Becks led to 155 total appearances and 20 goals for the Spanish giants en route to the 2003 Spanish Super Cup and the 2006-07 La Liga title. He also won the ESPY for Best Male Soccer Player in 2004.
He would leave the Spanish Capital for the pop culture capital of the United States, Los Angeles. The LA Galaxy made Beckham the most high profile player in all of Major League Soccer and also the highest paid to boot. It was controversial to say the least just as his time has been for the most part since his arrival for Los Galacticos.
Despite additional loan time to AC Milan for 33 appearances and two goals, in-between and during MLS seasons, Beckham has made 67 Galaxy appearances scoring 11 goals and being part of two MLS Western Conference Championships and one MLS Supporters Shield victories.
However, the one thing he was brought to the states to deliver, the MLS Championship for the Galaxy, has eluded him on multiple occasions.
3. Paul Gascoigne
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English Midfielder Paul Gascoigne joins in as the second of four midfielders that hold down the top-five English exports of all time.
Successful terms at both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United led to his first trip to foreign soil when he joined SS Lazio from 1992-1995. His service was a large reason why Gary Linekar had been such a success at Tottenham before his failed final days in Japan.
His time in Italy was plagued with injury, and off field controversy and his three years only added up to 43 appearances and six goals as he would sign a deal with Glasgow Rangers in 1995.
The move proved to be a good one and a revitalized time in Scotland would see him be part of two Scottish League Titles, one Scottish Cup and one Scottish League cup.
He notched 104 appearances with 39 goals. He would also be awarded the 1996 Scottish Player's Player of the Year and the 1996 Scottish Writers Player of the Year.
2. Steve McManaman
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Liverpool legend Steve McManaman, Macca, is perhaps the best English midfield maestro to cross the channel. Nine years of service to Liverpool saw him decide it was finally time to try his fortunes in another European League, and it didn't get any bigger than Real Madrid.
With the heart of the Galacticos Era in full swing Macca took his game to the Spanish Capital, and the trophies followed. A statistical card with 157 appearances, 14 goals, and 33 assists across all fronts for the Englishman in four seasons is nothing to be ashamed of.
His time in Spain saw him lift two La Liga titles in 2001 and 2003, two UEFA Champions League Titles in 2000 and 2002, two Spanish Super Cups in 2001 and 2003, the 2002 UEFA Super Cup, the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, and nearly the 2002 Copa del Rey.
1. Kevin Keegan
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Another Liverpool attacking midfield legend tops the list of the best English Exports. Kevin Keegan made 321 appearances for the Reds scoring 100 goals before making the switch to Germany with Hamburg SV in 1977.
His success led to a move to the Bundesliga that would see him reach the height of his potential. His haul at HSV showed 112 appearances with 40 goals and countless more created.
1977 was his build up year to the two best years of his life as he helped Hamburg to the top and was the runner-up for the 1977 Ballon d'Or. The next two seasons from 1978-79 through the 1979-80 season Keegan would make the world marvel at his class.
HSV won back to back Bundesliga titles in 1978-79 and 1979-80, but more impressively Keegan won back to back Ballon d'Ors. Since the award began in 1956 only eight players have won it twice, and only three of them have gone on to win a third. Keegan is the only HSV player to have ever won the award, one of only four Englishmen to have one it, and the only one of them to win it twice. Two of those four Englishmen to win it are on this list as Michael Owen won it in 2001 while at Liverpool
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