25 Great Football Mustaches

What better month than Movember to run a collection of 25 great football mustaches, or "moustaches" depending on where on the world you're growing one.

Here's the Wikipedia definition to clarify the criteria here...

"

"A moustache is facial grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face."

"

Hopefully you'll find this collection both amusing and inspiring in equal measure.

1. Ian Rush

Ian Rush won five league titles and a European Cup with Liverpool in the 1980s, and he did it all while sporting one of most iconic mustaches of the time.

Even better is the fact Rushy still sports it now.

2. Rudi Voller

Rudi Voller was part of the German side that won the 1990 World Cup. A predatory striker of the highest order, he was also an honorary member of football's elite mustache club.

3. Graeme Souness

Confrontational Scot Graeme Souness enjoyed a glittering career, which included three European Cup wins with Liverpool.

Like a good number of his Anfield comrades, he also sported a classic mustache.

4. Philippe Albert

Belgian Philippe Albert brought some serious flair to the Newcastle team of the mid-to-late 1990s. He also brought a glorious, thick mustache.

5. Gary Neville

Sadly for mustache fans, Gary Neville's designer facial hair came late on in his glorious playing career at Manchester United.

6. David Seaman

Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman made headlines for his hair. In addition to his mustache, there was also the legendary ponytail over which Ronaldinho's shot floated in World Cup 2002.

If you need reminding.

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the subject of eternal debate in the football world. Is he a genius? Or is he a lazy and arrogant fool who's wasted his talent? Whatever your position, there's no denying the man wears a mustache with authority.

8. Socrates

The world has known two great Socrates, one Greek and one Brazilian. I can't speak for the Greek version, but the Brazilian came with some seriously dashing facial hair.

9. Joey Barton

Joey Barton grew a mustache and said he would shave it off when Newcastle won their first game of the new season.

When the win came, a 6-0 battering of Aston Villa no less, he was good to his word.

10. George Best

Massive props to Whoateallthepies for finding this picture. Just when you thought George Best couldn't get any cooler, it turns out the legendary Manchester United star once worked his magic with a mustache on his top lip.

11. Mark Lawrenson

Back to 1980's Liverpool for the wonderfully no-nonsense mustache of cultured defender Mark Lawrenson.

12. Bobby Smith

The late Bobby Smith's career is best known for spells at Hibernian and Leicester City, where he treated fans to a wonderfully neat mustache. Judging by this photo, Bobby was seriously proud of it.

13. Carlos Valderama

Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderama entered the mass consciousness with his stirring performances at Italia 90. Best known for his shock of blond hair, it's often forgotten that Valderamma also sports a dark mustache.

14. Bruce Grobbelaar

Another Liverpool legend from the 1980s. Another mustache. This time it's eccentric Zimbabwean goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.

15. Frank Worthington

Frank Worthington remains a cult hero to football fans who saw him change clubs 23 times in 36 years. A maverick in the old-fashioned sense, Worthington was also known to don a stylish mustache on occasion.

16. Viv Anderson

Former Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Manchester United defender Viv Anderson was famously the first black player to represent England.

He should also be remembered for the understated number gracing his top lip.

17. Gennaro Gattuso

Gennaro Gattuso has been enforcing football law in AC Milan's midfield for well over a decade. In that time, he's treated us to one of the most menacing beards in sport.

18. Thierry Henry

OK, it's not the boldest of mustaches, but Thierry Henry's subtlety on the field was always going to be reflected in any expression through facial hair. This picture dates back to 1998.

19. Patrice Evra

Like his countryman, Henry, Patrice Evra is a fan of the low-visibility mustache. When he does wear one, it's cropped tight to his lip with no chance whatsoever of handlebars creeping out.

20. Roberto Rivelino

Brazilian midfielder Roberto Rivelino was part of the legendary 1970 World Cup-winning team, which many consider to be the best of all time.

Famous for his free kicks and superb technique, Rivelino was also known for a seriously bushy mustache.

21. Neville Southall

Here's legendary Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall holding the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup. He looks shell-shocked, but his mustache is calm and composed.

22. Frank Rijkaard

Dutch midfielder Frank Rijkaard enjoyed a glittering career at Ajax and AC Milan, where he collected a glut of domestic and European titles.

Here he is in action at the 1988 European Championships, which his Netherlands team duly won, too. Great mustache.

23. Jimmy Case

Former Liverpool, Brighton and Southampton midfielder Jimmy Case was not a man to upset on the field.

The notorious hard man never veered away from confrontation, and the mustache on his lip only upped the intimidation factor.

24. Chris Kamara

Here's Chris Kamara sporting a neatly-trimmed mustache during his time with Sheffield United in the early 1990s.

Now seen as a pundit and presenter for Sky Sports, Kamara has made the mustache his calling card.

25. Michael Ballack

There was only one slide to finish with. Here's Michael Ballack sporting a fake mustache for a Mercedes ad. Sadly, the German international wasn't suitably inspired to grow his own.