STANLEY MATTHEWS

Date Of Birth : 1 February 1915
Position : Right-Winger
Nation : England
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : Stoke City, Blackpool
Caps : 54 Games (11 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1950, 1954 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time FA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1956 European Footballer Of The Year
2 Times FWA Footballer Of The Year (1948, 1963)
1957 Order Of The British Empire
1965 Knight Of Bachelor
1992 FIFA Gold Medal Order

“The Magician” or “The Wizard of The Dribble” Sir Stanley Matthews is the greatest legend in history of English football. He is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards. A vegetarian teetotaller, he kept fit enough to play at the top level until he was 50 years old, the oldest player ever to play in England's top football division. He played his final competitive game in 1970, at the age of 55. The Second World War interrupted his career. After the war, he fell out with Stoke and was transferred to Blackpool at the age of 32. Matthews was a right-side midfielder who assisted many goals after done his great speed, stamina and dribble. He was voted 11th and 17th World player of the century by IFFHS and World Soccer’s poll, respectively.