PAUL GASCOIGNE

TEAMS PLAYED FOR
 
Boston United (England): 2004
Gansu Tianma (China): 2003
Burnley (England): 2002
Everton (England): 2000 – 2002
Middlesborough (England): 1998 – 2000
Glasgow Rangers (Scotland): 1995 – 1998
Lazio (Italy): 1992 – 1995
Tottenham Hotspur (England): 1988 – 1992
Newcastle United (England): 1985 - 1988

BIO

Paul Gascoigne has not played a big game for a long time, however he is still very popular.  No matter where he goes, people always ak for autographs, and he never denies.  “Love, Paul Gascoigne” he writes… 
Paul John Gascoigne was born on May 27, 1967 in Dunston, Tyne and Wear, England.  Paul was the second of four children.  Initially the family lived in a single upstairs room in a council house with a shared bathroom, and moved several times during Gascoigne's early life.  When Paul was ten his father moved away to Germany to find work, and Paul suffered a personal tragedy when he witnessed the death of Steven Spraggon, the younger brother of a friend, who was knocked down by a car outside a sweet shop. He suffered further trauma soon after when his father suffered a brain haemorrhage and was in hospital for eight months. In his autobiography, Gascoigne reports that around this time he started exhibiting twitches and symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In addition to this, he began shoplifting - mainly from slot machines and sweets from a local convenience store. He described the thefts as being motivated not by need for the goods but by the need for excitement.
Subsequently Gascoigne developed an addition to gambling, frequently spending all his money including bus fare home on them. At one point he robbed the entire contents of his sister's purse to feed his habit. Around this time he also had his first taste of alcohol, getting drunk on a bottle of vodka stolen by a friend at age fourteen, but ill effects led to Gascoigne swearing off alcohol for life - in the event he didn't drink again until he was eighteen. Responsibility for a death made another appearance in Gascoigne's life when a friend he had encouraged to join Newcastle United from Middlesborough went to work with his uncle in the building trade while waiting for an opening at Newcastle and was killed in a building site accident.
Paul began playing soccer at the age of four.  At first he played in the streets and parks with his friends and eventually started playing for his school team.  Soccer scouts noticed him while he was playing for kid’s team and offered him a trial at Ipswich Town, however the trial was unsuccessful.  He subsequently tried out for Middlesborough and Southampton, but also unsuccessfully

CLUB CAREER


Paul Gascoigne began his professional soccer career in 1985 coming as a substitute against QPR for Newcastle United.  He subsequently played for Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Glasgow Rangers.  

NATIONAL TEAM CAREER


Gascoigne was first called up to the National team by Bobby Robson in 1988 in a friendly against Denmark.  He eventually became a regular in the squad and went to 1990 World Cup with the team.  His performance at the World Cup helped England take forth place in the tournament and earned him a place on the all-start team.  All together Gascoigne played 57 games for his country.     

PERSONAL INFO


Nicknamed Gazza… In 1989 one of the BBC commentators gave him this nickname after telling the audience that the field reminded him of sector Gazza every time Gascoigne played.  Paul loved to joke around on and off the field.  Many times he would torment his players or opponents or make fun of them each time they miss a goal on an empty net or get injured.  He never showed any compassion to players, according to witnesses, all he cared about was winning, at any cost.  Throughout his career, Paul has suffered from alcoholism and faced numerous health and legal problems.  However, on July 2009, he confirmed that he had been clear of drugs and alcohol for 15 months after spending yet another stint at a rehab.

       

TITLES AND AWARDS

Newcastle United

FA Youth Cup: 1984, 1985

Tottenham Hotspur

FA Cup: 1991

Glasgow Rangers

Scottish League: 1996, 1997

Scottish Cup: 1996

Scottish League Cup: 997

International

World Cup All-star Team: 1990

Scottish Player of the Year: 1996

English Football Hall of Fame: 2002

DIEGO MARADONA

TEAMS PLAYED FOR

Boca Juniors (Argentina): 1995 – 1997
Newell’s Old Boys (Argentina): 1993
Sevilla (Spain): 1992 – 1993
Napoli (Italy): 1984 – 1991
FC Barcelona (Spain): 1982 – 1984
Boca Juniors (Argentina): 1981 – 1982
Argentinos Juniors (Argentina): 1976 - 1981

BIO

Diego Maradona was born on October 30, 1960 in Lanus, Argentina. His parents already had three daughters and were extremely happy to give birth to their first son whom they named after the father. Diego also has two younger brothers.
When Diego turned 7 years old, his cousin gave him a soccer ball as a birthday gift. At first Diego didn’t care about the ball and played mostly with trains and model planes. However, when the spring came, he decided to try the ball out in the street.
Slowly but surely, soccer became the main focus of boy’s life; he would spend all his free time chasing the ball around with his friends. He loved playing soccer so much that at the times when his mom would not let him go out, Diego would cause a scandal in the house. Diego’s father was the savior in these situations as he would always stand on his son’s side and would even join the son and his friends playing soccer.
When the next year of school started Diego was immediately accepted onto the soccer team and beginning with the first practices he started showing the potential of a leader. Maradona would not only score goals from any part of the field possible, he would also always encourage his teammates, especially at the times when his team would allow a goal. His parents tell a story about the time when Diego promised his friend and teammate who was hurt and could not play, that he would score two goals for himself and three for his friend. That happened to be the game against the youth team of the famous club River Plate who at that time were the champions of Argentina. In that game Maradona’s team won 7:1 and he scored 5 goals, as promised. Right after that game the country started talking about the amazing ten year-old.

CLUB CAREER

The first game in Maradona’s professional career was his debut for Argentinos Juniors, which took place in 1976, right before his birthday. His team lost that day but everyone who saw Maradona play were amazed by his potential.
Maradona’s talent developed well in his 6 years in Argentine soccer. While playing for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors, he scored over 140 goals in 206 games, amazing achievement, especially considering the fact that by this time he was still only 22 years old.
After 1982 World Cup, Maradona signed a contract with his first European team, FC Barcelona for then world record transfer fee of 5 million pounds. Although Maradona won every trophy he could at Barcelona, he had a great time at the team. First hepatitis, then a broken leg jeopardized his career. but Maradona's physical strength and willpower made it possible for him to soon be back on the pitch. At Barcelona Maradona got into frequent disputes with the team's directors, and in 1984, he demanded a transfer out of Camp Nou. That same year Diego transferred to Italian Napoli for 7.5 million dollars. Napoli fans were ecstatic when they found out that he will be playing for their team. Over sixty thousand spectators came to see Maradona’s debut for his new team. Over the years, Maradona continue being a prolific goal scorer and leader of the team. Having become the captain, Diego helped the team win National championships and European Cups.
Maradona was the most popular player in Naples. However, after 1990 World Cup, when Argentina knocked Italy out of the final on penalty shoot out, the fans turned on him. From the most popular player in Italy he became most hated. After one of the matches Italian soccer federation insisted he take a blood test. It was discovered that he had cocaine in his system. Many people knew that he would use cocaine to relieve his stress, but this time he was arrested. During the interview at the police station, Diego admitted that he used drugs. At that time, it was decided not to prosecute him, instead, Maradona was disqualified for a year and a half.
During his absence from the team, the fans and team management could not wait for him to get back, however he refused to return to the club. He broke the contract with the team and paid the remaining money to Napoli out of his own pocket.
From Italy Maradona signed for Spanish time Sevilla, but his time at the team was short. After just one season, Diego returned to Argentina.

NATIONAL TEAM CAREER

The first game for the national team, Diego played when he was 16 years old. Regardless of his talent, Diego was considered too young, and was rejected from the main squad selection for the 1978 World Cup. Bitterly disappointed, Maradona wound up watching the tournament from home as his country wins gold. In the following four years, Diego dominates his country's domestic league and is eventually added to the Argentine squad for Spain 1982.
Argentina advanced from the first stage of the tournament by losing to Belgium, but beating Hungary and Salvador. Maradona managed to leave his mark with two beautiful goals. In the second stage of the tournament, Maradona received a red card in the game against Italy and was forced to miss the following game. As a result, Argentina fails to advance and Diego was once again suppressed from unleashing his full potential.
At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona makes his return on the World stage in a spectacular fashion. After leading his team to a quarter final against England, Diego stole the attention of millions with both his controversial character and technical brilliance. The fuss around the Argentina-England encounter is further elevated by the Falkland Islands conflict, which at that time had turned both countries against each other. Diego scored the first goal by striking the ball with his hand over the English goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Unnoticed by the referees, the mishap is ruled a goal. Five minutes later, Maradona single handedly takes the ball through the entire English defense with slalom from midfield right down to the goal line. After the match, when confronted with the video footage of the illegal goal, Maradona replies simply "Even if there was a hand, it must have been the hand of God." Maradona silenced his critics by deciding the following semi and final matches. By scoring two goals in the first and with an assist in the second, Maradona practically earns the World Cup for his nation.
At Italy 1990 World Cup, all eyes are on Argentina and its brightest star Diego Maradona. Diego comes close to replicating his success from four years ago. With Maradona's ability, Argentina defeated Brazil, Yugoslavia and Italy on its way to the final. Most memorable is the semi-final match between Argentina and Italy played at Diego's club home Naples. To the torment of Maradona, the fans at his own club stadium boo him during the match. Nevertheless, Argentina eliminates Italy after a penalty shootout. The final of the 1990 World Cup, leaves Diego helpless as Argentina are defeated 0-1 by West Germany with a goal from a questionable penalty.
After the loss against West Germany, Maradona's career plummets. In March of 1991, he tested positive for doping and is banned from football for 15 months.
The 1994 World Cup confirms that Diego's career in international football is over. He was suspended again after failing yet another doping test. Hurt by his absence, Argentina is eventually eliminated by Romania in the second stage.
All together, Maradona participated in four World Cups, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994.

PERSONAL INFO

Diego Maradona was married to Claudia Villafane for 15 years until their divorce in 2004. They had two daughters, Dalma and Giannina. Maradona is also a father to Diego Jr whom he had with a woman while living in Italy. In his autobiography, Maradona admits he was not always faithful to Claudia, even though he refers to her as the love of his life.

TITLES AND AWARDS

Boca Juniors

Primera Division: 1981

FC Barcelona

Copa del Rey: 1983
Spanish League Cup: 1983
Spanish Super Cup: 1983

Napoli

Seria A: 1987, 1990
Coppa Italia: 1987
UEFA Cup: 1989
Italian Super Cup: 1990

International

FIFA World Youth Championship: 1979
FIFA World Cup (Winner): 1986
FIFA World Cup (Runner-up): 1990

HRISTO STOICHKOV

TEAMS PLAYED FOR

DC United (USA): 2003
Chicago Fire (USA): 2000 – 2002
Kashiwa Reysol (Japan): 1998 - 1999
Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia): 1998
CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria): 1998
FC Barcelona (Spain): 1996 – 1998
Parma (Italy): 1995 – 1996
FC Barcelona (Italy): 1990 – 1995
CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria): 1984 – 1990
                                  Hebros Harmanli (Bulgaria): 1982 - 1984

BIO

Hristo Stoichkov was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on February 8, 1966. According to his mother, Hristo was born with a soccer ball. His father was the goalkeeper for local team and when Hristo was little he would be a ball boy at his father’s games. At the age of 12 he started playing for his first team, Hebros where his talent was noticed by the scouts from Bulgaria’s largest team, CSKA.

CLUB CAREER

Hristo Stoichkov, was probably the most valuable international purchase made by MLS and Chicago Fire. When it was announced that Stoichkov will be joining the team, people immediately remembered another international star, Lotar Mateus who signed with New York Metrostars just to earn money and never cared about playing and contributing to the team.
Forget about the fact the Hristo was the best player in the world. Forget about numerous trophies that he has earned in his career. Everywhere he went, Stoichkov would bring two of the most important things in his life: immeasurable love for the beautiful game and never-say-die attitude towards his game and work ethic.
While playing for CSKA, Hristo became a national hero winning national Cup and title as well as winning the Golden Boot, awarded to a European player who scored the most goals. While playing against Barcelona in a European Cup, he impressed so much by scoring a hat-trick that Johan Cruyff, who was coaching Barca at that time, demanded the team to sign the young Bulgarian.
In 1990 Stoichkov signed a contract with FC Barcelona worth two million pounds. While at Barcelona he became one of the fan’s favorite players. Having scored over a 100 goals, Hristo won numerous titles with the team including Champions League and La Liga. The last, four times in a row.
Stoichkov played with dedication all his life and continued to do so late in his career in Saudi Arabia, Japan, Italy and the United States.

NATIONAL TEAM CAREER

During his time at Barcelona, Stoichkov was a shining star at the Bulgarian National Team. One of his amazing talents is to be able to surround himself with ordinary players and make them play around him like real stars. People saw this first hand at the 1994 World Cup in the US. He was able to direct a show, a beautiful performance of his team who wound up finishing third during the competition. This was his country’s highest achievement. As a result of his scoring ability, Stoichkov earned the Golden Boot of the tournament as the highest scoring player.
All together Stoichkov played in two World Cups, 1994 and 1998 as well as UEFA Euro Cup in 1996.
Stoichkov retired from the international competitions in 1999, having played 83 games and scoring 37 goals.

PERSONAL INFO

Stoichkov speaks 6 languages fluently: Bulgarian, Russian, Polish, English, Spanish and Italian. He owns children’s soccer schools in Barcelona and Chicago. Favorite actors – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stalone, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts. Married to Marianna and they have two daughters, Christina and Michaela.

TITLES AND AWARDS

CSKA Sofia

Bulgarian League: 1987, 1989, 1990
Bulgarian Cup: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
Bulgarian Super Cup: 1989

FC Barcelona

Spanish League: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998
Spanish Super Cup: 1992, 1994, 1996
UEFA Champions League: 1992
European Super Cup: 1992, 1997
Copa del Rey: 1997
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1997

Al-Nassr

Asian Cup Winners Cup: 1998

Chicago Fire

US Open Cup: 2000

International

FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
FIFA World Cup (Third Place): 1994
FIFA 100