Topic: Football

Andrea Pirlo

One of the finest playmakers to have ever played football, Andrea Pirlo was a joy to watch. Known for his remarkable vision, Pirlo was a world-class footballer with a creative streak that set him out as a role model to football fans throughout the world.

Breathtaking at times, Pirlo had a unique ability to control and play a ball with the perfect balance of speed, accuracy and control. In addition to his tremendous skill in open play, Pirlo was one of the finest dead-ball specialists in world football. His ability to pick out the top corner with a dipping and curling free-kick earned him rave reviews.

His quality was recognised on numerous occasions. As an individual, he won over 40 accolades, some of which included entry into the FIFPro World XI in 2006 and the Serie A Team of the Year on four consecutive occasions.

In 2012, 2013 and 2014 he was the Serie A Player of the Year, and he was inducted into the AC Milan Hall of Fame. He was also voted in Juventus' Greatest XI of All Time in 2017. On three separate occasions, he was nominated for the biggest individual prize in football, finishing 9th, 5th and 7th in the race for the Ballon d'Or.

In 2018, he was given a Golden Foot award that recognises players who stood out for their personality and athletic achievements. He was also appointed an Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italian in Italy.

But, as is the character of Andrea Pirlo, his biggest strength on the pitch was in his ability to inspire, to lead and to work for the greater good of the team. Former international coach, Marcello Lippi said of him: "Pirlo is a silent leader. He speaks with his feet". He was affectionately known by fans around the world as "the Architect", "The Maestro", "Mozart" and "the Professor".

Pirlo won Serie A twice, the Champions League twice and both Italian domestic cups once each at his time with AC Milan, becoming a club legend in the process. Pirlo then moved to Juventus, where he once again played a pivotal role in the club's success, winning four successive league titles , which included two league and cup doubles.

At international level, Pirlo was instrumental as Italy landed football's grandest prize, the FIFA World Cup in 2006. He would also help Italy to an Olympic Bronze medal in 2004 and a runner up spot in the 2012 European Championships.

Since hanging up his boots after a successful two-year stint in the MLS with New York City, Pirlo has been a popular presence in the media and at events all over the world. Whether to entertain or inspire corporate audiences or feature as special guest at awards and events - Andrea Pirlo offers a touch of magic.

Michael Owen

Michael Owen is a former footballer who progressed through the ranks of Liverpool youth team and scored on his Premier League debut in May 1997, becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer at the time. In his first full season in the Premier League, he won the Premier League Golden Boot and was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He was Liverpool’s top goal-scorer from 1997 to 2004.

Owen helped Liverpool to a treble in 2000–01, as the team won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup to end a six-year trophy drought. He scored both Liverpool goals late in the 2001 FA Cup Final to turn around what had appeared to be a certain defeat for Liverpool at the hands of Arsenal and later that year, he was awarded the Ballon D’or award in recognition of his performances that season.

Owen joined Real Madrid in 2004 before returning to the Premier League with Newcastle in 2005 followed by spells at Manchester United and Stoke City before announcing his retirement in 2013. He scored 163 goals in all club appearances.

Internationally, Owen first played for the senior England team aged 18 in 1998 against Chile. Just months later, he scored his first International goal in a pre-World Cup friendly against Morocco. He went on to score a total of 40 goals in 89 international appearances, including that goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France that was voted one of the greatest ever England goals and a memorable hat-trick against Germany in 2001.

Michael owns Manor House Stables racing yard and alongside his commercial activities, he also works as a pundit for Premier League Productions.

Robert Pires

Robert Pires is a French football coach and former professional player.

Pires played for French clubs F.C. Metz and Olympique de Marseille prior to his time with Arsenal F.C., where he won two FA Cups and two Premier League titles including the club's unbeaten season of 2003-04. A former France international, Pires earned 79 caps between 1996 and 2004 for his country, including winning both the 1998 FIFA World Cup France (1998) and UEFA Euro 2000 Video Game (2000). He has been included in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, was the Player of the Tournament for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, FWA Player of the Year for the 2001-02 season, Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for the 1995-96 season, and was included in the FIFA 100 by Pelé. He was also voted by Arsenal F.C. fans as the 6th greatest player in the club's history.

Robert Pires played the majority of his career as a left winger, but could also play all across the midfield or in a position to support the forward line. Pires was coaching at Arsenal.

Kaká

Kaka is an internationally renowned former Brazilian footballer who has played for some of the world’s most successful teams including Milan and Real Madrid. An incredibly talented and determined attacking midfielder, Kaka has an immensely long list of prestigious awards which are a testament to his abundance of knowledge within teamwork, leadership and achieving peak performance.

Kickstarting his career as part of a local youth team, he immediately captured the attention of his hometown team Sao Paulo, who signed him to join the youth academy at the age of eight. He signed for their youth squad Copa de Juvenil glory at the age of 15 and eventually made his senior debut in 2001. Throughout the 27 appearances he made for the team in his first season, he managed to score a staggering 12 goals, an effort in which helped them to win their first and only Torneio Rio-Sau Paulo Championship.

Throughout his impressive career, Kaka managed to make over 460 appearances across four teams and also scored nearing 150 goals. He also boasts 92 caps and 29 goals for the Brazillian national team in whom he played for, for 14 years. A pivotal player in Milan’s victory at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008, he scored the team’s third goal in a 4-2 victory against Boca Juniors in which crowned them World Champions.

With some of his most recent successes including playing in the MLS All-Star Game in three consecutive seasons and helping to win the 2012 Supercopa de Espana with Real Madrid, it’s evident that Kaka has a valuable skillset in which he has the ability to relate to both corporate and school organisations as well as sporting clubs as an after dinner speaker.

Awarded World Soccer Player of The Year, the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball and the FIFA World Cup Top Assist Provider amongst other awards including being inducted into the AC Milan and Maracana Hall of Fame, Kaka has established himself as one of the most prominent names in international football. A hilarious and charismatic character, he can create an unforgettable atmosphere at any event, conference and function.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer. His main playing position is as an attacking midfielder or forward. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005. Renowned for his technique, tricks, dribbling, overhead kicks, no-look passes and free kicks, Ronaldinho is regarded to be one of the best players of his generation.

"Ronaldinho", the diminutive and term of endearment for "Ronaldo", is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaúcho", in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer and countryman Ronaldo, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. Ronaldo went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaúcho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.

Ronaldinho has played 97 matches and scored 33 goals for the Brazil national football team. He was an integral part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team in Korea/Japan, starring alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in an attacking trio, and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. At club level, Ronaldinho played first for the Brazilian club Grêmio before spending the bulk of his career with European clubs Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, and Milan. He then returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro before moving to Mexico to play for Querétaro. With Barcelona, he won La Liga twice, the UEFA Champions League in 2006, and accumulated numerous individual awards, including the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005.

Ronaldinho was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players compiled by Pelé, and to the FIFPro World XI from 2005–2007.

Luís Figo

Luís Figo is an amazing footballer who was renowned for his creativity and ability to get past defenders. He played for a number of clubs and won a record 127 caps for the Portuguese national football team. He is the Chairman of the Luís Figo Foundation which he set up in 2003 to help underprivileged children and youngsters.

Luís was a member of the teams that won four La Liga titles, four Serie A title and a UEFA Champions League. He led Portugal to their best World Cup finish since 1966 in 2006 Figo was the 2000 European Footballer of the Year, the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and was named amongst the FIFA 100. Luís Figo is one of the few footballers to have played for both the Spanish rival clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, he had a successful career highlighted by several trophy wins, such as one Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners's Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one UEFA-CONMEBOL Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one TIM Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups.