Power Ranking: Top 10 greatest players to play soccer in the US
By Kris Whelan
No.6- Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore’s name will live on with English football until the end of time due to the fact he captained their only ever World Cup winning team in 1966. His leadership is legendary and the photo of him being raised triumphantly by his teammates with the World Cup in his hands is iconic and synonymous with English football. He is widely regarded as the best defender to have ever played the game. Brazil legend Pele named him as the most difficult defender he had ever come up against. High praise indeed.
Moore was born on April 12th 1941 in Essex, England. He made his professional debut in 1958 for West Ham Utd. He captained his country at the age of 22 (Temporarily due to an injury to the official captain) making him the youngest player ever to do so. In addition to his World Cup win in 1966, Moore will be remembered for playing over 500 times for West Ham Utd. The club retired his number 6 shirt following his death in 1993.
1964 was a huge year for the Englishman, on top of getting the English captaincy he beat testicular cancer and still managed to claim the Football Writer’s Association Footballer of the year. 1970 was arguably his best year personally, coming 2nd in the overall vote for the Ballon d’Or. (West Germany’s Gerd Muller won the top prize)
He held the record for most English caps for many years after he finished up with an amazing 108 games. David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Peter Shilton have since broken his record, but Moore is still tied for the most caps as captain. (90).
Moore came to the North American Soccer League in 1976 when he was past his prime. However he still had plenty to offer the San Antonio Thunder and the Seattle Sounders. He left America in 1978 and finished out his career in Denmark for Herning Fremad (Now known as FC Midtjylland).
In 1993 Moore announced that he was suffering from bowl cancer, and he passed away two weeks after his final public appearance on February 24th. He was just 51 years old.
His death brought out the most iconic people in World soccer, all of which were quick to sing the praises of the former English captain.
"“He was my friend as well as the greatest defender I ever played against. The world has lost one of its greatest football players and an honorable gentleman.” – Pele “Moore was the best defender I have ever seen.”- Alex Ferguson “Bobby Moore was the best defender in the history of the game”- Franz Beckenbauer"
Next: No.5- Gerd Müller