20 biggest celebrity soccer fans

Steve Nash – Vancouver Whitecaps

When it comes to point guards in the NBA, it’s hard to find a more accomplished one than Steve Nash. Nash was a back to back league MVP as a member of the Phoenix Suns in 2005 and 2006. He was an eight-time NBA All Star, five-time assist leader and made an All-NBA team seven times in his career.

Nash was always considered one of the more worldly players in the NBA, and his multi-national influence extended to his play. Along with Kobe Bryant, he was one of the few players of his era to wear low cut sneakers on the court, sneakers that resembled soccer boots. He often credited his vision as a passer on the court to playing soccer growing up, and said that if he had pursued the sport seriously, likely would have played as a professional. He even used his soccer skills to help teammate Amare Stoudamire in the 2005 NBA slam dunk contest, heading the ball to him for an alley-oop dunk.

Nash grew up as – and remains – a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, but his biggest contribution to soccer comes in the form of the team he helped bring to his adopted hometown. Nash is the co-owner of MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps. He joined the ownership group when the club was still in the United Soccer League in 2008, and less than a year later, the Whitecaps earned the right to be MLS’ newest expansion team. They played their first MLS game in 2011. Nash has attended and participated in practices with the club as well.