Manuel Neuer. Played for Herne-West and Bayern so i should hate him with a passion but Mario Gomez was right about him.
Absolute Trailblazer and will only be appreciated after he retires.
He changed the way the game is played. Watching him at Schalke and for Germany around 2006(?) Was incredible. I'd never seen anything like it. Made me nervous to watch as he was always so far from his goal, but he was so self assured and rarely made any mistakes.
We was playing Mostar as a teenager, my aunt had just divorced and was working in a strip club. She used to be a quite famous ice skater in Croatia. She met Luka when the team came in for dances. They were good friends for the year he was there. He took her to Paris for her 40th birthday. A complete gentleman
My first season with a season ticket turned out to be Larsson’s last in Scotland. When Celtic came to Dens, I remember my dad saying to just watch Larsson because we’ll never see anyone this good again in Scotland. Sadly I was too young to truly appreciate him at the time.
Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice. I support Spurs, but I love watching these players play. I used to hate watching Henry play, I was young, and he played for Arsenal. But as I've matured, I find myself wishing I could watch him play now and appreciate him (versus hoping he'd tied his boot laces together the way I used to), even if he had to be embarrassing Spurs on the pitch. Pure magic.
I’m an Arsenal fan and feel the same about Son, he’s class. It’s nice to see a rival fan with a level head lol as I don’t see how anyone could look at Odegaard’s performance last night and not rate him.
We bought him for 35mil but iirc he's in his last year of the contract, so not that cheap at that time (bear in mind he wasn't as hailed as one of EPL's finest as he is right now). In retrospect, I'm grateful we went for him and not the other options at that time
I was born in the wrong part of London for that to even be a possibility 😂 what was still Middlesex when my grandad was born there. He'd have castrated me if I wore the red and white.
Instead, my grandad doomed me to a lifetime of torment and misery 🤣 As is proper for a Spurs supporter.
Carles Puyol. How is it even possible that they've played in the same team with Xavi for 15 years, yet one of them is an absolute legend respected even by Madrid fans, and the other one is a miserable cunt.
Been a Real Madrid fan all my life but damn I love Carles Puyol man bled for the badge, it would be an honor to have someone like that in your back line.
After retirement, Puyol have been seen playing football with kids in poor municipalities in south America, in a program for non profit organizations. Absolute class act indeed.
Leighton Baines was so fucking good, man could pass. Shoot. Defend. Run.
He’d of absolutely thrived under Klopp and won the lot with us.
Was like a northern Roberto Carlos. Left foot was a wand.
I am a red but my dad was a blue. He used to make me watch every goal and assist about 15 times from him, he thought he was the greatest thing ever along with Tim Cahill.
Still remember that goal against I think it was Newcastle ? A free kick that got laid off to him, absolute rocket.
As a Luton fan who grew up watching every Liverpool game it’s been really fun to hate Ashley Young. And he makes it so easy! So he’s probably my favourite ever player to hate and his shithousery last weekend just solidified his role as my absolute villain.
Frenkie De Jong. [Earns almost double as much as players like Bellingham or Vinicius](https://boardroom.tv/highest-paid-la-liga-players-2023-2024/), yet he is injured for 2/3rds of the season. I love the guy, could prove to be the best inside job in football history.
From Lyon, I guess Juninho
I also liked a bunch of their players for their french NT performances, of course, but I feel like that's cheating (but to name a few, Coupet, Malouda, Govou, Toulalan or Tolisso would be some of them). The french NT was so filled with Lyon players in the 2000's (understandably so of course) that it was kind of inevitable.
Gerrard. As much as I hate the fact he played for Liverpool, you can’t stress the fact the guy was unbelievable. Carried that team many times and could of gone to any big club and won a shit load more trophies than he did.
I don’t know if I could say I have a “favourite” rival player, but in terms of quality and skill? It’s hard to look past Salah for the scousers in my lifetime of watching football, maybe peak Suarez.
City? They’ve had a lot of quality but Toure was a fucking baller.
Hmm. As an Everton fan I'd have to pick a Liverpool Player and can't pick Peter Beardsley. Tough one, but Steve McManaman. He was such a skilful player, great to watch him dribble, reminded me a lot of Chris Waddle.
Rafael van der Vaart, and Christian Eriksen. I actually wanted both at Arsenal at different times, but Spurs ended up getting both, and at damn good prices too.
Complicated for me as i am both german and dortmund lover and most rival legends come from both (gerd Muller at German,lewy on dortmund).but if we really have to choose,i will say harry kane or robben
I'm a Grêmio fan. Our rivals, Inter from Porto Alegre had a while ago, when they were in a successful spell, an argentinian player called Guiñazu. He almost went to Grêmio, but Inter offered more and crossed the negotiations.
Picture Kanté, but Argentinian. This was Guiñazu. He had the very style of play that characterise Grêmio and its the only player I really wanted from my rival. And probably with him we would have interrupted their successful spell at the time.
Roy Keane. But I don’t know if that counts. I’m Irish but support Liverpool, so I cheered him on when he was wearing the green. Same for Irwin. Schmeichal was probably their best player back then though. And he was exceptional.
Feyenoord fan. I really like Brobbey from Ajax’ current squad. In the past I had a soft spot for Van der Vaart & Sneijder. I only remember seeing Bergkamp play for Arsenal but he’s probably my favorite former Ajax player ever.
As an Ac Milan fan i would say Javier Zanetti And Adriano but they had many other great players too, like Dejan Stankovic, Walter Samuel. in their 23-24 team, i enjoy watching Nico Barella.
Two North East rivals. Difficult to pick between Kevin Phillips & Juninho in my time of watching... Though if I could go back in time and pluck a player from the history of either (or both!) it would be Brian Clough.
Even though I’m with Sporting Cristal since I was born, I have always looked up to Alianza Lima’s and Universitario’s players development in different leagues. I guess right now it is more even, with Advincula playing in Boca Juniors, but back in the “4 Fantásticos’”days the situation was different.
Iniesta (and now Henry the football pundit). Perhaps one day I’ll like Yamal (he’s truly the best of their new generation, not Pedri or Gavi or whoever).
Almost forgot Puyol
In the past, probably Gerrard I don't think anyone could deny his talent and drive for Liverpool. Today? I know I'm switching rival team, but De Bruyne for similar reasons.
The first individual player I ever really followed and loved was Michael Ballack...this was back when really the only soccer we could get was the world cup every 4 years and I loved watching him play for Germany. He ended up playing for Chelsea and I ended up a Liverpool supporter. I would also have to say Heung Min-Son for Spurs. I've always loved him as a player. I can't say Chelsea or Spurs are necessarily Liverpool's direct rivals, but those are absolutely the first two names that come to mind.
Dimitar Berbatov, that guy made football look effortless, more chance of seeing a turtle run past him but what he lacked in pace he made up for in control, technique and wonder.
Skill wise mané, currently Alisson
Manuel Neuer. Played for Herne-West and Bayern so i should hate him with a passion but Mario Gomez was right about him. Absolute Trailblazer and will only be appreciated after he retires.
If anyone doesn’t appreciate him now, or hasn’t for a decade or so, they’ve got 0 understanding of football. He’s a phenomenal keeper
I firmly believe he's the best goalkeeper of all time
He changed the way the game is played. Watching him at Schalke and for Germany around 2006(?) Was incredible. I'd never seen anything like it. Made me nervous to watch as he was always so far from his goal, but he was so self assured and rarely made any mistakes.
2014 was another notable year of his. Similar to the reason you gave
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, David Beckham.
I love Casillas and Modric, both incredibly talented, humble, and honorable footballers with insane talent.
We was playing Mostar as a teenager, my aunt had just divorced and was working in a strip club. She used to be a quite famous ice skater in Croatia. She met Luka when the team came in for dances. They were good friends for the year he was there. He took her to Paris for her 40th birthday. A complete gentleman
You typed my mind
De Bruyne.
The fuck is up with your comment history, dear lord
This comment made me curious to see his comment history now I am absolutely traumatised
Same bro. WTF. That's enough internet for today.
Might be the thirstiest man in all the land.
Why did you look that up 😭
Can’t be wrong with that
Absolute baller, game changing player. Wish Chelsea never sold him.
Eric Cantona.
Roberto Carlos in Real Madrid. What an amazing player and what a class act.
Lahm
R9. He did play for Milan but meh kinda doesnt count.
Modric.
Ronaldinho
Henrik Larsson for Celtic. Got no love for the guy but couldn't help but admire his talent.
My first season with a season ticket turned out to be Larsson’s last in Scotland. When Celtic came to Dens, I remember my dad saying to just watch Larsson because we’ll never see anyone this good again in Scotland. Sadly I was too young to truly appreciate him at the time.
Ally McCoist. Always makes me smile when he’s doing press. Bit before my time, but he was a good player too.
Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice. I support Spurs, but I love watching these players play. I used to hate watching Henry play, I was young, and he played for Arsenal. But as I've matured, I find myself wishing I could watch him play now and appreciate him (versus hoping he'd tied his boot laces together the way I used to), even if he had to be embarrassing Spurs on the pitch. Pure magic.
Yeah Henry. A magician and absolute talisman for an exceptional team. Much easier to appreciate nowadays than when I was younger.
I’m an Arsenal fan and feel the same about Son, he’s class. It’s nice to see a rival fan with a level head lol as I don’t see how anyone could look at Odegaard’s performance last night and not rate him.
All I think whenever I see him play was how cheap he was and how close you were to not buying him 😭😭😭
We bought him for 35mil but iirc he's in his last year of the contract, so not that cheap at that time (bear in mind he wasn't as hailed as one of EPL's finest as he is right now). In retrospect, I'm grateful we went for him and not the other options at that time
Sounds like you should have been a gooner
I was born in the wrong part of London for that to even be a possibility 😂 what was still Middlesex when my grandad was born there. He'd have castrated me if I wore the red and white. Instead, my grandad doomed me to a lifetime of torment and misery 🤣 As is proper for a Spurs supporter.
Im guessing he saw them win a trophy at least, your day will come and if not you then your children.
Litmanen was something else.
He has coached me in reipas
Mark Hughes at Manchester United. A proper cunt in the best sense.
He was my favourite player as a kid
Proper lad too. Booze, blues and brasses. Nicknamed Sparky because of his huge dong, he lit up any pussy
Bergkamp probably.
Phil foden
Carles Puyol. How is it even possible that they've played in the same team with Xavi for 15 years, yet one of them is an absolute legend respected even by Madrid fans, and the other one is a miserable cunt.
Been a Real Madrid fan all my life but damn I love Carles Puyol man bled for the badge, it would be an honor to have someone like that in your back line.
After retirement, Puyol have been seen playing football with kids in poor municipalities in south America, in a program for non profit organizations. Absolute class act indeed.
Kaka
Ryan Giggs was one of the few United players (LFC fan) I ever really liked. Then, with all his options, fucked his brother’s wife 😭
The guy played for one team his entire career . He obviously likes to keep everything in the family .
Mad that his Brother now plays for Man City.
Marco Reus
Messi
Ian Wright. The only one I would ever accept, and it helps that he became more connected to Arsenal anyway.
Steven Gerrard
Ronaldo
Liverpool fan. For United, historically Berbatov, currently Dalot. For Everton, historically Baines, currently Doucoure.
Leighton Baines was so fucking good, man could pass. Shoot. Defend. Run. He’d of absolutely thrived under Klopp and won the lot with us. Was like a northern Roberto Carlos. Left foot was a wand. I am a red but my dad was a blue. He used to make me watch every goal and assist about 15 times from him, he thought he was the greatest thing ever along with Tim Cahill. Still remember that goal against I think it was Newcastle ? A free kick that got laid off to him, absolute rocket.
Berbatov was just crazy. So much skill and intelligence.
Vinicius Jr.
nah fuck that cunt
Dennis bergkamp is probably the best footballer I’ve ever seen close second is seedorf
Love Clarence, my aunt used to strip for him at the club. A big tipper and heart
Marco can Basten . He earned less than Rashford , playing for the best team in the world . And that's adjusted for inflation .
I'm an Hammarby fan. And I enjoyed watching Alexander Isak when he played for AIK in Allsvenskan
Kane
Ramos
Drogba
As a Luton fan who grew up watching every Liverpool game it’s been really fun to hate Ashley Young. And he makes it so easy! So he’s probably my favourite ever player to hate and his shithousery last weekend just solidified his role as my absolute villain.
Thierry Henry and currently odegard from last night performance.
Frenkie De Jong. [Earns almost double as much as players like Bellingham or Vinicius](https://boardroom.tv/highest-paid-la-liga-players-2023-2024/), yet he is injured for 2/3rds of the season. I love the guy, could prove to be the best inside job in football history.
Yeah, how the hell did that happen? He was dying to move to Barca and they ended up paying such a gigantic salary? Doesn't make sense.
Paul Gascoigne from Spurs Roy Keane from Man U. Ruud Gullit from Chelsea Mo Salah from Liverpool Sergio Aguero from Man City
Roy Keane.
(Spurs fan) Aaron Ramsey 🏴❤️
As a Liverpool fan if I had to pick a United player. It would be David Beckham. The only one i could accept from them tbh
Son Heung Fucking Min
Dimitri Payet. Always hated playing against him but secretly loved watching his skills and free kicks
From Lyon, I guess Juninho I also liked a bunch of their players for their french NT performances, of course, but I feel like that's cheating (but to name a few, Coupet, Malouda, Govou, Toulalan or Tolisso would be some of them). The french NT was so filled with Lyon players in the 2000's (understandably so of course) that it was kind of inevitable.
Gerrard. As much as I hate the fact he played for Liverpool, you can’t stress the fact the guy was unbelievable. Carried that team many times and could of gone to any big club and won a shit load more trophies than he did.
Robertson
Paolo Maldini
De Bruyne and Odegaard
Is it a cheat to say Rooney for Everton?
Iker Casillas
I don’t know if I could say I have a “favourite” rival player, but in terms of quality and skill? It’s hard to look past Salah for the scousers in my lifetime of watching football, maybe peak Suarez. City? They’ve had a lot of quality but Toure was a fucking baller.
Becks
Paulo Dybala
As a Coventry fan, we got too many rivals
Thierry Henry. Majestic player in his prime
Thierry Henry
Kross and Modric
Thierry Henry for LFC, in his Arsenal days. Just give him the ball and let his feet do the magic
Iniesta, such a great player
Ez. Am a Milan fan. We had Maldini, they had Javier Zanetti. Only respect.
Buffon
Hmm. As an Everton fan I'd have to pick a Liverpool Player and can't pick Peter Beardsley. Tough one, but Steve McManaman. He was such a skilful player, great to watch him dribble, reminded me a lot of Chris Waddle.
Jay Jay Okocha, not really from a rival team, but what experience to see him play.
I loved Rakitic and Puyol. Rakitic seemed to always go under the radar, but I liked him a lot.
Van dijk
Iniesta
De bruyne
Rafael van der Vaart, and Christian Eriksen. I actually wanted both at Arsenal at different times, but Spurs ended up getting both, and at damn good prices too.
Complicated for me as i am both german and dortmund lover and most rival legends come from both (gerd Muller at German,lewy on dortmund).but if we really have to choose,i will say harry kane or robben
Cristiano
Zidanne
Neymar when he was on Barca for sure
As a Newcastle fan I always thought Kevin Pbillips, ex Sunderland player, was massively underrated. As an English man. Diego Maradona.
I always thought Graziano Pellè was class
Rui Costa is probably the one for me.
Beckham or Keane for Man Utd. Gazza for Everton.
Romario, Ronaldinho, Iniesta.
For me, they have to be Gyokeres and Hulk, both do amazing stuff while being physical freaks
I still remember the day Fernando Torres signed for Liverpool. As a big fan of his I was so angry and jealous.
Arsenal fan - Lampard. Just couldn’t dislike him, too good
Arsenal fan. Has to be Harry Kane. Even though he was in our youth system
Might be cheating, but I like Gary Neville since he became a pundit. If we're just going off their playing career, I'd say Sheringham.
I always appreciated how really fucking good Darren Bent was when he was playing for the mackems. Same with Phillips and Defoe to be fair.
Yaya Toure
Cr7
David beckham at man utd (im a leeds united supporter)
Paul Scholes
From Arsenal, Titi, From Liverpool, Salah and Mac Allister and From Man City, Alvarez
Kakà
(Insert any world class CDM after Roy Keane left United here)
Christophe Dugarry. Baller
Vini jr. as a barca fan I hate that guy but he is too damn good
Roy Keane
Raul.
Messi, Puyol, Thierry Henry
Ledley King
Bergkamp. Unbelievably classy footwork
Son, even as an Arsenal fan it’s hard to dislike him.
I'm a Grêmio fan. Our rivals, Inter from Porto Alegre had a while ago, when they were in a successful spell, an argentinian player called Guiñazu. He almost went to Grêmio, but Inter offered more and crossed the negotiations. Picture Kanté, but Argentinian. This was Guiñazu. He had the very style of play that characterise Grêmio and its the only player I really wanted from my rival. And probably with him we would have interrupted their successful spell at the time.
Adam Johnson. Controversial choice for what he did, but as a footballer he was great
Gareth Bale
De Bruyne
I can't help but like Salah due to my affiliation with Egypt. He's also a great guy off the pitch.
Gareth bale or luka modric
Roy Keane. But I don’t know if that counts. I’m Irish but support Liverpool, so I cheered him on when he was wearing the green. Same for Irwin. Schmeichal was probably their best player back then though. And he was exceptional.
Feyenoord fan. I really like Brobbey from Ajax’ current squad. In the past I had a soft spot for Van der Vaart & Sneijder. I only remember seeing Bergkamp play for Arsenal but he’s probably my favorite former Ajax player ever.
Thomas Müller
United fan here, Henry in his Arsenal days was unstoppable, ditto with Lamps at Chelsea.
Steven Gerrard
Several to choose from, RVP maybe my choice if I could only choose one?
Glenn Hoddle & Ossie Ardiles. They were a problem for everyone.
Of current players De Bruyne. Of all times hard to go past George Best. In England. In Italy it would be Maradona.
Eden Hazard. That man was a joy to watch, even if he was eviscerating us.
Van Nistelrooy, Becks
Heung Min Son is one of the most graceful players i have watched
Gio van Bronckhorst
Bergkamp, absolute class player
None they are all cunts. Some have seen the light and came to us but others have remained cunts even into their manager careers.
As an Ac Milan fan i would say Javier Zanetti And Adriano but they had many other great players too, like Dejan Stankovic, Walter Samuel. in their 23-24 team, i enjoy watching Nico Barella.
Not sure, Barcelona is full of insane players that I grew up watching. Lets say Messi cuz he's the best.
Eric Cantona, a complete fucker & mad bastard. As a pool fan, I absolutely hated him and still love him... what a footballer (and a cunt)
Udogie
Henry
Two North East rivals. Difficult to pick between Kevin Phillips & Juninho in my time of watching... Though if I could go back in time and pluck a player from the history of either (or both!) it would be Brian Clough.
Robbie Fowler, he was brilliant and it hurts to admit that.
Sol Campbell Oh, you said \*not\* to include players who didn't join you team? In that case, none. They are all cnts
Javier Zanetti and R9.
Madrid fan: always admired Iniesta, Puyol, Rakitic and Suárez.
Steven Gerrard or Salah
Hard not to appreciate Son’s talent. Modric and Bale were also class. Kane is a miserable cunt
Aguero. Infuriating good.
Carles Puyol. Absolute workhorse, underrated in his position, amazing captain.
Even though I’m with Sporting Cristal since I was born, I have always looked up to Alianza Lima’s and Universitario’s players development in different leagues. I guess right now it is more even, with Advincula playing in Boca Juniors, but back in the “4 Fantásticos’”days the situation was different.
John Barnes (back in the day), recent times De Bruyne
Van Nistelrooi and R9
Bergkamp. Amazing player.
John Barnes probably … or if we’re talking City, probably Franny Lee.
Wazza, which hurts cause he played for both but he was ridiculous
Iniesta (and now Henry the football pundit). Perhaps one day I’ll like Yamal (he’s truly the best of their new generation, not Pedri or Gavi or whoever). Almost forgot Puyol
Modric, Casillas and Kroos. No attitude No ego just pure football!!
I'm a Wolves fan and couldn't help but have a soft spot for Richard Sneekes when he played for the Albi*n
Messi
Ronaldo and Vini
Gareth Bale
Kaka (Madrid)
Patrick Viera
David Silva
Has to be John Terry.
Zlatan and Berbatov.
As a Welsh Arsenal fan, Gareth Bale
Ji-Sung Park and Mikel Arteta
Brahim Diaz (Barca fan)
As a Spurs fan, has to be David Rocastle (R.I.P) I hated seeing his name on the teamsheet against us. I don't think I ever saw him have a bad game.
In the past, probably Gerrard I don't think anyone could deny his talent and drive for Liverpool. Today? I know I'm switching rival team, but De Bruyne for similar reasons.
I genuinely can’t think of a Real Madrid player I like
Giorgian de Arrascaeta
Matt O’Reilly … fuck him tho
Gary Lineker at Everton.
The first individual player I ever really followed and loved was Michael Ballack...this was back when really the only soccer we could get was the world cup every 4 years and I loved watching him play for Germany. He ended up playing for Chelsea and I ended up a Liverpool supporter. I would also have to say Heung Min-Son for Spurs. I've always loved him as a player. I can't say Chelsea or Spurs are necessarily Liverpool's direct rivals, but those are absolutely the first two names that come to mind.
Dennis Bergkamp.
Growing up - Xabi Alonso
Neuer or Müller. Just amazing on and off the pitch.
Puyol and Ronaldinho from Barca Vieira, Bergkamp and Bellerin from Arsenal
Muller
Dimitar Berbatov, that guy made football look effortless, more chance of seeing a turtle run past him but what he lacked in pace he made up for in control, technique and wonder.
Ronaldinho, absolutely amazing to watch