steven gerrard

Steven George Gerrard MBE (pronounced /ˈdʒɛrɑrd/; born 30 May 1980), is an English professional association football player who plays for and captains English Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role; however, since the arrival of Fernando Torres at Liverpool in 2007, he has been used mainly as a second striker for his club team^[3] and as a winger for England since 2006. Gerrard is best known for his long shots and also has scored in numerous cup finals including the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final and the 2006 FA Cup Final. He is considered to be one of the best players in the world by Zidane.^[4]

Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his début in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in the 2000–01 season, succeedingSami Hyypiä as Liverpool team captain in 2003. His honours include two FA Cup wins, two League Cup wins, a UEFA Cup win, and a UEFA Champions League win in 2005. In 2005, Gerrard came third in the voting for Ballon d'Or, given to the top player in Europe.

Gerrard made his international début in 2000, and represented England in the UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004 as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he was the team's top goalscorer with two goals. Gerrard is the current vice-captain of the England national football team. However, he captained his country at the 2010 World Cup in the absence of regular captain Rio Ferdinand who missed the tournament through injury.^[5]Gerrard came second in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, a Liverpool F.C. fan poll.^[6]

Personal information
Full name	Steven George Gerrard[1]
Date of birth	30 May 1980 (age 30)[1]
Place of birth	Whiston, Merseyside, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Liverpool
Number	8
Youth career
1987–1998	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–	Liverpool	376	(83)
National team‡
1999	England U21	4	(1)
2000–	England[2]	88	(19)

robin van persie

Robin van Persie (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɪn vɐn ˈpɛrsi]  ( listen); born 6 August 1983) is a Dutch footballer. He currently plays for Arsenal and the Dutch national team as a forward. He is the club's vice-captain after Cesc Fàbregas.

The son of two artists, van Persie was encouraged to follow in his parents' footsteps, but he instead preferred football and joined SBV Excelsior's youth squad. He made his breakthrough at his hometown club Feyenoord, where he spent three seasons and won the 2002 UEFA Cup. Disagreements with coach Bert van Marwijk culminated in a change of club and van Persie moved to Premier League side Arsenal for £2.75 million in 2004. He won the FA Community Shield and the FA Cup in his first season with the London club and went on to win the 2006 Rotterdam Sportsman of the year award.

Van Persie has 51 caps and 19 goals with the Netherlands and made his senior international debut in 2005. He has participated in the 2006 World Cup, theEuro 2008, and the 2010 World Cup.

Personal information
Full name	Robin van Persie[1]
Date of birth	6 August 1983 (age 27)[1]
Place of birth	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Playing position	Second striker Winger
Club information
Current club	Arsenal
Number	10
Youth career
	Excelsior
	Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2004	Feyenoord	59	(15)
2004–	Arsenal	139	(48)
National team‡
2004–	Netherlands	52	(19

dimitar berbatov

Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov (Bulgarian: Димитър Иванов Бербатов, [diˈmitər bɛrˈbatɔf]; born 30 January 1981)^[1] is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United of England and is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Bulgarian national team.^[3] He has won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of wins by Hristo Stoichkov.^[4]

Born in Blagoevgrad, Berbatov began his football career with his local club, Pirin Blagoevgrad, but joined CSKA Sofia as a 17-year-old in 1998.^[5] In January 2001, he was signed by Bayer Leverkusen, and 18 months later, he played in his first UEFA Champions League final, coming on as a substitute for Thomas Brdarić in the 2002 final against Real Madrid. After five-and-a-half years with Leverkusen, he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur, before joining Manchester United two years later. He played in his second Champions League final in 2009, competing against Barcelona. Berbatov is one of four players in Premier League history to have scored five goals in a single Premier League match.

Personal information
Full name	Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov
Date of birth	30 January 1981 (age 29)
Place of birth	Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria[1]
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Manchester United
Number	9
Youth career
1991–1998	Pirin Blagoevgrad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–2001	CSKA Sofia	49	(26)
2001–2006	Bayer Leverkusen	154	(69)
2006–2008	Tottenham Hotspur	70	(27)
2008–	Manchester United	79	(35)
National team‡
1998	Bulgaria U21	1	(3)
1999–2010	Bulgaria	77	(48

carles puyol

Carles Puyol i Saforcada (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkaɾɫəs puˈjɔɫ]; born 13 April 1978) is a Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

Mainly a central defender, he can also appear on either flanks, especially as a right back.^[1] He also serves as a longtime team captain for his only club FC Barcelona after taking over from Luis Enrique in August 2004.Born in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia, Puyol started playing football for his hometown club, as a goalkeeper. However, after injury problems with his shoulder, he switched to striker. Puyol has said that in his youth, "My parents were skeptical about me becoming a footballer and encouraged me to study."^[2] In 1995, he joined FC Barcelona's youth system at La Masia, switching positions again, to play as a defensive midfielder. In 1997, Puyol stepped up to play for the club's B-team, occupying the position of right back.

Personal information
Full name	Carles Puyol i Saforcada
Date of birth	13 April 1978 (age 32)
Place of birth	La Pobla de Segur, Spain
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	5
Youth career
1993–1995	Pobla de Segur
1995–1997	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2000	Barcelona B	89	(6)
1999–	Barcelona	344	(7)
National team‡
1995	Spain U18	3	(0)
2000	Spain U21	4	(0)
2000	Spain U23	5	(0)
2000–	Spain	94	(3)
2001–	Catalonia	4	(0)

hernandez xavi

Xavier Hernández i Creus, commonly known as Xavi (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈʃaβi]) (born 25 January 1980 in Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia) is a Spanishfootball midfielder who currently plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona.

Widely considered among the finest play-makers in the world, Xavi was named the official Man of the match of the 2009 Champions League Final as he helped Barcelona defeat Manchester United to win their third Champions League-title. He was named Player of the Tournament by UEFA at UEFA Euro 2008^[2]. In all he has been capped 98 times for the Spanish national team, with whom he won the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is regularly cited as one of the best midfielders currently playing.^[3]

Personal information
Full name	Xavier Hernández i Creus
Date of birth	25 January 1980 (age 30)
Place of birth	Terrassa, Spain
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	6
Youth career
1991–1997	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2000	Barcelona B	61	(4)
1998–	Barcelona	366	(37)
National team‡
1997	Spain U17	10	(2)
1997–1998	Spain U18	10	(0)
1999	Spain U20	6	(2)
1998–2001	Spain U21	25	(7)
2000	Spain U23	6	(2)
2000–	Spain	98	(8)
2000–	Catalonia	8	(2