The TOP 15 career defining moments
A flash of brilliance, a moment of madness or a sensational impact, a player’s career can be defined in many different ways. After much deliberation I have listed my personal top 15 career defining moments below. Amazingly two of them happened at Selhurst Park. Enjoy.
15. Bruce Grobbelaar’s ‘spaghetti legs’, 1984
Liverpool won their fourth European Cup following a night of high tension at the Stadio Olimpico in 1984 courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over Roma. Full-back Phil Neal fired The Reds into an early lead before striker Roberto Pruzzo levelled with a header just before half-time.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match had to be decided by penalties. Step forward Zimbabwean goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar whose finest moment comes acting like a clown and doing his best to put off the Italians with some antics on the goal-line. Grobbelaar pulled out his now famed ‘spaghetti legs’ routine which resulted in Francesco Graziani blazing his spot-kick over the bar. Polish stopper Jerzy Dudek recreated the routine 21 years later against AC Milan as the club added another European Cup to their collection.
14. Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick, 1995
In some cases players will be remembered for a moment of madness as well as their genius on the football pitch. After being sent off for Manchester United at Crystal Palace on 25 January 1995, French maverick Eric Cantona delivered a kung-fu kick to an away fan in the stands who had used threatening language towards him.
Cantona’s outrageous behaviour only seemed to add the player’s allure as ‘a flawed genius’ over the years and Cantona is considered a legend at Old Trafford after four league titles in five years at the club. In 2007 he said:
“I have a lot of good moments, but the one I prefer is when I kicked the hooligan.”
13. Roberto Carlos’ outrageous free-kick, 1997
Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos defied the laws of physics with his sensational free-kick against France at Le Tournoi in 1997.
Despite making over 350 appearances for Real Madrid, Carlos is primarily remembered for his audacious free-kick, 40-yards away from Fabian Barthez’s goal. Seemingly heading for the corner-flag, Carlos’ shot suddenly swerved at the last minute and into the corner of the net, much to Barthez’s bemusement. The Brazilian allegedly practised the free-kick all the time in training and a recent study showed that Carlos’ shot was certainly no fluke.
12. Robbie Fowler’s four-minute hat-trick, 1994
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler was just 19-years-old when he scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier league history.
The natural finisher bagged himself three goals in four minutes and 33 seconds against George Graham’s Arsenal in Liverpool’s first home match of the 1994/95 season. The Reds won the game 3-0 and Fowler went onto to score 25 goals in 42 games for the club that season.
11. Roy Keane’s bittersweet night in Turin, 1999
Despite picking up a yellow card which ruled him out of a potential Champions League final, Irishman Roy Keane inspired Manchester United to come back from the dead at 2-0 down against Juventus to snatch a 3-2 away win.
Keane headered a goal on 24 minutes to drag his side back into the tie before receiving the booking which ended his final hopes. The midfielder then went on to deliver an exhibition in passing football as he dominated both Edgar Davids and Zinedine Zidane in the centre of the park. Dwight Yorke levelled the score on the night before his partner Andy Cole scored the winner which sent The Red Devils through to THAT final at the Nou Camp against Bayern Munich.
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An incerdibly difficult list to create but I think you have done extremely well. A celebration of some of the craziest and most spectacular moments in football history
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I echo Paul’s sentiments, I can’t really think of anything significant that you have left out! I think maybe in time Cristiano Ronaldo may be best remembered for that free-kick against Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
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Fantastic list. Haven’t seen this one done before.
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david beckham – ‘that’ freekick, or ‘that’ sending off are equally defining moments.
robbie fowler – ‘that’ celebration (‘snorting’ the white line)
roy keane – deliberately breaking a guys leg
dennis bergkamp – ‘that’ goal v newcastle
rooney – ‘that’ stamp or ‘that dive’ or ‘that’ hooker or ‘that’ other hooker
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Paul Nixon, father of 4 and CPFC fan was killed by ManUtd fans seeking revenge following the ‘kung-fu’ kick and Cantona’s ban. He was run over by a coach after being stabbed and suffering serious head injuries when hit with a brick. Why is this never mentioned in the media who laud Cantona as a genius? R.I.P. Paul
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good list but you missed out Maradona’s solo effort goal against England 1986, turns like a little eel, leaves reid for dead etc etc the best world cup goal ever and unlike most teams he never had the players around him he carried them to winning it unlike wayne rooney who people think is god his goal scoring record in international and club shirt is not very good. How can he win player of the year writers and football players player of the year over Drogba who scored more goals and had a month out due to the african nations cup. Is it beacause man utd has a big fan base and papers or media will not slate them as their fans will stop reading newspapers and switch off certain programmes. If john Terry got captaincy taken away for his affair as punishment what is fabio going to do to Shrek Rooney absolutelty nothing anyway Maradonna best ever. Watch his videos and learn wayne.
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Only other one I can think of which might sneak in was Rene Higuita’s ‘scorpion kick’. Cracking list though.
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Another moment should be Ricky Villa’s goal in the FA cup final against Man City.
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Great shout on the Keano one, it should be compulsory viewing for any would-be midfielder.
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Wel done Keano and well done Cantona
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