football players with unaccountably lengthy wikipedia articles

Ah, I knew St Mirren were involved, but I thought it was when he was playing at Hearts. Top googling!

Contrary to popular belief, Roy has not been awarded a CBE - or indeed, any other British Empire medal - as of 18 April 2012.

evans

After signing for Queen of the South F.C. in December 2009 and being told about Queen of the South being the 'Only team in the Bible', Andrews described this as, "Most interesting".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonet

Seven years at Barca, ten years in the arse end of Spanish football, drops a level to the SPL, gets four games, a red card and an injury, goes back to the arse end of Spanish football for consecutive relegations.

It's a living, of a sort.

International career

Following his impressive performances when at Palermo, Amauri was suggested to be a potential call-up of the then Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni, who stated he might be interested in calling him to the Italian squad.[33] Amauri, who has not appeared at international level for the Brazilian team, would have been indeed eligible in the future to play for the Italian national team[34] because he was eligible to acquire Italian nationality by marriage to a Brazilian-Italian woman; however, according to Italian law Amauri was forced to wait for at least one year from the day of the proclamation of his wife as an Italian citizen, which did not happen before April 2009.

On 31 January 2009, Brazilian coach Dunga selected Amauri, who was still ineligible to play for Italy at the time, as a replacement for the injured Luís Fabiano in an international friendly against Italy.[35] However, a few hours later, in the aftermath of a Juventus league game on the same day, Juventus chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli stated the club's intention not to allow the player to respond to the call-up.[36]

On November 2009, Amauri himself confirmed his decision to play for Italy instead of Brazil, following remarks by Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini who was critical about the possibility of having a non-Italian born player within the azzurri squad.[37]

After receiving Italian citizenship in April 2010, Amauri finally became eligible to play for the Azzurri. Italy was scheduled to play two World Cup warm-up friendlies in June,[38] who would feature players from a 30-men preliminary squad to be announced on 11 May,[39] thus making Amauri unable to be featured in any of such friendly games without receiving a call-up to join such preliminary squad.[40] Marcello Lippi, the Italy coach, said Amauri would be followed like all the other players and no certainly inclusion. Which Lippi did not ruled out a call-up to the foreign born player completely.[41]

He [Amauri] will be followed like all the other players. I am taking this month to evaluate and take decisions that have to be made exclusively for the good of the national team.

–Marcello Lippi 13 April 2010
[42][43]

Lippi later expressed that he had confirmed 18 out of 23 players in his squad to the World Cup,[44] and excluded Amauri from the 29-men squad of the training camp in Rome on 3–5 May.[45] Amauri said he expected his exclusion as there were better players than him that season.[46]

On 6 August 2010 Amauri received his first call-up for the Italian national team, as part of the squad list announced by new head coach Cesare Prandelli for a friendly match against Côte d'Ivoire, the first match after World Cup.[47] He started the match in alongside debutant Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano who missed the team for 2 years in a new-look line-up but the Ivorians won 1-0 at Upton Park, London.

Amauri
Team Apps† (Gls)†
Italy 1 (0)

Edinson is known for his keen love of darts, cribbage and comic books; an interest he attributes to time spent in Sardinia with long time friend and ex-footballer Gianfranco Zola, a Sardinian native.

In March 2002, FA Premier League side Aston Villa made a successful £5 million bid for Crouch.[11] He scored on his home debut for Villa, the equalising goal against Newcastle United, and went on to score twice in seven games.[12] However, Crouch failed to hold down a regular place in the Aston Villa side in the following 2002–03 season. Looking for first team football, he was loaned to Norwich City from September to December 2003. Although he scored only four times in 15 appearances, he was highly impressive and remains popular with Norwich City supporters. So popular, in fact, he had a song made up about him ("He's tall, he's lean, he's a freaky goal machine").[13]

Agbonlahor's brother, Charisma, plays as a striker for Evostik Northern Premier League side Romulus FC.[59][60]

Di Canio has spoken also of the growing influence in his life of Samurai culture, and of the "Japanese spiritual mentality" from reading Mishima, and the teachings in the traditions of Hagakure and Bushido.[1]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Alexis_S%C3%A1nchez_2011.jpg/475px-Alexis_S%C3%A1nchez_2011.jpg

that wouldn't be the neo-Fascist author Yukio Mishima by any chance?

Carsley began his career at Derby County where he played more than 150 games in all competitions.[3] He was sold to Blackburn Rovers in March 1999 for £4.5 million,[4]

£4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4] £4.5 million,[4]

Hinchcliffe stated in an end of season Everton VHS that he was encouraged to take up a football career from his father who was a season ticket holder at Crewe Alexandra F.C.. He received his first football shirt on his 6th Birthday. It was a Nigeria shirt with Tolu and the number 4 on the back.

Kick and Rush

Der Begriff Kick and Rush (englisch, etwa „schießen und stürmen“) stammt aus dem Fußball.

Diese Spielart war lange Zeit ein wichtiger Bestandteil des Fußballs auf den Britischen Inseln.

According to the reports, a journalist interviewed with Alper in National Team Camp and He talked about his transfer rumor. He promised to Fenerbahçe for transfer. "Before the negotiate contract Fenerbahçe's Boss Aziz Yildirim called me and they wanted to see me at Fenerbahçe. Also they will transfer great names and Fenerbahce's squad will be more greater" said Alper. In addition to his conversation he said he is a fan of Fenerbahçe and if Fenerbahce's managers will deal with Eskişehirspor, he will sign to Fenerbahçe. Then transfer completed after that. I promised only Fenerbahce. So I dealt with Fenerbahçe 15 days ago." [3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Association_football_players_who_committed_suicide

Whoa, some grim reading in there. (also now annoying myself by trying to remember if I knew about Forbes Johnston committing suicide, he's one of those players who might have one day turned up in "footballers whose names float around your head" but I don't think I knew he was dead, or if I did, I had forgotten)

Martin Barbarič (14 October 1970 – 18 January 2013) was a Czech football player who is best known as key striker at club Slovan Liberec in the late 1990s. He was also a U-11 coach at FC Hradec Králové.

On 11 January 2013 Barbarič shot and killed his ex-wife in Hradec Králové. He then shot himself and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.[1] He died a week later.[2]

Koskiniatis then jumped off the cliff and committed suicide.[2] Diagoras lost the game 3:2.

Although comparatively rich for an ex-player working in football, King's reputation as well as his career were in tatters. Within a month of the sacking he committed suicide by drinking alcohol mixed with a corrosive liquid.

The inquest into his death declared that he had taken his life 'while of unsound mind', and had been suffering from persecution delusions. According to his son at the inquest, his depression had begun when the team were relegated in the summer of 1932, and that his paranoia had followed on from that.

Friedhelm "Timo" Konietzka (2 August 1938 – 12 March 2012) was a German football striker[1] and manager. He earned his nickname "Timo" due to a supposed resemblance to the Soviet commander Semyon Timoshenko.[2]

He took Swiss citizenship in 1988. With help of euthanasia-organisation Exit International, he chose to end his life at the age of 73 in Brunnen, Canton of Schwyz.[4]

Later in his career he returned to Bolivia where he played for The Strongest and Club Bolívar.

Castillo's nickname was "Chocolatín" by the colour of his skin.

Given a free transfer to Telford United in May 1977, he went on to commit suicide in July 1978, having never come to terms with leaving Port Vale.

Good work with all the suicide stuff.

An England youth product, Cattermole has earned a reputation as a tough tackling midfielder due to his lengthy disciplinary record.

Obodo is regarded by many as one of the most skilful and talented midfielders to play for the Super Eagles since the 1994 era. Little wonder, a sports radio personality and media mogul – noted for nicknaming Nigerian footballers – describes him as bundle of skills, a phrase which later stuck and is now synonymous with Obodo's skilfulness.

Paços has a curious habit of playing Galician side Celta de Vigo every pre-season.

On 29 December 2012, Evans scored the first goal in the Tigers' 2–0 victory over Leeds, placing the ball into the bottom corner past Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. He then performed a celebratory belly-slide by the corner flag, as Ahmed Elmohamady mimed playing a musical instrument while sitting astride him, before a team pile-up ensued.[14]

If anything that's not lengthy enough. We should be told what the musical instrument is (I actually checked youtube and can confirm it's a guitar. Or possibly a ukulele)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dean_ashton.jpg

alas poor ankle-knack

Dean Ashton was at a wedding I attended a few weeks ago. We didn't interact but he was walking confidently which was nice to see.

Dobing's first season at Stoke he scored 19 goals as the club reached the final of the League Cup, but were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Leicester City.[2] He suffered a broken leg against West Bromwich Albion in January 1965 ending his season. During his recovery he spent time fishing for trout in Market Drayton and was a keen clay pigeon shooter has was also a pipe smoker and became known as 'the pipe-smoking gentleman of English football'.[2]

Euro 2012[edit source | editbeta]
This section requires expansion.
Eriksen had a disappointing Euro 2012.[citation needed]

The duo went on to form a central midfield partnership which was one of the best in English club football. Their pairing helped yield several major trophies in the most successful era in Leeds' history. By strange coincidence, Giles and Bremner would both score exactly 115 goals for the club, casting doubt on the modern penchant for "holding" midfield players.

"Trezeguet" redirects here. For the Egyptian footballer who uses the name Trezeguet, see Mahmoud Hassan (footballer).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Resurrección and the second or maternal family name is Merodio.

Jorge Resurrección Merodio, aka Koke (born 8 January 1992 in Madrid), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as a midfielder.

My People FC is a Nigerian football club based in Lagos. Founded by Prophet T.B. Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, the team was established for the purpose of helping talented young footballers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_People_FC

Notable sportspersons who claim to have been healed of sporting injuries at the SCOAN include South African rugby players Jaco van der Westhuizen[21] and Jaco du Preeze, and Nigerian footballer Joseph Yobo.[22]

Spiritual healing at The SCOAN has been mentioned by Time magazine.[23] Since June 2010, five "Wise Men" have joined in ministering to people at The SCOAN, purportedly able to prophesy, heal and deliver in the same vein as T. B. Joshua.[24] The church has branches in Ghana,[25][26][27] the United Kingdom,[28] South Africa,[29][self-published source] and Greece.[30]

Many have also claimed to be healed through ‘Anointing Water’ that has been prayed over by Joshua and given to those who are unable to physically attend his church in Lagos.[31][32][33]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.B._Joshua

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ethiopian_Coffee.gif

Personal life

Bates hit the tabloid headlines in September 2006 when private photographs of him were posted on the internet, one of which showed him wearing a pair of skimpy briefs, another kneeling in front of a mirror, naked apart from a pair of socks, with his penis semi-erect.

thought that would be ken for a second

In 2011, it was revealed by Brooks Peck on his blog[60] that Kalou owns a pet cat known as 'Katou'.

Pirès, the elder of two boys, spent most of his childhood dressed in two football shirts that reflected his divided loyalty.
Bobby Two Shirts

Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson (born 8 September 1989) is an Icelandic footballer who played for Reading between 2005 and 2010 as a midfielder.

When referring to Makélélé, many fans and pundits alike use a role created down in Ancrum (Scottish Borders) in the 90s, and have dubbed the defensive midfield position as the "Runciman Role.", it is world renowned after young James Runciman made it his own while developing at Ancrum youths and furthermore Stow AFC.[1]

"Makelele" means "noises" in Lingala,[2]