Euro 2016 - Biographies

Published: 9 May 2016

Gerry Armstrong

Highest scoring player from the United Kingdom at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
Made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team in April 1976, when he played alongside George Best
Works as a co-commentator for Sky Sports' coverage of La Liga

Chris Brunt

Current Northern Ireland international with 54 caps but ruled out of Euro 2016 through injury
Former midfielder for Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday
With West Brom since 2007, now mainly plays at full-back

Rio Ferdinand

Former England captain won 81 caps before retiring from international football in May 2013
Earned first full England cap at the age of 19
Broke the British transfer fee record and became the world’s most expensive defender twice, firstly moving from West Ham to Leeds for £18m, and then from Leeds to Manchester United for £30m
At Manchester United, he won the Premier League six times, the League Cup three times, and the UEFA Champions League once

John Hartson

Former striker in the Scottish Premier League for Celtic, where he won three league titles
In 399 league appearances in British football, Hartson scored 169 goals
He won 51 caps for Wales between 1995 and 2005, scoring 14 goals

Thierry Henry

FIFA World Cup winner for France in 1998 and a runner-up in 2006
He also won Euro 2000 and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
The prolific striker scored 51 goals for his country, making him France’s all-time top scorer
Enjoyed spells at AS Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls
Nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year twice and was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice

Jermaine Jenas

Former central midfielder for Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers
Named PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2002–03 season at Newcastle
He won 21 England caps, and was part of the Three Lions squad at the 2006 World Cup
Regular pundit on Football Focus, Match Of The Day and MOTD2

Martin Keown

Former defender for Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City and Reading
He made 449 appearances for Arsenal, winning three Premier League titles
Currently a part-time scout and coach for Arsenal, as well as a pundit for the BBC, ESPN, TV3, and Al Jazeera Sports +3

Kevin Kilbane

Former Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Everton, Wigan Athletic, Hull City, Huddersfield Town, Derby County and Coventry City player
Played 66 consecutive competitive international games and accrued 110 international caps
Made his Republic of Ireland debut in September 1997 and featured in the 2002 World Cup, where his team were eliminated in the knockout stage against Spain
Currently a columnist for the Irish Daily Mail and appears regularly on Radio 5 live, Football Focus and Match Of The Day

Mark Lawrenson

Started his playing career at Preston North End before signing for Brighton & Hove Albion
Joined Liverpool in 1981 for a then club-record transfer fee and went on to win five league titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups and the European Cup
Retired from football in 1992 after earning 39 caps for the Republic of Ireland
Works as a co-commentator and pundit on Football Focus, MOTD2 and Radio 5 live

Neil Lennon

During his playing career, he represented Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra and Leicester City before making over 200 league appearances as a midfielder for Celtic
Won the Scottish Premier League five times as a player with Celtic, and was an integral part of the team that reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003
He also won three league titles as Celtic manager
Made 40 appearances for Northern Ireland over an international career spanning eight years

Gary Lineker

Scored 48 goals for England, putting him third on the all-time list, behind Sir Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney
Top scorer at the 1986 World Cup with six goals, making him the only English player to win the Golden Boot award
Ex-England captain made 80 appearances for his country
Presented BBC’s flagship football show Match Of The Day since 1999

Danny Mills

Former Leeds United, Manchester City and England right-back
Made his England debut in May 2001 and was chosen as England's starting right-back at the 2002 World Cup
Announced his retirement from football in August 2009 after earning 19 caps for the national team
Has worked as a pundit and commentator on Radio 5 live's football coverage since 2009

Danny Murphy

Former central midfielder who began his career at Crewe Alexandra in 1993
He won the treble of the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001 with Liverpool
He also played for Tottenham, Charlton, Fulham and Blackburn, making 417 Premier League appearances
In 2013 he made his debut as a pundit on Match Of The Day

Robbie Savage

Made his international debut for Wales in 1995 and retired a decade later, having won 39 caps
Former Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County central midfielder
Retired from professional football in May 2011 to concentrate on a media career
Now features as a pundit and commentator on Radio 5 live’s football coverage, on 606

Alan Shearer

Premier League all-time top scorer with 260 goals
Scored 30 times in 63 England caps between 1992 and 2000, playing at Euro ’92, ’96 and 2000, and the 1998 World Cup
Former Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United striker
Retired in 2006 and joined the BBC as a football pundit on Match Of The Day, Match Of The Day 2 and Football Focus

Trevor Sinclair

361 Premier League appearances, 52 goals (1993-2007)
FA Cup runner-up with Cardiff in 2008
12 England caps (2001-2003), playing at the 2002 World Cup
Played for Blackpool, QPR, West Ham, Manchester City and Cardiff City before retiring in 2008.

Gerry Taggart

Former player for Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City, Manchester City and Stoke City as well as the Northern Ireland national team
He signed for Bolton Wanderers for a club-record fee in 1995
Taggart earned 51 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring seven goals. He retired from international football in 2003

Chris Waddle

Former professional footballer, manager and current football commentator and pundit
Currently works as a co-commentator for ESPN's Premier League football coverage, and for BBC 5 live
He earned 62 caps for England between 1985 and 1991, helping the Three Lions reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup
He spent three successful years playing in France for Marseille

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