When it comes to the term “legend”, I often feel like it is an overused and thus trite term, with anyone displaying a modicum of ability and/or loyalty labelled as one.
As part of our partnership with EA Sports, Gary Neville was asked his thoughts on what exactly makes a legend in the modern game.
Neville’s description of what quantifies a legend was as follows:
“Legend” isn’t all about technical ability and skill, it’s about impact. Obviously skill has a big factor but achievements, longevity, success, impact upon individuals around them, leadership, whether they’re captains… all those things gets thrown into the mix to bring together the word.
One of his top picks in the “legend” category was Paolo Maldini, a player who I have admired through out his career. His commitment to the game until he got to his forties was pretty amazing and, at AC Milan, one could argue he was fortunate enough to be at one of the best clubs, not only in Serie A, but in the world.
However, it isn’t just fans who see and saw Maldini as one of the world’s best. On meeting his own role model & personal legend, Neville said:
It’s very rare for me during my career, in fact I think it was the only time after a game, I went to get an autograph of a player. When we drew with Italy in Rome in 1998 I went and swapped shirts with Maldini. I didn’t get his original shirt, but one of his spare shirts after the game and asked him to sign it to me after the game. I’ve still got that shirt to this day. I was never really one for autographs, and, at that stage, I was 23 years of age and had never got an autograph growing up as a kid. I just felt as though playing against him in those two games in 1998, I was in the presence of greatness, in the presence of a legend of the game and really wanted to mark that.
Interested in reading more? Gary Neville was speaking in his fortnightly column for EA SPORTS FIFA 14 Ultimate Team. Read the full column at http://bit.ly/1dFwdX1
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