FOOTBALL CRAZY FOOTBALL CAB: Taxi drivers share their most famous soccer star passengers
It’s not everyday you pick up a famous passenger as a taxi driver around the UK, and it‘s even rarer to pick up one of your heroes, but just every now and again you might be lucky enough to have the back of your cab graced by a star.
Cabbies around the UK have shared some of the most famous football players and managers they’ve had the pleasure of transporting.
First up we have one of the most iconic figures in the sport from the last 20 years. Mr Liverpool himself, Steven Gerrard. Gerrard captained both Liverpool and England before moving into management. Gerrard currently manages Premier League side Aston Villa after joining them from Scottish giants Rangers.
Next up we take a look at two of Manchester United’s greatest ever players, Ryan Giggs, and one of the most naturally talented footballers of all time George Best. Giggs, who played his entire professional career at Manchester United won 13 league titles, more than any other player in Premier League history. George Best is considered one of the best players of his generation, being named European Footballer of the Year in 1968. Best won 2 league titles and 1 European Cup before being inducted into the English Football Hall of fame in 2002.
The next player we’re going to mention, and possibly England’s most recognisable name ever because of what he did in the 1966 World Cup Final, Sir Geoff Hurst. Sir Geoff Hurst is most famous for scoring a hatrick for England Vs Germany in a 4-2 World Cup victory; the only time England has ever won it. In total he scored 24 goals for England in 49 appearances. He spent the majority of his club career at West Ham United, where he scored 242 goals in 500 first team appearances for the East London side.
Staying with West Ham, two other well known faces have also graced the back of a taxi; Joe Cole and “Mr West Ham” himself, Mark Noble. Both players came through the ranks at the club before making their professional debuts.
Joe Cole went on to play for both Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as his country, England. Mark Noble has spent his entire career at West Ham, hence the label “Mr West Ham”, although he did have two short loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town.
Staying with the London theme, two players who played for West London’s Chelsea, Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas have both spent time in the company of London’s iconic black cab drivers. Frank Lampard is one of Chelsea’s most successful players ever and one of the best midfield players of his generation. Frank was statistically named the Premier League Player of the Decade from 2000 to 2010.
Cres Fabregas, a Spanish born creative midfield player joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014. Bursting onto the scene In 2003 as a teenager for London rival Arsenal, Cesc soon proved that he belonged in the big leagues. He played 212 times for the Gunners before moving to the Spanish giants, where he played alongside football legends Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Cesc has also lined up alongside arguably the greatest ever footballer, Lionel Messi.
It’s not just famous footballers who taxi drivers can show off about having in their cabs, managers have also been known to hail a taxi or two.
Probably the most famous being Jose Mourinho. Jose is most known for his time at Chelsea. After conducting a victory for underdogs Porto against Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at Old Trafford on route to winning the Champions League Trophy, Chelsea didn’t waste any time in getting his signature. During his time at the West London club, he steered the team to two league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups. Jose was known for his controversial, yet endearing character, but rest assured, taxi drivers have only had good things to say about the man during any trips in a taxi.
Other footballing icons who taxi drivers have had the pleasure of picking up include:
Gary Lineker
Mark Hughes
Jimmy Greaves
Kenny Dalglish
Alan Hansen
Denis Law
Neil Ruddock
Terry Venables
Danny Welbeck
Darren Fletcher
Kolo Toure
