Football, or soccer as it’s known in America, is one of the most popular sports in the world. The traction of the FIFA World Cups and various footballing events such as the Euro, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, etc. shows how the sport is adored by billions of people. From South America to Europe, Asia, and Africa, football is a universal language. However, nothing exemplifies the real passion for the sport like club championships. Great teams like AC Milan, Internazionale Milano, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Barcelona have provided some of the greatest moments for their fans and rivals, imprinting in people’s memories forever.
Liverpool, for instance, has achieved the greatest heights in football history, winning at least one trophy in all competitions they’ve participated in, e.g., Club World Cup, Champions League, EPL, and the FA Cup. Their success is attributed to some of the best players in the world. While most of these sportsmen are known for their on-field contributions, little is known about their academic exploits. In this short article, we explore Liverpool players with higher education, outlining some of their major achievements. Read on to understand.
A brief history of the club
Liverpool Football Club, simply known as Liverpool, was founded in 1892 in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside. Despite being a maritime city, the region is famous for being the hometown of The Beatles. The thriving community is rich in history and tradition, providing a solid grounding for the team. The club’s 51 major honors have been explored in several essays, e.g. those found on the customwritings.com website. Their iconic stadium, the Anfield, has hosted some of the most memorable events in sports history.
The club has also benefited from the revolutionary leadership of managers such as Kenny Dalglish, Bob Paisley, and Jurgen Klopp. Not forgetting indomitable captains like Steven Gerrard and Ron Yeats. These great managers introduced an exciting style of football that the club is still famous for today. The fans and the players, united and rallied under the anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” have made the teams’ games passionate and thrilling to watch.
The brainy Reds: Unveiling Liverpool’s players with advanced degrees
Duncan Watmore
Watmore is what statisticians would call an outlier; a premier league rarity who earned first-class honors in economics and business management from Newcastle University. At just 21, he completed a demanding college degree program while working as a professional footballer. Furthermore, he registered for a post-graduate degree in International Leadership, Business, and Management at the same institution and graduated two years later. At the time, he played for Middleborough FC and managed over 26 appearances in the league. Watmore believed firmly that football was a short-term career that required proper post-retirement planning.
Watmore’s Liverpool career was disrupted by several injuries, including a cruciate knee ligament injury that sidelined him for months. While he wasn’t so successful on the pitch for the Reds, he conquered the dreaded field of education, writing his name amongst the most professional footballers with higher educational achievements.
Simon Mignolet
Simon Mignolet is one of the most famous Liverpool players of the 21st century. He’s also amongst the most decorated internationals with impressive records, i.e., 1x TM-Player of the season, 1x Champions League winner, 3x Belgian champion, and 2x Belgian Super Cup Winner. The Belgian international played for Liverpool for six years becoming the fans’ favorite. Apart from his on-pitch achievements, the talented footballer also has a Political Science and Law degree from the University of Leuven. He also took several language classes to complement his diploma, e.g., English, French, Dutch, and German.
Brian Hall
Hall is an undisputed Liverpool legend; a man who gave his all to the badge. He was born in 1946 when Liverpool was struggling and eventually got relegated to the Second Division in 1954. Hall joined the club in 1965 as part of the amateur team. He stood out at a young age due to his discipline, commitment, technique, and footballing skills. Hall impressed his coaches and teammates, earning a professional contract at just 17 years old. While this was an impressive achievement, his educational exploits were awe-inspiring.
Despite Hall’s difficult life journey, he beat all odds to attain a degree in mathematics. Attaining higher education was his priority, as he believed he could use it to change lives. As shown on the CustomWritings website, studying mathematics and sciences opens up several career opportunities for students.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Simply known as Chamberlain, the Ox remains one of the most famous footballers in North London. The lad started his career at Southampton youth academy and progressed into the main team where Arsenal noticed him. He shifted to the capital where he made significant contributions to the team and community. Under Arsene Wenger, he came close to winning two league titles but was lucky to lift two FA cups instead. Chamberlain then moved to Liverpool where he won more trophies including the Champions League, FA, World Club Football, and EPL.
Out of the pitch, the player worked tirelessly toward a degree in sports science and nutrition at Loughborough University. Chamberlain took advantage of his long injury spells to complete the four-year program while in rehabilitation.
From the pitch to the pinnacle!
The demanding nature of a professional football career makes it difficult for most players to pursue higher education. Added to the fame and money that comes with it, few professionals consider life in higher learning institutes. This is true for all teams in the Premier League. However, a few individuals beat the odds and secured the coveted higher education degrees. The Liverpool players discussed above demonstrate that it’s possible to excel both on and off the pitch through their dedication to education alongside their football careers.
