World Top 5 Smartest Footballers Of All Time
Article last updated on 11th of October 2019
Historically speaking, sports has never really been associated with intelligence. Athletes get a really bad rep with it comes to sharpness. But, this cliché couldn't be far from the truth. In reality, there are lots of examples of smart football players on and off the pitch.
They're blessed with both brains are brawn, and put us regular folk to shame. There is so much more to football than just kicking a ball around. It requires a keen body-kinesthetic intelligence, and well as strategic thinking, as well as interpersonal and team building skills.
Apart from these skills, several players have quite a bit going on in the cognitive department. Despite the opportunity to work and earn what many of us can only dream off, many players could have excellent jobs if they hadn’t become footballers. Here are the top 5 smartest footballers of all time.
5. Glen Johnson
The Stoke Fullback, also a former Liverpool player, has a mathematics degree, and he managed to do it while playing professional football. Who would have thought that Johnson is math guy?
However, the story behind his degree is pretty impressive by itself. Johnson has a tough childhood, growing up in a shelter while his mother was homeless. While at school, his mathematics teacher told him that he was a good for nothing who wouldn't achieve anything.
This was exactly what Johnson wanted, as he took it as a challenge and decided that he would pursue a mathematics degree, as payback to his teacher who was his motivation throughout the whole process. He, unfortunately, won't be gracing the football pitch anymore, as he retired this January.
4. Juan Mata
Mata is probably one of the most qualified players on the pitch. The Spaniard is known for his skills and controlling the midfield but only a few know that he has a degree in Journalism. He can make headlines in more than just one way now. And if this isn’t enough, he is currently undertaking studies to become major in Marketing and Sports Science in Manchester.
Balancing a sports career while simultaneously pursuing a degree is in itself a feat. Reports also claim that he has a distance learning degree in physical education and marketing. His intelligence and inventiveness cannot be fully seen on the pitch, but for those who know Mata outside of it, he certainly ticks the box for being one of the smartest footballers of all time.
3. Dennis Bergkamp
Apart from being an amazing striker, intellect is undoubtedly one of Dennis Bergkamp's greatest strengths. As a footballer, “The Non-Flying Dutchman” was well known for his innovative tricks and skills but did you know that Bergkamp earned a degree in mechanical engineering while playing for Arsenal?
Perhaps he used the time off from away matches due to his fear of flying with planes, however, getting a degree in mechanical engineering is pretty impressive, even for someone outside of football.
2. Socrates
Being named after one of the most renowned philosophers of all time must be a lot of pressure. But Socrates definitely lives up to his namesake.
Commonly known as Dr. Socrates, he earned his nickname due to his above-average intellect and as good as he was on the pitch, he was even better off of it.
Socrates earned a high degree in medical science, and he would have certainly been a great doctor if it wasn’t for football. Socrates is also renowned for his political and economic knowledge. He spent some time as a columnist for a number of local newspapers and magazines.
Doctor Socrates unfortunately, lead a very unhealthy life. His drinking, smoking, and gambling habits were opposite to what professional footballer should do but did anyway. Despite these things, he will remain as one of the smartest football players to ever been involved in the sport.
1.Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard isn't just an amazing football player. The legendary Chelsea midfielder is by far the most intelligent footballers of all time. During one of the tests for IQ at Chelsea, Lampard scored jaw-dropping IQ of 150 which puts him in the 0.5 % people in the world.
With such an impressive score he's pretty much a genius according to official assessments. After his results, the whole squad affectionately referred to him as “the professor”.
Naturally, he scored the highest almost all his teammates, and his scores were reportedly the highest ever recorded by the company that conducted the test.
His score is only ten points below Albert Einstein and twelve less than Stephen Hawking.
It’s worth noting that both of them are considered to be the greatest minds ever to walk our planet. This little known but interesting fact assuredly put Lamps on the highest spot of the smartest football player of all times
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