10 Best Welsh Football (Soccer) Players of All times

Welsh Starting Team For Match Against Australia. Author Steindy (talk. Wikimedia Commons)

10 Best Welsh Football (Soccer) Players of All times

Despite not qualifying for any tournaments in their career, Wales has produced several world-class players who dominated the Premier League and won everything they could with their clubs.

1. Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale 2015. Author Dmitry Zhuravel. Wikimedia Commons

The magnificent Gareth Frank Bale MBE is a Welsh professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the Wales national team. Many football lovers agree that he is one of the greatest wingers of his generation and one of the greatest Welsh players of all time.

He was introduced to professional soccer at Southampton, playing as a left-back and is a free-kick specialist. A blossoming career saw him move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. It is while here that managerial and tactical shift saw him transform into a more attacking player His unique style of play saw him gain stardom during the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League. As a budding star in 2011 and 2013, he was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and was also named the UEFA Team of the Year. In 2013, he was also named PFA Young Player of the Year, the FWA Footballer of the Year, and the Premier League Player of the Season. He was nominated to the PFA Team of the Year three times in a row between 2011 and 2013.

His rise to stardom continued when he was poached by Real Madrid in 2013 for an undisclosed fee, which was confirmed to be a world record transfer fee of £85.1 million (€100.8 million). Being part of the subsequent trio dubbed BBC, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema; He helped the club to win the 2013–14 Copa Del Rey and UEFA Champions League, scoring in both finals. A real superstar, the following season, he won the UEFA Super Cup and scored in a third major final to help the club win the FIFA Club World Cup.

Later, Bale started experiencing a decrease in game time due to continual injuries, despite still collecting winner’s medals in La Liga in 2016–17 and 2019–20, as well as three additional Champions League titles in 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18, among other trophies while playing for Real Madrid. He featured in the first and third of the consecutive finals, scoring twice including an overhead kick in Real Madrid’s 2018 UEFA Champions League Final victory. He subsequently joined MLS club Los Angeles FC in July 2022 and won the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup that season.

He made his senior international debut for Wales in May 2006, becoming the youngest player at that point to represent Wales. He has since earned over 100 caps and scored 40 international goals, making him Wales’ top goal scorer of all time. He was also the top scorer for Wales in their successful qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2016, scoring seven goals. He later featured for the side at Euro 2020 and was pivotal in Wales’ qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, ending a 64-year appearance drought at the World Cup. He has been named Welsh Footballer of the Year a record six times.

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2. John Charles

The multi-talented William John Charles CBE was a Welsh footballer who played as a center-forward or as a center-back. Best known for his first stint at Leeds United and Juventus, he was rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Britain. He represented the Welsh national team over fifteen years, from 1950 to 1965. Alongside his brother, Mel Charles, he was a member of the Welsh squad at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

Interestingly, for its 50th anniversary in 2004, UEFA asked each of its then 52 member associations to nominate one player as the single most outstanding player of the period 1954–2003, and Charles was chosen as the Golden Player of Wales by its national association in November 2003.

As a lethal striker, he was renowned for being a prolific goalscorer, as he was capable of scoring with either foot, courtesy of his powerful and accurate shot; due to his height, physique, and strength, as well as his heading power and accuracy. He also excelled in the air, which made him an aerial goal threat.. In addition to his ability, he was also known for his correct behavior on the pitch, which along with his stature earned him the nickname, Gigante Buono (The Gentle Giant).

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3. Ian Rush

Ian Rush. Author Unknown. Wikimedia Commons

Ian Rush was a household name in the English Premier League back then. He is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a forward  for Liverpool from 1980–1987 and 1988–1996. He held the record of the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, having scored a total of 346 goals in all competitions at the club.

 At Liverpool, the prolific striker pretty much won it all. Playing in one of the greatest sides in English football history, an incredible 18 trophies from his time at Anfield includes five First Division titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups, and two of the club’s six European Cups. He has truly earned his rightful place in the history books.

However, despite the numerous broken records and stacks of silverware, Rush admits he still looks back on his illustrious career with one regret: never leading his beloved Wales to a major tournament.

He is a decorated player. Footballer of the Year, PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards. He finished 4th in the Ballon d’Or after netting 47 goals (no penalties) in Liverpool’s 1983/84 season.

Inevitably he became Wales’ top scorer, at least until 2018, taking them to the brink of two major tournaments with a Euro 92 winner against Germany and eight goals in USA 94 qualifying – or rather, not qualifying. He deserved to be there.

More interesting stories about Sadio Mane former Liverpool player

4. Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs of Manchester United. Author Allison Pasciuto. Wikimedia Commons

The son of rugby union and Wales international rugby league footballer Danny Wilson, Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh football coach and former player. He was most recently the manager of the Wales national team. He is also a co-owner of Salford City.

Predominantly a left midfielder, he began his career with Manchester City, but joined Manchester United on his 14th birthday in 1987, making his professional debut for the club in 1991. He went on to spend the next 23 years in the Manchester United first team. At the end of the 2013–14 season, he was named as Manchester United’s interim player-manager following the sacking of David Moyes. He was confirmed as assistant manager under Louis van Gaal, the same day he announced his retirement.

At international level, Giggs played for the Wales national team 64 times between 1991 and 2007 and was named as the captain of the Great Britain team that competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He is one of only 28 players to have made over 1,000 career appearances.

Giggs is one of the most decorated footballers of all time. It is worth noting that during his time at United, he won 13 Premier League winner’s medals, probably more than any other player in history, four FA Cup winner’s medals, three League Cup winner’s medals, two UEFA Champions League winner’s medals, a FIFA Club World Cup winners medal, an Intercontinental Cup winner’s medal, a UEFA Super Cup winner’s medal and nine FA Community Shield winner’s medals.

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5. Mark Hughes

mark hughes manager stoke city barclays asia 2015. Author Chensiyuan. Wikimedia Commons

The PFA Young Player of the Year became a two-time PFA Player of the Year and one-time Ballon d’Or contender with 11 major honors and a delicious international highlights reel, featuring a debut winner against England and an acrobatic stunner against Spain a year later A very committed player playing in the forward position, it is said that he once played twice on the same day in 1987, for Wales and Bayern Munich. A rare quality he possessed.

An experienced coach, Hughes was appointed manager of Wales in 1999 and remained in the role until 2004. However, he failed to qualify for a World Cup or European Championship during his five years in charge, although his reign coincided with a marked improvement in results. Wales came particularly close to securing 2004 European Championship qualification.

 At club level, he has coached Blackburn,  guiding them to sixth place in 2005–06.He was also at the Manchester City den for a year and a half before spending the 2010–11 season at Fulham. He joined Queens Park Rangers in January 2012, helping them retain their Premier League status in 2011–12. Despite some high-profile signings in the summer of 2012, QPR began the 2012–13 season in very poor form, and Hughes was dismissed on 23 November 2012. Hughes was appointed manager of Stoke City on 30 May 2013 guiding the club to three consecutive ninth-place Premier League finishes in 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons.

6. Billy Meredith

William Henry Meredith was a Welsh professional footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. The rakish, toothpick-chewing Meredith starred in a film, was banned for bribing an opponent, formed the PFA’s forerunner and played from 1893 right up to 1924. Making more than 300 league appearances for each, winning four trophies, will have that effect.

Meredith was strong, fit and agile, which many attributed to the winger’s work in the mines between the ages of 12 and 21. We wouldn’t recommend it.

7. Neville Southall

In the late 1980s, Southall was probably the world’s best goalkeeper. That’s no exaggeration. His reactions were peerless, a flurry of limbs repelling shots in phenomenal displays for Wales and Everton. He lifted five major trophies, received two Ballon d’Or nominations and remains the most recent keeper to win FWA Footballer of the Year, 37 years ago.

The former binman and future campaigner was unique. One story encapsulates him well. Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 in the 1995 FA Cup Final with a master class from their 36-year-old goalkeeper, but while his team-mates partied, Southall drove home, gave a lift to some stranded United fans, and was in bed by 10.30pm. He played internationally for Wales, winning 92 caps between 1982 and 1998, though he did not feature in any major international competitions.

Individually, he was named on the PFA Team of the Year four consecutive times, and was listed as one of the world’s top ten goalkeepers by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics on four occasions. He is also a member of the Gwladys Street’s Hall of Fame. He has been named as one of the 100 ‘Greatest Players of the 20th Century’ by World Soccer magazine. In the 1996, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to football.

Since his retirement as a player, Southall has briefly managed Dover Athletic, Hastings United and Margate, and has coached at numerous clubs as well as the Welsh national youth teams. He has also worked extensively with disadvantaged children, and set up his own educational consultancy.

Apart from soccer, Southall is also known for his political activism. He is an international officer for his branch of the UNISON trade union.

8. Cliff Jones

Clifford William Jones is a Welsh former footballer. During his career, he played as a winger and was capped 59 times for Wales national team. He was also a crucial member of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1960–61 double-winning side. A dangerous operator on either flank, Cliff Jones entertained and beguiled supporters at both Swansea Town and Tottenham Hotspur, becoming one the finest widemen of his generation.

Jones, a World Cup quarter-finalist who drew a world-record transfer bid from Juventus, taught PE after retiring. In 2020’s lockdown he was filmed, aged 85, demonstrating a fitness routine. Who needs Joe Wicks?

 9. Terry Yorath

Terence Charles Yorath is a Welsh former football player and manager at both club and international level. He is the father of television presenter Gabby Logan. He represented Leeds United, Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur, Vancouver Whitecaps, Bradford City, Swansea City and the Welsh national team. He also served as assistant at Huddersfield Town. Yorath also managed the Lebanon national teams.

10. Gary Speed

Gary Speed. Author Biser Todorov. Wikimedia Commons

Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh professional footballer and manager. As manager of Wales, Speed is often credited as being the catalyst for the change in fortunes of the national team and as setting the pathway to future successes.

The Young Player became a two-time PFA Player of the Year and one-time Ballon d’Or contender with 11 major honors and a delicious international highlights reel, featuring a debut winner against England and an acrobatic stunner against Spain a year later. Hughes turned the volley into an artform.

He was leadership personified, fighting for his team and even himself: when one Wales manager tried to transfer his captaincy to Mark Hughes, Speed simply told him, “F**k off. F**k you. I’ve worked my arse off to be captain of my country and you’re not taking the armband from me.” He was correct.