Football’s Naughty Or Nice - The Good Guys

Goalkeeper - Edwin Van der Sar

The Dutch stopper was a colossus between the sticks for both Fulham and Manchester United for more than a decade, helping Fulham consolidate their Premier League status, and setting records for consecutive clean sheets with Manchester United, when he wasn't winning trophies of course.

But what most people didn't see was the work that Van der Sar did behind the scene with his charity, The Edwin Van der Sar Foundation, which supports people with brain damage. The charity was established after Edwin saw first-hand the good work brain injury charities do when his wife Annmarie suffered a stroke.

The Dutch legend has himself championed several initiatives to support special brain injury units in the UK and in Holland, and often competes in half, and full distance, marathons to raise awareness.

Defender - Angel Rangel

The Spaniard turned honourary Welshman is known to most football fans as Swansea’s dependable, eccentric and likable fullback. But what most people won’t know is that the 30 year-old is also a kind-hearted so and so.

It was reported in January 2013 that Rangel and his wife were driving around Swansea city center distributing food to the homeless people enduring cold nights in the streets with sub-zero temperatures.

Defender - Oguchi Onyewu

The USA international has had spells at Standard Liege, Newcastle and Metz, but it was in his spell at AC Milan that has him in a lot of people’s good books.

Having suffered a serious knee injury just after signing, he only made one appearance for Milan, in a Champions League group game against Zurich. After coming to the end of his deal, many were surprised when he renewed with the Italian giants.

But there was one thing people didn’t know, Onyewu would not receive a wage – voluntarily.

"Onyewu has requested and obtained a contract extension from June 30, 2012 until June 30, 2013.”With respect to that year, as was his wish, which has been appreciated by the club, Onyewu has asked not to receive any type of wages” read the statement upon signing the new deal.

Defender - Sami Hyypia

Whether he was guarding the fort for Liverpool or balling his eyes out upon his last ever appearance for the Anfield club, one would find it hard to have a bad word to say about the Finnish defender.

When he wasn’t out on the park on a Saturday afternoon he was giving back to charity. He forked out almost £23,000 to rescue a Merseyside hospital charity appeal when they had hit a barrier in their fundraising effort,allowing to complete their work without the need to raise anymore money.

Defender - Leighton Baines

The Everton man is a fans favourite for his combative defending and wicked set-piece deliveries, but they have further reason to adore the 28 year old. The left-back turned up at the house of life long Everton fan, Gordon McKee, who had provided round-the-clock care for his terminally ill wife, Gillian before he death in April 2013.

He arrived at the home of the fan armed with a bunch of flowers, a personally signed jersey and a season ticket courtesy of the club after his son had nominated him for the club's Make Their Day initiative.

Midfielder - Ronaldinho

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, possibly the most universally loved player of his generation. The Brazilian superstar was the recipient of FIFA World Player of the Year award twice (2004 and 2005) and the Ballon d’Or once, (2005), and won the hearts of football fans all over the world with his toothy smile and supernatural ability.

Whether he was scoring a goal of such calibre that it made the Real Madrid fans stand up and applaud or breaking the hearts of English fans with his goal in 2002 World Cup you will go a long way to find someone that dislikes the Brazilian.

Midfielder - Jack Wilshere

The Arsenal supremo may only be 21, but he has a wise and caring head on those young shoulders. Not only is he a leader in both the Arsenal and England dressing rooms but he is doing his bit off the pitch too.

At the age of 19, Wilshere befriended a young boy, named Jack Marshall, who was dying of cancer, and his family, supporting them through until Jack’s death. He had them over for barbeques and dinners, invited them to The Emirates, and even gave young Jack and his brother, Josh, his mobile phone number to call him, day or night

Midfielder - Frank Lampard

He’s long been abused by opposition fans as ‘Fat Frank’ due to the puppy fat he carried for a little longer than he probably should have during his younger days, but with a Champions League winners medal, a couple of Premiership and FA Cup ones too, I think he’ll sleep easily enough at night.

And if you didn’t have enough of a reason to hate him, wait until you hear this. Only days after Lampard’s mother, Pat, had passed away, the England international stepped onto the field against Liverpool in a vital Champions League tie. He played like a man possessed that night, and ended up scoring the decisive spot kick that killed off any threat of a Liverpool fight back.

 

Forward - Gary Lineker

546 games for club and country, Player of the Year and Football Writers Player of the Year accolades make for pretty decent reading, but the one stat that stands out is that the Match of the Day presenter was never booked in a competitive game.

He spent most of his career in the opposition’s penalty box, but his achievement is a amazing one nonetheless. I never even thought about it. I never really realised [I had a clean sheet] until very near to the end. Truthfully, I never thought about it once during a match. I was only interested in scoring goals. I wasn't interested in anything else" said Lineker when asked about his unique feat.

Forward - Didier Drogba

Few players have had as big an impact on their nations as Didier Drogba. The then Chelsea forward used his influence as Ivory Coast captain to defy warning and make a plea for peace, which was met with the declaration of a ceasefire in the African Nation.

Drogba played a pivitol role in the peace talks, bringing both sides together, using the qualification if the national team as a unification method. He is now the face of the new Ivory Coast, one of the few countries on the African continent to beat the spread of civil unrest that has dogged that part of the world for decades.

 

Forward - Antonio Di Natale

The Italian striker has plied his trade with Udinese since 2004, becoming the face of the club, sticking with them through the tough financial times, and the through the threat of relegation. He has turned down offers from multiple high profile clubs throughout Europe all of these would be enough reasons to have him in this team, but there is a better reason for that.

In April 2012, when young Livorno star Piermario Morosini, on loan from Udinese, died on the field due to cardiac arrest all of Italy took stock of what had happened, but few could do anything to help the situation.

Di Natale and Udinese felt they were in apposition to do so. The 36 year-old was the face of the campaign to see to it that Morosini’s sister, who is severely disabled, would be financially stable for the rest of her life.

"We know the situation of his sister and we as a team, the club, and Udinese for Life have decided to help her because she is in real need. It is essential to stay by the side of Piermario's sister for her entire life. She needs us and we want to help, both for her and for Mario” said the Italian when asked about the situation.

 

Manager - Martin O’ Neill

Given that this lot were an angelic bunch, it would only be fair if their gaffer followed suit.

O’Neill left Celtic in the summer of 2005 in order to look after his ill wife, Geraldine, in her fight with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The selfless act came when Celtic and O’Neill where arguably at their peak, having put up a more than respectable showing against Porto in the UEFA Cup Final, eventually losing to a certain Jose Mourinho, and having won his second consecutive Scottish Cup.

He has gone on to manage Aston Villa, Sunderland and has now taken on the Irish job, but he still makes time to talk to members of families and people who have been affected by Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.