I’ve been watching those YouTube clips where famous footballers are asked to name five players they particularly admired, with reasons. It’s harder than it looks. But here is my five.

• Jimmy Greaves – The Natural – No one finished like Greavsie. Not coached, not manufactured, just natural. He could score with either foot, from any angle, and make it look like he wasn’t trying. He was my childhood hero who became the best TV football pundit who I’ve come across, who loved the beautiful game.
• Pelé – The Complete One – Three World Cup wins, over 1,000 goals, but it was the way he did it. Power, grace, vision, and joy. He could do everything. Every player since is measured against Pelé. He was my overseas hero as a boy.
• Franz Beckenbauer – The Kaiser – The man who invented a position. The most elegant sweeper the game has seen. He saw the game five seconds before anyone else and made defending look like an art form.
• Bobby Moore – The Gentleman – my captain. Not quick, not big, but never beaten. Timing, reading, leadership. That tackle on Jairzinho in 1970 – perfect. Still the greatest image in English football, lifting the Cup in ’66.
• Zinedine Zindane – The Artist – When the game was frantic, he brought calm. That first touch, that roulette, and that left foot. Big games were his games. A beautiful player to watch.

As for my World XI (4-3-3)

• Goal: Lev Yashin
• Defenders: Paolo Maldini, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore (c), Marcos Cafu
• Midfield: Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zindane
• Attackers: Edson Pelé, George Best, Lionel Messi
• My 7 Subs: Gordon Banks, Philipp Lahm, Franco Baresi, Roy Keane, Lothar Matthäus, Alfredo Di Stefano, Jimmy Greaves – that gives me cover for 2 in each line plus goal – Banks for goalie, Lahm/Baresi for defence, Keane/Matthäus for midfield, Di Stefano/Greaves for forward.
• My manager: Brian Clough – because he would make them all believe they were the best in the world, and then make sure they went out and proved it.