In the passionate, fast paced world of modern football, bookings are common sights in great matches. As football officiating becomes stricter, especially in the Premier League, it is no mean feat to play several games without being booked.
There are however, a few great players of international repute who were never booked throughout their career. See the list below:
- Willian Ralph “Dixie” Dean – (1923 – 1940)
Dean is an Evertonian legend and although he played for five clubs in total, he spent a majority of his professional career playing for the Merseyside club and scored a whopping 349 goals in 399 appearances wearing the Toffees’ shirt.
- William Ambrose “Billy” Wright – (1939 – 1959)
A one-club man for Wolverhampton Wanderers , Billy Wright holds the record for being the first ever footballer to have 100 caps with an international team.
He also holds the record for being the player who had the longest playing streak in international football. And another record for being the longest-serving captain the English national side have ever had: leading the team out 90 times including in three FIFA World Cup finals – 1950, 1954 and 1958.
- Sir Stanley Mathews(1932-1965)
He spent the majority of his career with Stoke City, he holds the honour of being the only footballers to have been knighted during his professional playing career.
He was still playing in the top division when he was 50! Sir Stan was also the first ever player to win the European Footballer of the Year award as well as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in the same year.
- Gary Lineker – (1978 – 1994)
The Match of the Day host played for the likes of Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham where he is considered a legend at all the clubs. Having gone through his entire career without earning a single booking, Lineker was honoured with the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1990.
- William Beveridge “Billy” Liddell – (1938 – 1961)
The legendary Scot was known world over for his strength, pace, control of the ball and his professionalism. Liddel was also famous for being nicknamed ‘Liddlepool’ given the kind of gentleman he was on the field and remains the only Liverpool player to have never received a booking throughout his playing career.