30th October – Footballing Birthdays
One of the greatest footballers of all time celebrates a heavenly birthday today. Diego Maradona, who passed away in November 2020 would be celebrating his 64th birthday.
The Argentine won the World Cup with his country back in 1986 and won a total of 91 caps, scoring 34 goals. He played his club football in his home country for Boca Juniors (twice) and for Newell’s Old Boys, but also spent eleven years in Europe where he played for Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla.
Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff turns 27 today. The midfielder has made six Premier League appearances so far this season and has played 190 times for the Toon Army since 2016/17.
Ashley Barnes is 35-years-old today. He currently plays for Norwich City where he scored seven goals in his debut season at the club.
Barnes spent the majority of his career at Burnley, where he spent ten seasons at the Lancashire club before making the move to The Canaries in July 2023.
Stern John is 48 today. The former striker played in all three of Trinidad & Tobago’s three games at the 2006 World Cup in Germany after playing a huge part in getting his country to their first (and so far only) World Cup.
John moved to England in 1999 from MLS side Columbus Crew when he signed for Nottingham Forest. After three years at the City Ground, the striker spent the next eight years of his career at seven different English clubs before moving back to Trinidad and Tobago. He is currently managing the Saint Lucia national team.
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