31st October – Footballing Birthdays
31st October is a frightfully good day (see what I did there!) for footballer’s birthdays. Here are a few names who are celebrating their big day:
Former Dutch international player and manager Marco van Basten celebrates his 60th birthday today. In his playing career, van Basten won the Ballon d’Or three times and was also the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992. He played for Ajax in his native Holland before moving to AC Milan in 1987 until he retired in 1995.
After his playing days were over, van Basten managed the Dutch national team before managing his old club Ajax then Heerenveen and for a very brief spell, AZ Alkmaar.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is 27 today. He has played in four major tournaments for England and won 60 caps, scoring 17 goals.
The England striker has won the FA Cup and League Cup twice with Manchester United and the Europa League back in 2016/17.
Another Manchester United birthday today as Denis Irwin turns 59. The former Republic of Ireland international spent the first seven years of his professional career at Leeds United and Oldham Athletic before moving to Old Trafford in 1990.
He went on to spend the next 12 years at United where he won every major honour in the game before seeing out the final two years of his career at Wolves.
Former Real Madrid and Besiktas midfielder Guti is 48 today. He spent fifteen years playing for Real Madrid, the club he joined as a boy, before spending a season at Besiktas where he played his last professional game.
Former Nantes striker Emiliano Sala celebrates a heavenly birthday today. He would have been 34 today.
Sala died in a plane crash when flying over to Wales where he was due to sign for Cardiff City on 21st January 2019.
Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga is 61 today. The former midfielder spent his playing career in his home country before moving to Italy, Germany and Japan.
Dunga coached the Brazil national team twice, first between 2006 and 2010 and later between 2014 and 2016.
Ian Walker celebrates his 52nd birthday today. Walker played for Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers and won four caps for England.
Barcelona’s Ansu Fati is 22 today. The Spanish international has only made five appearances for the Catalans this season and spent time on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion last season.
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