Brits Abroad - Memorable Players To Play Overseas - Football News

So Gareth Bale looks finally set to make his record breaking move from Spurs to Real Madrid. A big step, a step that few Brits ever make. The number of British players to ply their trade abroad are relatively low in comparison to the influx of foreign players in the Premier League but who made it and who didn't? We take a look at a few British names who packed up their boots and passports in a mission to conquer foreign shores...

Playing 116 games over 4 years Beckham's time in Madrid has to be deemed a success. Wherever Becks went in his career the success off the pitch was inevitable and that was no different in Spain. The man was loved all over La Liga and that was in no small part down to the media and his ability to manipulate and embrace it. Becks is a media darling, and Marca loved him for it. Señor Bale, take note...

Michael Owen wasn't exactly a huge success at Real Madrid. Yes he did manage a fairly decent goal ratio when he played netting 13 times in 36 games, but wishing he was back in England, coupled with injuries and a lack of chances played a massive part in the forward’s failure to make it in the Spanish Capital. It was all downhill for Owen after his Bernabeu departure, injuries relegation and a whole lot of bench warming followed.



Few English players seem to last very long abroad, and even the successful ones seem to spend a couple of seasons away and then come back to the Premier League, and Gazza was no exception here. Gascoigne played 47 games for Lazio and netted six times, yet only managed a couple of seasons with the Serie A side before hurrying back to Britain to play for Scottish side Rangers. Media interest and injury were a massive problem for Gazza and, unfortunately, it was a sign of things to come.



Joe Cole had a successful spell at Lille, he was massively loved by the fans but never managed to speak any more than 5 words of French. Lille provided Cole with a chance to actually play football – something that had not been available to him during his time with Liverpool. After making 27 appearances, during which he scored four goals and made three assists, Cole showed he still had plenty to give. Manager Rudi Garcia wanted to keep Cole at the club, but due to his form, new Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers demanded Cole rejoin Liverpool.



Another of our English successes abroad turned out to be Gary Lineker who did the nation proud. After scoring 21 times in 41 games during his first season, the now match of the day presenter even managed to score a hattrick against bitter rivals Real Madrid, ensuring Barcelona fans adored him. Rather than doing the typical English thing of shouting louder and pointing at things angrily Lineker actually learned a bit of the language which no doubt helped him settle.



Ian Rush became yet another Brit abroad in the late 80s after spending a season at Juventus. Quite if it was down to the tighter, meaner defences in Italy or a failure to settle in at the Turin side, Rush only managed to net 8 goals in 29 games. Add to this totally failing to settle, remarking it was like living in a foreign country, a move back to Anfield was hardly a shock for anyone concerned.



Jonathan Woodgate settled in well at Real Madrid, learnt the language and was popular in the dressing room. Despite not making a single appearance during the 2004-2005 season, the defender managed to make 14 appearances eventually before being told to leave. Woodgate will forever be remembered in Spain for being one of the worst foreign imports ever for Real Madrid. On his debut he scored an O.G and got sent off... Start as you mean to go on Johnny boy...



Paul Ince showed the Italians how it can be done and spent two years at Inter Milan, impressing enough to be offered a new, extended contract by president Massimo Moratti, yet turning it down to return to English shores with Liverpool, a trend adopted by many Brits that venture away from the Premier League. A success, yes, but a legend, no, he would have had to stay longer than a couple of seasons to earn that status.



McManaman became only the second English player ever to make the move to the Spanish capital and enjoyed huge success at the club, winning La Liga titles and also a Champions League – being the only English player to do so with a foreign club. ‘El Macca’ managed to last from 1999-2003 at the club, and given their Galacticos policy and managerial merry go round at the time, proved to be a massive success and hit with fans, players and the media alike. 



Surprisingly, one of the Premier League bad boys turned philosopher Joey Barton did well in Ligue 1 and made much more of a positive impression than during his time in England. Perhaps his reputation in England made it too difficult for Barton to impress or win over fans and the media, yet in France, he had no such problem, becoming an integral part of the Marseilles side he joined, providing both a few goals and assists.

Other honourable Brits who enjoyed success abroad: John Charles, Kevin Keegan, Chris Waddle, David Platt, Graeme Souness, Paul Lambert. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.