It’s fair to say that footballers are not known for their intelligence. In fact, the lack of intelligence of some players has become a subject of humor among many. You won’t be surprised to see, with the greatest respect, no Wayne Rooney or Gabriel Agbonlahor on this list. Although football players can often appear a bit gloomy, if the only time the public saw you was right after you ran around a field for 90 minutes, you might not seem as intelligent either. you wish. Additionally, the demanding nature of becoming a professional football player at the highest level means that players very rarely have the opportunity to reap the benefits of continuing education.
However, the tide of public opinion may be changing; Recent studies have shown that Premier League players are in the top 2% of the population in terms of cognitive brain function, even if they don’t perform as well on IQ tests. A number of players are now undergoing media training and, as such, should start to sound a little more eloquent in interviews in the future. In 2013, Paul McVeigh published a book titled “The Stupid Footballer is Dead: Insights into the Mind of a Professional Footballer” which looked into the demand of keen, quick thinking required on the pitch by a modern football player.
The late Socrates, who died in 2011, proved that there was such a thing as an intelligent footballer. The Brazilian legend may be slightly behind his Greek namesake in terms of intellectual ability, but the midfielder held a doctorate in medicine and practiced medicine after his retirement. Similarly, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has a master’s degree in economics and is often known for his studious nature. Here is a list of the 10 smartest players currently playing the game.
12 Honorable mention: Juan Mata
The Manchester United playmaker is known for his intelligence on the pitch, but few people know of his intelligence off it. The Spaniard plays the game intelligently, always finding space between the opposition lines and selecting precise, penetrating passes. However, before becoming a World Cup winner, Mata studied journalism in Madrid, making him a rare player capable of both making and writing headlines. Mata also has degrees in sports science and finance.
11 10. Ronaldo
Legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo is on this list due to his intention to come out of retirement to play for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers earlier this year. A three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, two-time Ballon d’Or winner and two-time World Cup winner, Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best players to ever play the sport. Outside of football, Ronaldo says he is grateful to have had the opportunity to do what he did, but believes he missed out on the opportunity to benefit from a well-rounded education. Therefore, in 2013 he moved to England to intern with Sir Martin Sorrell and become an advertising student. Ronaldo told an interviewer: “I have to immerse myself in something. Learning from Martin will be perfect. I won’t leave him alone, I will ask him questions all day, like a striker. He will have to tell me All.” We suspect that Ronaldo, who spent 12 years at Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan, may not have lived a typical student lifestyle in London.
ten 9. Romelu Lukaku
Everton’s $42 million summer signing from Chelsea is known for his power and direct approach to the game; with a strong left foot and dominating aerial ability. At just 21 years old, Lukaku was determined not to leave Belgium before graduating. The young striker was encouraged by his parents not to drop out of school despite being considered one of football’s hottest prospects. Lukaku eventually earned a degree in tourism and public relations. In addition to his academic qualifications, the Belgian can also speak five remarkable languages; English, Dutch, French, Congolese and Spanish.
9 8. Matthew Lawrence
It’s fair to say that Matthew Lawrence is not a blockbuster name in the world of football; the Englishman has spent most of his career in the divisions below the Premier League. The midfielder spent 16 years in the Football League, where he was an FA Cup finalist at Millwall, before moving back down to England’s non-league. Millwall were beaten in the FA Cup final, but as runners-up they were still able to play in Europe the following season. Lawrence is now 40 and still playing. He holds a degree in American literature. Lawrence has also written columns for English newspapers ‘The London Paper’ and ‘The Mirror’, and has worked as a pundit for ‘BBC London’, ‘Talksport’ and ‘5Live’.
8 7. Jean-Alain Boumsong
Currently a free agent, Jean-Alain Boumsong has 27 caps for the French team, and has played for Rangers, Newcastle, Juventus and Lyon. Some raised eyebrows when Newcastle paid $12 million for Boumsong, who was a free agent months earlier, and the move later became part of the Stevens investigation into football corruption. The Frenchman struggled in the Premier League and Juventus signed him for their Serie B season, before returning to France.
Boumsong trained as a doctor but never graduated and instead turned to mathematics, in which he received a degree.
7 6. Seyi Olofinjana
Seyi Olofinjana is currently plying his trade in Norway following his release by Sheffield Wednesday. The Nigerian played for Stoke City and Hull City in the Premier League, but failed to make an impression on either side. His best work was in the Championship for Cardiff City, scoring eight goals in 44 games during the 2006-07 season. Despite his dominating stature, Olofinjana was not a particularly tough tackler and is better known for his neat footwork and neat passing. He played 44 times for Nigeria between 2002 and 2010. He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering.
6 5. Simon Mignolet
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has faced criticism since joining the Merseyside club from Sunderland, but if his football career falters there is some comfort for Mignolet, who has a career to fall back on. The 26-year-old has degrees in law and political science and speaks four languages; English, French, Dutch and German. Mignolet moved from Sunderland to Liverpool for just under $14,000,000, but was criticized on Merseyside. He only managed to accumulate 14 caps for Belgium due to being second choice behind Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
5 4. Nedum Onuoha
Queens Park Rangers defender Nedum Onuoha was multi-talented as a youngster. Not only was he a talented junior sprinter and football player, but he also thrived in his academic studies. He ran the 100 meters in just 11.09 seconds at the age of 14 as a Manchester City youth player. He has 10 GCSEs, including 8 As and 2 Bs and at A level he achieved 3 As in Maths, Business Studies and ICT. Giving him the qualifications to attend almost any university in England, if he so chooses. Onuoha has played 95 times for champions Manchester City and made 74 appearances for current side QPR. He represented England 20 times at under-21 level but was never called up to the first team. In 2007 he rejected the opportunity to play for Nigeria, still hoping to play for England, but now 28 and on the fringes of a struggling QPR team, an England cap seems unlikely.
4 3. Yuto Nagatomo
Japanese football star Yuto Nagatomo has played for Italian giants Inter Milan since 2011 and is a regular starter for the team. He has 81 caps for Japan and participated in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. At the 2010 World Cup, Arsène Wenger chose Nagatomo for his “team of the tournament”. The 28-year-old can play at both left-back and on the left side of midfield and is known for his exceptional pace and ability to deliver quality crosses into the box. Nagatomo earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Doshisha University in western Japan. He has also written two books.
3 2. Dennis Bergkamp
Not only was he one of the best strikers of his era, but Dennis Bergkamp was also miles ahead of his peers in the brain department. Maybe he was seen as a shady player at the time because he was able to use his intelligence. While playing for Arsenal, Bergkamp completed a degree in medical engineering at the University of Bath. The “Non-Flying Dutchman”, as he was affectionately known due to his fear of flying, is currently assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax.
