Source: Daily_Mail
The Alternative List: Boffins pick their best British footballers to play abroad
THE LIST: Sportsmail's 30-21 of the best British footballers to play abroad[LNB]The Alternative List: Nos 40-31[LNB]The Alternative List: Nos 50-41[LNB] Sportsmail celebrates the top 50 Brits to have played abroad in ouralways entertaining, ever-controversial latest instalment of The List.[LNB]Don'tagree with our selection? Neither do the boffins at ChampionshipManager, who've selected their own roll call of excellence.[LNB]Read Nos 30-21 below and then compare it against our offering...[LNB]CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER'S BEST BRITS ABROAD - 30-2130 Michael Owen (Real Madrid)The 29-year-old striker was a key player for Liverpool until a contract dispute led to an £8m move to join the array of Galactico's at Real Madrid in August 2004. Owen spent most of his spell in Spain confined to the bench and drew criticism from fans and media for his form. He still had the best goals to minutes played ratio in the whole of the Madrid squad though. He scored 18 goals from 41 games, just 15 of which were starts. Just over a year later Owen joined Newcastle United for £16m which represented a great deal for Real Madrid.[LNB] All white: Michael Owen shields the ball from Barcelona's Giovanni van Bronckhorst[LNB]Check out the Championship Manager website, by logging on to: www.championshipmanager.co.uk[LNB]29 Paul Rideout (Bari)Played with Italian side Bari with his former Villa teammate Gordon Cowans, scoring an impressive 23 goals in 99 appearances. Probably best known for scoring in Everton's 1-0 win over Manchester United in the 1995 FA Cup Final.[LNB]28 Alan McInally (Bayern Munich)Signed from Aston Villa, the big powerful centre forward had a three year spell with Bayern Munich, scoring 10 goals in 40 games. He helped them win the German league title in his first season in 1989.[LNB]27 Denis Law (Torino)Left Manchester City to join Torino in 1961; however his time there wasn't a bed of Roses, despite scoring 10 goals in 27 games. He failed to get on with the life style, as well as the Torino coach and after a fall out flew back to the UK. He went on to Join Manchester United for a record fee at the time of £115,000. [LNB] Great escape: Denis Law (right) was in a car crash in 1962 with Torino team-mate Joe Baker (left) when their vehicle apparently went the wrong way around a roundabout [LNB]Earning his stripes: Jimmy Greaves scores on his AC Milan debut against Brazilian side Botafogo[LNB]26 Jimmy Greaves (AC Milan)After refusing a huge offer from Newcastle United, Jimmy Greaves joined the Italian side AC Milan from Chelsea for a brief spell in 1961, scoring a total of nine goals in 12 games. Greaves was unable to settle in Italy and made his way back to England, signing for Tottenham and is today considered one of the best players in the history of the club.[LNB]25 Trevor Steven (Marseille)Established himself as a highly regarded right-sided midfielder with Everton and Rangers. In 1991, Steven moved for a massive £5.5m fee to Olympique Marseille, who at the time were a dominant force in France and European competitions. Steven stayed for one season at Marseille and enjoyed mixed success. Although the club won the French title, Steven struggled with injury and made only 28 appearances. This led to a cut-price move back to Rangers in 1992 where he again struggled with injury. Steven retired from playing in 1997.[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is the most successful British footballer to play abroad? David Beckham has finally extended his loan spell at Italian giants AC Milan after impressing during his short stay. The England international has also played at Real Madrid and LA Galaxy but where does he rank against other British stars to try their luck in Europe and beyond?[LNB][LNB]TELL US WHAT YOU THINK[LNB] 24 Gerry Hitchens (Inter Milan, Torino, Atalanta, Cagliari)A centre forward capped seven times for England, Hitchens played for Inter Milan, Torino, Atalanta and Cagliari during the 1960s scoring on a regular basis. He ended his career in the UK playing in the lower levels.[LNB]23 Vinny Samways (Las Palmas, Sevilla, Algerciras)Failed to settle at Everton after leaving Spurs he joined Spanish side Las Palmas where he played for six seasons and became captain. The left footed midfielder also had spells at Sevilla and Algerciras and retired in 2005.[LNB]22 Laurie Cunningham (Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano)One of the most talented footballers of his generation, Laurie Cunningham didn't quite hit the mark at Real Madrid after they paid West Brom almost a million pounds for his services. He went on to play for a number of other foreign clubs, making a brief return to Wimbledon where he played as a sub in the 1988 Cup final. He then joined Rayo Vallecano before he died in a car crash in July 1989.[LNB] Laurie Cunningham feels the force of a challenge from Liverpool's Graeme Souness while turning out for Real Madrid in the 1981 European Cup Final, which the English team won 1-0[LNB]21 George Best (LA Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale San Jose)After 11 years at Manchester United, followed by a brief spell at Fulham, he moved to America in 1976 and had a varied level of success. Best scored 15 goals in 24 games for the Los Angeles Aztecs and was named the NASL's best midfielder in his 2nd season. He then moved to Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes but they were both unhappy spells as his off-field demons began to take control of his life. In late 1982, the 36 year old Best returned to England and signed for AFC Bournemouth.[LNB][LNB][LNB] Check out the Championship Manager website, by logging on to: www.championshipmanager.co.uk[LNB]
