It’s only natural that a nation with such a strong link to football would have produced so many great players. For all that quality, however, England have only ever had one World Cup-winning side.

Perhaps a key issue is that, for all the talent the country has seen, not enough of those special players have been able to translate club form into performances with the Three Lions. The Golden Generation, for example, had Premier League legends such as Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, but the trio failed to gel on a regular basis when lining up together for England.

In the modern era, star names like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are examples of massively talented players who haven’t even made it into Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Before all those names, though, there was Glenn Hoddle. One of the finest midfielders the country has ever produced, and yet he believes he barely ever got the chance to play in his best position.

Glenn Hoddle: ‘I Would Been Treated Better if Was Dutch, French or Spanish’

Hoddle managed 53 caps for England, scoring eight times. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, he revealed how he was held back due to his reputation as a ‘luxury player’ in an era defined by intense physicality and long-ball football.

Hoddle recalled: “I had a strong belief in my ability. I had a lot of stubbornness. I was very shy but, when it came to football, I had to do what was natural. If people didn’t understand me, so be it.

Perhaps if Hoddle has been played in the number 10 position more often, England could have achieved more. After all, in his one and only match in that role, he scored and created two other goals against Hungary in 1983.

Hoddle Felt ‘Suffocated’ by England’s Rigid 4-4-2 System

Hoddle would play at two World Cups, with a quarter-final defeat to Argentina in 1986 the furthest he made it with the Three Lions. In his autobiography, ‘Playmaker’, the former England player and manager explained his frustration as he was forced to play a midfield role in a 4-4-2 set-up, which had no space for him to operate as a number 10.

He claimed he felt “suffocated” playing for England, noting “we were painfully small-minded and it took us an eternity to change”. Speaking to the Guardian, he added:

He felt that he played in the wrong era, or at least for the wrong country, adding: “People used to say: ‘You should have got more than 53 caps,’ and my answer was always pretty bland and steadfast: ‘I’m proud of the 53 I got.’

“But, deep down, I knew I was a continental player. You either give in, and go against your instincts, or you fight it.”

Everton are putting plans in place for another important summer transfer window, with some hope that the team could push for a return to Europe in the near future.

The Toffees have survived their days of Premier League relegation concerns, with the previous campaign seeing the side push for a place in continental competition once again.

Despite coming close on a few occasions, they ultimately missed out, as frustrations grew over the inconsistency that was present during key moments of the season.

This summer comes with the aim of strengthening the Everton squad with a mixture of quality for the short-term and promising players for the long-term.

Looking towards those with instant quality, Moyes is now pushing for the club to make a bid for a former player of his.

Everton Eye Jarrod Bowen Bid

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Everton boss Moyes is pushing to sign Jarrod Bowen this summer, which would see him reunite with the forward after their time together at West Ham.

It’s claimed that the head coach is pushing for the hierarchy to make a bid for the 29-year-old, with a £20 million offer being plotted for the winger.

Bowen is believed to be the first-choice option for Moyes, with interest sparked in Iliman Ndiaye this summer from rival clubs in the Premier League.

The England international may be available following West Ham’s relegation from the top tier, with the club needing to raise money via sales over the course of the summer transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether that £20 million offer would be enough to tempt the Hammers to part ways with their captain, who has another four years left on his current deal.

However, it could setup a reunion with Moyes for a player he knows how to get the most out of.

Moyes And Bowen Record

It’s clear to see why Moyes would be keen to bring Bowen to Merseyside, having already worked extensively with the star to make him the player he is today.

The forward played 202 times under the head coach, scoring 60 goals and assisting 41 times, popping up with a goal involvement every other game.

None will perhaps be as important as the Conference-League-winning goal that was scored by Bowen, helping to seal him and the manager in immortality at West Ham.

Moyes has described Bowen as a “special player” in the past, and for good reason too. Whether that would work out for him at Everton is unclear, though.

There may be concerns over the age profile and the potential cost to land someone who is entering the latter end of their peak years in football.

However, the trade-off for instant quality may be a risk Moyes is willing to take.

Love him or hate him, Roy Keane ranks among the finest midfielders the Premier League has ever seen. Winning the English top flight seven times with Manchester United, as well as the Champions League in 1999, the Irishman was and remains a hugely important figure at Old Trafford.

His fiery personality on the pitch has translated into his reputation as a pundit in retirement, as he often makes headlines with his withering comments about those who do not please or impress him. His unwillingness to bite his tongue has frequently got Keane into trouble over the years, famously costing him a place in the Ireland World Cup team in 2002, as he left Saipan early after a heated disagreement with manager Mick McCarthy.

Another example came in 2005 when he fell out with Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson, leading to his exit after 12 years with the Red Devils. Despite that clash, Keane has still named the Scottish coach among the most important footballing figures in his career.

Roy Keane Praises Brian Clough, Jack Charlton and Diego Maradona

Working as a pundit for ITV covering the 2026 World Cup, Keane was asked to name his ‘football Mount Rushmore’. Picking four men who influenced him the most, he first brought up Diego Maradona, explaining how he loved watching the Argentine legend when he was younger.

His second pick was Brian Clough, who gave him his big ‘break’ in football, having signed him for Nottingham Forest from Cork club Cobh Ramblers in 1990. Keane noted how the iconic British manager gave him the ‘opportunity to go to England and have a career.’

His third pick was Jack Charlton, the man who gave Keane his first international caps and played him in every Ireland game at the 1994 World Cup. Despite that, the pair often clashed, but the pundit admitted, “I was a bit young to maybe appreciate Jack’s messages,” as he recalled working with the influential Englishman.

Finally, he accepted that Ferguson had obviously played a huge role in his career, signing him for Man Utd and making him captain as they won 12 major honours together, not counting three community shileds and the Intercontinental Cup. Speaking about the decision to include his old boss, Keane said:

Keane’s Infamous Man Utd Clash With Ferguson

Keane’s infamous fall out with Ferguson occured in 2005 after a 4-1 loss to Middlesbrough. The club captained tore into his teammated during an MUTV interview, calling out the likes of Edwin van der Sar, John O’Shea, Darren Fletcher, Kieran Richardson, Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand. On the latter, he said:

“I have seen that happen to Rio before [after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink robbed Ferdinand for the second goal]. It is poor defending. Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham you think you are a superstar.”

Keane’s opinions were described by those present at the interview as “explosive even by his standards” and the interview was pulled before it aired to the public. Ferguson was furious, and this was the beginning of the end for his captain, who departed after another falling out just two weeks later.

Referring to the MUTV interview, Ferguson later recalled: “It was unbelievable. He slaughtered everyone. Darren Fletcher got it. Alan Smith. Van der Sar. Roy was taking them all down.

“The hardest part of Roy’s body is his tongue. He has the most savage tongue you can imagine.”

While it didn’t end in harmony, Keane’s time at Man United was essentially a huge success, and it’s good to know that, despite their fractious past, the Irishman does recognise the role Ferguson played in taking him to the top of English football.