The Nicknames
Some great ones here. Our favourites ? Well you cant go far wrong with 'the Butcher of Bilbao' or 'Mad Dog' to be honest, both of which are absolutely spot on descriptions.
All Nicknames
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Afro-Paule | Paul Breitner | |
| the | Artful Dodger | Alan Wiley |
| Attila | Mark Hateley | |
| Axl | Claudio Caniggia | |
| the | Baby-Faced Assasin | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer |
| the | Bank of Naples (O'Banco e' Napule) | Hans Jeppson |
| Batigol | Gabriel Batistuta | |
| Beauty of the Night (Bello di Notte) | Zbigniew Boniek | |
| the | Beast (El Bestia) | Miguel Angel Nadal |
| the | Beast | Giles de Bilde |
| the | Beaver (El Castor) | Daniel Fonseca |
| the | Belfast Boy | George Best |
| the | Berliner Beer (der Berliner Beer) | Erich Beer |
| Bertie Bassett | Alan Harper | |
| Big Eck | Alex McLeish | |
| Big Phil | Phil Scolari | |
| Big Sam | Sam Allardyce | |
| the | Bird (El Pajaro) | Claudio Caniggia |
| the | Black Gazelle (Gacela Negra) | Faustino Asprilla |
| the | Black Pearl | Eusebio |
| the | Black Tulip | Ruud Gullit |
| the | Blind One | Juan Carlos Oblitas |
| the | Blond Angel | Bernd Schuster |
| the | Blond Arrow (Saeta Rubia) | Alfredo Di Stefano |
| Bob | Giles de Bilde | |
| Mr | Bojangles | Ron Atkinson |
| the | Booming Canon (Canoncito Pum) | Ferenc Puskas |
| Bouncy | Alan Ball | |
| the | Bulldozer | Adriano |
| the | Busby Bomber | Drew Busby |
| Bunny | Robert Bell | |
| Butch | Ray Wilkins | |
| the | Butcher of Bilbao | Andoni Goicoechea |
| the | Cannon | Eder |
| the | Cannon (het Kanon) | Evert Pluim |
| the | Cat (Die Katze) | Sepp Maier |
| the | Chubby One (El Pocho) | Ezequiel Lavezzi |
| the | Cue (de Keu) | Eddie Achterberg |
| Chieftain Silver Curl (Hauptling Silberlocke) | Jupp Derwall | |
| Chris | Kiki Musampa | |
| the | Claw | Alan Birchenall's Left Foot |
| Colin | Neil Warnock | |
| the | Contortionist (het Slangenmens) | Rob Rensenbrink |
| Crazy Horse | Emlyn Hughes | |
| the | Curve (De Kromme) | Willem Van Hanegem |
| Dave | Patrick Agyemang | |
| Dave | Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu | |
| the | Devil (El Diablo) | Nery Castillo |
| the | Divine Ponytail | Roberto Baggio |
| the | Doll (El Muneco) | Marcelo Gallardo |
| Dumbo (Dombo) | Edwin van der Sar | |
| the | Elephant Man | Davie Dodds |
| the | Emperor (Imperador) | Adriano |
| the | Fifth Beatle | George Best |
| Flappy (Flappie) | Edwin van der Sar | |
| the | Galloping Major | Ferenc Puskas |
| the | Gardener | Julio Cruz |
| the | Genius | Dejan Savicevic |
| the | Gentle Giant | John Charles |
| the | Gnome (de Kabouter) | Arie Obdam |
| the | Gov'nor | Paul Ince |
| the | Green Angel (L'Ange Vert) | Dominque Rocheteau |
| the | Grumbler from Kerkrade (Knurrer von Kerkrade) | Huub Stevens |
| the | Gypsy (Le Gitan) | Attila Ladynski |
| the | Hammer of the Hibees | John Robertson |
| the | Hatchet | Ruben Navarro |
| the | Header Beast (das Kopfball Ungeheuer) | Horst Hrubesch |
| Herman | Ruud Krol | |
| the | Horseman of the Pitch (El Caballero de la Cancha) | Emilio Butragueno |
| Jinky | Jimmy Johnstone | |
| der | Kaiser | Franz Beckenbauer |
| the | King (O Rei) | Pele |
| the | Knot (de Knoest) | Dick Tol |
| the | Lamp Post (de Lantaarnpaal) | John van Loen |
| the | Lighthouse (de Vuurtoren) | John van Loen |
| Little Brother (Ocsi) | Ferenc Puskas | |
| Little Buddha | Ivan de la Pena | |
| the | Little Donkey (El Burrito) | Ariel Ortega |
| Little Mozart | Tomas Rosicky | |
| the | Little Witch (La Brujita) | Juan Sebastian Veron |
| El | Loco (The Crazy One) | Ramon Quiroga |
| the | Lord of all Indoors | Steve Zungul |
| Mad Dog | Martin Allen | |
| Mad Dog | Emanuel Pogatetz | |
| the | Magic Man | Jim Magilton |
| the | Magician | Milko Djurovski |
| the | Magician | Stanley Matthews |
| Mogga | Tony Mowbray | |
| Monument (Monumento) | Dino Zoff | |
| Mooncat | Alan Harper | |
| the | Mortar of Rufino (El Mortero de Rufino) | Bernabe Ferreyra |
| the | Mosquitio | Erik Mykland |
| the | Moston Menace | Ishmael Miller |
| Nail | Wim Jonk | |
| the | Nail (De Spijker) | Adri van Tiggelen |
| the | Naughty Boy (De Ket) | Giles de Bilde |
| Needle (Spillo) | Alessandro Altobelli | |
| the | Non-Flying Dutchman | Dennis Bergkamp |
| Norm | Mark Crossley | |
| Norris | Lee Bowyer | |
| the | Oracle of Betondorp (Het Oracle van Betondorp) | Johan Cruyff |
| Patrick Swayze | Arjan de Zeeuw | |
| Peter Useless | Peter Eustace (only whilst manager) | |
| the | Phantom (Das Phantom) | Roy Makaay |
| Pichichi | Rafael Moreno | |
| the | Pitbull (De Pitbull) | Edgar Davids |
| Pixy | Dragan Stojkovic | |
| the | Philosopher of Football | Jorge Valdano |
| the | President (Le President) | Laurent Blanc |
| the | Preston Plumber | Tom Finney |
| the | Prince (Le Prince, El Principe) | Enzo Francescoli |
| the | Raincoat (De Regenjas) | Thijs Libregts |
| Rat | Antoon Verlegh | |
| Saint Marco (San Marco) | Marco van Basten | |
| the | Sandman | Dave Bassett |
| the | Saviour (De Verlosser) | Johan Cruyff |
| the | Shaven One (El Pelado) | Ivan de la Pena |
| Slicks | Michael Reiziger | |
| the | Small Prince (Le Petit Prince) | Franky Vercauteren |
| the | Son of the Wind (El Hijo del Viento) | Claudio Caniggia |
| the | Special One | Jose Mourinho |
| Sugar-Ray Achterberg | Eddie Achterberg | |
| Sugarmac | Malcom McDonald | |
| the | Tank (El Tanque) | Eduardo Hurtado |
| the | Tank (De Tank) | Theo Laseroms |
| Tarzan | Carlos Puyol | |
| Tarzan | Migueli | |
| the | Terminator (De Terminator) | Robert Molenaar |
| the | Tinker Man | Claudio Ranieri |
| Tin Man | Ted McMinn | |
| Trigger | Jason McAteer | |
| Twinpack (Doppelpack) | Toni Polster | |
| the | Uncle | Ryan Babel |
| the | Vacuum Cleaner (Stofzuiger) | Willy van der Kerkhof |
| Village | Jonathan Woodgate | |
| Vince the Prince | Vincent Kompany | |
| Vindaloo | Bernt Haas | |
| the | Vulture (El Buitre) | Emilio Butragueno |
| the | White Feather | Fabrizio Ravanelli |
| the | White Pele | Tostao |
| the | White Pele | Zico |
| the | Wild Animal (La Fiera) | Bernabe Ferreyra |
| the | Witch (La Bruja) | Juan Ramon Veron |
| the | Wizard of Dribble | Stanley Matthews |
| Wolfie | Wolfgang Wolf | |
| the | Wolfman (Tunyo) | Trifon Ivanov |
Austria
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Doppelpack (Twinpack) | Toni Polster |
Argentina
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| La | Bruja (the Witch) | Juan Ramon Veron |
| La | Brujita (the Little Witch) | Juan Sebastian Veron |
| El | Burrito (the Little Donkey) | Ariel Ortega |
| La | Fiera (the Wild Animal) | Bernabe Ferreyra |
| El | Mortero de Rufino (the Mortar of Rufino) | Bernabe Ferreyra |
| El | Muneco (the Doll) | Marcelo Gallardo |
| El | Pocho (the Chubby One) | Ezequiel Lavezzi |
Belgium
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Le | Gitan (the Gypsy) | Attila Ladynski |
| Le | Petit Prince (the Small Prince) | Franky Vercauteren |
Brazil
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Imperador (Emperor) | Adriano |
Colombia
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Gacela Negra (Black Gazelle) | Faustino Asprilla |
France
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Le | President (the President) | Laurent Blanc |
| Le | Prince (the Prince) | Enzo Francescoli |
Germany
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Afro-Paule | Paul Breitner | |
| Der | Berliner Beer (the Berliner Beer) | Erich Beer |
| Doppelpack (Twinpack) | Toni Polster | |
| Hauptling Silberlocke (Chieftain Silver Curl) | Jupp Derwall | |
| Die | Katze (the Cat) | Sepp Maier |
| Knurrer von Kerkrade (the Grumbler from Kerkrade) | Huub Stevens | |
| Das | Kopfball Ungeheuer (the Header Beast) | Horst Hrubesch |
| Das | Phantom (the Phantom) | Roy Makaay |
Netherlands
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| De | Keu (the Cue) | Eddie Achterberg |
| Dombo (Dumbo) | Edwin van der Sar | |
| Flappie (Flappy) | Edwin van der Sar | |
| Herman | Ruud Krol | |
| De | Lantaarnpaal (the Lamp Post) | John van Loen |
| De | Kabouter (the Gnome) | Arie Obdam |
| Het | Kanon (the Cannon) | Evert Pluim |
| De | Ket (Naughty Boy) | Giles de Bilde |
| De | Knoest (the Knot) | Dick Tol |
| De | Kromme (the Curve) | Willem Van Hanegem |
| The | Non-Flying Dutchman | Dennis Bergkamp |
| The | Oracle van Betondorp (the Oracle of Betondorp) | Johan Cruyff |
| Das | Phantom (the Phantom) | Roy Makaay |
| De | Pitbull (the Pitbull) | Edgar Davids |
| De | Regenjas (the Raincoat) | Thijs Libregts |
| San Marco (Saint Marco) | Marco van Basten | |
| Het | Slangenmens (the Contortionist) | Rob Rensenbrink |
| Slicks | Michael Reiziger | |
| De | Spijker (the Nail) | Adri van Tiggelen |
| De | Spijker (the Nail) | Wim Jonk |
| De | Stofzuiger (the Vacuum Cleaner) | Willy van der Kerkhof |
| Sugar-Ray Achterberg | Eddie Achterberg | |
| De | Tank (the Tank) | Theo Laseroms |
| De | Terminator (the Terminator) | Robert Molenaar |
| De | Verlosser (the Saviour) | Johan Cruyff |
| De | Vuurtoren (the Lighthouse) | John van Loen |
Hungary
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| the | Booming Canon (Canoncito Pum) | Ferenc Puskas |
| the | Gypsy (le Gitan) | Attila Ladynski |
| Little Brother (Ocsi) | Ferenc Puskas | |
| the | Galloping Major | Ferenc Puskas |
Italy
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| O' | Banco e' Napule (the bank of Naples) | Hans Jeppson |
| Bello di Notte (Beauty of the Night) | Zbigniew Boniek | |
| El | Burrito (the Little Donkey) | Ariel Ortega |
| La | Farfalla Granata (the Butterfly of Granata) | Luigi Meroni |
| Monumento (Monument) | Dino Zoff | |
| Penna Bianca (the White Feather) | Fabrizio Ravanelli | |
| El | Pocho (the Chubby One) | Ezequiel Lavezzi |
| Spillo (Needle) | Alessandro Altobelli | |
| San Marco (Saint Marco) | Marco van Basten |
Spain
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Afro-Paule | Paul Breitner | |
| El | Angel Rubio (the Blond Angel) | Bernd Schuster |
| El | Bestia (the Beast) | Miguel Angel Nadal |
| Budita (Little Buddha) | Ivan de la Pena | |
| El | Buitre (the Vulture) | Emilio Butragueno |
| El | Caballero de la Cancha (the Horseman of the Pitch) | Emilio Butragueno |
| Canoncito Pum (the Booming Canon) | Ferenc Puskas | |
| El | Carnicero de Bilbao (the Butcher of Bilbao) | Andoni Goicoechea |
| Don Bernardo | Bernd Schuster | |
| El | Filosofo (the Philosopher) | Jorge Valdano |
| El | Gigante de Alonsotegui (Alonsotegui's Giant) | Andoni Goicoechea |
| El | Lobo (the Wolf) | Trifon Ivanov |
| El | Mayor Galopante (the Galloping Major) | Ferenc Puskas |
| El | Nibelungo | Bernd Schuster |
| El | Pelado (the Shaven One) | Ivan de la Pena |
| Pichichi | Rafael Moreno | |
| El | Pitbull | Edgar Davids |
| Saeta Rubia (the Blond Arrow) | Alfredo Di Stefano | |
| Tarzan | Carlos Puyol | |
| Tarzan | Migueli |
Sweden
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Hasse Guldfot (Hasse Goldenfoot) | Hans "Hasse" Jeppson |
Uruguay
| Nickname | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| El | Principe (the Prince) | Enzo Francescoli |