Some sportsmen and women just endure; rather than fade out into obscurity when their career ends, they instead remain in the forefront of popular culture; a byword for their sport and legends in their own right.
Sometimes what earns them that status is simply skill – the best and brightest of any sport are sure to go down in the history books and be talked about for decades to come. In other instances it’s more to do with their charisma and personality – quirky and entertaining sportsmen and women sometimes remain famous despite having only average talents because of their characterful performances.
And in yet other instances, it’s about what they’ve done since their retirement. A footballer who’s quietly running a restaurant or a property portfolio will probably drop off the radar, but a former sports star who’s writing a newspaper column or acting as a pundit will garner much more attention.
We’ve got lots of sports stars on our books here at celebrity agency MN2S hailing from every sport imaginable and every decade you could desire. Pique your audience’s nostalgia and book a celebrity speaker who’s now a sporting legend.
Keep reading to find out more about some of the characters on our roster:
One of football’s most recognisable names, Keegan has played for many of the Premier League’s top clubs across the UK and in later years also became one of Britain’s most respected coaches.
In a long career, Kevin played 594 games of professional football and scored 204 times – it’s a statistic which makes it clear why he was so indispensable, both to his sides in the UK and to the national team, which he played 63 games for, scoring 21 goals.
Since quitting the game he has turned to management, managing top flight teams including Manchester City, Fulham and Newcastle. He also had a stint as the England manager starting in 1999, during which time the team saw significant success.
More recently, Keegan has become one of the foremost football commentators in the country, appearing on ESPN, ITV and Al Jazeera.
Ian Botham
Cricket being a more niche sport than football or rugby, fewer players are household names – one who certainly is bowler Ian Botham, who’s been in the spotlight since he first started playing in the 1970s.
One of the most successful English cricketers of all time, his crowning glory came during the 1981 Ashes test match at Headingley, when England unexpectedly came from behind to claim victory over Australia, in no small part thanks to Botham.
Since his heyday, Botham has continued to work as a pundit and commentator, most famously on Sky TV.
Famous in the sporting world for very different reasons to our other two celebrities, Dickie Bird is probably this country’s most famous sporting official.
Barnsley born and bred, he was an international cricket umpire and has officiated 66 Test matches, 69 one day internationals and three World Cups in his time; at one time this was a world record, though it has since been broken.
It was his wit and character that earned him an international reputation, as well as his skill and the long career he enjoyed. Since retiring in 1996, he has also penned a hugely successful autobiography about his time in the game, which sold more than a million copies and cemented his place as a national treasure and a true sporting legend.
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All three of the legends that we’ve looked at in this article are unique individuals who bring different qualities to the table and who will appeal to aficionados of their respective sports – what they all have in common is a rare star quality that’s sure to be a real draw if you book them for your next event.
Sporting legends have an across-the-board appeal – from die hard sports lovers to fair-weather fans – and they’re sure to add a little je ne sais quoi to your next event, whether a sporting dinner or a charity ball.
If these gentlemen aren’t quite what you’re looking for then never fear; we’ve got plenty of sports stars young and old on our books, as well as comedians, actors and more besides. Get in touch to let us help you to find the best after dinner speakers for your event.