paul elliott

Paul Elliott CBE is an English former footballer and long-term anti-discrimination campaigner. Theformer Chelsea defender played a major part in the “Kick It Out” campaign during Euro 2008, and has been awarded an MBE for his services to anti-racism initiatives and youth football, and a CBE for his services to equality and diversity in football.

Born in London, Elliott’s playing career began at Charlton Athletic in the early 1980s before a move to Luton Town in 1983. In the following years he gained experience playing for Aston Villa, Italian side Pisa and Celtic, where he was awarded the Scottish Footballer of the Year award. After making a name for himself as a cultured, skilful centre-half, he was snapped up by Chelsea for £1,400,000, and Elliott became Chelsea’s first black skipper after manager Ian Porterfield gave him the captain’s armband when Andy Townsend was injured.

Elliott’s playing career was still on the rise when it was tragically cut short by a serious knee injury after a challenge by Liverpool’s Dean Saunders.Elliott moved on from tackling centre-forwards with great expertise to tackling racism around Europe, advising the UEFA and the European Parliament on the best methods to tackle prejudice. His tireless campaigning and involvement with young players resulted in Elliott’s appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2003, followed by the honour of becoming aCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours list.