In our Talent Profiles series, we shine a light on some of the most talented names that MN2S has worked with. This week, we’re spotlighting four footballing talents renowned for their skill on the pitch.
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is a professional football manager and former player who was born on December 1, 1948 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. He began his playing career as a defender in the lower divisions of English football before retiring in 1979. After retiring as a player, Warnock entered management with non-league Scarborough. He then went on to have stints at several other clubs, including Notts County, Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle, and Oldham Athletic.
Warnock’s breakthrough as a manager came in the late 1990s with his time at Bury, where he led the club to promotion to the second tier of English football. He has since managed a number of other clubs, including Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, and Crystal Palace, and has a reputation for being able to achieve success with teams in the lower divisions of English football. In addition to his club management career, Warnock has also had stints as a coach with the England national team and the Welsh national team. He is known for his no-nonsense approach to management and his ability to get the best out of his players. Despite his sometimes controversial style, Warnock has achieved a great deal of success as a manager and is respected by many in the footballing community.
Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan is a professional football player who currently plays as a forward for the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She is considered one of the best female football players in the world, having won numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. Morgan was born on July 2, 1989 in San Dimas, California. She played soccer at Diamond Bar High School and later attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she played for the school’s football team. After college, Morgan was drafted by the Western New York Flash in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) draft. She played for the Flash for one season before the team folded.
In 2012, Morgan joined the Portland Thorns FC, a team in the newly-formed NWSL. She played for the Thorns for two seasons before being traded to the Orlando Pride in 2015. With the Pride, Morgan has continued to excel, scoring numerous goals and helping lead the team to the NWSL playoffs. In addition to her club career, Morgan has also had a successful international career with the US national team. She has made over 170 appearances for the USWNT and has scored over 100 goals, making her one of the team’s all-time leading scorers. She has won numerous titles with the national team, including the 2015 Women’s World Cup and the 2012 and 2020 Olympic gold medals.
John Barnes
John Barnes MBE is often referred to as one of the most talented English players ever to step on the football pitch. During his illustrious footballing career, he played for Watford, Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United, having particular success with Liverpool FC, with whom he won the FA Cup twice, scoring 106 goals in 403 matches. He was also a key member of the international squad: by the time of his last appearance for England, he had played more times than any other black player in history. Since retiring from professional football, Barnes found success as a pundit on ITV, Five and LFC TV, making appearances in several television shows and taking part in Celebrity Big Brother.
Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist is a former footballer who has gone on to become widely recognized for his work as a manager and pundit. As one of the sport’s most successful Scottish players, he became the Rangers record goalscorer and helped them win nine successive league championships in the ’80s and ’90s. McCoist has also had a successful mediacareer, acting as team captain on BBC sports quiz A Question of Sport, before appearing as a pundit on ITV Sport, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video’s premiere league coverage.