Thinking about booking a 90’s football star for your next event?

For 20 and 30-somethings now, the 90s is seen as a halcyon era of football, when times were simpler, England’s international team did better in competitions and the biggest worry on most youngsters’ minds was whether they could fill up their Merlin Premier League sticker album.

Manchester United dominated the premier league under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the lives of footballers (and their wives) were just starting to come under the unprecedented level of scrutiny that they now face, thanks to Posh and Becks.

Of course, it wasn’t all plain sailing – we also had some of the best pantomime villain’s football has ever seen, (thank you Klinsmann, Cantona and Simeone) and some of the most shockingly ugly kits that have ever graced the pitches!

All in all it was an era when football had a lot of character, and whatever else you can accuse it of, it was never dull. Retired footballers from the 1990s make brilliant celebrity speakers because of the nostalgia that they generate – among younger audiences they’re sure to prove quite a draw.

You could even hire a celebrity speaker who played football in the 1990s and organise a Q&A session after their speech; people love the opportunity to find out more about their favourite sports stars, especially those they remember from their youth.

Check out some of the ‘90s football legends on our books:

Peter Beardsley

During his time as a professional footballer, Peter Beardsley played for some of the UK’s biggest clubs and in some of its best sides. Over a 20 year career he played for Newcastle, Bolton Wanderers, Fulham, Manchester United, Carlisle, Hartlepool and of course, his beloved Liverpool.

In the ‘90s Beardsley played primarily for Newcastle and Everton; at the former he racked up 157 appearances and scored 56 goals, while at the latter he appeared 95 matches and scored 32 matches, not a bad rate for a midfielder.

During his career he achieved what was at the time, the highest transfer fee in the English game and played 659 league games, scoring 210 goals. A regular in the England team too, since retirement he has dabbled in management and coaching.

Jay Jay Okocha

A famous football terrace chant about this player claims that he’s so good they named him twice – and it’s not a moniker that’s far off the mark! Okocha came to prominence in the 1994 qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup tournament, when he was playing for the Nigerian national team.

Eventually bagging an impressive 73 caps for the side, he has also played for Paris St Germain, Hull and Bolton, where he became a firm fan favourite thanks to his ball skills and scoring record.

As a team captain at Bolton Okocha eventually led them to their first cup final in almost a decade and in his heyday in the 1990s was one of the UK’s most respected and renowned players. A colourful life makes him an intriguing after dinner speaker who won’t disappoint.

Robbie Fowler

One of the UK’s best known and best loved players of the 1990s was Robbie Fowler, who played as a striker for Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Blackburn and Cardiff.

A fixture too, in the national team, Fowler played in teams that won the FA cup, the League Cup and the UEFA cup among many others, making him a player with plenty of silverware.

Being on the front-line of English football at such an iconic team, and playing for so many of the country’s top teams gives him a real insight into an interesting time in the history of the sport – the perfect pick as a celebrity guest for any gathering of football geeks!

Top talent agency

Beardsley, Okocha and Fowler are all on the books at our celebrity agency here in London, MN2S. They’re available to book for speaking engagements of all types, whether it’s making an appearance at an intimate soiree or delivering a storming oration to a conference hall filled with businessmen.

A football legend is always a good choice for an audience that’s likely to look back fondly on the era in which they were famous but if these ‘90s heroes aren’t the right fit for your audience, don’t despair! We’ve got all sorts of former footballers on our books, from more recent retirees to stars of the 1966 World Cup. Contact one of our friendly celebrity agents today to find out how we can help you to book a celebrity speaker.