Bio: John Charles Bryan Barnes was born in Kingston Jamaica, and was discovered while playing football in a park in England. He was one of the first successful black footballers who endured through lots of explicit racism throughout his career, paving the way for the younger black players of today. Here’s a chronology of his accomplishments:
WATFORD FC: His first professional Division One team in England. Played for Watford 233 times 1981-1987, scoring 63 goals. He was on Watford’s 1984 League winning side and was on the losing FA Cup team in 1984. While playing for Watford and internationally with England, his claim to fame was scoring a surging dribbling solo goal going through 5 defenders in an international match for England against Brazil in Rio De Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium on June 10th 1984. Was signed by Liverpool for 900,000 British pounds in 1987.
LIVERPOOL FC: John played under Kenny Dalglish and represented Liverpool 152 times scoring 62 goals from 1987-1997. He formed a deadly goal scoring partnership with Peter Beardsley, Ray Houghton, and John Aldridge. Together they equaled the league record for undefeated games at the start of a season (29). In 1988 he was unanimously voted as the Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers and by the members of the Professional Football Association. He won several Cup medals and scoring titles while with Liverpool. He scored 108 goals for them, played for and represented England on an international level 79 times scoring 12 goals. At Liverpool he was an integral part of several Championship team: Premiere Division Champions: 1988/1989, 1990/1991. FA Cup Champions: 1989. League Cup/Coca-Cola Cup Champions: 1995. Charity Shield Winners: 1989-1991.
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC: He joined Newcastle United in 1997. He played for them 40 times and scored a total of 7 goals through 1999, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 with an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 1998. Midway through the 1998 season and with his career winding down, he was transferred on-loan to play for London-based Charlton Athletic through the 1999 season.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC FC: John played for Charlton 12 times through the remainder of the 1999 season. He was later hired to become Glasgow Celtic’s coach
GLASGOW CELTIC FC: John in the Scottish League from June 1999 to February 2000, winning 12 out of 13 opening games. John won the Manager of the Month award in December. Term lasted only 8 months.
John is currently working as a football analyst on television
Afiwi.com's complete profile on John Barnes
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