FIFA 2010 World Cup: Top nick names holders in the World Cup so far
The World Cup is a place where most nicknames are born for players. Playing along with fellow citizens from the same country; team mates develop a special sense of brotherhood between them that arise to the initiation of these nicknames.
Still the World Cup is the only place where nicknames are made. Players play most of their lives in Leagues around the world and therefore some players are more attached to leagues.
Nicknames not only give a person just another name, it actually characterizes his personality. An example of that can be clearly shown by the Brazilian team who are more popularly known by their nick names. The Little Bird’s original name was Garrincha while Edison Arantes do Nascimento was Pelé.
Other nations weren’t left behind in this process like Hungarian Galloping Major is Ferenc Puskas and Italian Divine Ponytail is Roberto Baggio. Similarly there is also a nickname competition at the World Cup for the title of El Loco and so far Uruguayan Sebastian Aberu is winning that.
Here is a list of one of the best nicknames to have appeared on the football fields.
No-10- Yogi, Joachim Lowe
The German coach’s name comes from the first part of his first name Joachi to Yogi. Not only that but the 50 year old man is also known for his passion for dressing, just like the gigantic bear fully dressed up in a hat and a tie.
So far the coach has impressed with good performance by his team. He has his eye on the Golden trophy.
No-9- Deuce, Clint Dempsey
USA’s pivot in the midfield Clint Dempsey’s appearance is popularly described a as rapper, and that’s where his name Deuce comes from. He in reality has had a rapping career, for a while he appeared with the Texas Rappers XO and Big Hawk on the soundtrack to a Nike ad.
No-8- Cashley, Ashley Cole
When the English full-back Ashley Cole transferred himself to the wealthier Chelsea club from Arsenal his fans were the ones that invented his new nickname, Cashley and the reason apparently was money.
Later the player himself revealed that the reason behind his transfer was money. He stated that Arsenal had been paying him $80,000 a week but when his agent told him that Chelsea will be offering him $180,000 he nearly crashed his car while driving and talking. His wife the popular pop star Cheryl Cole, is also one of the reasons of his notorious nick name.
No-7- The Wizard of Oz, Harry Kewell
Harry Kewell was the person that rejuvenated the football spirit in Australia while he proved himself as a player in the English Premier League.
He is a renowned player on the right wing, famously known as the magician who can make the ball disappear also is the reason where his name comes from.
No-6- Bambi, Zoran Tosic
Bambi for many is the nickname someone gets when he is a young toddler but Tosic the Serbian midfielder has to find a new nick name for him yet. Interestingly Tosic’s name Bambi didn’t just come on because his timid nature of field but also because Tosic brought a pack of biscuits named Bambi everyday to training.
Also Tosic’s appearance and his strides don’t exactly help onlookers from shaking off the Bambi image from their mind when they look at him.
No-5- The Atomic Flea, Lionel Messi
Well he might be one of the world’s most talented players but the man who came up with his name most certainly wasn’t. The Atomic Flea is what he came up with. Though his name describes his appearance and his explosive nature of game, the linking of words looks too weird.
La Pulga Atomica has a better nick name, a name by which he is more commonly known, Leo.
No-4- The Rhino, Gennaro Gattuso
Italy’s midfielder Gattuso is a celebrated name is the midfields of the world. His performances for his club Milan and country will never be forgotten.
His nickname was invented because of his characteristic stoutness, the enormous amounts of energy. The charge of the Rhino is what the commentators like to call him when he runs after the ball and engages in a tackle.
No-3- The Vacuum Cleaner, Kim Nam-il
The South Korean midfielder had this acute ability to dribble around the box of his own goal while dodging the opponent players in this unorthodox place. Afterwards he use to clear the ball clearing and that earned him a nickname for his ability to tidy up a game from his position in front of the defence.
The maestro helped his team reach the semi-finals of the World in 2002 held partly in their home country.
No-2- Dopey, Dunga
The Brazilin coach though is a smart man but not only does his appearance resemble Dopey, one of the seven dwarfs in Snow White but so does his personality.
It is told by Dunga that he was given that name by his uncle when he was young and thought that he will not be tall. However as we all have seen he later contradicted them all by growing tall and becoming a smart coach.
No-1- Autobahn, Cha Du-Ri
In this World Cup one of the best nick names goes again to a person from another surprising nation. The full back with instincts of Roberto Carlos loves to attack. In that aspect his name Autobahn is derived. The German word means to cover a lot of distance.
Cha is known for his running along the field back and forth and being at the right place at the right time.
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