Top 10 football players who maximized their talents - Part 1
Bettor.com has compiled a list of top 10 players who we believe have fulfilled their maximum potential and have maximized their talents to achieve what many would have thought was unachievable for them. These are the players who
got to the top through sheer hardware.
Over the decades, we have seen some outstanding youngsters with bags of talent and natural ability failing to make it to the top, mostly due to their lack of commitment. This list is the complete opposite to those players as it
includes players who could have achieved far less than they actually did but due to their hard work and love of the game, achieved what apparently seemed unachievable.
10. Dirk Kuyt:
Kuyt was once hailed as a natural goal scorer, but his lack of pace and technique was apparent even when he was scoring goals for fun during his time in Holland. Kuyt joined Liverpool in 2006 after smashing 71 goals in 101 appearances
for the Feyenoord.
Kuyt’s work ethic was never questioned but the quality of defenders and the pace of the English game was too much for the talents of the Dutchman. Kuyt’s return of 14 goals from 48 games in his first season did not win him many
fans. However, his hard work both on and off the pitch saw him cement a place on the right hand side of the midfield during the following seasons. Kuyt might not have won any major trophy with Liverpool but he has proved his critics wrong by switching, successfully,
from his natural position of a striker to the right side of the midfield.
In the past two seasons, Kuyt has won most of the fans over by scoring goals in big games and has become an integral part of the Liverpool team along with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Pepe Riena.
Being a regular started in any Dutch national team is an achievement but doing so at the expense of players such as Rafael Van der Vaart shows the importance of Dirk Kuyt to his team.
9. Ray Parlour:
Similar to what Dirk Kuyt is today, an old fashioned winger who worked his socks off whenever he was on the football pitch. Ray Parlour’s high energy performances made him fans' favourite at Highbury.
When Arsene Wenger arrived at Arsenal, many thought it might be the end of the road for Parlour. However, to the surprise of everyone he established himself in the star studded line at Highbury, which included the likes of Thierry
Henry, Patrick Viera, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp.
He then went on to win 3 premier league and 4 FA cup titles for Arsenal. His achievements are a testament to what unglamorous but solid performances can earn you.
8. Kevin Davies:
At 33, Kevin Davies finally got a call up for the England squad and he made his debut on the 12th October 2010 as a substitute against Montenegro. A player, who was thought to be skilful at the start of his career and
who had a few ups and downs in his career, is now settled in Bolton.
He joined Bolton in 2003 and was made the captain in 2009. Davies is a perfect example of a player who has made full use of his ability or rather physique. The transformation from a skilful forward to an old fashioned striker,
holding the ball up and knocking them down for teammates, has been a smooth one.
Davies has committed more fouls than anyone in the history of the premier league but he is also one of the most fouled players. Davies has taught the art of using big chest and strong physique, to make a career out of football.
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