Footballers these days have a bit of a reputation for being a bit dim.
But that culture is changing now that football clubs hammer home the importance of education to young and aspiring footballers. With that in mind, we’re counting down the top 10 smartest players over the last few years.
We’re so used to hearing stories about the likes of Jermaine Pennant leaving his Porsche at a car park at a Spanish train station after forgetting he owned it, this could be indicative of the money these lads are given at a young age.
There are footballers out there who give us hope, the kind who use their free time to build businesses, study a subject or language or are generally quite sharp chaps.
If you think there’s a bright player who’s been missed off this list please feel free to head to the comments section and let us know who they are and why!
10. Yugo Nagatomo
The Inter Milan full back has made 88 appearances for Japan and has impressed people since making his move from FC Tokyo back in 2011.
But what people may not be aware of his Yugo Nagatomo’s rich education. Nagatomo graduated from Doshisha University in Japan with a degree in Economics, he has since gone on to write 2 books!
One of these is titled ‘The important thing is to feel the rise throughout happiness’. Catchy!
9. Patrick Bamford
The Forest academy graduate has been hot property, scoring goals wherever he’s gone (except Palace!).
However, Bamford has been presented with some interesting opportunities.
He’s from a fairly well off family in Nottingham and was educated at Nottingham High School for Boys, but when he was just 16 he was offered the opportunity to go to Harvard University on a football scholarship deal.
Harvard is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, but Bamford turned down the offer when he realised he could pursue a career as a professional footballer.
8. Didier Drogba
Just being a Premier League footballer hardly seems that impressive when you’re stacked up alongside Didier Drogba. That comparison becomes even more pronounced when you realise that Drogba is also a qualified accountant who is touted as being a future President in his wartorn homeland the Ivory Coast.
In the wake of a bloody civil war, Drogba formed part of the Truth and Reconciliation commission set up to heal the wounds of the country and reunite its peoples.
Although Drogba has said he doesn’t much want to be President of the Ivory Coast, we can think of no one better than Drogba in light of his accomplishments.
7. Simon Mignolet
The Liverpool number 22 has come under criticism in recent seasons for his lack of consistency. However it can never be said that he doesn’t take his education seriously. Simon Mignolet has a degree in law and political science.
Although he plays second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois it doesn’t matter who’s around him on the bench as he is fluent in English, French, Dutch and German.
Simon Mignolet clearly takes his learning very seriously, perhaps he can teach himself how to keep the ball out of the net a bit more next season unless he wants to Karius overtake him as first choice.
6. Duncan Watmore
The ginger Pele has been a revelation since breaking into Sunderland’s first team.
After making the move from non-league Altrincham, Watmore has kept the ethic that has pushed him all the way to the highest division.
He also uses this work ethic in the education he receives. Watmore graduated from Newcastle University with first class honours in a degree in Economics and Business Management. A great achievement considering he’s now in training full time!
5.Matt Smith
The big lumbering striker rose up to Championship side Fulham after pottering about non-league for a while.
After being released from the Cheltenham Town academy at 18-years-old Smith pursued the opportunity to study, and it was then that he went to Manchester Business School where he played football for the University society with famous comedian Jack Whitehall.
He graduated with a degree in business and then after some time in non league his football career took off, and a possible call up to the Scotland squad could be on the cards.
4. Fraser Forster
The big Geordie has been a revelation since signing for Southampton from Celtic. After years of proving himself and gaining experience north of the border Forster made the move to the south coast in 2014.
Since joining Saints he has started studying for a course in business studies at university. Alongside breaking records for the longest period without conceding a goal in a Saints shirt, he’s clearly got something going upstairs.
He may look all brawn but he’s certainly trying to prove that there’s some brain behind that too!
3. Glen Johnson
The Dartford born fullback has played for some big clubs in the Premier League. But it was during his time at Liverpool that he made some steps towards improving his education.
Glen Johnson claimed in an interview with The Telegraph that he was pursuing a degree in Maths.
He spoke about his happiness at doing it and admitted that proving a point to his teachers at school who thought he would amount to nothing was something that spurred him on greatly. More power to you Glen!
2. Juan Mata
The little Spaniard has put many a smile on the faces of Premier League fans since joining Chelsea from Valencia.
His attitude to always give back to the fans made him player of the season more than once at Chelsea before making his move north to Manchester.
Mata also uses his free time away from football very constructively, after gaining a degree in Journalism from the University of Madrid he looks set to carry on in this ethos, by getting degrees in both Marketing and Sports Science from the University of Manchester. Carrying his team one week and carrying his coursework group the next?
1. Frank Lampard
There can only be one man to top this list, and it might surprise some. Don’t let Frank Lampard’s reputation precede him, he’s an extremely intelligent man.
Lampard has an IQ of 150 which places him in the top 0.1% of the population. If you think that’s impressive, well how about this?
That score is only 10 less than Albert Einstein. Perhaps after Lampard is done in New York he can tackle the Hadron Collider in Switzerland!