Who Is John Barnes?

John Charles Bryan Barnes was born on November 7th 1963 in Kingston, Jamaica and was a hugely successful and well known Jamaican-born English football player of the 1980s and 1990s and later became the manager of Celtic FC, although only for 20 games!

After moving to England as a boy, John Barnes was spotted by Watford football club whilst playing for non-league Sudbury Court. He then made his debut for Watford in 1981, under manager Graham Taylor. Watford gained promotion to the then English First Division and made the 1984 FA Cup final. Barnes featured heavily in Watford's rise to the top flight and his excellent skils and pace were quickly spotted by England Manager Bobby Robson, who gave him his England debut in 1983. Barnes went on to score one of the most breathtaking individual goals ever seen, when he outpaced and out-thought several Brazilian defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into an empty net during a friendly match in Rio de Janeiro. The goal brought him worldwide fame.

Barnes went on to move to Liverpool FC, where he had a long and succesful stay, winning the League Championship, FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Sheild before moving on to Newcastle Utd and then finally ending his playing career at Charlton Athletic.

Twice in his career, Barnes was voted Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. He has also won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and is widely regarded as among the most talented players to wear an England shirt. Barnes was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to the English game.