28 April 1993
England 2-2 Holland: John Barnes

England's John Barnes scores a brilliant free-kick against Holland in a World Cup Qualifier back in April 1993.



Continuing our series of looking at the careers of some of the greatest players to have ever worn the famous Three Lions, we remember the career of John Barnes.

Barnes started his football career at Watford, but quickly his great skills and fast pace attracted the attention of England manager Bobby Robson, who gave the winger his International debut in 1983.

Just one year later Barnes gained worldwide fame after he scored a wonder goal against Brazil in the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro.

The way that the young Watford winger snaked through the Brazil defence the goal could have had ‘made in Brazil’ stamped all over it. During his twelve year international career Barnes scored twelve goals and earned seventy nine caps.

Barnes was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963 and moved to England when he was still young. He made his debut for Watford in 1981 under Graham Taylor at the tender age of seventeen.

Watford gained promotion and in the following season finished runners up in the League. In 1984 they reached The FA Cup Final, but were eventually beaten 2-0 by Everton.

In 1987 Barnes moved to Liverpool along with team mate Peter Beardsley. In his first season John was prolific for the club. Liverpool easily won the league title, only losing two games whilst playing some of the most attractive football England had seen since the war.

The following year Liverpool won The FA Cup but dramatically lost out on the league title to Arsenal with Mickey Thomas’ late winner at Anfield. The glory days were back a year later when they won the league title once again.

Barnes carried on playing and winning trophies into the nineties for Liverpool with victories in The FA Cup again in 1992 and then the League Cup in 1995.

In 1997 Barnes left Liverpool to join Newcastle United for a short time, where he reached another FA Cup Final before ending his playing career at Charlton Athletic.

He then went on to become Director of Football at Celtic with his former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. However he left after one season at the club.

During his career he was voted twice as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in both 1988 and 1990. Also in 1988 he won the PFA Player’s Player of the Year.

England Legends

Jimmy Greaves
David Platt
Gary Lineker