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While featuring heavily in Watford's rise to prominence, which included a [[UEFA Cup]] campaign in [[1983]], Barnes' dazzling skills and electric pace on the left flank were quickly spotted by [[England national football team|England]] manager [[Bobby Robson]], who gave him his debut in [[1983]].
While featuring heavily in Watford's rise to prominence, which included a [[UEFA Cup]] campaign in [[1983]], Barnes' dazzling skills and electric pace on the left flank were quickly spotted by [[England national football team|England]] manager [[Bobby Robson]], who gave him his debut in [[1983]].


Barnes went on to score one of the most breathtaking individual goals ever seen, when he outpaced and out-thought several [[Brazil]]ian defenders before rounding the [[goalkeeper]] and slotting the ball into an empty net during a friendly match at the famous [[Maracana]] Stadium in [[Rio de Janeiro]]. The goal brought him worldwide fame but also a sense of heavy expectation, with unreasonable observers and supporters expecting him to produce moments like that on a match-by-match basis.
Barnes went on to score one of the most breathtaking individual goals ever seen, when he outpaced and out-thought several [[Brazil]]ian defenders before rounding the [[goalkeeper]] and slotting the ball into an empty net during a friendly match at the famous [[Estádio do Maracanã]] Stadium in [[Rio de Janeiro]]. The goal brought him worldwide fame but also a sense of heavy expectation, with unreasonable observers and supporters expecting him to produce moments like that on a match-by-match basis.


Indeed, Barnes' whole England career, despite its decade's longevity, was seen by many as a disappointment. England's most [[cap (football)|capped]] black player, he won 79 caps and scored 12 goals, but compared to his club form, he was never seen as a player who peaked when wearing an England shirt. Nevertheless, he remained in the top ten most capped players list for eleven years until [[David Beckham]] and then [[Gary Neville]] edged him out from ninth to 11th.
Indeed, Barnes' whole England career, despite its decade's longevity, was seen by many as a disappointment. England's most [[cap (football)|capped]] black player, he won 79 caps and scored 12 goals, but compared to his club form, he was never seen as a player who peaked when wearing an England shirt. Nevertheless, he remained in the top ten most capped players list for eleven years until [[David Beckham]] and then [[Gary Neville]] edged him out from ninth to 11th.

Revision as of 17:03, 17 July 2006

John Charles Bryan Barnes (born November 7, 1963 in Kingston, Jamaica) was a hugely successful and well known Jamaican-born English football player of the 1980s and 1990s, and is a one time manager of Scottish side, Glasgow Celtic.

Career

Having moved to England as a boy, Barnes was noticed by Watford whilst playing as a schoolboy footballer for non-league Sudbury Court. After a successful game in Watford's reserves, Barnes was signed for the fee of a set of kit.

Barnes made his debut in 1981 and under manager Graham Taylor, Watford gained promotion to the top flight of English football and made the 1984 FA Cup final, where they were beaten 2-0 by Everton.

While featuring heavily in Watford's rise to prominence, which included a UEFA Cup campaign in 1983, Barnes' dazzling skills and electric pace on the left flank were quickly spotted by England manager Bobby Robson, who gave him his 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 at the famous Estádio do Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The goal brought him worldwide fame but also a sense of heavy expectation, with unreasonable observers and supporters expecting him to produce moments like that on a match-by-match basis.

Indeed, Barnes' whole England career, despite its decade's longevity, was seen by many as a disappointment. England's most capped black player, he won 79 caps and scored 12 goals, but compared to his club form, he was never seen as a player who peaked when wearing an England shirt. Nevertheless, he remained in the top ten most capped players list for eleven years until David Beckham and then Gary Neville edged him out from ninth to 11th.

Robson did not use Barnes at the 1986 World Cup until the quarter final against Argentina when England were trailing 2-0 with 15 minutes to go. Barnes used his short period on the pitch to destroy the Argentine defence time and again (BBC commentator Barry Davies famously shouted: "Go on! Run at them!" when Barnes was given the ball), setting up one goal for Gary Lineker and laying on another chance which, despite seeming easier than the one he scored, thanks to some inspired Argentine defending Lineker conspired to miss. England went out of the competition, but Barnes' impact on the team and the country was felt. Though at the time this miss was seen as merely preventing England from progressing further in that years competition it did much to dent Barnes reputation as an England player. If Lineker had scored the goal he and, ultimately, Barnes would have been seen as national heroes as with momentum on there side a victory in extra-time would not have been unlikely. With Argentina, and Maradona, out of the tournament England may well have created themselves as favorites and Barnes surely would have carried on his form. Hence, the miss created negative feeling within the nation, who at the time did not have any European club football to entertain themselves with.

A year later, Barnes left Watford in a £900,000 deal for Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool F.C., joining at the same time as England team-mate Peter Beardsley and linking up with JohnAldridge and then Ian Rush to form one of the most formidable attacking lines of Liverpool's illustrious history. In his first season at Anfield, Barnes was outstanding as Liverpool coasted to the League title with just two defeats, though again he would suffer FA Cup disappointment when Wimbledon surprisingly beat the champions 1-0 in the final. Barnes had performed a memorable (not necessarily for the right reasons) rap on the club's traditional Cup final song Anfield Rap, which got to No.3 in the UK charts.

The success and disappointment was reversed a year later, with Liverpool winning the FA Cup with a 3-2 defeat over Merseyside rivals Everton but losing the title to Arsenal with literally seconds remaining.

Barnes was, in his early years at Liverpool, having to deal with racist abuse from opposing (especially Everton) supporters and far-right groups — a famous photograph was once taken of Barnes, in full Liverpool kit and mid-match, casually backheeling away a banana which had been hurled at him. In his early England days, he and fellow black player Mark Chamberlain were subjected to threats from racist groups. Notably, Barnes was abused by supporters of the National Front on the plane back from South America in June 1984; the racists claimed that England had only won 1-0 against Brazil because Barnes' wonder goal "didn't count".

Barnes played in the 1990 title winning side at Liverpool, then appeared in the World Cup for England, scoring a controversially disallowed goal against Belgium in the second round. He had been dropped by the time England went out to West Germany on penalties in the semi-final. Barnes had again supplied a rap for a tie-in song, "World In Motion" by New Order, which was a UK No.1 and is still regarded by many as the best football song ever made.

Barnes continued to play for Liverpool and England, winning the FA Cup again in 1992. Around this time, he was booed by a section of England supporters at Wembley after a poor performance by the whole team - somehow, Barnes' own perceived underachievement throughout his international career was seen as a symbol for England's own ineptitude as a team that evening.

By the mid-1990s, Barnes knew he was facing his career playing end and looked to make up for the underachievment at International level with his club side. He publicly stated that he would stay at Liverpool and nurture promising young talent that needed his leadership instead of leaving the club as it went through turbulent years under Graeme Souness, before Roy Evans took over at the helm in 1994. Under Evans, Barnes and his young proteges like his favoured successor, Steve McManaman and striker Robbie Fowler won the League Cup with Liverpool in 1995 and managed one more FA Cup runners-up medal before narrowly losing out on the FA Premiership title to Manchester United a year later in 1997. That same year, Barnes decided it was time to leave Anfield to join up with former boss Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle United. He reached yet another FA Cup final (defeated again) during this short period before ending his playing career at Charlton Athletic.

In a 'dream ticket' style move, he then became coach of Celtic with Kenny Dalglish as director of football, but this much-hyped appointment was disappointing, and Barnes was sacked as a result. He has since become a pundit on ITV and is currently a presenter of the football coverage on five as well as having his own weekly football discussion show on the same channel. He also works as an ambassador for Save the Children.

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. He is separated and has two sons and two daughters.

Career Honours

Honours As Player

England Watford

Runner Up

England Liverpool

Winner

Runner Up

England Newcastle United

Runner Up

Honours As Manager

Scotland Celtic

Runner Up

Individual

Preceded by Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
1988 		Succeeded by
Preceded by PFA Players' Player of the Year
1988 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
1990 		Succeeded by

Trivia

Barnes appeared on the 1990 England World Cup theme song World in Motion by New Order. The track is often mistitled "The John Barnes Rap", after the rap performed by Barnes towards the end of the track.

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