Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (Stoke-on-Trent, February 1, 1915 -.

Ib, February
23, 2000) was an England international footballer. It is one of the most important
figures in British sport and world football, being the first person to win the
current Golden Ball in 1956. It was also the first player that has been awarded
the title of Sir when it was still active.
His career is the longest in the history of England, since it debuted in the first
team of Stoke City FC in 1932 and did not retire until 1965, at age 50. In the
field he occupied the right end position and highlighted by a fast style of play,
with skill. He played for his hometown club until 1947 and then joined the
Blackpool FC, with whom he won his most important title, the FA Cup in 1953,
with an outstanding performance in the final. He returned to Stoke in 1961.
It is considered a paradigm of fair play
Internationally, he was summoned by England 54 times and scored 11 goals,
winning nine British Championships. He also played in World Cups 1950 and
1954.
After an unsuccessful stint as leader and coach of Port Vale FC between 1965
and 1968, he began to expand the practice of soccer in countries around the
world, especially in Africa. In recognition of his work FIFA named him
ambassador of honor and awarded the Gold Medal of Merit in 1992.
Stanley Matthews was born and raised in a residential Hanley, was the third of
four children of the local boxer Jack Matthews, and he instilled a passion for the
sport. From small tables Stanley performed daily gym before going to school,
where he described "a model student in many ways."
When he was 13 he decided to become a footballer to the chagrin of the parent
did accept the child's wishes and interceded on his behalf. Jack finally
accepted. Stanley stood in the school team as a right winger broad goalscoring
record. After completing the studies he worked as a bricklayer and evenings
helping his father in the barbershop.
Matthews played for the England national football team 54 times and scored 11
goals. Between 1934 and 1957 British Home Championship won nine World
Cups and played in 1950 and 1954. Stanley Matthews was married twice. His
first wife was Betty Vallance, the couple had two sons, Jean (1939) and Stanley
John (1945).