Iain Dowie sacked as QPR manager (plus educated footballers)

[FermPundit]

Iain Dowie has been sacked after just 15 games in charge with the team sitting ninth in the championship.

Whilst reading about his dismissal I learned that Dowie holds a Master's degree in engineering (M.Eng).

Are there many other professional footballers, past or present who are also well educated? I think Shaka Hislop is a mechanical Engineer and Arjan de Zeeuw has a degree in medical science.

Can anyone name any others?

[AZOffaly]

Steve Heighway had a degree in something or other. I thought Graeme leSaux had as well, or was he just pseudo intellectual. There's a few I think, in fairness.

[Main Street]

How come GLS gets labelled with a "pseudo intellect"  tag?
A footballer can talk proper as in express himself coherently, read a few books as well  but if he hasn't a degree then he is a pseudo intellectual.

[T Fearon]

Tony Galvin, ex Spurs and Ireland winger, has a degree in Russian

Jim Craig, right back on Celtic team that won the European Cup is a dentist.

Brian Mc Clair ex Celtic and Man Ure has a Chemistry degree.

All of the above graduated before or whilst they were playing football professionally.

[nifan]

Colin Murdoch had a law degree.

Most famously Socrates was a doctor


Colin Murdoch and Socrates in the same post - I feel terrible!

[FermPundit]

Most of these players are from the past or coming to the end of their playing careers. I can't see too many players in the future being given the opportunity to gain such a good education given that they are taken out of school at such a young age and put into each club's football academy. Older players moving up the leagues after gaining an education doesn't really happen these days either.

[AZOffaly]

How come GLS gets labelled with a "pseudo intellect"  tag?
A footballer can talk proper as in express himself coherently, read a few books as well  but if he hasn't a degree then he is a pseudo intellectual.

Guilty. I shouldn't have made that assumption about him.

I always got the impression he, and certainly his fellow pros, considered him a more studious type person. I thought he had a degree as well, but he might not have. I shouldn;t have used that phrase though. Good shout.

[Minder]

I believe Cristiano Ronaldo has a first class honours in amateur dramatics

[Main Street]

Guilty. I shouldn't have made that assumption about him.

I always got the impression he, and certainly his fellow pros, considered him a more studious type person. I thought he had a degree as well, but he might not have. I shouldn;t have used that phrase though. Good shout.

It's more that I was shocked that you thought that a degree certifies intellectual worth
I haven't a clue about Graham.

[youngfella]

I believe Cristiano Ronaldo has a first class honours in amateur dramatics

I swear i read it was a Phd

[Square Ball]

Steve Coppell  and Martin O Neill

[nifan]

Most of these players are from the past or coming to the end of their playing careers. I can't see too many players in the future being given the opportunity to gain such a good education given that they are taken out of school at such a young age and put into each club's football academy. Older players moving up the leagues after gaining an education doesn't really happen these days either.

I think Jonny Evans got 3 As at A level.
If he really wanted to I am sure he could continue his education given the free time he has.

[brokencrossbar1]

O'Neill started his Law Degree but I don't think he ever finished it.  I think I remember reading somewhere that he was in the same year as David Trimble in law, but I could be wrong.  I know someone else who was in QUB law at the time who didn't finish his degree but went on to a less illustrious career.