8 most brainy footballers of the modern era

Footballers and brains are two opposite poles, so goes the stereotype. While it is true to some extent, there are actually some footballers who are not only brilliant on the field, but also off it.To be fair to them, who would have the motivation to study when they are earning more money in their teens than they would have after finishing education and getting a job? However, there are some exceptional cases where some players think it necessary to hold a degree.This article, however, wont just focus on degrees for the selection of this list. The basis of the selection is how they carry themselves outside the pitch in their interviews, street-smart nature and general lives.

#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

We start off with perhaps the most street-smart person to ever play football.

When it comes to wits, the Swede has few or no parallels at all. Asking a female journalist to come to his home along with her sister to check whether he is gay or not, telling Arsene Wenger that he doesn’t do auditions, suggesting that the World Cup is nothing without him, not buying gifts for his wife because she “already has Zlatan,” and countless other quotes all personify his street-smart nature.

Coming from a tough neighbourhood in Rosenberg, adjusting his personality to the game was never something he found easy. However, it is only due to his strong mentality and headstrong nature, along with his smart decision-making, that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the player he is today.

#2 Andrea Pirlo

“I strike dead balls ala Pirlo. Each shot bears my name and they are my children. They look like one another without being twins, even if they do boast the same South American twins.”

This is how the Juventus man describes his free-kicks. The Italian is one of the classiest players on the pitch and one of the most subtly witty people in the world of football.

He is so cool and composed that he “doesn’t give a toss about it [pressure]” and “I spent the afternoon of Sunday, 9 July, 2006, in Berlin sleeping and playing the PlayStation and in the evening I went out and won the World Cup.”

His quotes might not get the attention that Zlatan’s do, but they are equally interesting and charming. It’s like an exact reflection of his nature on the pitch: doing his job while staying under the radar.

“If I look in the mirror when I get up, or before going to bed at night, I see a man of average ugliness with stubble, an unruly mane of hair, a squint nose, slightly protruding ears and bags under my eyes – but I also see a man who’s completely happy with the figure staring back at him.”

#3 Raphael Varane

The Mr. Cool of France and Real Madrid, Raphael Varane is the best defender of his age group because of his calm and composed nature while defending. He remains unfazed under pressure and almost always makes the right decisions.

It is his cool-headed nature that has never earned him a red card in his entire playing career, despite being a defender – and his nature outside the field is also a great representation of that. The French defender has a high-school Economics degree and actually hung up the phone on Zidane – while he was at RC Lens – because he was studying for exams.

He hasn’t further pursued his education, but his classy demeanour and mature approach put him on this list. He’s one of the very few players in the world who isn’t overly excited at playing for Real. His interviews have always given the feeling that he has immense respect for the club but isn’t the Robbie Keane type ‘dream club’ person.

#4 Xabi Alonso

Once in an interview, Xabi Alonso admitted that he would have been an engineer if he weren’t a footballer. He might not have a degree, but he came pretty close to having one as he studied Business for 3 years before opting to drop out. Now you know why he is so calm and organised on the field and, in general.

On the pitch, very few possess the vision of this man. It’s quite possible that had he pursued a career in business, he might have made a lot of money there as well, because of his astute ability to see things before they happen.

He also carries himself beautifully outside the pitch – that beard and designer suits with matching watches to go with – and can always be counted upon when sent to represent the club he plays for.

#5 Frank Lampard

He might be labelled fat and might have lots of it in his stomach, but his brain is certainly fat-free.

The former Chelsea man sat for 11 GCSE’s and scored an A in Latin. Yes, you read that right. To add to this, he scored higher than 150 in an IQ test that took place at Chelsea’s facilities. This score actually places him among the top 0.1% of the most intelligent people around the world.

Though Lampard moved to Manchester City this season, on loan from New York City FC, it is clear the move was only based on common sense and there was no malice of any sort on the part of the midfielder, while making the switch. His conduct in the matches against Chelsea reminded us that he hadn’t forgotten his time at the club, and that he was appreciative of the Chelsea supporters.

#6 Giorgio Chiellini

Giorgio Chiellini is one of the best defenders in the Serie A. His calculated, but tough, approach to defending has made him an indispensable figure at Juventus, where he is a leader of the team, marshalling the defense.

And he is not all about just brawn. He passed high school with full marks and later went on to graduate with a degree in Business Economics. He surely learned some qualities pertaining to loyalty while doing his course as, despite being coveted by many top clubs in Europe for several years, he has stuck with the Old Lady and looks set to finish his career with them.

He was also very forgiving and articulate when it came to dealing with the aftermath of Luis Suarez’s bite on him; the fact that he came out and accepted Suarez’s apology, and said that the ban imposed on the Uruguayan was harsh signified a lot.

#7 Andrei Arshavin

Andrei Arshavin was the one of the brightest stars of Euro 2008. On his day, he was the best player on Earth – such was his class and skill. The ease with which he took out defenders with passes and dribbles was mesmerizing.

And he was not just a genius on the football pitch. This may not be known very much, but the Russian is a graduate from St Petersburg State Universty of Technology and has his own line of clothing that is actually quite well known in Russia. In fact, he even wrote a thesis on a suit which could also function as a sportwear.

In the future, when you see players playing while wearing suits, you will know whose idea it was.

#8 Juan Mata

Among the current crop of players, Juan Mata is definitely the most intelligent. This is a man who studied journalism at the Politecnica University of Madrid, then went to England and is doing degree courses on Physical Education, Sports Science and Marketing. He also writes blogs every now and then and is really good at it.

"I don't think football and studying are mutually exclusive. I am focused on my career but like to enjoy other things, like study, for example."

He enjoys studies and that is why he can do it with such ease while also handling the pressure of playing for a big Club. His playing style oozes a different type of class – a class that has been derived from his intelligence.