Top 10 Best Football Referees Of All Time 2021
1. Pierluigi Collina
He officiated the 1999 UEFA Champions League
Final between Bayern Munich and Manchester United and 2002 FIFA World Cup final
between Germany and Brazil.
2. Markus Merk
Markus Merk holds the record of
officiating the maximum number of German league matches. He made his Bundesliga
debut at the age of 25 and become the youngest one to do. He won the IFFHS best
referee of the year award three times and german referee of the year six times.
He currently the main commentator of a Turkish
Channel Lig TV and also a professional dentist.
3. Howard Webb
Howard Webb was the best
football referee from England. He served as the FIFA referee between 2005-2014.
In 2010 he became the first referee to officiate in UEFA Champions League final
and FIFA World Cup. For his stellar displays, he also got the FIFA best referee
award in 2010.
Before switching career to football he was a
sergeant in South Yorkshire Police. Howard Webb declared his retirement on 6th
August 2014.
4. Kim Milton Nilson
Kim Milton Neilsen was known
for his tall look. He was 6 feet 6 inches, taller than most international
players. During his career, he officiated 154 international and 53 UEFA
Champions League matches. At the age of 28, he becomes the youngest referee to
be affiliated by FIFA.
After completing the UEFA allowed age 45, he took
retirement on 16th May 2009. He officiated several important matches like 2005
UEFA Champions League quarterfinal and 2004 UEFA Champions League Final.
5. Sandor Phul
Although Sandor is considered
as a legend in the world Spanish people can’t disagree more. He is heavily
criticised in Spain after he overlooked Mauro Tassotti elbowing Luis Enrique
inside the penalty area during injury time at the 1994 World Cup. After this
event, FIFA banned for eight international matches.
He officiated the 1994 World Cup final between
Brazil and Itlay. Sandor won the best referee award four times in his career.
He won it consecutively from 1994 to 1997. Apart from being a referee, he was
also the Deputy Chairman of Hungary Football association.
6. Peter Mikkelsen
Retired Danish Referee Peter
Mikkelsen is considered as the pioneer in danish referee circle. He officiated
in many FIFA World Cup matches. At the age of 30, he officiated two matches at
1990 FIFA World cup.
In 1998 he took retirement. For his composure and precise decisions, he was
twice named as the greatest referee of all time by IFFHS. After fighting
against cancer, he succumbed to it on 30th January 2019.
READ ALSO: Highest Paid Football Referees
7. Michel Vautrot
Michel Vautrot is one of the
greatest referees France has ever produced. He is known for the famous incident
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Michel added 8 minutes of stoppage times. After the
match, he told he forgot to check his watch. During his active day, he was part
of a gigantic controversy. FC Roma bribed him before the 1986 European Cup
Semi-final.
Officiating 1986 Euro Cup final between FC
Barcelona and FC Steaua was one of the silverware of his career. He was also
named as the world’s best referee by IFFHS twice.
8. Pedro Proenca
Hailing from Portugal Pedro Proenca
is one of the best referees of all time. He holds the record of the only
referee to officiate the finals of UEFA Champions League and UEFA European
Championship in the same season.
He got listed as FIFA referee in 2003 and was UEFA Elite referee till 2009.
Pedro was awarded Best Referee of the year by Portugues Football federation in
2007 and 2011. Further, he was named as the world’s best referee in 2012 by
IFFHS.
He also has a vast experience of officiating important club matches. He
officiated Taca de finals, Taca da Liga Finals etc. He officiated several
matches in 2014 FIFA World Cup.
9. Oscar Ruiz
Oscar Ruiz is Columbia’s best
referee. He was FIFA affiliated referee from 1995 to 2011. Since his retirement,
he has been a member of FIFA referee instructor team. Oscar made his
international debut in 1995. He officiated in three consecutive World Cup
(2002,2006 and 2010).
He was also a member of CONMEBOL’s referee
assistant Program. 51-year old is also a lawyer by profession.
10.
Frank De Bleeckere
Frank de Bleeckere made his
debut in 1984. He was a FIFA affiliated referee from 1998 to 2012. One of the
world’s best referee, Bleeckere was awarded Belgium professional referee of the
year record seven times. Frank made his international debut on 24 March 2001.
He officiated the match between Cyprus and Ireland at 2002 FIFA World Cup
Qualifier.
Frank de Bleeckere officiated in various FIFA
tournaments like World Cup, Youth Championship, U-17 World Cup etc. He is the
only Belgium referee to officiate in seven World Cup matches.
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