11 Legendary Hardmen Who Make Modern Footballers Look Like Wimps

2. Stuart Pearce

The ultimate English hero thanks to his passionate and inspiring behaviour on the pitch, Stuart Pearce was very much one of the last clutch of hard footballers in the 1990s. Like Keane, you dread to think what would happen if Pearce still played in the modern game, though he has made something of an imprint as a manager since retirement. The enduring image of "Pyscho" as he was affectionately known is of his screaming reaction to finally putting to bed the ghost of his missed penalty at World Cup Italia '90, but his reputation was bolstered nicely by some eye-watering antics on the pitch. That of course includes his breaking of his leg twice in one season, and returning from injury twice in the same season, where most players would be ruled out for the entire term from just one of those injuries. Pearce is an English footballing legend, and though he is best-known as a non-compromising tackler, he was also one of the first full-backs to really show the value of the position.