Beyond Talented — With the Laces

More than "Game-Changers"

There are certain players within the Premier League that every manager should be chomping at the bit to sign. These players demonstrate their value in their ability to overcome significant adversity and by improving the players around them. As a result, their respective teams' cultures improve for seasons to come. I've reviewed teams that have exemplified winning cultures from recent seasons. Additionally, I picked players from teams that finished high in the premier league or won significant trophies in other competitions. These are my top 3 "Culture Players:"

RAHEEM STERLING

"When it rains, nobody hides inside. You just go out and enjoy it."

Manchester City's star winger made the above quote about his birth-country of Jamaica, where he fell in love with soccer in the midst of losing his dad to a shooting when he was 2 years old. Sterling claimed that his fondest memories were of playing soccer in the streets and just having a ball with the other children. This quote exemplifies his mentality for facing adversity, which is to make the most of a grim situation and keep moving forward. The 24-year-old has faced racist remarks, highlighted with an incident back in December at City's game versus Chelsea, according to The Undefeated.

In addition to adversity off the field, Sterling has faced plenty on the field, notably his goal called offside in City's 2-1 loss to rival Tottenham in the Champion's League quarterfinal match. After losing that game, Sterling claimed coach Pep Guardiola challenged the team to get mad and be focused on the rest of the season and their shot at winning the treble. (Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and the Premier League trophy). As truly resilient teams do, City bounced back from their Champion's League loss, going on to win the Premier League and the FA Cup (having already won the Carabo cup beforehand). Raheem Sterling proved crucial, scoring 17 goals in 34 appearances, refusing to "hide from the rain."

JAMES MILNER

"The most complete English Player in the Modern Game." (Heightline)

His title is certainly appropriate. But, just to settle any doubts, let me present to you his premier league resume as one of the most versatile young men to play the game (keep in mind that he is 33 and still going strong): James Milner has made 516 appearances, in which he has excelled as an outside back, midfielder, winger, and even striker, making him the epitome of a utility player. While playing for Liverpool, Milner was lined up to play in his 500th appearance- this time at the outside back- a position that wasn't the Englishman's favorite, but one that he executed without complaint. Jurgen Klopp, manager of the Champions League winners was quoted expressing that "Obviously, he would've even played goalkeeper in game number 500!" James Milner's loyalty to his team, coaches and fans puts him high on the list of players that will contribute to a winning culture at any club. Milner isn't a player that puts his own interests ahead of the club that he's a part of, according to The Telegraph. While taking a look back on the success of Liverpool's 2019 season, Milner reflected on his decision to join The Reds back in 2015: "I was desperate to add trophies as this club expects to win (trophies) and it has an amazing history but we want to create our own." Whereas some players envision themselves challenging for the Golden Boot or even the Ballon d'Or, James Milner knows his role and knows what he wants to achieve.

Milner demonstrated his character once again after Liverpool's open-top bus parade to celebrate their Champions League victory. He made sure the driver stopped at the home of long-time fan Andrew Devine, a Hillsborough survivor. The tragedy at Hillsborough stadium occurred in 1989 after an overcrowding of fans led to the deaths of 96 people and the hospitalization of 162 more. Devine has been restricted to a wheelchair since and requires constant care. However, this hasn't stopped him from supporting the team he loves. James Milner recognized the impact that his team could have on the life of Devine, and organized the visit to his household. This is just one of many testaments to the type of person and player that Milner has proven to be. From this, the teams lucky enough to sign him have benefited greatly.

N'GOLO KANTE

"One day, Kante is going to play a cross into the box and score a header off of it" - Claudio Ranieri (manager at Leicester City, 2015-2017)

"Engine" player N'Golo Kante is 28 years old, French, and born to run. His most recent accomplishments include winning the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season with Leicester City, followed by the Player of the Season honor in 2016-17 and ANOTHER Premier League trophy with English giant Chelsea, concluded with a 3rd place finish in the Premier League in 2019 after - wait for it - winning the World Cup with France over the Summer. Wherever he goes, greatness follows.

Like Sterling, Kante lost his father at a young age and had to learn to help provide for himself and his family. He worked collecting trash to turn in for cash as a young boy until fine-tuning his talents and raw skill into a profession on the pitch. Kante faced adversity within the game of soccer as well. His small stature was something that the other boys would pick on him for and was deemed a negative quality. Kante didn't bat an eyelash at this, going on to become a gritty box-to-box midfielder capable of winning the ball and doing exactly as the title describes. Kante became one of many migrant players (his family came to France from Mali) to help garner success for the French National team, and his work ethic proved to spearhead Les Blues' path towards World Cup glory in Summer 2018.

Current teammate and Belgian star Eden Hazard claimed that "playing with him is like playing with twins," per Bleacher Report. Kante constantly cleans up messes or mistakes on the field in a similar fashion as he did cleaning up trash on the streets of France- tirelessly and because he has to. It is his job to be the engine of whichever team he plays on, and no one does it better than him.

Culture Players

When you take a look back on a team's winning season, who are the types of players you see that contributed to that team's success? Are they exceptionally fit? Are they technically superior to the players they face? Do they have more individual trophies? Matches played? Years of experience? Often times, the answer to these questions is yes. Successful teams' rosters are chock-full of young stars and talented veterans, yet there's talent everywhere you look within the realm of professional soccer. The difference between a team that falls short of winning the league each year and a team that ties all aspects together to close the deal is found in the culture of that winning team. Culture Players know they are a part of the whole, and guide a team's vision of what can be accomplished through persistence and positive attitude.

Citations

Sterling

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/raheem-sterling-players-tribune-world-cup-2018-russia-england-media-treatment-father-tattoo-a8411261.html

https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/pep-told-us-to-be-angry-sterling-expects-city-to-shine-following-/1nre02828znda1iurwpik5gj10

https://theundefeated.com/features/raheem-sterling-manchester-city-chelsea-and-the-racist-media-coverage-of-black-athletes/

https://www.premierleague.com/players/4316/Raheem-Sterling/overview

Milner

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/06/02/james-milner-champions-league-win-start-liverpool-side-wants/

https://heightline.com/james-milner-wife-family/

https://www.premierleague.com/players/2100/James-Milner/stats?co=1&se=-1

https://www.givemesport.com/1480856-james-milner-insisted-liverpools-parade-bus-stopped-outside-house-of-hillsborough-survivor

https://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/world/hillsborough-disaster-fast-facts/index.html

Kante