Top 10 best players to never win a major trophy ft. Antonio Di Natale

Several big names have retired empty-handed.

When it comes to football, the beautiful game is filled with legendary players who have lifted some of the biggest silverware in the world, winning one major trophy after another.

However, a lot of notable names, like Udinese legend Antonio Di Natale and former Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore, have enjoyed remarkable careers without winning a major piece of silverware.

The top-of-the-line players generally compete for the best and most successful clubs, but this is not the case every time. On many occasions, the players are only evaluated based on trophies they have won, and sometimes great talent doesn’t always guarantee success.

Few stars became heroes because of their loyalty to their clubs, while others are remembered for their goal-scoring exploits and unforgettable moments on the pitch.

Let’s look at the 10 best footballers whose individual achievements did not help them enough to secure major team honours.

Top 10 players who never won a major trophy

10. Cristiano Doni

Despite being a midfielder, his goalscoring ability and leadership skills made him a fan favourite. He enjoyed influential spells at Atalanta. Cristiano Doni also represented clubs including Brescia, Sampdoria and Mallorca. The attacking midfielder never won a major piece of silverware. He was banned for three and a half years for match-fixing and eventually ended his career.

9. Steve Bull

Steve Bull had quite an impressive run with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Due to his goal-scoring exploits, he helped restore the club’s fortunes during a challenging period in its history. Bull scored 306 goals in 561 appearances for Wolves but was only good enough to win titles in the third and fourth tiers.

8. Luigi Di Biagio

Luigi Di Biagio was a part of more than 300 matches, including for Inter Milan and AS Roma. Even then, he didn’t manage to win a single trophy with the top-tier Italian clubs and the Italy national football team.

Runner-up in Serie A (2002-03), runner-up in the Coppa Italia (1999-00), runner-up in the Supercoppa (2000), runner-up in the European Championship with Italy (2000). Appearance maker in the semi-finals of the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

7. Stan Collymore

With his consistent performances in the final third, Stan Collymore became one of English football’s most exciting forwards during the 1990s. Having shown quite impressive performances for Nottingham Forest, Collymore only got to represent the England national football team for just three games.

His move to Liverpool was a massive turning point in his career. He never established a trophy-winning legacy comparable to some of his peers.

6. Rob Lee

He was a Premier League runner-up on two occasions and failed to clinch the FA Cup title despite reaching the final two times between 1996 and 1999.

Rob Lee was known for his work rate, late runs into the box and goalscoring ability, and became a key figure under manager Kevin Keegan. He eventually became a dependable midfielder who is mostly known for his successful spell at Newcastle United.

5. Yildiray Basturk

Yildiray Basturk displayed quality performances in the midfield and was well known for his creativity with the ball. He also knew how to establish control and helped his teammates in the attacking front. The Turkish midfielder enjoyed time at Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha BSC and VfB Stuttgart.

Leverkusen finished as the runners-up behind Borussia Dortmund, and in the same year they lost the DFB-Pokal final against Schalke. In the coming days, they also lost the Champions League final. Yildiray Basturk was also part of the strong Turkish side that finished third at the 2002 World Cup.

4. Matt Le Tissier

He is known as the most technically gifted player to ever play for the English club Southampton. Matt Le Tissier became a cult hero due to his loyalty to his club and country throughout his career.

The trophy he came the closest to securing was the Zenith Data Systems Cup. Southampton battled it out against Nottingham Forest in the final of the competition at Wembley. The Matt Le Tissier and company lost the final by 2-3.

3. Bernd Schneider

Bernd Schneider can be considered one of Germany’s most technically gifted midfielders, who was quite renowned for his creative approach to the game. He spent the majority of his career with the German top-division club, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Schneider might have also created an unwanted record out there without winning a major trophy despite so many appearances for the national team.

The midfield ace ended as a Bundesliga runner-up in the 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 seasons. The same was his story in the DFB-Pokal (2001-02, 2008-09), Champions League (2001-02) and the FIFA World Cup 2002.

2. Giuseppe Signori

Another Italian forward who failed to enjoy a major title during his active days as a player. Despite scoring 283 goals in his club career and scoring 12 times for his country, Giuseppe Signori never won a trophy. His individual record was quite good. Signori bagged the top scorer award in the Italian top division during the first three seasons in the early 1990s.

He spent most of his club career with Lazio and Bologna. Neither of the two clubs enjoyed winning a trophy with the Italian striker.

1. Antonio Di Natale

One of the most inventive Italian forwards of his generation, Antonio Di Natale is best remembered for his time at the Serie A side Udinese. His finishing, unpredictable movement and technical quality is what made him dangerous for his opponents.

Di Natale delivered top performances after turning 30. Between 2009 and 2014, he scored 120 goals. The former Italian footballer won the Capocannoniere award in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Despite his consistent performances, neither his club, Udinese, nor Italy ever won a major piece of silverware.

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