Top five best referees in football history

Referees have one of the most difficult role in sports.

The most underappreciated figures in the history of the sport have undoubtedly been the referees, who are constantly at the negative end of widespread criticism for their poor performances and rarely showered with praise at times of exceptional displays.

Owing to the magnitude of the task at hand, the referees make sure that the matches are officiated according to the set rules to ensure a fair end result.

With that said, here are the top five best referees in football history:

5. Mark Clattenburg (England)

In a career spanning almost three decades (1990–2019) in the business, Mark Clattenburg was a contentious personality among worldwide football fan bases, where some adored him while others were critical of his performances. Irrespective of the fan perspectives, he was completely trusted by organizations to be in charge of the most high-stakes games globally.

However, one of the most infamous incidents surrounding him that caught fire was his shocking admission during the eventual title-deciding 2016 Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham.

In one of the craziest matches in Premier League history, Clattenburg opted to restrain from using his red card, even for reckless challenges throughout the 2-2 draw, which ultimately crowned Leicester City as champions of the 2015-16 season, as he didn’t want to be blamed for costing them the title.

He has taken control of more than 250 Premier League matches, along with stints in Saudi Arabia and China, during the twilight of his professional career. Mark Clattenburg was also the main official overseeing the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France.

4. Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

In a career spanning ten years (2007–2017) in the industry, Nicola Rizzoli’s highlight was when he was entrusted with one of the biggest responsibilities in world football: officiating the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, where the former emerged victorious. He was also a part of the official referees’ body for the 2016 UEFA European Championships.

Throughout his career, Rizzoli primarily took charge of Serie A games, where he was well renowned for his incredible management skills and composed authority during big matches. Due to his consistently great performances, Nicola Rizzoli won seven consecutive AIC Serie A Referee of the Year Awards between 2011 and 2017.

3. Howard Webb (England)

Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb announced his retirement from officiating in 2014, bringing an end to a successful 25-year refereeing career (1989–2014) in the sport.

Primarily in charge of Premier League games, Webb was widely recognised for his authoritative and assured approach to matches, which earned him the opportunity to officiate several high-stakes encounters throughout his career, notably the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich and subsequently the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and the Netherlands.

This made him the first referee ever to be in charge of the Champions League and World Cup finals in the same calendar year. Due to his incredible achievement, Howard Webb was named FIFA’s 2010 Referee of the Year.

2. Markus Merk (Germany)

One of the best referees in the history of the sport is German official Markus Merk, who at one point in his career was the record-holder for refereeing the most number of Bundesliga games.

In his 23-year illustrious career (1985–2008), Merk primarily officiated in the Bundesliga, where he became their youngest-ever referee to be in charge of a match at just the age of 25.

Due to his outstanding performances, Markus Merk was a six-time winner of the German Referee of the Year award and a three-time winner of the coveted FIFA’s Best Referee of the Year award, cementing his legacy in the archives forever.

1. Pierluigi Collina (Italy)

Arguably the greatest referee of all time, Pierluigi Collina revolutionised the notion of respect from players during his legendary career (1988–2006), as his assertive and no-nonsense approach on the pitch made him a commanding figure that dealt with every given situation with the utmost confidence and clarity.

Primarily in charge of Serie A games, Collina’s involvement at the 2002 World Cup made him a global sensation owing to his unique officiating style in matches.

As a result of this fame, renowned brand Konami launched their immensely popular PES 3 (Pro Evolution Soccer) game, with Pierluigi Collina serving as the face of the video game, an added testament to his iconic status in the world of football.

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