There have been several football players with glasses who have enjoyed their careers more despite having bad eyesight.
A number of them built successful careers before ending their careers, both in the early days and today in Football history.
Football players with glasses are always easy to spot on the pitch, and wearing glasses has given them an advantage, allowing them to enjoy their game more.
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Football Players With Glasses
So many names come to mind, including the legendary Edgar Davis, who remains the pioneer of Football today.
It is nothing new when the fans see football players with glasses on the pitch, as it has been the norm for ages.
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However, these kinds of players tend to have short careers, as the game has become very demanding over the years.
Football players with glasses are rare in today’s game, and many opt for more advanced eye lens options.
5: Rinus Israël
He is one of the football players with glasses who had a wonderful career both as a player before becoming a coach.
Rinus Israël, also known as Marinus David Israël, was a prominent figure in Dutch football during his era of football.
His career spanned both playing and coaching despite having to play with glasses due to issues with his sight.
He played as a Defender, earning himself the nickname “IJzeren Rinus” (Iron Rinus) for his tough playing style.
He played for several Dutch clubs during his career, including AFC DWS, Feyenoord, Excelsior Rotterdam, and PEC Zwolle.
He also enjoyed playing for the national team, earning 47 caps for the Netherlands national team, scoring 3 goals.
Rinus Israël made a name for himself before he decided to retire, and today, he is 82 years old.
His mark as one of the football players with glasses is forever in the hearts of many who watched him play at his peak.
4: Joop Van Daele
He was born on August 14, 1947, and is a former Dutch footballer and manager who made a significant mark on the sport.
His career was defined by his success despite his issues with bad sight and his contributions to Feyenoord’s golden era. Van Daele joined Feyenoord’s youth setup in 1960.
Van Daele played a pivotal role in Feyenoord’s golden era, winning numerous trophies that marked the club’s success.
He demonstrated his skills as a midfielder and one of the football players with glasses during their career.
Despite being one of the football players with glasses, he did not give up on his career, and he went on to become a coach.
3: Alex Song
He was born Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong in 1987 and carved a successful career as a central midfielder.
He was known for his strength, tackling prowess, and ability to control the game’s tempo while achieving success.
At a point in his career, he became one of the football players with glasses who had to carry on playing despite sight issues.
Song began his youth career with SC Bastia in France, initially representing French youth teams before switching allegiance to Cameroon.
In 2004, he joined Arsenal as a teenager, impressing with his raw talent. Song had loan stints at SC Bastia and Charlton Athletic.
His loan move gained him experience before establishing himself in Arsenal’s first team around 2008.
Under manager Arsène Wenger, Song became a key defensive midfielder, forming a strong partnership with Cesc Fàbregas and Samir Nasri.
During his time at Arsenal, Song won an FA Cup title in 2010 and was a vital part of the team that consistently challenged for the Premier League title.
In 2012, Song made a high-profile move to Barcelona for a reported fee of €19 million, becoming one of the most expensive African footballers.
2: Annibale Frossi
He was an Italian footballer and manager who was born in 1911 and passed away in 1999.
His career can be understood through two distinct lenses: his playing days and his innovative yet controversial managerial approach.
Frossi began his professional career with Udinese in 1930, showcasing his talent as a left winger despite needing to wear glasses due to myopia (nearsightedness).
While his glasses presented a disadvantage in aerial battles, Frossi’s skill and determination shone through. He helped Udinese achieve promotion to Serie B.
Frossi’s talent caught the eye of legendary coach Vittorio Pozzo, who selected him for the 1936 Olympic Games.
Frossi silenced his doubters, becoming the tournament’s top scorer with a remarkable seven goals in four games, helping Italy win the gold medal.
After the Olympics, Annibale Frossi played for several Italian clubs, including Inter Milan, but only partially replicated his Olympic success.
After retiring from playing, Frossi transitioned into management. He is credited with creating the 5-4-1 formation, emphasizing a defensive approach with five defenders and four midfielders.
Frossi’s tactics laid the groundwork for the infamous “catenaccio” (door-bolt) defensive strategy, which dominated Italian football in the later decades.
While his approach was innovative, it was only sometimes embraced. Inter Milan famously sacked him despite winning most matches due to the perceived negative style of play.
Frossi managed numerous Italian clubs throughout his career with varying degrees of success.
Many would refer to him as the father of football players with glasses, as his eye condition from birth required him to wear the accessory while playing.
1: Edgar Davids
He is a notable former player who was known as one of the football players with glasses during his active career.
Edgar Davids, born in 1973, was a Dutch footballer who carved a distinctive path through the sport despite being disadvantaged.
Known for his relentless energy, tough tackling, and iconic dreadlocks paired with protective glasses, Davids left his mark on some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Davids began his journey at the famed Ajax academy, honing his skills and developing his trademark tenacity.
He graduated to the Ajax senior team in the early 1990s, forming a formidable midfield partnership with Clarence Seedorf.
Under coaches Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruyff, Davids played a key role in Ajax’s golden era, winning numerous trophies.
In 1996, Davids sought a new challenge, joining the Italian giant AC Milan. While his time there was successful, injuries hampered his playing time.
A move to Juventus in 1997 proved to be a defining moment. Partnered with midfield maestro Zinedine Zidane, Davids became a vital cog in a dominant Juve side, winning titles.
A brief loan spell at Barcelona followed in 2004, but injuries continued to disrupt his rhythm. Davids played well into his thirties, featuring for Crystal Palace in England before becoming player-manager at Barnet in League Two.
Injuries eventually forced him to retire in 2014 at the age of 37. Davids was a mainstay for the Netherlands national team, accumulating 74 caps and featuring in the 1998 World Cup and three European Championships.
A fierce competitor and vocal leader, David’s presence on the pitch inspired his teammates to always want to do more while playing.
Edgar Davids is notable to this day for his uniqueness and for being another football player with glasses who went on to succeed.
