Happy Birthday to you! - WORLD FOOTBALL
 |
| Getty Images |
In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.
20. Lars Jacobsen (36) represented Denmark at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and at UEFA EURO 2012. The energetic right-back began his career with Odense, where he won the Danish second division title and lifted the Danish Cup, prior to joining Hamburg. Upon returning to his homeland, he enjoyed three league-winning seasons with Copenhagen. The influential defender later starred for Nuremberg, Everton, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United. In 2011, he re-signed for Copenhagen, going on to win two further Danish Championships and a Danish Cup. At the beginning of last season, Jacobsen put pen to paper with French outfit Guingamp.
21. Jon McKain (33) was part of the Australian team that captured the 2004 OFC Nations Cup and competed in the 2004 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament and the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. As a younger man, the centre-back played at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup. After starting out with Brisbane Strikers, he exported his defensive skills to Romania, where he wore the jerseys of National Bucharest and Politehnica Timisoara. McKain then retraced his steps to sign for A-League side Wellington Phoenix, before enjoying spells with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr and Adelaide United. The Australian international recently committed himself to Malaysian club Kelantan.
22. Maarten Stekelenburg (33) was the Netherlands’ last line of defence at South Africa 2010, where the Oranje fell at the final hurdle versus Spain. The talented goalkeeper was also part of the Dutch squad at the 2001 U-20 World Cup, Germany 2006, EURO 2008 and EURO 2012. He rose to prominence with Ajax, with whom he clinched two Eredivisie titles, three Dutch Cups and four Dutch Super Cups. Stekelenburg later donned the colours of Roma, Fulham, Monaco and current club Southampton.
23. Masashi Nakayama (48) inspired Japan to reach their first-ever World Cup, at France 1998, and then scored his country’s first goal at the tournament proper against Jamaica. Four years later, on home soil, the clinical attacker made one further appearance at the prestigious competition, in the Samurai Blue’s victory over Russia. In addition, he and his team-mates reached the final of the 2001 Confederations Cup against France and held aloft the 1992 AFC Asian Cup. At club level, he remained a loyal servant of Jubilo Iwata for the best part of two decades, during which time he picked up three J. League titles, an Emperor’s Cup, a Japanese League Cup, three Japanese Super Cups, an AFC Champions League crown and an Asian Super Cup. In 2010, Nakayama moved to Consadole Sapporo. The prolific striker twice topped the J. League scoring charts, and was named J. League Player of the Year in 1998.
24. Hussain Ghuloum (46) helped United Arab Emirates to their first and thus far only World Cup, at Italy 1990, where he took part in his country’s three group-stage matches. The left winger also participated in the Asian Cups of 1988 and 1992, finishing fourth at the latter tournament.
25. Nikola Zigic (35) competed for Serbia at Germany 2006, where he notched a goal against Côte d'Ivoire, and at South Africa 2010, where he made three appearances. The commanding front man made his name at Red Star Belgrade, claiming two successive league and cup doubles with the Serbian heavyweights. A move to Spain saw him turn out for Racing Santander and then Valencia, with whom he lifted the Copa del Rey. Zigic was subsequently transferred to Birmingham City, his present club.
26. Uwe Bein (55) took part in Italy 1990 with West Germany, spurring his nation on to a third global crown by scoring a goal against UAE and playing in four out of seven matches. The gifted midfielder spent the majority of his career with Bundesliga clubs such as Cologne, Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, but he also ventured abroad for two seasons in the mid-1990s, showcasing his skills with Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds.