With transfer fees rising and players taking on new initiatives, the past year has forever changed football. Here, theScore ranks the sport’s most influential people of 2017:
25. Charlie Stillitano
Armed with a Rolodex of contacts in the game – from Paolo Maldini to Sir Alex Ferguson and Pele – Charlie Stillitano has emerged as one of football’s leading fixers. The 46-year-old helped stage El Clasico in Miami last summer as part of his world-renowned International Champions Cup, which drew 140 million viewers.
24. Eniola Aluko
English international Eniola Aluko shook the Football Association to its core after sharing accounts of racism and bullying with the press. Aluko’s accusations of abuse against head coach Mark Sampson were initially met with little reaction from the FA. When the time came to dismiss Sampson, the governing body cited separate allegations as the reasoning. Regardless, Aluko’s testimony helped expose the out-of-touch FA.
23. Bradley Lowery
Six-year-old Bradley Lowery captured the hearts of millions as he bravely fought a rare form of cancer. He raised more than £1 million in donations, forged a strong relationship with former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, and served as a mascot for the English national team before passing away in July. …read more