sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Will Grigg was once voted the 25th best player in Europe ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Jan Oblak
Home>Football>Football News
Updated 21:33 22 Mar 2024 GMTPublished 21:31 22 Mar 2024 GMT

Will Grigg was once voted the 25th best player in Europe ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Jan Oblak

Will Grigg was certainly on fire during the 2015/16 campaign.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

He never made it off the bench for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016 but Will Grigg was voted the 25th best player in Europe after a stellar season in League One.

The Solihull-born striker, who was blessed with one of the catchiest chants of all time in 'Will Grigg's on fire, your defence is terrified', made a real splash during the 2015/16 campaign.

He helped Gary Caldwell's Wigan earn automatic promotion to the Championship after scoring an impressive 25 league goals, finishing as League One's top scorer.

As a result of his fine efforts, Grigg was named alongside some of the world's best after a vote was conducted by journalists from all 55 of UEFA's member associations.

Advert

Those involved submitted a list of their five best-ranked players in Europe and, to the surprise of pretty much everyone, Northern Ireland's number nine was tied on points with then-Manchester United transfer target Paul Pogba.

In fact, his performances earned him a tied 25th place in the initial voting process, which placed him ahead of Kevin De Bruyne, Blaise Matuidi and Jan Oblak.

Seven years on from Grigg's achievement as the only player from outside a major top division to appear on the 37-man list and some fans are only just discovering the slightly bizarre turn of events.

Here's how fans on social media reacted.

One said: "Amazing what happens when you have a half decent song. Nicola Berti was a Ballon D’Or contender in the 90s," while another wrote: "Will Grigg’s on fire hype in 2016 was unbelievable."

A third commented: "He didn't even play at that Euros... that's incredible."

A fourth wrote: "The song gave him status," and a fifth added: "Needs to be on the list this year again for his goal scoring record so far."

Grigg has certainly been on fire for National League side Chesterfield this season.

He has netted 25 league goals for Paul Cook's men, who are flying high at the top of England's fifth tier with 29 wins from a possible 40. The Blues are 21 points ahead of second-place Barnet.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Northern Ireland, Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

'I’ll smash up my next few opponents': Daniel Dubois talks Fury vs Joshua, Jake Paul crossover and avenging Usyk defeatsBrooks Running'I don't want to be missing anymore' - Jamie Vardy drops retirement hint as he talks Netflix documentaryNetflix / Untold UK: Jamie VardyFormer Man Utd No.2 suggests only reason Michael Carrick would not get the full-time jobGetty ImagesVinnie Jones ‘would love’ for rags to riches life story to be made into movie as he talks Netflix documentaryNetflix

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • The United Strand/Instagram
    2 hours ago

    The United Strand's first post after Man Utd draw snatches away chance of haircut this season

    Football can be a cruel, cruel game at times.

    Football
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Iran issue statement on World Cup participation as ultimatum put to FIFA and Trump

    The Iranian Football Federation have reached a verdict.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Man Utd fans decide two players need to go this summer

    Fans have taken to social media to suggest which two players need to leave Manchester United this summer.

    Football
  • Getty
    3 hours ago

    Alvaro Arbeloa has 'confronted' six Real Madrid stars amid brutal nickname reports

    Arbeloa has been at the centre of various dressing room reports coming out of Real Madrid in recent weeks.

    Football
  • Kevin De Bruyne Could ‘Cost’ Napoli Huge Sum in Nightmare Scenario
  • Kevin De Bruyne 'caused' freak training injury to Napoli teammate who had to sit out session
  • Napoli's Scott McTominay vs Kevin De Bruyne battle has 'one guarantee' that will dictate everything as legal clause triggered
  • Kevin De Bruyne names dream Man City XI ahead of final home game for the club and makes one controversial exclusion