Why are so many British footballers playing in Serie A?

The 1990s felt like a golden age, but there are 21 British players in Serie A this season – more than ever before

By The Football Mine

What do Jimmy Greaves, Ray Wilkins, David Beckham, Paul Gascoigne and Kyle Walker have in common? They all made more than 50 appearances for England as well as playing for Italian clubs. While they are household names, the first Englishman to represent an Italian club is less familiar.

Former soldier Charles Adcock moved to Padova just after the second world war having been spotted playing for the British army. By a strange quirk of fate Adcock never played league football in his own country. After spending a handful of years in Italy, he returned to England in 1953 where he played for non-league Peterborough United.

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