
As football managers and players gear up for a weekend of matches, teenagers across the UK will be hoping for top marks in their GCSE results. This time of year is a pivotal moment for many students.
Their results can prove to be decisive, particularly for those who have their hearts set on a specific career. Good GCSE grades can lay a strong path, while lesser ones can prove to be obstacles. It's a significant milestone every young person must navigate before reaching adulthood. Even the wealthiest and most successful Premier League footballers have experienced the nerve-wracking moment of opening that dreaded envelope on results day. As students nationwide discover their grades, Express Sport takes a look at how some past and present Premier League stars performed academically.
Wayne RooneyWayne Rooney's future at Everton was mapped out for him before his peers even sat their GCSEs. While other students were contemplating their first year of college, he famously scored an unforgettable 30-yard goal against Arsenal while playing for the Toffees in 2002 at just 16 years old.
His academic results suggest his life could have taken a very different turn had he not become one of the greatest players in English football history. The former Three Lions captain has openly admitted he left school without any qualifications, attributing this to his increasing commitments with Everton around the time he should have been sitting his exams. However, he has recently spoken out against those who label him as unintelligent.
He told BBC Sport: "It's no secret that I didn't even take GCSEs but I think people assume because of that that I'm not educated, which is really wrong. I made a conscious effort when I was at Everton and Manchester United to educate myself in a lot of different things, such as black history and religion.
"The reason I did that was because I wanted to hold conversations with my team-mates who are from different backgrounds. That was something I did to help me with my team-mates and help understand how they have been brought up. That's probably something people don't understand about me."
Regarding footballing intellect, Steven Gerrard towered above most whilst commanding Liverpool's midfield. As a young prodigy, most of Gerrard's focus was dedicated to the pitch rather than academic pursuits.
In terms of his grades, he struggled, securing one C, six Ds and two Es in his GCSE examinations. Nevertheless his leadership qualities were obvious when he was still in primary school, as his former Huyton and Roby Primary School teacher Gillian Morgan, who additionally managed their school football squad, explained in the past.
She said: "The thing I remember most about him was his ability as a leader on the field. I think he started playing for the school team when he was nine years old and even then Steven was always trying to help others."
Gerrard's academic struggles didn't hinder his footballing success, as he concluded his illustrious career with a Champions League triumph, Europa League glory, two FA Cups, three League Cups and 114 England caps.
Frank LampardFrank Lampard was skilled in multiple disciplines, thriving both academically and on the football pitch. The Coventry City boss attended Essex's most historic educational institution, the independent Brentwood School, where he studied alongside future boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. He secured 12 GCSEs at A* or A grades, including an A* in Latin.
Reflecting on his classical studies in a previous interview, Lampard said: "I got an A* in Latin, more through application than talent for Latin, I would say. I don't know how I did it. In terms of application, I was quite a good boy at school. I wanted to do well, I wanted to please my teachers and my parents back home, and Latin was one I think I probably just crammed in a lot of revision at the right time and managed to get an A*, which everyone is so surprised about!"
Marcus RashfordMarcus Rashford might have benefited from GCSE Spanish given his current stint at Barcelona. The England striker departed school with nine GCSEs and continued his education through A-Levels at Sixth Form. Whilst juggling his studies, Louis van Gaal handed him his Manchester United debut, where he netted twice against Danish outfit FC Midtjylland in the Europa League round of 32.
Regardless of his impressive performances for United whilst still a student, a source revealed to the Sun he remained utterly committed to his academic pursuits. The source said: "Marcus is a very level-headed guy and he knows his education is really important. He could have scored 10 goals against Arsenal and it still wouldn't have stopped him coming back into school and working hard."
'Slabhead', as he became fondly dubbed during England's journey to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, has demonstrated his intellectual prowess extends beyond the football pitch. Harry Maguire departed school with exceptional GCSE results.
He secured an impressive haul of A*s and As, particularly distinguishing himself in mathematics according to his teachers. The United centre-back's former deputy head teacher Sue Cain previously suggested he possessed the capability to pursue a successful career in accountancy if football hadn't captured his heart.
She said: "Harry was such a modest lad. He had his head screwed on even at that age. He did everything you asked him to do and he never questioned why. He was popular, and he was huge."
Much like Rashford, Bukayo Saka expertly managed to juggle his footballing commitments alongside his academic aspirations. He departed school to pursue his football career at Arsenal armed with an impressive collection of GCSE results. Reflecting on his school days with the Arsenal website, he said: "My mum and dad always encouraged me. They never stopped me from playing football, they just wanted to see a balance and I was also interested in my education.
"I actually got quite good grades, so they were pleased on that side. I got four A*s and three As in my GCSEs, so I did quite well at school. My favourite lesson was obviously PE, but I also liked business studies a lot, I got an A* in that."
Harry KaneIt's widely known Tottenham Hotspur's record goalscorer Harry Kane supported Arsenal during his childhood years. Nevertheless, he was also an accomplished pupil who excelled in his GCSEs, which he completed at Chingford Foundation School - the same institution David Beckham attended.
The school's former head of PE, Mark Leadon, disclosed Kane successfully passed all his GCSEs and was considered a "model student." Speaking to the East London Guardian, he said: "He was conscientious, behaved himself and was a good all-round sportsman. He never saw himself as a superstar, he just got on with it."
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