Footballers don't have a great reputation when it comes to their intelligence - but the stereotype has been kicked out. They obviously preferred being out on the pitch than in the classroom, but many of today's palyers end up leaving school with some rather impressive GCSE results.
Huw Jennings, academy director at Fulham and former youth development manager of the Premier League, explaining that clubs are now looking for a good education from their players, telling the Telegraph : "We can get rid of the old cliche of thick footballers. The value of a broad education is now appreciated by players, clubs and families.
"You can have football intelligence without academic intelligence, but modern footballers are required to take on a lot of information - about tactics, individual opponents and so on - and translate that into decision-making on the pitch. And it's good decision-making that sets the best players apart."
