JOHN BARNES – PLAYING CAREER

In 1987, John Barnes moved to Liverpool for a reported £900,000. Alongside fellow attackers John Aldridge and Peter Beardsley, the trio had Anfield purring from day one. Over the next few seasons, the team endeavoured to play some of the most entertaining football England had seen. His left foot proved the downfall of many a team as Liverpool took football in this country to new heights, completing a record-equalling 29-game unbeaten run, and ultimately, clinching a 17th league title.

Not even an infamous banana-throwing incident in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park could knock him off key. In true Barnes style, he backheeled the fruit off the pitch.

John’s positive influence on the club’s younger players meant he was the perfect man to succeed Ian Rush as captain in the mid-1990s, with the likes of Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp benefiting from his training.

Unfortunately, by now, injuries were beginning to plague him, and the club were not experiencing many glory days. He led the side out for the 1996 FA Cup final (which they lost), but it was to be his last high-profile game for them. Throughout his years at the club, he made over 400 appearances and won two First Division titles, two FA Cups and the League Cup.

JOHN BARNES – MANAGING CAREER

After stepping down from playing, John took on a manager position. He began his managerial career at Celtic, where he stayed for eight months, before being appointed head coach of the Jamaican national team for one year, and finally Tranmere Rovers for four months.

JOHN BARNES – OUTSIDE FOOTBALL

As well as being an excellent footballer, John was also an accomplished rapper, performing on the ‘Anfield Rap’, Liverpool’s ’96 cup song ‘Pass & Move (It’s the Liverpool Grove)’ and New Order’s ‘World in Motion’. The latter reached number one in the charts and spent 18 weeks in the UK top 75.

Stemmed from the abuse he received whilst playing, John is now a vocal advocate for racial equality in the sport. He experienced racism from the club’s staff, opposition players as well as his own teammates, as well as the infamous banana-throwing incident, where a crowd member through the fruit at him during a match with Everton.

JOHN BARNES – MEDIA CAREER

Since retiring from football management, John can regularly be found presenting and commentating for the likes of Sky News, Channel 5 and ITV, as well as appearing on Question Time where he discussed racism and discrimination off the backs of the George Floyd killing.

He has appeared in a number of popular television shows including Strictly Come Dancing (2007), Waterloo Road (2010), Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank (2001), This Is Your Life (2001), Russell Howard’s Good News (2011), Who Do You Think You Are? (2012) and Celebrity Big Brother (2018).

His first book, John Barnes: The Autobiography was released in 1999, but it was his most recent book that hit the charts. In 2021, he published The Uncomfortable Truth about Racism, a book which explored his personal experiences of racism, as well as the history of racism in the UK. The book ended up in Amazon’s top 50 Discrimination and Racism Studies books.

JOHN BARNES – CORPORATE WORK

John is now a very popular after-dinner and dinner speaker, awards host and conference moderator. An advocate against racial discrimination, his talks are honest, informative and entertaining. When booked as a speaker, you will receive both a legend of football and a true equality warrior.

JOHN BARNES – SPEAKING TOPICS

– Football

– Achieving Goals

– Race and Racism

– Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

– Teamwork and Leadership

– Overcoming Obstacles and Dealing with Adversity

Clients: Hyundai, Mars Bar, Standard Chartered, Lucozade, Vauxhall, Sports Direct, Western Union

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book ex-footballer John Barnes for your corporate event.

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