Vinnie Jones Names His Ultimate Hardman XI, Excluding Keane and Vieira

London, England – Vinnie Jones, the former Wimbledon star known for his aggressive playing style, has made waves by naming his ultimate hardman XI.

Jones, a key figure in English football during the late 1980s and 1990s, is recognized for his tough demeanor and infamous incidents on the pitch. In one notable match in 1988, he was involved in a notorious incident where he grabbed an opponent by the groin.

In 2020, Jones was asked to create a starting XI of toughest players, all of whom have since retired. Surprisingly, he did not include football legends Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira in his selection.

For goalkeeper, Jones chose Peter Schmeichel, the Danish legend who is best known for his time at Manchester United. The back four included Julian Dicks from West Ham, Martin Keown from Arsenal, Paul McGrath, who had significant contributions at both Manchester United and Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest‘s Stuart Pearce.

Jones praised Pearce as ‘patriotic and fiercely competitive’ and highlighted Dicks as ‘The Terminator’, which showcases the passion that drives former players like Jones to celebrate their hardman heritage.

In midfield, Jones opted for himself alongside Jimmy Case and Graeme Souness, both known for their grit and determination on the field. Up front, he selected former Hull forward Billy Whitehurst and Everton‘s Duncan Ferguson, representing the quintessential hardman spirit of the game.

Completing the lineup was John Fashanu, an ex-Wimbledon striker. Jones has a deep respect for Fashanu, stating, ‘Ask me one man I’d have in the trenches, and it would be Fash. Who wouldn’t?’ He added that Fashanu was not just tough; he was also skilled, being a black belt in karate.

Jones’ final hardman XI is as follows: Goalkeeper – Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United); Defenders – Julian Dicks (West Ham), Martin Keown (Arsenal), Paul McGrath (Manchester United/Aston Villa), Stuart Pearce (Nottingham Forest); Midfielders – Graeme Souness (Liverpool), Jimmy Case (Liverpool/Southampton), Vinnie Jones (Wimbledon); Forwards – Billy Whitehurst (Hull), Duncan Ferguson (Everton), John Fashanu (Wimbledon).