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Football Freestyle
Diego Maradona - Where others before him only did simple juggles to
practice their touches on the ball, Maradona took it to the next level. He showed the world what freestyle was all about,
although the term was practically unknown at the time. The things he did with the ball were decades ahead of its time.
He is the inspiration of Mr. Woo which made him want to start freestyling and to become a freestyler. So you could say,
Maradona is the reason football freestyle exists.
Mr. Woo - He is the true pioneer of football freestyle as an art within itself. He has mastery of control over
the ball like no other freestylers. He is also the most famous and well recognized freestyler, as well as the best established
one. Even though he may not be able to do the crazy lower body combos like freestylers of today, his "control" style
routines are second to none.
Abdullah - The King of sitdown tricks, and possibly the best street performer as well (he should be, he makes a living
of it!). His style is second to none as well as his smooth flowing, unthinkable sitdown tricks. Often copied but
never duplicated. He is capable of giving an entire show of only sitdown tricks while others are only capable of making
sitdowns a small part of their performances. Many Japanese freestylers who came onto the scene much later are also famous
for amazing sitdowns, but most seem a bit robotic and forced while Abdullah is purely natural and amazing at the same time.
Soufiane Touzani - Probably the most famous among the freestylers who's videos get sent around the internet. His "Deel
1" is probably THE most famous football freestyle video besides the Mr. Woo half-time performance at the Rangers game.
Being one of the first alongside others such as Nelson de kok to develop the lower combos style, his non-chalant style in
approaching difficult tricks as if they were nothing earns him many fans around the web.
Nelson de Kok - Around the time the lower combos style was first being showcased
to the world as opposed to the "control" style of freestyle which dominated the scene beforehand, Nelson de Kok was among
the best, and still is. He supposedly pioneered "the clock", consecutive around the worlds, which is copied by countless
freestylers around the globe. His robotic, yet perfectly executed style and tricks are admired by many. He is
also a very well established grounds mover.
Palle - Although he appeared on the scene much later than most other freestylers, and has often been criticized
by having a style that is "panic", the kind of tricks he would perform were shocking. He has since much improved his
style and as well, his tricks. Widely regarded as the "best freestyler in the world" by internet goers, he has quickly
gained much fame in this young world which we call freestyle. Tricks that many would sit at home and think up, then
think "no that's impossible, what am I thinking about, no one can do that", Palle would go out there and make those "impossible
tricks", a possibility.
Abbas Farid - Among the generation of "control" style freestylers, he is the best
out of the lot next to Mr. Woo. Being inspired to freestyle after watching the Brazilians in the '98 world cup, he has
shown himself to be a shining star out of many other well established freestylers such as mike delaney, dan magness, rob walters,
and etc. Being perhaps the best "Mr. Woo copy", he definitely deserves a mention.
Nam the Man - He's one of the most athletic freestylers I've seen, and one of the
most creative. There was a time when many freestylers and enthusiasts alike have been bored with old control tricks,
and new combo tricks which appeared to be all the same. Nam and others have broken that little spell of boredom with
new and exciting tricks which inspired more freestylers around the world.
Street Football
Marciano Bouwman - King of all kings. (from akkamagazine!) "[He]
was the first to top everyone. He was the one with the tricks and moves. On the streets everybody wanted to be
Marciano. Marciano was King. The team of Marciano "El Padre" with among others Iwan Esajas, Abdiman Ahannach,
Ricki Uhlenkamp and Regilio Simons was playing the legendary "Kenny Tournaments" in "Sporthal de Piip" in Amsterdam.
Among their fans there were 2 young boys of 14, 15 years old that ultimately would be the one to take streetfootball to another
dimension." (speaking of Edje and Vaantje).
Jermaine "Vaantje" Vanenburg - King of de panna. "As small as
he may be, he was capable of passing the biggest by playing them through the legs" (akkamagazine!). Along with Edward
van Gils and Marciano Bouwman, Vanenburg was one of first to make the step from streetfootball to professional indoor football
(futsal).
Edward "Edje" van Gils - King of de akka. (from akkamagazine!)
"[He] had his own specialty; the Akka. Edward mastered the akka in all its facets. Edward van Gils is also responsible
for many tricks that are used today, as is shown in the game Fifastreet."
Moesi "Moes" Rebel - King of de drag. Moesi along with Bouka were to follow Vaantje
and Edje. Together with the panna, akka, and the drag, the base for streetfootball were formed. (akkamagazine!).
Mourad "Bouka" Boukhari - King of de game. He is the all-rounder. First there
were Vaantje and Edje and Moesi who started the streetfootball movement in Amsterdam and then Boukhari followed soon after
in Rotterdam.
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