Reaching 100 international matches is one of the biggest awards imaginable for any player. Centurion Club is an exclusive, where England has only nine members.
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It’s not uncommon for players to come close to that number these days, but during the famous Billy Wright’s playing career it was practically incredible.
Wright was an important part of England’s history PNA Rota / Getty Images
A center-back who stood at 5’8, Wright was never meant to be a success, and yet during his 20-year career that stretched from 1939 to 1959, he established himself as one of the most iconic figures in Three Lions history.
He got the place in the record books when he set the England record in 1952. Then he only needed 42 meetings to beat Bob Crompton’s 38-year-old record, which should tell you everything you need to know about how ridiculous the idea of Wright hitting 100 was really then.
So on April 11, 1959, when Wright led his side out to Wembley Stadium to earn his 100th cap, you can see why the whole world lost its collective mind.
On this day in 1959, Billy Wright earned his 100th @ England hat in a 1-0 home championship against @ScottishFA ?? #OTD pic.twitter.com/W3dUpgAhP8
– Wolves (@Wolves) May 11, 2018
Wright was not only the first man to hit 100 for England, but he was the first player in the history of football to play for his country 100 times. No one on the planet had ever imagined that day would come.
Truth be told, the match itself was a pretty overwhelming backdrop to such an outrageous feat. A strike from the second half by Sir Bobby Charlton ensured a 1-0 victory in a friendly match, but apart from a little national pride, it was Wright’s achievement that was most exciting.
At the end of the game, Wright was led around the pitch by his teammates, and soon after, he received a CBE (commander of the most excellent order in the British Empire) for his services to football. He was a national hero.
Wright eventually reached 105 international appearances for England, and his national record stood for over a decade before Charlton made it 106 years at the 1970 World Cup.
Before #ThreeLions 1000s international, we look back at ten moments that have shaped our journey so far.
We start with game 3️⃣2️⃣9️⃣ and a milestone for Billy Wright: pic.twitter.com/vLLBluifsE
– England (@England) 13 November 2019
Since Wright’s heyday, his speech has been surpassed by Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Bobby Moore, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and record holder Peter Shilton, who succeeded 125 before hanging up his gloves in 1990.
Even if you ignore the statistics, sharing a spot in England’s history with these players – some of the best who have ever done so – speaks volumes about Wright’s impact on the game and explains why his story deserves to be told.
Wright may have lost his appearance record, but one he still has today is most matches as England captain. His 90 matches with the bracelet make him on a par with the 1966 World Cup hero Moore.
Born #OnThisDay, @Wolves club hero Billy Wright, three-time champion with Midlands outfit and @ England record holder. ?
(Image via @Mirrorpix) https://t.co/NX8wM6IXWx pic.twitter.com/UfQY57YIor
– Nat. Fotbollsmuseum (@FootballMuseum) 6 February 2018
“I decided early on that captain is the art of leadership, not dictatorship,” Wright once revealed of his role. “Respect is the hardest thing for a captain to get past and the easiest thing to lose. I have never changed my mind about this.”
Wright’s leadership style and commitment to England helped make the Wolverhampton Wanderers man one of the most iconic figures in the English game.
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