5 Players Who Changed The Laws of Football All by Themselves

The rules of football were first codified in 1877 by the Football Association in order for their baby - the FA Cup - to be played in a universal way by all clubs that entered the tournament. Of course, 1877 wasn't the last time the rules were changed.

Penalties weren't introduced until 1891, no clubs made an on-field substitution until 1958 and not a single player was booked until 1970, for example. Football continues to evolve today, with additions such as the introduction of VAR as recently as 2018.

While rule changes have been part and parcel of the game since the first person decided to kick a round object into a goalmouth, they are often made in order to make the sport more exciting - as seen by a major increase in goals scored when England changed to three points for a win in 1981.

That being said, there have been occasions when a single player is responsible for an overhaul in the rules. Here, 90min looks at five footballers who left their stamp on the game by changing the laws of football.

Bill McCracken

Ever been annoyed at the offside rule? Well, Bill McCracken is the man behind it. But without his genius, it could be far worse.

Belfast born McCracken played his entire career at Newcastle United between 1904 and 1924, where he became obsessed with the offside law - which at the time required three players to be between the attacker and the goal.

McCracken lined himself and fellow defender, Frank Hudspeth just over the halfway line, catching forwards out constantly. Other teams followed the example and goals were so sparse that attendances dwindled and the FA stepped in. They changed the rule to only two defenders for the 1925/26 season and the amount of goals doubled. Thank you Bill McCracken.

Jean Marc Bosman

Despite being a painfully average player, everyone who knows football will know the name of Jean Marc Bosman after it was attached to a transfer rule.

The 'Bosman rule' was so called after the Belgian player fought in the European courts for the right to leave his club once his contract expired. A staple of Football Manager saves, Bosman moves weren't a thing until 1995.

Prior to the ruling, once a players contract expired, he was still registered to the club but had no control over his salary. In 1990, Bosman was refused a move and his wages were cut by 75%.

He sued his club and UEFA, winning his case and arguably beginning the era of player power in the sport.

Jimmy Thorpe

Unfortunately, tragedy is often a rule changer, and an often forgotten tragedy was that of former Sunderland goalkeeper Jimmy Thorpe.

Thorpe was killed from injuries sustained in a First Division match against Chelsea on 1 February 1936, when he was kicked in the head and chest by an opposition forward who was attempting to dislodge the ball from Thorpe's hands. He was only 22 at the time.

A very talented goalkeeper, Thorpe left a wife and a three-year old son, whilst his legacy on the sport was that it became illegal to challenge the goalkeeper when the ball was in his hands.

Sunderland won the league that year and his winners medal was presented to his widow, who couldn't afford a headstone for him. Thanks to Thorpe, nobody else would need to endure grief for those reasons.

Jimmy Hill

The maximum wage cap had been a growing issue in football for many years, but in 1961, Jimmy Hill, as head of the PFA finally had it abolished.

At the time, no footballer was allowed to earn more than £20 a week for playing. As things changed and clubs became richer in the advent of TV and European competition, the players felt they were missing out.

Hill rallied the troops and got several high profile people on his side, including former supporter of maximum wage, Sir Stanley Matthews.

After many years of trying, Hill arranged a strike of Football League players and the FA gave in when the fans sided with their heroes. The maximum wage was scrapped, and Johnny Haynes became the first £100 a week player later that year.

Bruce Grobbelaar/Peter Schmeichel

The backpass rule is a fairly new one in the grand scheme of things. until as recently as 1992, a goalkeeper could pick up a ball that was passed to him along the floor.

This led to all sorts of mind numbing time wasting tactics employed by defences, the worst of which was Liverpool's in the 1980's who relied on Grobbelaar holding onto the ball for the last ten minutes of matches.

The final straw came at Euro 92, as Denmark surprised everyone by winning the tournament. Their main tactic? Laudrup would put them ahead, and Schmeichel would hold onto the ball for as long as possible after that.

When the Premier League began in 1992, the FA decided to abolish back passes - and the goals kept coming long into stoppage time. Funny that Schmeichel's tactic to win Euro 92 created Fergie time...