Lee Dixon

About

Lee is one of England’s greatest ever right-backs. He formed part of the formidable Arsenal defence of the late 1980s, through till 2002. He was capped 22 times for England, scoring once. At the time of his retirement, he had played at 91 out of the 92 Football League grounds – every one except Fulham F.C.’s Craven Cottage. He is also a well-known pundit working for the BBC’s Match of the Day (as well as MotD 2 and 3) and writes a corresponding column for their website.

Lee Dixon began his professional playing career in the lower divisions. On leaving school in 1980, he joined Burnley as an apprentice in 1980, turning professional in 1982, then signed for Chester City, Bury, and later Stoke City.

Dixon was signed by Arsenal boss George Graham in January 1988 following the departure of England right back, Viv Anderson, to Manchester United.

Dixon and Winterburn made the full back positions their own for the next decade or so, while captain Tony Adams and the long-serving David O’Leary operated in the middle. Later in 1988 they were joined by Steve Bould who, like Dixon before him, had been spotted by Graham playing for Stoke City. These five defenders, often playing as a back five together (rather than the conventional back four) were the linchpin of an Arsenal side who became serious challengers for the First Division title the 1988-89 season, an honour which they had not won since 1971 but had looked more and more like winning since Graham’s appointment as Arsenal manager in May 1986.

Dixon made his England debut in April 1990 in a World Cup warm-up game against Czechoslovakia.

By the end of 1991, Dixon had played in eleven internationals, including all of the Euro 92 qualifiers, through which England qualified for the finals in Sweden.

In retirement, Dixon has concentrated on several business interests including the Riverside Brasserie in Bray, Berkshire, originally with his friend Heston Blumenthal. He also works as a regular pundit for the BBC on Match of the Day 2 as well as appearing on Score, and Football Focus.

In 2010 he became “completely hooked” on cycling, and goes riding two or three times a week, after Lawrence Dallaglio persuaded him to take part in the ‘Dallaglio Cycle Slam’ during the Six Nations Championship in February that year, raising money for Sport Relief. They raised over £986,000 for the charity.