Tallest Football Players in England & Europe
Football is a game that can be decided by the narrowest of margins. It’s a sport that requires a combination of technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical attributes. One attribute that can make a difference is the height of a player. Having a 6 foot 10” defender who towers over the opposition strikers could be the difference at corners. Likewise, if your forward towers over defenders, your team has more of a goal threat at set pieces. This article reveals the tallest football players that grace the beautiful game.
In football, having a tall player(s) can give that 1% advantage that can be the difference between winning and losing. Height boosts goalkeepers’ reach and range, enhancing their ability to intercept high-flying balls. This advantage is mirrored in defenders, who easily clear dangerous set pieces. Height bestows the team an extra layer of security, making them formidable opponents.
Tall forwards present a distinct challenge for adversaries. Out-jumping and out-muscling opponents during aerial duels, they score vital goals, often through headers. This prowess makes them sought-after assets when football betting, as they consistently deliver thrilling performances and often score with headers. If the player is a defender who scores, their odds are usually much higher than forward players, which means better returns.
| Tallest Players in the Premier League (1.95m & Higher) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Born | Height | Position |
| Dan Burn | Newcastle | 09/05/1992 | 201 cm | DF |
| Fraser Forster | Tottenham | 17/03/1988 | 201 cm | GK |
| Jannik Vestergaard | Leicester City | 03/08/1992 | 199 cm | DF |
| Wayne Hennessey | Nottingham Forest | 24/01/1987 | 198 cm | GK |
| Arthur Okonkwo | Arsenal FC (on loan at Sturm Graz) | 09/09/2001 | 198 cm | GK |
| Nick Pope | Newcastle | 19/04/1992 | 198 cm | GK |
| Illan Meslier | Leeds United | 02/03/2000 | 197 cm | GK |
| Isaac Price | Everton FC | 26/09/2003 | 197 cm | MF |
| Robert Sánchez | Brighton & Hove Albion | 18/11/1997 | 197 cm | GK |
| Reece Welch | Everton FC | 19/09/2003 | 197 cm | DF |
| Tosin Adarabioyo | Fulham FC | 24/09/1997 | 196 cm | DF |
| Jack Butland | Crystal Palace (on loan at Manchester United) | 10/03/1993 | 196 cm | GK |
| Tyrone Mings | Aston Villa | 13/03/1993 | 196 cm | DF |
| Jakub Ojrzyński | Liverpool FC | 19/02/2003 | 196 cm | GK |
| Robin Olsen | Aston Villa | 08/01/1990 | 196 cm | GK |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 21/07/2000 | 195 cm | ST |
| Alphonse Aréola | West Ham United | 27/02/1993 | 195 cm | GK |
| Willy Boly | Nottingham Forest | 03/02/1991 | 195 cm | DF |
| Billy Koumetio | Liverpool FC | 14/11/2002 | 195 cm | DF |
| Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 02/09/1992 | 195 cm | GK |
| Joel Matip | Liverpool FC | 08/08/1991 | 195 cm | DF |
| Yerry Mina | Everton FC | 23/09/1994 | 195 cm | DF |
| Rhys Williams | Liverpool FC | 03/02/2001 | 195 cm | DF |
Dan Burn – Centre-Back – 6ft 5.9’ (2.01m) – Newcastle United
Professional footballer Dan Burn is a defender who currently competes for Newcastle United. He is renowned for being exceptionally tall, which offers him a significant edge on the field. Burn is one of the tallest football players currently playing in the professional league, standing an amazing 6’7″ (or 2.01 meters).
He can command the air due to his height, especially during set pieces and aerial battles. Burn is a significant asset to any side because of his enormous size in the box, which enables him to win headers and clearances easily. His height can also make it challenging for rival teams to manoeuvre around him, which limits their ability to create scoring opportunities.
As you can see from Dan Burn’s stats below, it is in the air that the 30-year-old is most effective. During his time with Birmingham in the 2013/14 season, the defender won a remarkable 5.4 aerial battles on average over 90 minutes.
| Dan Burn’s Season Stats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Tournament | Apps | Mins | Goals | Assists | Yel | Red | SpG | PS% | AerialsWon | MotM | Rating |
| Newcastle | EFLC | 6 | 516 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 81.4 | 2.3 | – | 6.91 |
| Newcastle | EPL | 29(1) | 2547 | – | – | 5 | – | 0.4 | 78.3 | 2.3 | 1 | 6.78 |
| Brighton | EFLC | 2 | 136 | – | – | – | – | 0.5 | 84.2 | 2 | – | 6.64 |
| Brighton | EPL | 12(1) | 1023 | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0.5 | 81.8 | 2.5 | – | 6.80 |
| Brighton | EPL | 12(1) | 1023 | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0.5 | 81.8 | 2.5 | – | 6.80 |
| Newcastle | EPL | 16 | 1440 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 0.7 | 78.3 | 4.3 | – | 6.98 |
| Brighton | EPL | 23(4) | 2060 | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0.6 | 75.6 | 3.6 | 3 | 6.75 |
| Brighton | EPL | 33(1) | 2881 | – | – | 5 | – | 0.4 | 74.1 | 4.1 | 2 | 6.90 |
| Wigan | EC | 13(1) | 1214 | – | – | 3 | – | 0.7 | 68.8 | 4.4 | 1 | 6.67 |
| Wigan | EC | 39(3) | 3549 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0.4 | 68.8 | 4.4 | 4 | 7.11 |
| Fulham | EC | 28(4) | 2561 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 0.3 | 70.1 | 4.5 | 3 | 7.08 |
| Fulham | EC | 20 | 1800 | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0.6 | 76.1 | 4.3 | 3 | 7.30 |
| Birmingham | EC | 23(1) | 2033 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 0.7 | 66.3 | 5.4 | 5 | 7.70 |
| Fulham | EPL | 6(3) | 605 | – | – | – | – | 0.4 | 68.8 | 2.3 | – | 6.51 |
| Total / Average | – | 269 | 22365 | 5 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 0.5 | 73.3 | 3.9 | 22 | 7.00 |
At 6’7″ you’d imagine Burn would own a pretty large car to get to the club and back. Therefore, his choice of a Smart car is a surprising one and invokes images of a circus with clowns getting out of tiny cars! However, joking aside, his choice of car matches his personality, as Burn always seems down to earth and humble.
Fraser Forster – Goalkeeper – 6ft 7” (2.01m) – Tottenham
Fraser Forster, an imposing figure, stands tall at a towering height of 6’7″ (2.01 meters). Born on March 17, 1988, in Hexham, England, he was always destined to become a professional goalkeeper. He demonstrated early promise and joined Newcastle United’s youth system to develop his skills.
Forster went on several loan spells to clubs like Stockport County, Bristol Rovers, and Norwich City, gaining valuable experience. In 2010, Celtic took notice and secured a loan deal for him. Eventually, a permanent transfer followed in 2012. He significantly impacted at his time in Scotland, winning multiple league titles, Scottish Cups, and Scottish League Cups. His stellar performances in the UEFA Champions League earned him the nickname “The Great Wall.”
Southampton spotted Forster’s talent and secured his transfer in 2014. He quickly established himself in the English Premier League, earning a reputation for his remarkable shot-stopping ability. In 2014, he set a new club record by keeping a clean sheet for 708 minutes. His talents garnered recognition, leading to England call-ups. Making his international debut in 2013, he represented his country on multiple occasions.
However, injuries have plagued Forster’s career, causing him to face long spells on the sidelines. He struggled to maintain first-choice status at Southampton due to tough competition from other goalkeepers. In 2019, he secured a loan move back to Celtic and regained his form, helping the team win another league title.
His transfer to Tottenham allowed him to compete at the highest level with a club with ambitious goals. As a valuable addition to the team, Fraser’s extensive experience and abilities are expected to challenge for the first-choice goalkeeper position. Fans are hopeful for his continued success.
Fraser Forster has saved four of the last eight penalties he's faced in the #PL 🧤#TOTNFO pic.twitter.com/PLDcWcLlUe
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 12, 2023
Off the field, Forster has pursued charitable endeavours as an ambassador for the Saints Foundation, Southampton’s charity organisation. In addition, he supports various initiatives that help improve lives in the local community. He engages with fans and presents a positive image for the club and the sport.
As Tottenham’s number one keeper, Hugo Lloris was replaced at half-time in their 6-1 hammering by Newcastle at the weekend, Forster may have a few games to claim the number one spot at Spurs.
Robert Sánchez – Goalkeeper – 6ft 4.6’ (1.97m) – Brighton & Hove Albion
Hailing from Cartagena, Spain, Robert Sánchez was born in 1997. His football odyssey commenced in Levante’s youth system before transitioning to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015. Numerous loan spells, including Forest Green Rovers, Rochdale, and AFC Wimbledon, were instrumental in refining his skills and instilling confidence.
Sánchez’s big break arrived in the 2020-2021 season with Brighton. His Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur led to his first-choice goalkeeper status. He exudes a commanding presence at 6’6″ (1.98 meters), displaying swift reflexes and exceptional shot-stopping prowess. His accomplishments secured a Spanish national team call-up, earning his first cap in a 2021 World Cup qualifier match. Sánchez’s future shines brightly as a linchpin for the national team.
Tyrone Mings – Centre-Back – 6ft 4.3’ (1.96m) – Aston Villa
Born on March 13, 1993, Tyrone Mings boasts an illustrious football career as a central defender in the English Premier League. Mings initiated his professional journey at Ipswich Town in 2012, amassing 49 appearances and two assists.
In 2015, he signed with AFC Bournemouth, entering the Premier League. Despite a severe knee injury, Mings made 17 appearances and contributed one assist for the Cherries. A turning point came in January 2019 when Mings joined Aston Villa on loan. His defensive skills and aerial prowess were crucial for the club’s promotion to the Premier League. Afterwards, Aston Villa signed Mings permanently in 2019.
Mings has since been vital to Aston Villa, with over 100 appearances and six goals as of April 2023. His remarkable performances have led to England national team call-ups, representing his country multiple times.
Erling Haaland – Centre-Forward – 6ft 3.9’ (1.95m) – Manchester City
Erling Haaland, born on July 21, 2000, in Leeds, England, is a Norwegian professional footballer whose goalscoring skills have made him one of the world’s most remarkable forwards. Standing tall at 6’4″ (1.94m), Haaland’s towering stature, his explosive speed, technical finesse, and clinical finishing ability pose a daunting challenge for defenders.
Haaland’s rise to stardom began in 2017 when he joined Norwegian club Molde FK under the tutelage of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He swiftly made a name for himself with 12 goals in 25 appearances, attracting interest from European clubs. He eventually signed with Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019, where his potential shone through, scoring a staggering 29 goals in 27 appearances, including a hattrick on his Champions League debut.
Haaland’s impressive performances at Salzburg led to a transfer to German giants Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, where he continued to dazzle with his scoring prowess. In his very first Bundesliga debut against Augsburg, Haaland needed only 23 minutes to score three goals, thus smashing Joel Pohjanpalo’s record for the quickest hattrick with Bayer Leverkusen. His incredible scoring made him the first player ever to score seven times in his first three matches, eight in his opening five, and nine in his first six games.
Haaland finished his first full season of Bundesliga football with 27 goals in just 28 appearances, thus becoming the youngest and quickest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals on Matchday 13 of the 2021/22 campaign. But that’s not all – he also shattered Kylian Mbappe’s record for most Champions League goals before age 21 while surpassing Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the highest-scoring Norwegian in the competition.
He quickly formed a formidable partnership with Jadon Sancho and scored over 90 goals in more than 100 appearances for the club.
Haaland’s consistent goalscoring exploits caught the attention of top clubs, leading to a transfer to Manchester City.
Upon joining Manchester City, Haaland adapted effortlessly to the Premier League’s style of play under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. He formed a potent attacking force with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, demonstrating his exceptional talent and ability to score goals in a short period.
Destiny is 𝗔𝗟𝗟 🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/7yQuzq9muR
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) April 20, 2023
Not surprisingly, Haaland’s performances have drawn comparisons to some of the Premier League’s greats like Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, and Sergio Aguero, with his goalscoring records highlighting a promising future in the league.
If Haaland continues on this trajectory, there is little doubt that he will etch his name among the football elite and shatter records. As you can see from his stats below (correct as of 24/04/2023), the records will tumble if the giant stays fit.
| Erling Haaland Season Stats (24/04/2023) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament | Apps | Mins | Goals | Assists | Yel | Red | SpG | PS% | AerialsWon | MotM | Rating |
| Champions League | 8 | 579 | 12 | 1 | – | – | 4.1 | 79.1 | 1.3 | 2 | 7.79 |
| Premier League | 27(1) | 2235 | 32 | 5 | 5 | – | 3.4 | 75.5 | 1.3 | 6 | 7.57 |
| UEFA Nations League B Norway | 6 | 501 | 6 | 1 | – | – | 3.2 | 65.4 | 1.5 | 2 | 7.38 |
| League Cup | 1(1) | 107 | 1 | – | – | – | 1.5 | 83.3 | 0.5 | – | 6.74 |
| Community Shield | 1 | 90 | – | – | – | – | 3 | 77.8 | – | – | 6.20 |
| FA Cup | 2 | N/A | 3 | N/A | – | – | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | – |
| Total / Average | 47 | 3512 | 54 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3.4 | 75.2 | 1.2 | 10 | 7.51 |
Haalands success does come at a cost for Premier League betting fans, as his odds in the goalscoring market are often so low that it is not worth the risk to back him as a significant stake is needed to see a decent return.
“Haaland is such a machine that he has become almost unbackable in the betting market. He was priced at just 5/1 to score a hattrick in the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United. ” – Luke Andrews, Betting Expert – UK Market.
In the potential title decider this week against Arsenal on Wednesday, bet365 are pricing him at 10/1 to score three or more. Another reason not to back him in the hattrick market is that his manager, Pep Guardiola, often takes him off after he has scored two goals, much to the annoyance of those punters who have backed him to score a hat trick.
Tallest Football Players in Europe
Of course, England doesn’t have a monopoly on tall players and many ‘giant’ footballers ply their trade abroad. Here are some of the tallest footballers playing in Europe.
Thibaut Courtois – Goalkeeper – 6ft 5.6’ (2m) – Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Real Madrid and the Belgium national team. He began his career with Genk and won the Belgian Pro League with the club.
He has won the Premier League Golden Glove, three Ricardo Zamora Trophies, and was named the third-best goalkeeper of the decade by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
Courtois played for Chelsea and helped them win the league title, but he later moved to Real Madrid, where he won another league title and played a crucial role in their Champions League triumph.
Courtois has proven his worth, silencing sceptics who have questioned his place among the elite. His outstanding season last year showcased his exceptional talent. With 58 saves in the Champions League, he outshone Gerónimo Rulli by 17 saves and Alisson by 43. In the final, he made nine saves, while Alisson managed only 15 across 13 games.
Courtois’ 58 saves in 13 Champions League games surpass Ederson’s 57 saves in 37 Premier League matches. He stopped 80% of on-target shots in the Champions League, boasting the best save success rate in the competition. In addition, his clean sheet count of five remains unmatched by any other goalkeeper. As a vital element of Real Madrid, he thrives even when the team doesn’t dominate possession like their counterparts.
🤍 Thibaut Courtois kissing the Real Madrid badge at half-time in front of Chelsea fans who booed him during the match. pic.twitter.com/qZCp46L24q
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) April 24, 2023
He has also played for the Belgium national team and won the Golden Glove at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Giorgi Mamardashvili – Goalkeeper – 6ft 4.6’ (1.97m) – Valencia
Giorgi Mamardashvili is a professional Georgian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Valencia CF in La Liga and the Georgian national team. He was born on September 29, 2000, in Tiflis, Georgia.
Mamardashvili began his football career at Dinamo Tbilisi’s youth academy in 2012 and later joined Rustavi on loan for the 2019 season. He made his senior debut for Rustavi on March 2, 2019, in a 4-1 away loss against Locomotive Tbilisi. During Rustavi’s campaign in the UEFA Europa League in 2020, Mamardashvili caught the attention of Spanish scouts.
In 2021, Mamardashvili joined Valencia CF on a one-year loan deal, which was later made permanent until 2024 with an option for another year. During the 2021-22 La Liga season, he participated in 18 league matches and kept eight clean sheets. In addition, he was named in La Liga’s symbolic team of the week twice during the season.
Mamardashvili debuted for the Georgian senior national team on September 2, 2021, in a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria. He was included in the Team of the Week after round 5 of the UEFA Nations League and played in all three of Georgia’s Nations League matches in the 2021-22 season. Mamardashvili has shown great potential as a goalkeeper and is highly regarded by Valencia.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Goalkeeper – 6ft 4.3’ (1.96m) – PSG
Gianluigi Donnarumma, born on February 25, 1999, is an Italian professional footballer who has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the best goalkeepers in world football. He began his career with AC Milan in 2015, making his debut at the age of 16, becoming the second-youngest goalkeeper ever to play in Serie A.
Donnarumma has since broken numerous records, including becoming the youngest Italian goalkeeper to play for the U21 team when he debuted in 2016. He also holds the record for the youngest player to make 100 appearances for AC Milan, achieving this milestone at just 21 years old.
Donnarumma’s impressive performances with AC Milan earned him a call-up to the Italian national team. He debuted at 17 years and 189 days old, becoming the youngest-ever goalkeeper to represent Italy. He played a crucial role in Italy’s victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, earning the title of Player of the Tournament. Donnarumma kept clean sheets in both the semi-finals and the finals and also saved two penalties in the penalty shoot-out against England in the final, further cementing his place as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Pronti per ricominciare 🧤 Let's 𝗚𝗢! #Azzurri 🇮🇹#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/8A9xVzF1uM
— GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (@donnarumma) March 20, 2023
Following his success with both AC Milan and the Italian national team, Donnarumma agreed to join French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. He transferred to PSG after making 251 appearances for AC Milan in all competitions. While he is highly regarded for his fundamental skills, such as agility and composure, he has been cited for needing improvement in his ball control and distribution skills.
Niklas Süle – Centre-Back – 6ft 3.9’ (1.95m) – Borussia Dortmund
Born on September 3, 1995, in Frankfurt, Germany, Niklas Süle shines as a German football player. He plays centre-back for Bayern Munich and the German national team.
Süle started at Rot-Weiss Walldorf in his youth career. He then joined Eintracht Frankfurt’s youth academy. Hoffenheim recruited him in 2010. At 18, he made his senior debut in 2013. Süle quickly became essential for Hoffenheim. He helped the team achieve their first UEFA Champions League qualification in the 2017-18 season.
Bayern Munich spotted his talent and signed him in 2017. Süle has since shown his worth, securing five Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokal cups, and the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League. He joined the German national team in 2016. Süle contributed to their 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup win and played in Russia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Standing at 6’5″, Süle is one of the Bundesliga’s tallest players. He excels in defensive skills, tackling, and ball composure. Unfortunately, in 2019, he faced a severe knee injury, sidelining him for months. Despite this setback, Süle remains crucial for Bayern Munich and the German national team.
Tammy Abraham – Centre-Forward 6ft 3.6’ (1.94m) – Roma
Born on October 2, 1997, in London, England, Tammy Abraham excels as an English football player. He plays as a striker for AS Roma in the Italian Serie A and the England national team. Abraham started his youth career at Chelsea. He made his senior debut for the club in 2016, at the age of 18. He then experienced loan spells with Bristol City, Swansea City, and Aston Villa. During these loans, he showcased his goalscoring prowess. He helped Aston Villa win promotion to the Premier League in the 2018-19 season.
In the 2019-20 season, Abraham returned to Chelsea. He became a regular starter, scoring 15 goals across competitions. One highlight was a hattrick against Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, new signings and a change in playing style under manager Thomas Tuchel reduced his playing time the next season.
if Roma win the Europa League, Tammy Abraham will be the first ever player to win all three European Cups! pic.twitter.com/RLG2ahsPeG
— ً (@elsdawg) April 20, 2023
In August 2021, Abraham signed a five-year contract with AS Roma. He joined the club on a permanent transfer. He made his Serie A debut for Roma in September 2021 and has scored several goals since then. Last season, Abraham had a great season, scoring 17 goals and making four assists in 36 league starts for Roma. However, as you can see in the table below, the Englishman has failed to have the same impact this season under Jose Mourinho.
| Tammy Abraham 2023 Tournament Stats | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament | Apps | Mins | Goals | Assists | Yel | Red | SpG | PS% | AerialsWon | MotM | Rating |
| Serie A | 21(9) | 1837 | 7 | 3 | 2 | – | 1.8 | 68.6 | 2 | 1 | 6.79 |
| Europa League | 7(4) | 613 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 1.5 | 66.2 | 2.5 | 1 | 6.66 |
| UEFA Nations League A England | 1 | 65 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 83.3 | 1 | – | 6.11 |
| Coppa Italia | 1(1) | N/A | – | N/A | – | – | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | – |
| Total / Average | 44 | 2515 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1.7 | 68.3 | 2.1 | 2 | 6.74 |
Abraham has represented the England national team since 2017. He was part of the squad that reached the 2019 UEFA Nations League semi-finals. With six goals in 10 appearances for England, he has been impressive. One standout moment was a hattrick against San Marino in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Tallest Players at the World Cup
The ultimate accolade for any player is representing your country at the World Cup. The table below shows the eight tallest players in the history of the World Cup.
| Tallest Football Players in World Cup History | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Ht (cm) | Ht (feet/inch) | Player | Nationality | Position | World Cup |
| 1 | 202 | 6 ‘ 7.5″ | Nikola Žigić | Serbia | FW | 2006 & 2010 |
| 202 * | 6 ‘ 7.5″ | Peter Crouch | England | FW | 2010 | |
| 202 | 6 ‘ 7.5″ | Zeljko Kalac | Australia | GK | 2006 | |
| 202 | 6 ‘ 7.5″ | Jan Koller | Czechia | FW | 2006 | |
| 5 | 201 | 6 ‘ 7″ | Lovre Kalinic | Croatia | GK | 2018 |
| 201 | 6 ‘ 7″ | Fraser Forster | England | GK | 2014 | |
| 201 | 6 ‘ 7″ | Dennis Lawrence | Trinidad & Tobago | DF | 2006 | |
| 8 | 200 | 6 ‘ 6.5″ | Thibaut Courtois | Belgium | GK | 2014, 2018 |
Two England players make the list, Peter Crouch and Fraser Forster. Peter Crouch in particular, is well known for his height. “Crouchy” played for 11 different clubs in his 20-year career in professional football. In 2008, he released a biography which was appropriately titled “Walking Tall: My Story”.
