411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Barclaysman
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Etymology
From en Barclays man. Barclays was the sponsor of the Premier League from 2004 to 2016.
Noun
Barclaysmen
en UK soccer A footballer who played in the Premier League in approximately the 2000s and is seen as representative of the era or as beloved despite a lack of success and/or skill.
en The Barclaysmen: we just want something to watch, something to feel https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/12/football-daily-email-the-barclaysmen Guardian Butler Michael 2024-09-13 27 July 2025 In fact, if the footballers were too good, they are not Barclaysmen at all. Paul Scholes is not a Barclaysman. Neither is Thierry Henry. But James Beattie (footballer) James Beattie? Barclaysman. Yakubu (footballer) Yakubu? Barclaysman. Matthew Taylor (footballer, born 1981) Matty Taylor? Barclaysman.
See also
en cult hero