26 Facts About Lee Dixon

1.

Lee Michael Dixon was born on 17 March 1964 and is an English retired professional footballer and pundit who played as a right-back.

2.

Lee Dixon's father Roy was a goalkeeper with Manchester City and many of Dixon's formative years were spent on the terraces at Maine Road.

3.

Lee Dixon began his television career working for the BBC, primarily on their Match of the Day and Football Focus programmes, then moved to ITV Sport in July 2012.

4.

Lee Dixon began his professional playing career in the lower divisions.

5.

On 29 January 1988 George Graham bought Lee Dixon from Stoke City following the departure of England right back, Viv Anderson, to Manchester United.

6.

Lee Dixon played six times in total before the season ended.

7.

Lee Dixon was cup-tied in his first season which limited his appearances, and meant he was unable to take part in the 1988 League Cup Final.

8.

Lee Dixon was a marauding right back, ever willing to support his winger David Rocastle and his attacking skills were still noted even though his main job was to defend.

9.

Lee Dixon had a short spell during this period as the club's penalty taker.

10.

Lee Dixon received a ball in his own half and looked to mount a final attack.

11.

Spotting the run of centre forward Alan Smith towards the right channel, Lee Dixon delivered a long ball on to his chest.

12.

In 1994, Lee Dixon won a European medal to complement his domestic collection as Lee Dixon, Winterburn, Bould and Adams suppressed the efforts of Tomas Brolin, Gianfranco Zola and Faustino Asprilla of Italian side Parma.

13.

Lee Dixon was again in his No 2 shirt as Arsenal slumped domestically in 1995 but reached the final of the Cup Winners Cup again.

14.

Arsenal won the second "double" of the club's history in 1998 and Lee Dixon received a testimonial the following year as he entered his tenth full season at Arsenal.

15.

Lee Dixon played in a UEFA Cup campaign in 2000 which saw Arsenal reach the final in the same Copenhagen stadium where they had won the Cup Winners Cup six years earlier.

16.

Lee Dixon played on for one more season helping Arsenal to win another historic "double", the third in the club's history and second under manager Arsene Wenger, clinching the league title over rivals Manchester United at their home ground Old Trafford.

17.

Lee Dixon retired from playing after winning that double in 2002 at the age of 38, with Adams quitting at the same time.

18.

Only Seaman and Keown then remained at the club from the defensive group Lee Dixon had become associated with at Arsenal.

19.

Lee Dixon made 458 appearances in the League, scoring 25 goals.

20.

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

21.

Lee Dixon played well, but there was little hope of him being in the squad for the tournament as he was at least third in the pecking order behind Gary Stevens and Paul Parker.

22.

Only injury to one of these two would have opened a door for Lee Dixon to go to Italy and that didn't happen as the pair stayed fully fit for the length of the tournament.

23.

Lee Dixon pulled out through an injury suffered in an accident at home so Stevens was recalled, only for the Rangers full back to withdraw through injury.

24.

Lee Dixon worked as a regular pundit for the BBC on Match of the Day 2 as well as appearing on Score, and Football Focus before leaving the BBC to join ITV Sport in July 2012.

25.

Lee Dixon has contributed to the network's Premier League Download program.

26.

In retirement, Lee Dixon has concentrated on several business interests including the Riverside Brasserie in Bray, Berkshire, originally with his friend Heston Blumenthal.