Matthews, Sir Stanley (1915-2000), became one of the greatest players in English football history. Matthews was famous for his speed, dribbling, passing ability, and his ability to set up goals for his teammates to score. Matthews was one of the most popular players in the history of soccer and his appearances generally attracted huge crowds. He was also widely admired for his sportsmanship. In 1965, Matthews became the first professional footballer to receive a knighthood.