Ian Wright, precisely 5ft 9 (175.3 cm) tall, was an English professional footballer whose compact stature belied his explosive presence as a striker. Fans often mistook his aggressive, dominant style for that of a much taller giant, as noted by Arsenal manager George Graham: people are surprised he's barely 5ft 9in tall and quite small by modern striker standards.
At 5ft 9, Wright shone in the Premier League with Arsenal FC, scoring prolifically, and represented England internationally. He also played for West Ham United, Celtic, Burnley, and Nottingham Forest, proving height was no barrier to his success.
Wright once lamented his 5ft 9 frame dashed dreams of being a Star Wars stormtrooper, which required at least 5ft 11, yet it fueled his relentless career as a television and radio personality post-retirement.