Tony Cottee, at exactly 5ft 6 ¾ (169.5 cm), built a remarkable career as an English professional footballer, proving that his compact height fueled his agility and goal-scoring prowess as a striker.
Despite his stature, he played 579 league games, scoring 226 goals for clubs including West Ham United, Everton, and Leicester City. His height contributed to his quickness in tight spaces, shining in Everton's 1989 FA Cup Final against Liverpool and securing the League Cup with Leicester City in 2000.
Later a commentator, Cottee's enduring image ties his success directly to mastering the game at 5ft 6 ¾ (169.5 cm).