Gordon James Ramsay was born on November 8, 1966, in Glasgow, Scotland and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, after he moved there with his family at the age of 5. Ramsay's first love was soccer, and he set his sights on a professional sports career. At the age of 15, the talented Ramsay joined the Glasgow Rangers, a pro club.
His time with the team spanned three years, until 1985, when a knee injury prematurely ended his career. Forced to start over, Ramsay returned to school, earning a degree in hotel management in 1987.