Football is a sport that can bring out the best and worst in players. While many players are celebrated for their incredible skills and achievements on the field, others are notorious for their aggressive behavior and unsportsmanlike conduct. One of the most serious consequences of such behavior is receiving a red card, which means the player must leave the field and cannot be replaced for the remainder of the game. In this article, we will take a look at some famous football players who have received a significant number of red cards during their careers.
1. Roy Keane
Roy Keane, the former captain of Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland, was a dominant midfielder known for his fierce tackles and no-nonsense attitude. However, his aggressive behavior also earned him numerous red cards throughout his career, including 13 in the Premier League alone.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish forward known for his incredible skill and prolific goal-scoring. However, he is also known for his fiery temperament and has received a total of 11 red cards in his career, including 3 in the Serie A and 2 in the Ligue 1.
3. Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos, the Spanish defender and captain of Real Madrid, is a player who is often praised for his leadership skills and defensive abilities. However, he is also known for his physical style of play, which has earned him a total of 26 red cards in his career so far, including 5 in La Liga and 4 in the Champions League.
4. Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini, the legendary Italian defender, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. However, even he was not immune to disciplinary issues and received 4 red cards during his career, including one in the Serie A and one in the Champions League.
5. Joey Barton
Joey Barton, the controversial English midfielder, was known for his aggressive style of play and his numerous disciplinary issues on and off the field. He received a total of 9 red cards in his career, including one in the Premier League and one in the Ligue 1.
6. Gennaro Gattuso
Gennaro Gattuso, the former AC Milan and Italian national team midfielder, was a hard-working player who was known for his tough tackling and physical presence on the field. However, this also led to him receiving a total of 15 red cards in his career, including 3 in the Serie A and 2 in the Champions League.
7. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona, the former Manchester United and French national team forward, was a mercurial talent who was as famous for his skills as he was for his temperamental behavior on the field. He received a total of 4 red cards during his career, including one in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup.
While red cards are an unfortunate part of football, they are also a necessary tool for maintaining order and discipline on the field. These famous players may have received a significant number of red cards during their careers, but they will also be remembered for their incredible skills and achievements that made them legends of the game.