The 10 craziest players in history
The list of footballers who have caused crazy incidents on and off the pitch is as long as your arm, but in the interest of brevity, we've picked out our top 10.
Roy Keane
Perhaps the most aggressive footballer in history. The midfielder was undoubtedly a fine leader and a fine footballer but when he saw red you knew about it.
Oliver Kahn
The German was the best goalkeeper in the world for years but the main this that springs to mind when his name is mentioned are the moments when he lost his head.
Eric Cantona
Crazy? Yes. Special? Certainly. Cantona is perhaps most famous for kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan but on the pitch he was a pleasure to watch and is considered one of the most talented players of the Premier League era.
Joey Barton
Currently banned from football for 18 months for flouting betting rules, the midfielder was sentenced to prison for assault and affray and served 77 days inside. He also once stubbed out a cigar in a youth team player's eye when at Manchester City.
Paul Gascoigne
One of the greatest players England has ever produced who has sadly fallen into a life of addiction. He allegedly once took an ostrich to training.
Pepe
The Portuguese centre-back simply had to be on this list. Not just for famously booting Casquero several times whilst he was on the ground but for his regular displays of over-aggressiveness.
Rene Higuita
The original crazy footballer, unlike some of the others on this list Higuita invented his own unique style of football. Not only did he invent the scorpion kick but his ability to start an attack with the ball at his feet will go down in history.
Stefan Effenberg
The German famously left his wife Martina and revealed an affair with Claudia Strunz, the wife of former team mate Thomas Strunz. He used his autobiography to criticize former team-mates, including Lothar Mathaus and in 2002 he also claimed that unemployed people in Germany were too lazy to look for work, and demanded they took benefit cuts.
Mario Balotelli
What is there to say about Mario Balotelli? From setting off fireworks in his bathroom to throwing darts at youth team players, the Italian is a man of many controversies.
Ricardo Centurión
Fights in nightclubs and a passion for a cigarette, Centurión was born a rebel and will always remain one. He famously threatened to retire if he didn't play at the Bombonera and has experienced disciplinary problems wherever he has played.