Sometimes too much aggression can result in a red card, an extinguisher that puts out misbehaving fires. Here are the most aggressive players in Premier League history!
Issuing red cards may seem like an easy thing to do, but referees must often take a lot into consideration before sending a footballer off, and some had to be sent off more than others during their careers.
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Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has seen plenty of talented players who will be remembered for their extraordinary ability while dribbling, shooting, and passing. However, there are also some unfortunate "bad boys" whose talent will be overshadowed by their aggression on the pitch.
Below are the seven players who have been sent off the most in EPL history. Four of the wrongdoers had seven sending-offs, while three former stars top the pile after picking up eight red cards during their careers in the English top flight.
Roy Keane (seven red cards)
The former Manchester United captain is remembered for numerous moments that saw him being sent off. The most famous of which is arguably his notorious tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland during a Manchester derby, for which he received a £5 000 (about R119 800) fine and a three-match ban. Other incidents included a hard-to-watch stomping of Gareth Southgate and a few bust-ups with former England striker Alan Shearer.
Alan Smith (seven red cards)
At first glance, the former United midfielder does not seem like someone who is capable of high levels of aggression, but the seven marching orders he received during his playing days would suggest otherwise. In fact, he received five red cards between January 2001 and December 2004 alone!
Lee Cattermole (seven red cards)
The former Sunderland star was perhaps the epitome of a combative midfielder. While his style of play was not everybody's cup of tea, it was certainly effective when it came to getting the crowd going and sparking a reaction from supporters and opposition fans alike. He represented Middlesbrough, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland during his time in the EPL and recorded 271 appearances. That number could have been more were it not for all the suspensions he received as a result of accumulating seven red cards.
Vinnie Jones (seven red cards)
While non-football enthusiasts may only know him from his roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as Snatch, The Gentlemen, She's the Man, Mean Machine and other movies, fanatics of the beautiful game will recall his aggressive nature on the pitch. He picked up seven red cards during the EPL era.
In fact, during the 1995/96 season, he became the first player to be given his marching orders three times in a single campaign. While he was more than competent on a technical level, his ruggedness in the face of contact gave him an edge over his opponents and earned him the title of a "hardman".
Richard Dunne (eight red cards)
The Irishman's ability and defensive competence may forever be overshadowed by his accumulation of red cards and own goals. The defender holds the record for the most own goals scored in footballing history with 10. It is rather unfortunate that his memory is plagued by those figures considering he made the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2010 alongside some esteemed figures.
Duncan Ferguson (eight red cards)
The Scotsman was a forward whose aggression made him an absolute nightmare for opposition defenders. He may even have been one of the most feared players to have ever played in the EPL. Jimmy Bullard's experience with the lanky brute is an example of how menacing a figure Ferguson was during his playing days.
Patrick Vieira (eight red cards)
The Frenchman is considered one of the best midfielders England's top flight has ever seen. He possessed all that a midfielder required to make him one of the most complete players to have ever taken up a space in the middle of the park. He could dribble and pick out a defence-splitting pass at will. That, coupled with his sheer athleticism, made him a force to be reckon with.
Perhaps, however, he was sometimes too much of a force for some referees' liking, which earned him a spot in one of the game's most notorious lists. Although he may be perceived as somewhat of a villain by opponents and rival supporters, he was a considerable asset for those on his side, except when he was sitting out matches due to suspensions.
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