The most unprofessional professionals in the modern game (no pre mid-90's and prior please!)

[Bastian]

re: Ryan Fraser, and players in his unusual situation this summer. I completely understand them not risking it. What I don't understand is how there could not have been a general remedy, like the clubs insuring those players for huge sums of money meaning that financially those players would be secure.

 

[Bastian]

I kinda think the players who spend years in a country and don't learn the language are unprofessional.

When they have the ability to do so, yeah. But some really struggle and aren't maybe afforded a great foundation with regards to education.

 

[Nico87]

Allegedly Neil Ruddock when on a treadmill at the request of coaches to lose weight poured a bottle of water over himself to make it look he was sweating profusely and instead sat down to had a bacon butty and cup of tea.

 

[NWRed]

Adrian Mutu

 

[horsechoker]

When they have the ability to do so, yeah. But some really struggle and aren't maybe afforded a great foundation with regards to education.

It's not always so black and white as footballers might not be the brightest bunch or could even have learning difficulties but on the other hand many can afford to have private lessons with the best teachers.

I don't think Sergio Aguero has ever learned English that well but I wouldn't call him unprofessional by any means.

 

[Woodzy]

I still find the Tevez thing incredible, because he came back and essentially helped them win the title.

 

[Bastian]

It's not always so black and white as footballers might not be the brightest bunch or could even have learning difficulties but on the other hand many can afford to have private lessons with the best teachers.

I don't think Sergio Aguero has ever learned English that well but I wouldn't call him unprofessional by any means.

Yeah, I'd say the same about Antonio Valencia. No problem with him not speaking English. And a true professional.

 

[IrishMcD]

A former Sheff United youth player with a decent professional career, and who is the brother of two successful Irish footballers, was arrested this week for allegedly importing €3,000,000 worth of heroin. Stories of this sort have been following this family for a few years now, their sisters boyfriend/husband (can't remember if they were married or not) was shot dead at his home when masked gunmen burst into their house.
Does being part of an international drug cartel count towards being an unprofessional professional?

 

[fps]

A former Sheff United youth player with a decent professional career, and who is the brother of two successful Irish footballers, was arrested this week for allegedly importing €3,000,000 worth of heroin. Stories of this sort have been following this family for a few years now, their sisters boyfriend/husband (can't remember if they were married or not) was shot dead at his home when masked gunmen burst into their house.
Does being part of an international drug cartel count towards being an unprofessional professional?

If it messes with their performance and/or they get caught, then yeah.

 

[Nori-]

Mr Why Always Me.

Mario Balotelli

 

[HTG]

The entire France squad for the 2002 and 2010 World Cup. How they revolt against Domenech was disgraceful in 2010.

I disagree and nominate Domenech for the thread. The guy based his line ups on astrology.

 

[saintquin]

Bale. Wasting away at Real and could have done something to change the situation.

 

[HTG]

I still find the Tevez thing incredible, because he came back and essentially helped them win the title.

I still think not playing in the World Cup because he promised his kids to go to Disneyworld is awesome. I like Tevez. He was so good even though he didn’t give a shit.

 

[foolsgold]

Anderson ?? Love the guy but really........

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

Bale. Wasting away at Real and could have done something to change the situation.

Hmmm...I'd class Bale in the same category as Bogarde. On an enormous wage which no other club will match so he's reluctant to take a paycut to help Real out. He's training, isn't out of shape and is available for selection. Don't think he's unprofessional. Could be accused of pissing away the opportunity to be the biggest star on many other teams but not unprofessional.

 

[Bojan Djordjic]

Darron Gibson is another shout. Huge reputation coming up through the ranks but lifestyle and particularly a problem with the gargle seems to have curtailed any development in his game. Had all the technical attributes for a centre mid but none of the intangibles.

 

[TwoSheds]

The entire France squad for the 2002 and 2010 World Cup. How they revolt against Domenech was disgraceful in 2010.

Nah, Domenech was stealing a living. Complete joke that they were trying to win a world cup with a coach who wouldn't pick Ludovic Giuly because of his star sign.

 

[Red Stone]

Nile Ranger. Blessed with a badass name and enough football talent to be a regular in the Premier League as a teenager, but a complete and utter twatwaffle. The section on Wikipedia for his criminal activities is almost as long as the sections on actual football.

 

[Andersonson]

Yeah, I'd say the same about Antonio Valencia. No problem with him not speaking English. And a true professional.

Valencia could speak english. He just wasnt confident enough to do it in the interviews. Same with DDG

 

[mu4c_20le]

Tevez. The guy had some mental issues.

 

[U99ted]

Amr Zaki, who went AWOL while playing for Wigan

 

[Le Red]

When they have the ability to do so, yeah. But some really struggle and aren't maybe afforded a great foundation with regards to education.

I agree that some will have real difficulties but there's also the matter of not even trying.
What I can tell you of Brazilian players is many of them surround themselves with friends and family wherever they'll go.
There's nothing wrong with it but the collateral effect is they can simply bypass the need for learning the language, and a lot of them do.
I think learning the language is not just some overzealous demand, it really facilitates the communication on and off the pitch.
I don't think not learning the language makes a player unprofessional by itself, but at least trying to do it is definitely the professional approach.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Valencia could speak english. He just wasnt confident enough to do it in the interviews. Same with DDG

DDG does interviews in English all the same and speaks great English. Valencia by all means has terrible English and from the times he has spoke it, it has been noticeably poor. They aren’t even close to being the same.

 

[kopviolator]

I raise to Nicklas Bendtner

 

[RedRob]

Hmmm...I'd class Bale in the same category as Bogarde. On an enormous wage which no other club will match so he's reluctant to take a paycut to help Real out. He's training, isn't out of shape and is available for selection. Don't think he's unprofessional. Could be accused of pissing away the opportunity to be the biggest star on many other teams but not unprofessional.

Not sure I'd agree. Bogarde was never going to be selected but he didn't seem to have an attitude about him, or at least not a high-profile one. Bale's attitude stinks; any time you read a story about him, it's about his latest stunt to show disrespect to his club.

 

[Reapersoul20]

Jaysus page 2 and no mention of Suarez biting people, and being racist, and subsequently defending it.

Also Richard Keogh for Derby going out and getting smashed/drink-driving and breaking his wrist/knee. Was there ever an outcome to that court case?

 

[Kaos]

When they have the ability to do so, yeah. But some really struggle and aren't maybe afforded a great foundation with regards to education.

It has nothing to do with education. You don't need to be an Ivy leaguer to pick up the basics after spending several years at a foreign country. Look at Ronaldo, wasn't exactly born with a silver spoon yet owing to his professionalism he's become at least semi-fluent in the language of every country he's played in. Its just pure laziness and complacency - they don't bother learning the native tongue since they just delegate to their chefs, shoppers and assistants to sort out the everyday trivialities.

 

[lysglimt]

The way I see it - making one really stupid action that ruins your career is not unprofessional in the same way as constantly getting chances but just don't bothering. So for me it has to be Mario

 

[NICanRed]

Interesting that many players who make the effort to learn English end up speaking much better English than some of the native sons. Motivated and well taught!

 

[Falcow]

It's not always so black and white as footballers might not be the brightest bunch or could even have learning difficulties but on the other hand many can afford to have private lessons with the best teachers.

I don't think Sergio Aguero has ever learned English that well but I wouldn't call him unprofessional by any means.

Aguero doesnt speak english? That's hilarious, Citys greatest ever player and he literally doesnt even speak their language.

 

[Falcow]

Adrian Mutu deserves a mention here also. Remember he was sued by Chelsea that time, appealed and lost I think.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Lukaku - should have gone to weight watchers. Never seen a striker at a top club be so unfit. No one believes we missed a medical issue, that was the usual BS that comes from Lukuka. Simple equation, eat to much, don’t run enough =
Fat.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Allegedly Neil Ruddock when on a treadmill at the request of coaches to lose weight poured a bottle of water over himself to make it look he was sweating profusely and instead sat down to had a bacon butty and cup of tea.

Turned up to Swindon and they didn’t have shorts that were big enough for him, and had to have some specially made. This may be just a rumour, but it’s been repeated many times.

 

[Redlyn]

re: Ryan Fraser, and players in his unusual situation this summer. I completely understand them not risking it. What I don't understand is how there could not have been a general remedy, like the clubs insuring those players for huge sums of money meaning that financially those players would be secure.

Cost I would imagine. Huge insurance will come at a hefty premium to the club on top of the extra weeks of salaries players have to be paid. I guess you can't exactly blame him but other players in his shoes took the risk and stayed loyal to their clubs especially one fighting tooth and nail to stay in the division.

 

[Karel Podolsky]

Berbatov, more interested in getting massage than training .

 

[Karel Podolsky]

Aguero doesnt speak english? That's hilarious, Citys greatest ever player and he literally doesnt even speak their language.

He does speak English, just not as good as you.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Cristiano Ronaldo for being unprofessionally over-professional exceeding the professional standard of good professionalism, therefore offending the general code of professionalism unprofessionally.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

I kinda think the players who spend years in a country and don't learn the language are unprofessional.

Learning new language is hard.
Some people can even spent years not able to get it, though maybe getting better teacher might do the trick. Doesn't always work.

As long as the players behave professionally on and off the pitch, giving it his all to football and understand simple instructions (via translators if have to), then I have no problem. Learning new language is the lowest least priority.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Berbatov, more interested in getting massage than training .

Those beautiful touches came from beautiful well-taken maintenance care of legs!

 

[paraguayo]

Adriano for sure