Top 10 Most Unprofessional Footballers in History

Professionalism in football often separates the greats from the merely talented. Players require more than skill; their attitude and preparation matter just as much. Despite this, some footballers have made headlines for their lack of professionalism over the years. Here we list ten players known for their unprofessional behavior.

10. Mario Balotelli (Italy)

Balotelli’s antics ranged from setting off fireworks indoors to smoking on vacation. In 2018, he returned to pre-season training with Nice noticeably overweight, a problem that reappeared in 2020 at Brescia, where he weighed nearly 100kg. His cocky attitude also earned him a reputation as one of football’s most arrogant players. Even young talents like Phil Foden criticized his mindset.

9. Mark Bosnich (Australia)

A gifted goalkeeper, Bosnich’s fitness was often questioned. After joining Manchester United post-treble, Paul Scholes remarked on his poor stamina during shooting practice. Sir Alex Ferguson recalled Bosnich’s excessive eating habits, saying he struggled to control his diet and even ordered takeout during team trips.

8. Antonio Cassano (Italy)

Cassano was outspoken, famously excluding Cristiano Ronaldo from his top 10 players and doubting his skills. His lack of discipline held him back from reaching full potential. While at Real Madrid, he reportedly gained 14 kilograms due to excessive Nutella consumption, which he ate straight from the jar without concern.

7. Winston Bogarde (Netherlands)

Bogarde’s time at Chelsea was marked by minimal playtime—just 12 appearances in four years—and a refusal to leave despite being unwanted. His £40,000 weekly salary kept him at Stamford Bridge while barely featuring on the pitch. Bogarde openly admitted he might be one of the Premier League’s worst signings but expressed no regret.

6. Jesse Lingard (England)

Lingard’s career has been a rollercoaster. While instrumental in England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final run, his professionalism faced scrutiny, especially after posting a profane holiday video on social media. Gary Neville defended him, but critics saw it as symptomatic of problems within the Manchester United squad. Lingard’s mischievous side continued with incidents like riding an electric scooter without a license in South Korea.

5. Ross McCormack (Scotland)

After impressive goal tallies at Leeds United and Fulham, McCormack’s move to Aston Villa failed to impress. More infamous was the time he missed training because a broken electric gate trapped him at home. When the manager became frustrated, McCormack’s excuse was that he was waiting for someone to let him out but had to give up eventually.

4. Paul Gascoigne (England)

Gascoigne dazzled fans in the early 1990s but often acted unprofessionally. One incident involved playing tennis at 1am before England’s World Cup semi-final against Germany. He described the tournament as a dream and felt like he was on holiday, enjoying games like tennis and table tennis rather than focusing solely on football.

3. Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Hazard was brilliant at Chelsea, regarded as one of the best dribblers ever. However, his spell at Real Madrid disappointed, scoring just seven goals in 76 matches. Jose Mourinho said he was an "amazing player with awful training," suggesting that a lack of dedication during practice limited his success.

2. Amr Zaki (Egypt)

Zaki scored 11 goals in 32 appearances on loan at Wigan Athletic, but manager Steve Bruce publicly condemned his professionalism after repeated late returns from international duty. Bruce called him the most unprofessional player he had dealt with. Zaki later softened his stance, saying he'd hug Bruce if they met again.

1. Stan Bowles (England)

Queens Park Rangers’ greatest player was also a true maverick. Just days after QPR won the 1973 FA Cup, Bowles kicked the trophy into the air during warm-ups at Sunderland, reportedly denting it. His match day routine involved spending hours in betting shops before arriving just in time for kickoff. Not the model professional, but unquestionably talented.