While the beautiful game has given us plenty of joy and excitement, it also has its share of reviled figures who are hated for their behaviour, be it on the pitch, or off it.

10.) Marco Materazzi

Marco Materazzi will unfortunately be remembered by many as the player who ensured that there would be no glittering end to Zinedine Zidane’s career. His untimely comment regarding Zidane’s sister resulted in the French playmaker getting his marching orders (after headbutting Materazzi in response) in the 2006 World Cup final. In the eyes of many, it also cost France the trophy.

9.) Jens Lehmann

The former Arsenal and Stuttgart goalkeeper has done plenty of eccentric things in his life to earn his place in this list.

Mad Jens has stamped players, relieved himself behind an advertising board, thrown water over the referee, and has been involved in a war of words with several of his colleagues. A cocky attitude- he once said that Manuel Almunia was “not in his class”, didn’t help things either.

8.) Diego Maradona

The Argentine legend was a genius in his own right and also guided his team to two successive World Cup finals.

The English hate him for the “Hand of God”, while his own selection policies as Argentina manager (not including Cambiasso and Zanetti in his squad for example) have earned him his fair share of detractors. Not to forget the whole ephedrine incident that saw him miss USA’94.

7.) Jose Mourinho

The most successful people also make plenty of enemies. And where the self proclaimed “Special One” is involved, the list is a little longer than normal.

Mourinho has never been afraid of speaking his mind, even if the remarks involved calling Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a “Viewer” and branding Andy Johnson as “untrustworthy”.

6.) Robbie Savage

In his heydays, Savage was one of the most hated figures in the Premier League. The blond haired midfielder loved to get under the skin of opposition players and fans and has collected more yellow cards than any other player since the inception of the Premier League.

5.) Didier Drogba

The Ivory Coast skipper has been regularly accused of falling all too easily to the ground in Premier League games. Former manager Jose Mourinho has also officially labelled him a “diver”

Drogba has never been afraid of getting into confrontations with opposition players and was sent off in the 2007-08 Champions League final for slapping Nemanja Vidic.

After witnessing Chelsea’s defeat to Barcelona in the semifinals of the 08-09 Champions League, Drogba vented out his anger by shouting “It is a f****** disgrace” on camera, criticising the decisions of match referee Tom Ovrebo.

4.) Joey Barton

Barton has been involved in plenty of controversial incidents off the pitch that have severely affected his career on it. Trouble always seems to follow the Huyton born midfielder, who has been convicted twice for violent conduct and has admitted to being an alcoholic. He once stuck a cigar in the eye of upcoming footballer Jamie Tandy, resulting in permanent scarring for the latter. According to reports, he once tried to seduce a former model by boasting about his “attack” on former Man City team mate Ousmane Dabo.

Bad Boy Barton has been labeled a thug, yob and also a coward by various team mates and the press.

3.) Ashley Cole

Ashley earned the moniker “Cashley” when he mentioned in his autobiography that he nearly crashed his car on hearing that Arsenal were only prepared to offer him a £55,000 a week contract.

He also cheated on his beautiful wife, Geordie singer Cheryl Tweedy with a string of women that eventually lead to the two separating a few months ago. She forgave him in the beginning, but Ashley failed to learn from his past mistakes, and paid the ultimate price.

2.) John Terry

Cole’s Chelsea team mate John Terry makes it to number 2 on this list, and only because of one name- Vanessa Perroncel.

Father of two Terry had a four month affair with French model Perroncel, the girlfriend of his Chelsea mate Wayne Bridge shortly after she split from the latter. Bridge, a natural second choice to Ashley Cole in the England set up, refused to be considered for selection for the World Cup after the news broke.

While JT kept his spot in the national squad, he did end up losing the captain’s armband to Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand.

1.) Cristiano Ronaldo

The world’s most expensive player also tops our list of most hated footballers.

He was seen winking at the Portuguese bench at the 2006 World Cup following the dismissal of England’s Wayne Rooney. His fancy step over attempts, his theatrical dives, whining to the referees and excessive focus on his looks have led to the Portuguese captain having plenty of critics in the world of soccer.

http://www.soccernews.com/top-10-most-hated-soccer-players-and-managers/39099/

Pls moderator put it on front page so others can add or subtract from the list giving their reasons

Matterazzi will top my list anytime for what he displayed that day which led to the exit of zidane, ofcourse, u know his exit cost france the trophy that day.
Robbie savage on the other hand was another trouble in the game,thou i watched him play while he was in blackburn and later i think he moved to bermingham...he indeed sent some players to injury.

Why is christain vieri not here? That guy facially has one notable feature of serial killers(long jaw).

Deutscher of depotivo shld be here cos he gave beckam the match of his life in a champions league game against man united prior to the 2002 world cup and that almost kept him out of the world cup...he was hated across england at that time.

Figo...he's here becos of how he betrayed the catalans by joining madrid. There is political rivalry between bercelona and madrid as two major city in spain. Bercelona(catalans) felt they deserve to be the capital and not madrid...this triggered the political face-off, and this was brought to the field of play and later intensified by the step taking by louis FIGO..They hate him in bercelona.

what bout arsen wenger?alex song?samuel eto

Sergio busquets should be the most hated player by the inter fans

People generally like Drogba so putting him on that list is wrong

Suarez should be there if not anything for denying Africa and Ghana their first Worldcup Semi finals...

Ur list is a myopic state of ur mind.it lacks vision and direction.

dis person got it right....cristi is number 1...even if i wake up from a deep slumber i'll mention Cristi as my number 1.
Why is Pepe not here?that useless defender,i dispise him

Andre villas boas the current tottenham coach should be on that list, as one the most hated manager in the game today.

Henry120: Andre villas boas the current tottenham coach should be on that list, as one the most hated manager in the game today.

Mostly chelsea fans that dont like him i guess

Not just chelsea fans, many fans in general. They say he exhumes this sorta arrogance. My fans just hate the guy. AVB aka youth corper coach

What of Roberto Baggio?What he did to Nigeria in the world cup have we forgiven him?

Emmanuel Ebue was greatly disliked when he was at Arsenal,he got booed all the time for his sloppy play now it seems Santos is taking his place,and I tink Chelsea fans hate Torres alot

HOW COM ARSENE WENGER is not on this list (I am an arsenal fan)

Damn this list jorh!. . .i wonder what Drogba is doing there, and why is FIGO not in the list? Sh*t, CR7 is most hated with 50mill + likes on fbk?

This list is 70% correct.
Drogba is not hated,maybe he is hated by only arsenal fans.
10)marco materrazi
9)ashley young
pepe
7)luiz suarez
6)joey barton
5)sergio busquets
4)c.ronaldo
3)ashley cole
2)j.mourinho
1)j.terry

In my own opinion Giggs shud have made that list by all standard because of dat disgraceful act which is even worse compared to wat JT did to Bridge's girl friend.

This list is absolute rubbish. Infact I think some of the people on the list are some of the most loved. You actually think Maradona, Drogba, Ronaldo and Mourinho are some of the most hated people in football? Can't see how.

I agree Joey Barton should be very high up the list, what happened to El-Hadji Diouf? He spat on a player and has done many crazy things. Emile Heskey nko? A lumox of a man. Steve McClaren couldn't even take Endglad to Euro 2008 you need to know how much he is hated in his country.

homesteady: dis person got it right....cristi is number 1...even if i wake up from a deep slumber i'll mention Cristi as my number 1.
Why is Pepe not here?that useless defender,i dispise him

typical barcelona fan

No Mario Balotelli
No Mikel Obi [for Nigerian fans]
No Adebayor [for Arsenal and Citeh fans]
Le prof Wenger
No Luis Suarez
Steve Barton
El Hadji Diouf
Hmnn!
Which kain list be this one nah?
Na 2005 list

Andres Escobar of Colombia: Assassinated for scoring an own goal at the world cup USA '94

Godwin 0diye: scored an own goal that prevented Nigeria from going to the world cup. Never played for Nigeria again.

Sani Keita:

Luis Figo: watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona (a pig's head and a coin were thrown at him).

Austin Eguavoen and Taribo West (in the early part of his career): a huge sigh of disbelief will be heard across Nigeria when their names appear on the team sheet. Nigerians would expect a red card, penalty kick, or a free kick close to the goal, to be awarded against the Eagles.

Etim Esin: Bundle of talent, but always showing off and causing unnecessary problems.

Manfred Hoerner: The most hated Nigerian coach ever!

Fanny Amun: Fumble and womble (nuff said).

The great Zvonimir Boban: a riot broke out when he played for Yugoslavia (the Serbians didn't want no Croatian in their team). He had to be escorted out of the stadium by riot police.

I hate Arsene Wenger die...I m an arsenal fan but that guy is old and useless and it is causing loss of trophies for Arsenal...He is a good coach but how can a student preparing for chemistry waec sell his Ababio and buy keypoints yet still expect to get A...dat is pure foolishness

naptu2:
Luis Figo: watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona (a pig's head and a coin were thrown at him).

That was because he left Barcelona for Real Madrid and the Barca fans hated him for that.

fernando torres is not in the list?
This list is a wash!! Nonsense

why is zlatan not on that list ?

remove CRonaldo and add ElHadji Diouf.

Itoroetti :
Ur list is a myopic state of ur mind.it lacks vision and direction.