Top 10 Most Unprofessional Footballers in History

In football, professionalism is often highlighted as key to success alongside talent. Players must prepare mentally and physically to perform well at the highest levels. Yet many footballers throughout history have shown questionable attitudes and behaviors that put their professionalism in doubt. Here are ten players known for their lack of professionalism.

10. Mario Balotelli (Italy)

Mario Balotelli has been notorious for his off-field antics, from lighting fireworks inside his home to smoking during vacations. In 2018, reports noted he returned to pre-season training at Nice overweight, a problem resurfacing in 2020 when Brescia revealed he weighed nearly 100kg upon return. His confident and arrogant style has drawn criticism worldwide, including from Phil Foden, who once said, "He’s a good player, but he’s got a bad attitude." Foden was only 10 years old then.

9. Mark Bosnich (Australia)

Known as a talented goalkeeper, Mark Bosnich's professionalism was often questioned. Joining Manchester United right after their treble-winning season, his fitness was criticized by Paul Scholes, who said, "His shooting practice – you normally have 15 to 20 shots, after three he’s knackered." Sir Alex Ferguson also described him as "a terrible professional," recalling Bosnich indulging heavily in food and ordering takeaways even while managing weight issues.

8. Antonio Cassano (Italy)

Antonio Cassano never hesitated to express strong opinions, famously leaving Cristiano Ronaldo out of his top 10 footballers in 2024, claiming the Portuguese star lacked true football skills. His unprofessional habits affected his career, notably his excessive Nutella consumption in Madrid, reportedly leading to a 14-kilo weight gain. He admitted, "I ate Nutella directly from the bottle and I didn't care." Many think this attitude stopped him from reaching his full potential.

7. Winston Bogarde (Netherlands)

Winston Bogarde played key roles at Ajax and later at clubs like AC Milan and Barcelona. However, his time at Chelsea starting in 2000 was marked by minimal appearances—just 12 games in four years, with only three full matches. After December 2000, he didn't play another Premier League game but stayed at Stamford Bridge due to his lucrative £40,000 weekly contract. Bogarde shrugged off criticism, saying, "I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership but I don't care."

6. Jesse Lingard (England)

Jesse Lingard's career has sparked mixed views. He was part of England's 2018 World Cup semi-final team but faced criticism over his conduct at Manchester United, especially after posting a profanity-laden holiday video on social media. Gary Neville defended him, but some saw it as a sign of the dressing room culture then. Lingard’s mischievous side continues; in 2024, South Korean police investigated him for riding an electric scooter without a license.

5. Ross McCormack (Scotland)

Ross McCormack scored 100 goals for Leeds and Fulham before Aston Villa invested £12 million in him in 2016. His stint at Villa was underwhelming, with just three goals in 20 league games. More memorable was an incident where he missed training because a broken electric gate trapped him at home. McCormack recalled calling in to explain he’d be late, but the manager lost his temper when no one came promptly to help.

4. Paul Gascoigne (England)

Paul Gascoigne was a brilliant and creative talent in British football during the early 1990s. Still, his behavior was often unprofessional by the standards of his era. One mild example was playing tennis at 1am the day England faced Germany in the World Cup semi-final in 1990. Reflecting on that time, Gascoigne said, "It felt like I was going on holiday—I was playing tennis, table tennis. I loved every minute of it."

3. Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Eden Hazard was sensational at Chelsea, regarded as one of the best dribblers ever. His move to Real Madrid, however, was disappointing: seven goals in 76 games. Jose Mourinho pointed to Hazard's poor training ethic, saying, "Amazing player with awful training." Mourinho believed Hazard could have reached greater heights had he worked harder in practice.

2. Amr Zaki (Egypt)

Amr Zaki joined Wigan on loan during their Premier League days, delivering 11 goals in 32 appearances. Manager Steve Bruce, though, was frustrated with Zaki's professionalism, especially after the striker returned late from international duty four times. Bruce said, "I have never worked with someone as unprofessional." Despite this, Zaki expressed no hard feelings and said he'd hug Bruce if they met again.

1. Stan Bowles (England)

Stan Bowles is considered Queens Park Rangers’ greatest player but was also a notorious maverick. Shortly after QPR won the 1973 FA Cup, Bowles tried to hit the trophy with a ball during warm-up at Sunderland, denting the cup. At Loftus Road, his routine involved staying in the betting shop until just before kickoff, arriving late to matches. Not exactly professional, but undoubtedly a gifted footballer.