Every day, people lose their jobs, and the world of football is no exception. Clubs regardless of their level, can sack players if they tarnish the club’s reputation.
Footballers getting sacked isn’t all that common, but when it happens, it’s usually for some pretty unique reasons.
Some footballers never manage to weather their fair share of scandals. Often, instead of an outright dismissal, players are sidelined until they can be sold or their contracts run out, especially if the club can’t settle on a termination deal.
So, who are these players, and why did they get sacked? Here are 5 footballers who faced the axe from their clubs
1. Emmanuel Eboue (Sunderland)
Emmanuel Eboue, the affable Ivorian who won our hearts with his seven-year stint at Arsenal.
Who would’ve thought that this lovable character would find himself on the list of footballers sacked by their clubs? However, as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions – and unpaid agent fees.
Fast forward to 2016, when Eboue joined Sunderland on a short-term contract, only to be slapped with a one-year ban from football for failing to settle his debts, all football-related activity for failing to pay a former agent.
Sunderland promptly sacked him in April 2016, before he could even make his debut. It was a tenure so brief, it makes a blink of an eye seem like an eternity
2. Nicolas Anelka (Westbrom)
The lanky forward always had a reputation – controversially pompous – for being grumpy and difficult.
He didn’t smile much and moved around clubs like a traveling salesman.
But, despite his nomadic tendencies and gruff demeanor, Anelka largely avoided controversy until West Brom came calling. Yes, the Baggies – the one team that managed to bring out the worst in him.
Given Anelka’s history of playing for 12 different clubs, the odds of him getting sacked at least once were pretty high. Who would’ve thought that a stint at West Brom would be the one to finally get him sacked?
The twist? It happened when he was winding down his career.
After stints at Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus, PSG, and Liverpool, he signed with West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2013.
At the end of that year, he scored a brace and celebrated with an infamous hand gesture, straight from the playbook of his comedian friend (because, you know, nothing says “comedy” like anti-Semitic undertones).
Unfortunately, the gesture had strong anti-Semitic connotations, and West Brom decided to terminate his contract.
Anelka later insisted the gesture was a protest aimed at former WBA manager Steve Clarke, who, by the way, is not Jewish. But the explanation didn’t hold water, and Anelka’s brief tenure at West Brom ended in a blaze of controversy.
3. Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke)
Prince has been accused of many things in his career, but lacking conviction isn’t one of them. Hot-headed and fiercely independent, Boateng knows his mind and isn’t afraid to speak it, a true prince.
Unfortunately, his employers haven’t always appreciated his no-nonsense attitude.
Take Schalke, for example. They sacked Boateng citing a “lack of trust” – a wonderfully vague reason if ever there was one.
The truth? Boateng had a bit of a troublemaker streak. Ghana sent him packing from the 2014 World Cup due to disciplinary issues.
At Schalke, after 60 appearances, a bad reaction to a game in 2015 sealed his fate. It was the culmination of an already strained atmosphere at the club, and they decided it was time for Boateng to move on.
SEE ALSO | How Much Do College Soccer Referees Make?
SEE ALSO | 5 Cool Ways to Style a Soccer Jersey | 2024
4. Mark Bosnich (Chelsea)
In a position already known for its eccentrics, Mark Bosnich managed to stand out by testing positive for cocaine just a year after signing for Chelsea.
Not the last Chelsea player to find himself in hot water (Adrian Mutu Drug Case), but that’s a story for another time.
Bosnich insists to this day that he never willingly took drugs.
According to him, he took a sip of someone else’s drink at a club, and it must have been laced with cocaine. Regardless of the truth, he faced a nine-month suspension, and the Australian goalkeeper ended his stint at Chelsea with only seven games to his name.
After a prolonged struggle to regain fitness following his move from Manchester United, Bosnich’s time at Chelsea was brief and tumultuous.
By January 2003, the club had had enough and sacked him.
He fought the decision, claiming unfair dismissal, but lost. What had once been a promising career spiraled into years of obscurity and exile.
5. Dani Osvaldo (Southampton)
A £15 million signing from Roma, Osvaldo was brought in to help elevate Southampton.
He showed flashes of brilliance, scoring three goals in 13 appearances, including a stunning solo effort against Manchester City.
However, his on-field talent was overshadowed by his off-field antics.
Osvaldo had a penchant for playing the socialite, despite his footballing gifts. His troublesome nature was evident even at Roma, where he famously punched Erik Lamela for not passing him the ball.
However, it was at Southampton where his behavior truly spiraled. He got into a physical altercation with teammate Jose Fonte during a training session, marking the peak of his disruptive conduct.
Two years into his four-year contract, the Saints had enough.
They decided they wanted nothing more to do with Osvaldo and terminated his contract, cutting ties with the erratic striker.
Notable Mentions Of Footballers Who Get Sacked
- Patrice Evra (Marseille)
- Joey Barton (Rangers)
- Adrian Mutu (Chelsea)
- Sergio Berti (Livingston)
- Nile Ranger (Southend)
- Dennis Wise (Leicester)
