Ranking the 10 Most Unprofessional Footballers in History

Football requires more than skill; players must have the right mindset and preparation to succeed at the top level. Still, many stars have struggled with professionalism over the years, showing attitudes or behaviors that clash with the sport's demands. Here are ten footballers known for their lack of professionalism.

10. Mario Balotelli (Italy)

Mario Balotelli's career has been marked by a string of off-field controversies. From lighting fireworks indoors to smoking during holidays, his antics raised eyebrows. In 2018, he returned to pre-season training overweight at Nice, and again in 2020, Brescia reported him weighing nearly 100kg. His cocky demeanor also earned him a reputation as one of football's most arrogant players. Even Phil Foden, at just 10 years old, remarked, "He's a good player, but he's got a bad attitude."

9. Mark Bosnich (Australia)

The gifted goalkeeper Mark Bosnich faced criticism for his professionalism. Joining Manchester United after their treble-winning season, questions about his fitness arose. Paul Scholes noted, "After three shots he’s knackered." Sir Alex Ferguson was blunt: "Mark Bosnich was a terrible professional," recalling how Bosnich indulged excessively in food, ignoring advice about his weight and even ordering takeaways late into the night.

8. Antonio Cassano (Italy)

Antonio Cassano was outspoken, once excluding Cristiano Ronaldo from his top 10 list and claiming Ronaldo doesn’t know how to play football. Cassano’s poor discipline likely hindered his full potential. At Madrid, his love for Nutella led to a 14-kilo weight gain. He recalled, "Nutella was a club sponsor, they gave us five kilos monthly. I ate it straight from the jar and didn’t care."

7. Winston Bogarde (Netherlands)

Winston Bogarde played for Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Chelsea but is infamous for barely playing at Stamford Bridge. After Boxing Day 2000, he never appeared in another Premier League match but stayed at Chelsea for four more years on a £40k weekly salary. Despite being labeled one of the worst Premier League defenders, Bogarde shrugged, "I may be one of the worst buys in Premiership history but I don't care."

6. Jesse Lingard (England)

Jesse Lingard split opinion during his career. He was key to England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final run but drew criticism for unprofessional moments, including posting a profane holiday video. Gary Neville defended him, yet some saw this as a sign of the Manchester United locker room culture. Lingard later moved to Asia and maintained a mischievous image, even being investigated in South Korea in 2024 for riding an electric scooter without a license.

5. Ross McCormack (Scotland)

After scoring 100 goals for Leeds and Fulham, Ross McCormack joined Aston Villa for £12m in 2016 but managed only three goals in 20 league games. His most remembered incident was missing training because a broken electric gate trapped him at home. He explained, "I called in saying I'd be late; the manager lost his mind when I still hadn't arrived by 10:20am."

4. Paul Gascoigne (England)

Paul Gascoigne was brilliant when fit, dazzling in the early 1990s. Yet, even then, his conduct was often unprofessional. One odd example: he played tennis at 1am on the day England faced Germany in a World Cup semi-final. Gazza described Italia 90 as "the best time of my life," loving every moment despite his laid-back approach.

3. Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Eden Hazard dazzled at Chelsea, regarded as one of the best dribblers ever. His Real Madrid tenure was disappointing, scoring just seven goals in 76 matches. Jose Mourinho said, "Amazing player with awful training," suggesting Hazard’s lack of commitment in practice hindered his progress.

2. Amr Zaki (Egypt)

Amr Zaki scored 11 goals in 32 appearances for Wigan on loan, but manager Steve Bruce labeled him a nightmare to manage due to repeated lateness returning from international duty. Bruce stated, "In all my football time, I've never worked with someone so unprofessional." Zaki later expressed willingness to reconcile with Bruce.

1. Stan Bowles (England)

Stan Bowles is Queens Park Rangers' greatest player and a true maverick. Shortly after QPR won the 1973 FA Cup, Bowles kicked the trophy during warm-ups at Sunderland, denting it. His routine was simple: hang out in the betting shop until just before kick-off. Not the model pro, but undeniably a brilliant talent.