The sport of football is often referred to as a gentleman’s game played by hooligans. Since the very beginning, the beautiful game has always been a magnitude of flashy, outlandish, outspoken, limelight seekers in the professional-sphere. From flashy on the field antics and controversy to the wild and mischievous nightlife scene, the sport often upholds the biased ideas regarding its players and their off the pitch focus; booze, women, fast cars, and partying. Regardless of era, nationality, league, or club, football’s “outgoing” crowd has always existed. This crowd lives on in today’s game, yet the culture rooted in its past, has seen change in focus. Today, players are signing contacts for more money than ever before, and at a younger age, often too young. This has brought a more money-driven focus to football than in the past. Booze, women, and cars have always been part of footballing culture, but we could see “bigger money” leading to more issues.
“I spent 90% of my money on booze, women, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.” rationalized the late George Best, undoubtedly one of football’s greatest to ever play the game. Signing with Manchester United at the young age of just 17, Best found a starting role under United Manager Matt Busby. One of the greatest dribblers of all time; his style, pace, balance, and skill allowed Best to stupefy defenders, making himself seem almost invincible. Deemed a genius by the football world at such a young age, along with his good looks and long hair; Best became one of the first celebrity footballers. Just as Best was invincible against opposition, he carried that same mentality off the pitch. His extravagant lifestyle led to many problems including arrests, suspensions, and financial problems. Despite continual and downward spiraling problems, Best would brush off his problem of drinking and irrational spending.
“In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol – it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.”
But eventually, after health problems ensued and his career diminished, Best began to accept and acknowledge the affect that his overindulgences had on his game and life.
“I was born with a great gift, and sometimes with that comes a destructive streak. Just as I wanted to outdo everyone when I played, I had to outdo everyone when we were out on the town”, admitted Best of his off-the-field excesses.
Another one of football’s famous party boys from across the pond was Paul Gascoigne. Described as “the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation”, Gascoigne also had a wild and dark side, one that would eventually unravel him.
Just as defenders had trouble tacking him, Gascoigne had trouble tackling his demons. In the midst of his career, Gascoigne saw a substantial decline in performance and the level at which played. In 1998, while playing with Rangers FC in Scotland after large stints with Newcastle and Tottenham, Gascoigne entered rehabilitation following a drinking session where he drank 32 shots of whiskey, hitting “rock bottom”. While unconscious, his then-manager Bryan Robson signed Gascoigne into a rehabilitation clinic. The Englishman’s tribulations included the likes of domestic violence, bankruptcy, tax deception, and alcoholism while also battling bulimia, obsessive-compulsive and bipolar disorder. Insistent upon being released, Gascoigne only spent two of the four weeks in rehabilitation. Again, his drinking problems continued and led to subsequent entry into clinics. Much like Best, Gascoigne wrote three autobiographies in which he describes his addictive personality, which led him to develop the addictions of alcohol, cocaine, smoking, gambling, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Gascoigne’s addiction problems persisted and continue to trouble him today.
Another famous limelight seeker of the footballing world was Tony Adams, nicknamed “Mr. Arsenal”, having spent the entirety of his footballing career with the Gunners. Working his way through the developmental system, Adams made his first team debut at the young age of 17 and immediate success followed; becoming the Arsenal captain just 4 years later at the age of 21. As the trophies piled up, so did the celebrations. Alcoholism continually disfigured Adams’ career being involved in nightclub fights, drunk driving accidents, injuries resulted from drunken falls, and eventually being arrested and imprisoned for four months. Despite what many would consider to be a reality check for a player of his prominence and success, similar incidences continued to occur and worsen. During the 1993-94 Arsenal season, in which the Gunners finished 4th, further incidents occurred including Adams playing through a match despite being intoxicated and an occasion where the then-27 year old fell down a flight of stairs and required 29 stitches in his head. Another instance occurred where rival club supporters were taunting Adams and a teammate. Angered by the taunting, an intoxicated Adams let off fire extinguishers and fired a flare gun into a bathroom at a Pizza Hut in East London. Soon, Adams’ off-the-field issues and self-destruction became overwhelming and he admitted to alcoholism. With the help of Arsene Wenger, Adams sought treatment and self-improvement. In the late 1990’s, Wenger reformed Arsenal’s nutritional practices and the support of its players and their lifestyles. After seeking treatment, Adams became one of the most high profile recovering alcoholics, highlighting his struggle in his autobiography, “Addicted”.
Although it still exists today, substance abuse and addiction is less prevalent in the game than it was in the 1970’s to late 80’s and 90’s. In today’s game, we see a monetary empowerment that enables young players more than ever. When players of the George Best-era played football, salaries were a fraction of what players earn today. In the early 1980’s, the percentage of club’s incomes that was spent on salaries was around 40%. In 2009, it was 67% in the English Premiere League. This is a direct indication of growing player power in their ability to demand higher salaries and subsequently get it. Not only are salaries increased, but also players are being signed and receiving salaries upwards of €100,000 a week, at much younger ages than players during the 1980-90’s. In today’s game, we see players like Raheem Sterling demanding more money after just four seasons with one of the best clubs in English Football. Having only played two impactful seasons with the club, both of which have not merited the amount of money he desires in his new contract. Liverpool, over 120 years old with brilliant and rich history, is famous for the credo “no one is bigger than the club”. As many young, money-driven players in today’s game, Raheem Sterling may walk out of Anfield in search of a bigger salary – which is ironic for a club whose motto is “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. We see a much more money-driven culture in today’s game than in history’s past. In today’s game we see a variety of on the field antics from Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotheaded and flashy gestures, Luis Suarez’s fits of fury and teething frenzies, to John Terry’s racist remarks. This isn’t a new era of arrogant and hot-tempered players, as they’ve always existed. If we look back to the 2003-2004 EPL season in which Manchester United and Arsenal engaged in one of football’s most embarrassing spectacles of poor sportsmanship and heated emotions.
And still today, we see players active in the wild and mischievous nightlife scene. One of the game’s biggest offenders, known for his in around the nightclub scene is Mario Balotelli. Photographed at discos, nightclubs, smoking hookah, drinking, surrounded by half-dressed women, the Italian striker knows how to enjoy his off-nights. Balotelli spends a great deal of time with other nightlife seekers such as rapper Drake and was even mentioned in one of his songs in which Drake explains “To venues in Manchester just swerving with Balotelli…” referring to the Italian’s previous club of Manchester City. But it wasn’t until Mario Balotelli was finalizing his contract with Liverpool that manager Brendan Rodgers imparted a “behavior clause” limiting Balotelli’s indulgences off the field. Super Mario is not the only party boy in today’s football world, as Ashley Cole has come to be known for his on-and-off celebrity relationships and tabloids have reported numerous brush-ins with police following nightclub outings. Although nothing criminal reported, the short statured bad boy of English Football knows how to enjoy himself as well as players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Aadel Taarebt and Andy Carroll, who have seen their fair share of publicity in the tabloids.
There have always been a number of ostentatious and eccentric limelight seekers in the game of football. This “outgoing” crowd has always existed and lives on in today’s game, yet the culture has seen change in focus. Monetary empowerment enables young players more than ever. Booze, women, partying and cars have always been part of footballing culture, but with increased salaries, younger players, and higher demands, we could see “bigger money” leading to more issues. Football’s culture may be evolving, but it is a culture rooted in its past.
