Red cards often follow a red mist for footballers, with referees forced to reach for their pocket when players lose discipline or make crude challenges.
Users of the best sportsbet app will know there are a number of reasons players can be dismissed and this famous five certainly developed reputations for receiving red cards. In celebration of football’s bad boys, here are the five footballers to receive most red cards in football history.
5. Paolo Montero – 21
The best seasons of Paolo Montero’s career came in Italian football, with the defender no stranger to either major silverware or early baths.
Montero spent four seasons with Atalanta before joining Juventus in 1996, where he won four Serie A titles across a glittering career in Turin.
The Uruguayan was renowned for his no-nonsense approach and received 21 red cards during his career, with no player having ever been sent off on more occasions in Serie A.
When tenacity 💪 meets skill 👌
One emoji to describe Paolo Montero 🇺🇾? #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/1R63Hf0nRL
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) May 28, 2020
He made 278 appearances across nine seasons at Juventus, forming an excellent partnership with Ciro Ferrara as the Bianconeri challenged for domestic and European honours.
4. Alexis Ruano Delgado – 22
Alexis Ruano Delgado collected a huge 22 red cards across a nomadic club career, with the versatile defender representing six different clubs in his native Spain.
The centre-back was named as La Liga’s Breakthrough Player in 2006/07 after an impressive season with Getafe, before moving to Valencia where he won the Copa del Rey in his debut campaign at the Mestalla.
He also had short spells in both Turkey and Saudi Arabia, though his spell with Besiktas ended with accusations of match-fixing following a poor performance in a 3–3 draw against Akhisar Belediyespor.
3. Cyril Rool – 25
Cyril Rool took few prisoners on the pitch during a long career in French football, with the combative midfielder collecting cards at an astonishing rate.
His 19 red cards is a record in Ligue 1, with Rool having amassed a huge 25 dismissals across a career that included spells at clubs including Lens, Nice and Marseille.
In addition to his red card collection, he also received a staggering 187 yellows with Rool a regular when it came to the referees’ notebook.
2. Sergio Ramos – 27
Fans of betting odds like those found on the melbet app will know that Sergio Ramos has been an unmissable presence in European football across the last two decades, cementing his legend as one of the great defenders of the modern era.
After signing for Real Madrid as a teenager, Ramos spent 16 seasons winning trophies and irking officials at Spanish football’s most successful side.
The centre-back won an incredible five league titles and four Champions League trophies among his major honours, during a career with Los Blancos that brought 671 appearances and 101 goals.
Sergio Ramos LOVES a good red card 🟥 😂 pic.twitter.com/GvAkiQHoxI
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) July 5, 2022
Ramos, unapologetically, has also been the most carded player this century and has received a whopping 27 red cards across the course of his career. From scathing challenges in El Clasico contests to elite levels of sh*thousery, Ramos reds have been a regular occurrence.
He departed Real Madrid to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2021, where he was duly sent off on just his second Ligue 1 appearance. Old habits die hard.
1. Gerardo Bedoya – 46
Even Ramos’ red-mist episodes pale in comparison to Gerardo Bedeoya, the former Colombia international who became football’s king of cards.
Nicknamed ‘the beast’, it was a moniker the midfielder lived up to as he scythed down opponents and collected cards at a record rate.
His most notorious moment of madness came in a Bogota derby clash between Independiente Santa Fe and Millonarios in 2012. Bedeoya was given a 15-game suspension after following an elbow at Millonarios player Jhonny Ramirez with a subsequent kick to the head.
The combative, and often a little crazy, Colombian was not one to mess with.
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As a football enthusiast with a deep knowledge of the game, I've closely followed the careers of numerous players and their on-field behaviors. The article you've shared highlights the notorious aspect of football – red cards and the players who have become synonymous with disciplinary issues. Let me provide you with information related to all the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Paolo Montero (21 Red Cards):
- Paolo Montero, a former Uruguayan defender, played a significant part of his career in Italian football.
- He spent four seasons with Atalanta before joining Juventus in 1996, where he won four Serie A titles.
- Montero was known for his no-nonsense playing style, and he holds the record for the most red cards (21) in Serie A.
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Alexis Ruano Delgado (22 Red Cards):
- Alexis Ruano Delgado, a versatile defender, accumulated 22 red cards during his nomadic club career.
- He played for six different clubs in Spain, including Getafe and Valencia.
- His stint with Besiktas ended amid accusations of match-fixing after a disappointing performance.
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Cyril Rool (25 Red Cards):
- Cyril Rool, a combative midfielder, set a record in Ligue 1 with 19 red cards and a total of 25 dismissals in his career.
- He played for various French clubs, including Lens, Nice, and Marseille.
- Rool also received a staggering 187 yellow cards throughout his career.
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Sergio Ramos (27 Red Cards):
- Sergio Ramos, a legendary defender, spent 16 seasons with Real Madrid, winning numerous trophies, including five league titles and four Champions League trophies.
- He became one of the most carded players in the 21st century, receiving a total of 27 red cards during his career.
- Ramos signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and continued his trend by receiving a red card in just his second Ligue 1 appearance.
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Gerardo Bedoya (46 Red Cards):
- Gerardo Bedoya, a former Colombia international midfielder, earned the nickname 'the beast' for his aggressive playing style.
- Bedoya holds the record for the most red cards in football history, with a staggering 46 dismissals.
- His notorious moment occurred in 2012 when he received a 15-game suspension for elbowing and kicking an opponent in a Bogota derby clash.
These players have left a lasting impact on the history of football, not just for their skills but also for their disciplinary issues, making them infamous in the world of sports.
