A referee hands out a red card for different reasons. A sending off can have devastating consequences on a game and can be of no effect some times as well. There are varying factors that lead to a player getting sent off. An act of violence, a rash tackle or a second bookable offense can all lead to a player getting a red card. All of these are usually far and between and do not regularly occur for all players.
However, there are some players that have made the name in the arena of indiscipline. They are football’s bad boys. These guys have an unrivaled number of red cards in the history of the beautiful game. Let’s see the players that made the list.
Top 10 Football Players With Most Red Cards in Career Record
| Ranking | Players Name | Career Red Cards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerardo Bedoya | 46 |
| 2 | Cyril Rool | 25 |
| 3 | Sergio Ramos | 23 |
| 4 | Alexis Ruano Delgado | 22 |
| 5 | Paolo Montero | 21 |
| 6 | Pablo Alfaro | 18 |
| 7 | Yannick Cahuzac | 17 |
| 8 | Felipe Melo | 14 |
| 9 | Mauricio Pochettino | 13 |
| 10 | Vinnie Jones | 12 |
10. Vinnie Jones
The former Wales midfielder begins our list of football’s bad boys. Jones was a very volatile central midfielder in his playing days. When he tackles, he tackles really hard. This is one guy you do not want to mess with on the pitch. Many of his tackles were potential career killers. Another side to the former Wimbledon man is that he loves to pick up a fight. He acts like an alpha on the pitch. He got 12 red cards throughout his career.
9. Mauricio Pochettino
Among many of Mauricio Pochettino’s childhood, sports was judo and possibly brought the fighting instinct acquired from martial arts into his football game career. Pochettino was a tough-tackling center-back who got 13 red cards during his career. During the period of his playing career, He won two Copa del Reys with Espanyol, also played in France while representing Argentina in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He is most recently in charge of the Tottenham Hotspur team which he took to the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League final.
8. Felipe Melo
Melo was a defensive midfielder but not your typical destroyer. He is kind of like Fernandinho who is domineering in midfield but also technically gifted. He has played for various teams across Europe including Juventus and Galatasaray. He is currently playing for Palmeiras in Brazil. The Volta Redonda native has been shown a red card 14 times in his career. He retired from international football in 2010.
7. Yannick Cahuzac
We doubt if anyone reading this knows this guy. Cahuzac is a 35-year old defensive midfielder who plays for Lens in French Ligue 2. He began his career at Bastia in 2005 with whom he played for 12 years before moving to Toulouse in 2017. He joined his current team in 2019. It is safe to say his career has not been glittering as he played for Corsica at the international level. He has been shown a red card 17 times.
6. Pablo Alfaro
Alfaro is the first central defender in this write-up. The Spain-born defender began his senior career with Real Zaragoza in 1986 and played in Spain till he retired in 2007. He starred for big names such as Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Atletico Madrid back in the day. He has since ventured into management since his retirement and he currently works with Ibiza. The 50-year old amassed 18 red cards before he retired.
5. Paolo Montero
This guy could play as a central defender and a full back in his playing days. The former Uruguay player began his senior career with Penarol in 1990 ending it with them in 2007. Within his 17-year career, he also played for Atalanta, Juventus, and San Lorenzo. He also played for the Uruguay national team from 1991 to 2005. The Sambenedettese manager was sent off 21 times.
4. Alexis Ruano Delgado
Alexis, as he is called, is a 34-year old defender who plays for Racing Santander in Spain’s Segunda Division. He has played for a host of teams in Spain with short spells in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. His trophy haul includes the Copa del Rey which he won with Valencia in 2007/2008 and the Turkish Super Lig with Besiktas in 2015/2-16. He has been shown a red card 22 times so far.
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3. Sergio Ramos
And here is the one you have been waiting for. Ramos is a plater that has divided the opinions of football lovers and pundits alike. Many see him as a solid and dependable rearguard while some see him as an absolute bully. The debate was heightened when he took out Mohamed Salah in the UEFA Champions League final in Kyiv. Ramos’ brutish style of play sees him lead the all-time list for red cards in La Liga and Champions League histories. He has been sent off 26 times.
2. Cyril Rool
Cyril Rool has been shown a red card 27 times but seeing that Sergio Ramos is still active, the second spot might soon be his. The 45-year old midfielder began his career in 1993 with Bastia. He literally spent his entire career in France starring for Lens, Marseille, Monaco, Bordeaux, and Nice before retiring in 2010.
1. Gerardo Bedoya
When it comes to getting a red card, Bedoya’s ‘achievements’ are unprecedented. The former Colombia defensive midfielder spent his entire career in South America playing for clubs in Argentina and his native Colombia. This guy does not take prisoners as far as making a tackle is concerned. Why else would he have 45, YES, 45 red cards in a 20-year career?
Recap:
Footballers With The Most Red Cards In Soccer History
- Gerardo Bedoya – 46 career red cards
- Cryil Rool – 27 career red cards
- Sergio Ramos – 26 career red cards
- Alexis Ruano Delgado – 22 career red cards
- Paolo Montero – 21 career red cards
- Pablo Alfaro – 18 career red cards
- Yannick Cahuzac – 17 career red cards
- Felipe Melo – 14 career red cards
- Mauricio Pochettino – 13 career red cards
- Vinnie Jones – 12 career red cards