'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 George Best
Arguably the most talented and greatest footballer to come out of the United Kingdom, George Best was an eccentric character. While his footballing exploits are known to many, his off-the-field antics have made him a cult figure over the years. Some of his most famous quotes include:
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
"I used to go missing a lot... Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World."
"I've stopped drinking, but only while I'm asleep."
George Best was loved and endeared by football fans worldwide, but he was not always a manager's favourite. The Englishman missed a full week's training in January 1972 because he wanted to spend time with Miss Great Britain instead.
Much like the ones before, the Manchester United legend often skipped his training sessions. He, unfortunately, suffered from alcoholism, which meant that "his training suffered and his appearances became less."
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the greatest goalscorers of the 21st century, and has won trophies with almost every club he has played for.
The prolific Swede has won a whopping 32 titles in his professional career, scoring 484 goals and registering 193 assists from 788 appearances. The mercurial striker is a modern great of the game, but he is also known for his humongous ego. That makes Ibrahimovich one of the toughest footballers to manage, as Pep Guardiola would testify.
The duo had a rather public fallout during Ibrahimovich's year-long stay in Barcelona. In an interview, Pep Guardiola said:
"If Ibra and I have spoken only twice in six months, there is a reason, but it is better for the club if I don't talk about it."
He added, "Many of those I worked with talk badly about me now. I think I always did my best."
Zlatan, too, has had a lot of unsavoury things to say about Guardiola over the years. In an interview, the Swede said:
"Guardiola was staring at me and I lost it. I thought, 'there is my enemy, scratching his bald head!' I yelled: 'You haven't got any b***s!' and worse than that I added: 'You can go to hell!' I completely lost it, and you might've expected Guardiola to say a few words in response, but he's a spineless coward."
#1 Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli rose to prominence during his time at Manchester City, and was one of the most exciting talents in the game.
However, he wasn't the most professional footballer going around, and was the subject of various scandals and controversies. Every manager faced an uphill task to control and manage Balotelli, but no one succeeded. Balotelli's most infamous episode was his training ground bust-up with former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.
Balotelli physically assaulted his former manager, and things could've gotten much worse if not for a timely intervention. The Italian also wanted to sharpen his shooting skills, which he did by firing darts at a group of youth academy players.
Jose Mourinho recalled a hilarious story involving Balotelli. He said in an interview:
"I remember one time when we went to play Kazan in the Champions League. In that match, I had all my strikers injured. No Diego Milito, no Samuel Eto'o, I was really in trouble, and Mario was the only one. Mario got a yellow card in the 42nd minute, so when I got to the dressing room at half-time I spent about 14 minutes of the 15 available speaking only to Mario."
He added:
"I said to him: 'Mario, I cannot change you, I have no strikers on the bench, so don't touch anybody and play only with the ball. If we lose the ball, no reaction. If someone provokes you, no reaction, if the referee makes a mistake, no reaction."
Mario Balotelli would get a straight red card in the 46th minute of the match.
