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Own goals are an extremely unfortunate way to concede. Defenders generally score a few own goals in their career. The Premier League era has seen some excellent defenders ply their trade and score a few forgettable own goals in their playing career.
This embarrassing stat might be a deflection in terms of the overall quality the players might have possessed but as they say- a goal is a goal!
This list checks out the current players with the highest own goals in their career in the Premier League era. Some of these men were solid for the most part, while others were error-prone.
#5 Phil Bardsley (3 own goals)
The Burnley right-back began his career at Manchester United but failed to make a lasting impression, instead going on loan to five different clubs including Rangers and Burnley.
He finally quit Old Trafford in 2008 to join Sunderland. He was a loyal servant for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light spending six seasons in the North East. He watched as Sunderland improved under Martin O'Neill and then began the journey downwards under a succession of managers.
His record of three own goals in the Premier League is shabby but not shameful, being quite a distance away from historical Own goal leader- Richard Dunne on 10 own goals. Bardsley has also played for Stoke City in the Premier League and looks set for a prolonged spell at Burnley despite not being a regular starter.
#4 Ryan Shawcross (5 own goals)
300 appearances for Stoke City after signing from Manchester United has seen Shawcross grow into one of the most dependable centre-halves in the Premier League. Not the silkiest of players, Shawcross is an old-school defender.
Although Shawcross has gained the brutal image of being uncompromising and tough, he has shown a tremendous presence of mind in Stoke's set-piece routines and his adaptability towards playing with the ball at his feet should the situation demand it.
The Stoke skipper though has been guilty of scoring five own goals over the course of his career. An embarrassing five own goals blemish his otherwise solid record as a Premier League defender.
With his career not looking like winding up anytime soon despite some injury troubles, Shawcross would hope not to add to his own goal tally.
#3 Scott Dann (5 own goals)
The former England U-21 international has played for the likes of Blackburn, Birmingham and current club Crystal Palace whom he has also captained for two seasons until getting replaced by Jason Puncheon, who now wears the armband. A solid centre-half whose reputation was at its peak in the midst of the Alan Pardew stint at Crystal Palace, Dann has been solid at most times in his career even though he was never spectacular.
Dann has faced the ignominy of having put the ball past his goalkeeper five times in his career in the top flight. Not particularly known for being too error-prone, Dann has compensated at the other end by scoring off quite a few goals and generally being a nuisance in the opposition half when called upon.
Still, considering his own goal record is equal to Shawcross having played quite a few games fewer, Dann could add to his tally before he calls it a day.
#2 Gareth McAuley (6 own goals)
The Northern-Irish defender is among those players who are seldom fancied and never wanted but ever-present anyway. Having spent his formative years and the first part of his career in Northern Ireland, McAuley has managed to have quite a long career in the top flight with West Bromwich Albion.
The solidity he provides at the back despite the lack of fancy ball skills that typifies good central defenders nowadays makes it very difficult for a manager to drop him from the eleven.
He has made nearly 200 top-flight appearances for West Brom and doesn't look like slowing down soon. The small matter of 6 own goals is very forgivable when you have the consistency and grit that McAuley provides to his club. Expect to see this man staying around the Hawthorns regardless of a few more own goals being added along the way.
#1 Phil Jagielka (6 own goals)
The Everton captain is a stalwart for his club and is well-liked by managers and fans. Despite criticism from some sections claiming that Jagielka isn't a very vocal leader, four successive managers have named him captain.
A positive influence in the dressing room with a lot of experience on the field, it is easy to see why Jagielka is so popular at Everton. Capped 40 times by his country in an era where his peak arguably overlapped with the presence of the John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Carragher, Jagielka managed to hold his own ground as a great central defender for Everton and England.
His legs are gone and it looks like his spell at Everton is winding down, but he could get a chance at another club if not Everton. The defender has scored six own goals over the course of his seasons at Everton and Sheffield United and Everton captain will hope that he will never have to pick the ball from his own net off his body again.
