Top 5 hot-headed players football has ever seen

Albeit being known as 'The Beautiful Game', football is a man's game through and through. As much as it exhibits sheer beauty and elegance, the famous sport has many disgraceful moments to talk about.

Throughout its history, the game has seen a bunch of extremely ferocious personalities producing barbaric moments on the field. Some players have been on the edge of intense criticism due to their inability to control their emotions. Seeing them raging about on the pitch has certainly proved one thing: football is not a game for feeble hearts.

Let's have a glimpse of the top five of these short-tempered monsters who were involved in controversies throughout their careers:

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#5: Pepe

Pepe can transform into an animal on the pitch in rage

One of the most short-tempered players in modern age, Pepe is capable of transforming into a complete animal on the pitch when he loses his temper. For the past couple years, he has been the centerpiece of many controversies.

People always expect heated moments in the El Clasico and they are never disappointed. Pepe is the first to spark a fight whenever Barcelona and Real Madrid face each other.

Stamping on Messi's hand, a downright cruel tackle on Dani Alves near the touchline and a FIFA World Cup spat with Germany's Thomas Mueller have been some of the most well-known rash tackles, not to mention a couple others against different teams.

Although he has seen out a trophy-laden career, the former Real Madrid centre-back has seen a fair share of bans and punishments owing to his misbehaviours and rash tackling on the pitch.

#4: Gennaro Gattuso

Gennaro Gattuso was a tough player to handle when he was angry

No one had the guts to question Gennaro Gattuso's authority at the San Siro. Knowing the type of hot-headed man he was, Gattuso enjoyed the status of being a fantastic leader both on and off the pitch.

He had a short stature, but that never stopped him from being intimidating both as a player and a person. The Italian was famous for losing his rage in the fraction of a second and being the centre of attraction in many spats and duels during a game.

In one instance, Rino Gattuso even dared to hold ex-Milan player Jordan by the scruff of the neck in an ugly spat of rage. A big applause to Carlo Ancelotti who managed the hot-headed Italian as aptly as one could imagine.

#3: Paolo Di Canio

Paolo Di Canio was one of the most short-tempered players of his age

Remember that fight with a young Frank Lampard over a penalty kick against Bradford? Paolo Di Canio spared no person who crossed his path, be it a friend or a foe.

Di Canio was no doubt an immensely passionate player on the pitch, but sometimes, it caused him to overreact in certain situations. Di Canio played as if he owned the world, let alone a football pitch.

Against Bradford, the Italian threw tantrums and asked to be subbed off after refusing to play due to disagreements with the referee.

A player who was nearly impossible to face when in rage, Di Canio also faced problems due to his temper during his managerial temper at Sunderland. The Italian faced a sack for his brutal criticism of Sunderland's players.

Recently, Paolo Di Canio fearlessly exposed a tattoo that supported Italian dictator Benito Mussolini while appearing as a Sky Sports pundit in a sleeveless shirt. Talk about being brave!

#2: Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona faced a lot of bans in his career

It was as if Frenchman Eric Cantona had been prophesied to face bans almost every month in his football career. Manchester United supporters might adore him as a charismatic leader, but there's no doubt the clinical striker was downright brutal and faced a lot of problems due to his rage.

Initially, it was Sir Alex Ferguson who convinced the charismatic captain to return to football, after he took retirement due to constant punishments and bans. In his 25-year tenure as a manager, no one except Cantona had free reigns at Old Trafford during Fergie's rule. He remains the only player who was spared from Fergusons's famous hairdryer.

And the Kung-fu kick to a spectator, that was a true testament of the cruelty the Frenchman could inflict when at the pinnacle of his rage. No wonder Sir Alex never crossed his path!

#1: Roy Keane

Having a go at Patrick Viera was Roy Keane's favourite hobby as a player

Alf-Inge Haaland. That name immediately comes to mind when one talks about the towering rage of Roy Keane. There have been brutal and angry players no doubt. But, this tale of revenge is something else.

In 1997, Keane's United took on Haaland's Leeds United and in that game, the Irishman attempted a tackle on Haaland, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament instead, and was subsequently sidelined for nearly a year.

Later, in 2001, Keane pulled off a foul on Haaland, for which the Irishman was sent off. He later admitted, in his autobiography, that the tackle was an act of vengeance, for all the criticism he had faced after their 1997 encounter.

Roy Keane is the most celebrated captain in the history of Red Devils. However, the Irishman was frightening during his fury. Dirty tackles were always the scenes to watch when Keane went on a rampage.

His famous rivalry with Frenchman Patrick Viera has gone down as the stuff of legend in Premier League's folklore. Being a charismatic midfielder, Roy Keane left no chance at having a go at Viera when Arsenal faced United. Surely, every one of us has watched that famous clip of Keane ranting in Highbury's dug-out.

The Irishman's temper saw him leave Old Trafford after a rumoured ugly spat with Sir Alex Ferguson. To this day, the Irishman regards Brian Clough as the best manager he has played for, even after winning countless glories under the legendary Scot.