Top 10 greatest 'hardman' footballers of all time

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League : News Photo
Diego Costa is one of the dirtiest footballers at present 

#9 Patrick Vieira

patrick vieira invincibles
Patrick Vieira in a typically fearless showdown with United’s Jaap Stam

Arsenal's Invincibles had one big name at their forefront - and that name was Patrick Vieira.

The Senegalese-born Frenchman is one of the game's greatest footballers ever, and he has been sought after by almost every major team in club football. A Euro and World-Cup winning player with France, Vieira's aggressive, powerful and intelligent football has always made him a gigantic fixture in every side he's played in. A captain after Keown's retirement for Arsenal, he was given the same honour for France but managed to convince Zidane to return in 2006.

At Arsenal, he was the brawn and power that drove them to an incredible unbeaten run which erupted with the Pizzagate scandal of Old Trafford. 3 Premier League titles (including a golden one in 2003/2004) were piled up with another 3 Serie A titles for Inter Milan before his 5th FA Cup was collected in Manchester City colours.

His versatility and pace enabled him to bounce across every part of the pitch and his furious feud with Manchester United's Roy Keane was the sign of an alpha captain at the top of his game making a mark on the opponent - before a ball had even been kicked at times!

Over 100 caps for France meant that the powerful, tall and energetic midfielder was every bit as dominant a force at international level as he was at club level.

“If there was a fight, it would take a long time to beat him and I would end up with a few cuts.” - On fighting Roy Keane

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Edited by Staff Editor