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3. Johan Cruyff
“Football has given me everything in this life; tobacco almost took it all away.”
As a footballer and as a manager, Cruyff smoked 20 cigarettes a day until he underwent a double heart bypass surgery after the cigarettes and stress caught up with him. To help him give up on smoking, Chupa Chups Group, a Barcelona-based confectioner, sent him a box of lollipops. From then on, Cruyff could be seen on TV furiously sucking a Chupa Chups as he paced back and forth on the sidelines.
4. Robert Prosinecki
Robert smoked approximately 40-50 cigarettes a day and still managed to win the European Cup in 1991 with Red Star Belgrade. He did cut to 20-a-day when he joined Portsmouth in 2001.
5. Fabien Barthez
A top-level goalkeeper who played under Sir Alex Ferguson, yet managed to stick around despite his smoking habit.
According to The Guardian, Ferguson said in 2001 of Barthez’s smoking:
‘I know Fabien smokes. I was even aware of that before he joined us. He must think I don’t know about it, but he is mistaken. He is the third United player to be hooked on cigarettes since I have been at the club. Before him, there were Jesper Olsen and goalkeeper Les Sealey.
‘In England, it’s a rare thing to see a player smoking but, all in all, I prefer that to an alcoholic. The relationship with alcohol is a real problem in English football and, in the short term, it’s much more harmful to a sportsman. It weakens the body, which becomes more susceptible to injury.That’s why I’ve been so keen on prevention classes for our youngsters.’
6. Zinedine Zidane
Jack Wilshere tweeted this picture last evening. Zidane was widely known to be a part of an anti-smoking campaign in 2002, but was seen casually smoking a cigarette just before the 2006 World Cup semifinal against Portugal.
7. Osvaldo Ardiles
Former Tottenham manager César Luis Menotti was a chain smoker and inspired by him, Osvaldo Ardiles smoked over 40 cigarettes a day.
“It didn’t bother Ossie and it doesn’t bother me,” said the then coach.
