Who has the most red cards in football history?

On the pitch, the players must not only show technique and talent, but also have patience and composure. However, not everyone can avoid harsh collisions and controversial situations. In the history of football, there are famous names with the number of controversial red cards, and receiving the most red cards has become an interesting topic when studying “hot-tempered” players on the field. So who has the most red cards in football history? Let’s find out with Premiumsoccertips.net through the article below!

Top 8 players with most red cards in football history

1. Jens Lehmann – 7 Red Cards

Being sent off SEVEN times in your goalkeeper career is truly impressive. One of Jens Lehmann’s most infamous dismissals occurred during the 2006 Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona. Lehmann became the first goalkeeper to be sent off in a Champions League final after fouling Samuel Eto’o outside Arsenal’s penalty area just 18 minutes into the match. Despite Arsenal leading at the time, they couldn’t maintain their advantage and went on to lose 1-2.

In 2020, Lehmann discussed this controversial incident on Arsenal’s ‘In Lockdown’ podcast, reflecting on this famous event and his career’s ups and downs. Lehmann shared his feelings and thoughts about that game, where he had to leave the field early and his team suffered a regrettable defeat.

2. Sergio Ramos – 29 Red Cards

Sergio Ramos has had an impressive career with numerous accolades and memorable moments in football. However, with a record number of red cards in modern football history—totaling 29, as of 2023—Ramos has often faced disciplinary issues on the field. This raises questions about his professionalism and composure in heated situations.

Despite having an outstanding record with the Spanish national team, Ramos never received a red card while playing for his country in 180 appearances. This is a notable contrast to his club record, where he has often faced unwanted dismissals.

3. Alexis Ruano Delgado – 22 red cards

Alexis Ruano Delgado, or simply ‘Alexis’, has had a remarkable career in Spain, playing for many famous clubs such as Malaga, Getafe, Valencia, Sevilla and Alaves. However, he began his career by winning the European Under-19 Championship with Spain’s under-19 team in 2004. Later, he also had brief stints in Turkey with Beşiktaş and in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.

Wherever he went, though, Alexis was in constant trouble. He has been suspended a total of 22 times during his 18-year career, and is known as one of the dirtiest players in football history. In one high-profile incident, Alexis was suspended for 4 matches after making a corner stab at Croatia international Mario Mandzukic as his opponent was writhing on the pitch.

After ending his football career in 2020 after playing for Racing Santander, Alexis has established himself as one of the most controversial players in terms of his behaviour on the pitch.

4. Pablo Alfaro – 27 red cards

Playing against two central defenders like Sergio Ramos and Pablo Alfaro on the pitch will be a real challenge for any striker. These two had a team bond at Sevilla, and together they have contributed to the club’s defence in over 50 matches, with more than 50 red cards recorded between them. This is an impressive number and also a testament to the decisiveness and harshness of both players.

Pablo Alfaro, who had the longest connection with Sevilla during his career between 2000 and 2005, is known for his strong defensive ability but also occasionally controversial for his unprofessional actions on the pitch. He is one of the players who received the most red cards in La Liga history, with a total of 18 sent offs.

While Alfaro’s temperament on the pitch can make any striker nervous, it is worth mentioning that off the pitch he is a holder of a medical degree and is currently the coach of Real Murcia. This shows that there can be two sides of one person, and on the pitch, Pablo Alfaro is a centre-back with experience and decisiveness that is formidable.

5. Paolo Montero – 21 red cards

Pablo Montero is a left-back with a fighting spirit very typical of Uruguayans, who tends to play aggressively and somewhat aggressively, with 21 red cards in his career. He spent 13 years in Serie A, including 4 years for Atalanta and 9 years for Juventus. Montero set the record for receiving the most red cards in Serie A history, being sent off a total of 15 times in 267 matches in the Italian top flight.

With a relatively high frequency of red cards, an average of about every 18 matches Montero receives a red card. In 2007, The Times ranked him at number 39 on its list of the 50 hardest working footballers in history. Montero was known for his fierce and rough defensive style, and he was frequently criticized for his aggressiveness during his career. Ryan Giggs once described Montero and his Juventus teammates as “the toughest defenders I’ve ever played against”.

6. Gerardo Bedoya – 46 red cards

Gerardo Bedoya holds the record for being sent off 46 times! The Colombian spends most of his playing time in South America and has 49 caps for the national team. During the Bogota derby between Independiente Santa Fe and the Millonarios in 2012, he was sent off for an elbow push and then kicked Millonarios player Jhonny Ramirez in the head, earning him a 15-match suspension later.

Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Monster’ for his rough tackles and attacks on opponents, Bedoya certainly has the right to a place in this squad – one that won’t be eliminated anytime soon, if at all. After retirement, Bedoya began working as a coach. As Santa Fe’s first assistant manager in 2016, he was sent off the team after just 21 minutes. We guess that old habits are unlikely to die.

7. Cyril Rool – 27 red cards

Cyril Rool played his entire career in France with Bastia, Lens, Bordeaux, Nice and Marseille, making a total of 366 appearances before retiring from playing. According to Sky Sports, the midfielder with the tough tackle holds the record for receiving the most red cards in Europe’s top 5 leagues with 19, before being surpassed by Ramos. In addition to the staggering number of red cards, he received 187 yellow cards in Ligue 1, a number that – to this day – remains a record.

The most successful period of his career came for Lens when he won his first – and only – silverware – when he won the 1998/99 Coupe de la Ligue. Rool may be an excellent footballer, but with a disciplined track record as clear as he is, his tough handling habits and his tendency to see red (literally) will remain his notable moments in the sport.

8. Edgar Davids – 25 red cards

Edgar Davids, better known by his nickname “Pitbull”, is one of the best and most technical midfielders of his generation. He began his career at Ajax, where he won three league titles and the Champions League in 1995. Davids then played for many top European clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur before finishing his career in 2014, after a stint as a coach/player for Barnet.

Despite being a talented player, Davids is also notorious for getting red cards quite often. He was sent off a total of 25 times during his career, including his final game as a professional for Barnet. Currently, Davids is an assistant coach for the Dutch national team.

Not only remembered for his technique and remarkable career, Edgar Davids is also known for his fierce and intense style of play. His nickname “Pitbull” comes not only from his enthusiastic style of play, but also due to his toughness, resilience and not being afraid to collide in any situation on the field.

Conclude

On the arduous journey of each match, the thrill comes not only from the goals and excellent skills, but also from controversial situations and refereeing decisions. When looking back at the history of football, no one can deny the role of “hot-tempered” but also talented players. The fact that who has the most red cards in football history is a special aspect and makes this question always cause curiosity and discussion in the global football community. Hopefully, through this article, you have learned who has the most red cards in football history.

See also: Who has the most yellow cards in football history?