The Premier League isn’t just about football. Though the world’s top tier of the sport regularly attracts millions of viewers, the League also provides fans with a simulated competition they can channel their own passion into, as well as fantasy leagues, video games, and fan groups that host viewing parties.
The League is also home to some of the world’s most spirited athletes, who’ve had on-field blowups and breakdowns. After major upsets on the pitch, cheeky (and well-timed) antics from fans or players can help lighten the tension after a big loss. Though restoring the body with a good meal is the top priority for players post-game, fans might need to relax their minds.
Online games like jammin jars are one way to relieve the stress of a major loss, as are listening to uplifting music and taking a scenic walk. But for some fans, nothing soothes the spirit after a big loss quite like a long reel of football’s funniest moments from its biggest personalities.
The Premier League, with its origins tangled with the beloved dry humor of the British Isles, isn’t short on players with a penchant for hilarious antics along with scoring goals or creating plays. Let’s take a look at the league’s funniest players in recent history.
Peter Crouch
Though the gangly striker Peter Crouch is usually only mentioned in conversations or analyses related to offense, the leading header goal scorer in Premier League history is also known for his witty one-liners. Though many crafted jokes and quips are based on the player’s appearance, Crouch himself wasn’t afraid to let his wit shine.
Some of his greatest one-liners came from his time with clubs like Liverpool, Tottenham, and Aston Villa before his retirement in 2019. Here are a few of the funniest:
When asked for a comment on Chelsea signing Olivier Giroud instead of him, Crouch replied, “I’d go as far as to say they got themselves the division’s second-best looking target man.”
In a 2019 interview with the Mirror, Crouch said of his wife, “My wife doesn’t like football. One day she called me ten minutes before a game to find out where I was.”
Mario Balotelli
Back in 2012, Italian footballer Mario Balotelli was taking the football world by storm. Not only was he an explosive striker who could lead his Italian team, but Balotelli was also one of the weirdest players to take the limelight.
In 2012 alone, he made waves for his dance moves at the Euro 2012, for showing up at an unrelated team’s press conference and then leaving suddenly, flashing a ‘Rafaella Ti Amo’ shirt to give his then-girlfriend a shout-out, and having a mock sword fight at a public restaurant before scoring two goals against Manchester United only hours later.
Again, these events are from 2012 alone. Unfortunately for Balotelli, disciplinary problems followed him throughout his career and would see him move from the Premier League to the Italian Serie B.
Emmanuel Eboué
For nearly a decade, Ivory Coast-born Emmanuel Eboué reigned as a fan favorite for the post-Invincibles Arsenal squad. The right-back was known for his strength of defense, and versatility and improvement under Arsène Wenger. Though his reputation with fans ebbed over time, Eboué never failed to produce a few smiles.
The Ivory Coast national player was known for his elaborate pranks on teammates, which once included dressing up as a lion and stalking party-goers at a bash held by Gilberto Silva. Many of Eboué’s more memorable moments come from stories like these, or hilarious antics caught by cameramen during warmups and live games.
Eboué was also known to haggle with referees, other coaches, and interviewers before and after games. In another example, he appears to listen closely, nodding as though deep in thought, as the South Korean coach instructs his team during a 2010 World Cup qualifier match. Eboué doesn’t speak Korean.
