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Football is a contact sport, and sometimes rivals take this as an advantage to sabotage their nemesis’s career. Tackles in football have become not only as a way of puncturing a team’s prospects but also an arena of personal revenge among rivals.
Football has been a beautiful game but its tackles may sometimes take the ugliest of turns. Many tackles in the game have been the career-defining moments for players. These tackles have given football it’s very own unsung heroes of the likes of Dean Ashton and Ben Collets whose immense talents could never be unravelled. Even more shocking is the use of tackles to settle up personal rivalries and grudges and we have the cases of Alf Inge Haaland and Matty Holmes to prove this.
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Although the victims of tackles have tried to put up a brave come-back, only a few have succeeded in matching their previous heights. Most of them either called it quits or were forced to retire. Also, the amount they got as a compensation can never suffice the glory and fortune they may have earned had they continued.
This FIFA World Cup Neymar hogged limelight due to his diving antics. This has not only been a host of memes and jokes but has also diluted the empathy for the actual pain players feel due to true injuries. This also calls for stronger regulation and penalties in the game so as to ensure nobody takes the advantage of ‘contact’ in football. This season of football fever, we bring you 10 such cases of horrific tackles that claimed the careers of bright footballers. Some might bring back time of nostalgia for you while some are of more recent cases.
David Busst’s collision with Dennis Irwin
Career ended: David Busst
Age:28
When: April 8, 1996
What: double compound leg injury
One of the most horrific injuries of football took place when the then Coventry defender, David Busst collided with Manchester United’s Dennis Irwin. The blood loss was large enough for the field to be cleaned with water while the match was delayed by 9 minutes. The sight was spine-chilling enough for United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel vomiting and later requiring counselling along with other players. Busst went through 26 operations. He made a brave comeback in small sided football as well as over 35 football.
Dean Ashton’s horrific training tackle
Career ended: Dean Ashton
Age of retirement: 26
When: August 2006
What: Broken Ankle
Just a day before making his England debut, Dean Ashton’s promising career nosedived. His ankle shattered due to heavy tackle with Shaun Wright-Phillips during training for the England squad in 2006. Although he braved his injury to make a total of 41 professional appearances and England debut in 2008, his injury continued to haunt him and he was forced to retire in 2009. The FA and the West Ham agreed on a compensation of undisclosed amount to the player but nothing can truly compensate for the tragic loss.
Ben Collett’s horrific-premature retirement
Career ended: Ben Collett
Age of retirement:18
When: May 2003
What: Double leg break
Ben Collett was a prodigy of sorts to join the Manchester United at just the age of 9. His career came to a very premature halt when he was challenged by Middlesbrough’s Gary Smith. Although he tried hard to return in 2004, the damage was done and he was forced to retire early. As the case reached the High-Court in 2008, both Gary Smith and Middlesbrough admitted liability to award Ben £4.5 million for loss of earnings.
Roy Keane’s evil revenge from Alf-Inge Haaland
Career ended: Alf-Inge Haaland
Age of retirement: 31
When: April 2001
What: knee injury
Revenge can be lethal and we have the fall-out between Alf-Inge Haaland and Roy Keane to prove it. Four years past Alf’s criticism for Keane faking injury, the latter took his revenge that would set path for the former’s retirement. After Keane’s revelation of his intentions in his autobiography, he was banned for 5 matches and a fine of £150,000. Ever since, Haaland has maintained his stand that he lost his career due to Keane. In his words: 'Did that tackle end my career? Well, I never played a full game again, did I? It seems like a great coincidence, don't you think?'
Luc Nilis’s clash with goalie Richard Wright
Career ended: Luc Nilis
Age of retirement:33
When: September 2000
What: Compound fracture
After playing for his country in 56 matches with 10 goals, his career was set for a new high with new club Aston Villa. But fate had something else in store for him. The Belgian’s career ended with Nilis colliding with goalkeeper Richard Wright to suffer a double compound fracture in his right shin. He subsequently went on to become a coach.
Colin Bell’s career-ending tackle with Martin Buchan
Career ended: Colin Bell
Age of retirement:33
When: November 1975
What: Knee injury
Manchester City’s Collin Bell had made a total of about 500 appearances for the club and was about to earn his 50th England cap. But then came a tackle from Manchester United’s skipper; Martin Buchan which just tore almost all ligaments of his right knee. Bell, however, has maintained that he places no blames on Buchan. He then struggled for four years to bring his career back on track but to no gain. In 1979 he called quits. He, however, tried his last failed attempt to revive through American club San Jose Earthquakes in 1980. He is still regarded as Man City’s greatest player of all time.
Steve Froggatt’s clash with Nicky Summerbee
Career ended: Steve Froggatt
Age of retirement: 28
When: 12 February 2000
What: Ankle injury
Things had just started working for Steve Froggatt as he got his first call for international call-up. Although he didn’t play from country’s side he was promised so in the next match by Kevin Keegan. However, his world went upside down as he bumped into Manchester City’s Nicky Summerbee. The knee injury was serious enough to nip all the budding prospects for the gifted player.
How a free-kick shot destroyed Alex Notman’s career
Career ended: Alex Notman
Age of retirement: 24
When: 15 September 2002
What: Ankle ligament injury
Former Manchester United trainee Alex Notman was just starting his professional career as the lightning struck him. Facing rivals Ipswich Notman was blocking a free kick by Mark Venus. However, it so happened that the shot hit him in his ankle destroying his ligaments. The injury was irrecoverable and he announced his retirement a year later.
How ACL injury proved to be the last nail in Stuart Holden’s career’s coffin
Career ended: Stuart Holden
Age of retirement: 30
When: March 2014
What: ACL
Stuart Holden was on a recovery track after suffering a couple of injuries when he was in his yet another comeback match for the Bolton when his ACL was injured the second time. He had been injured in the same place before in the Gold Cup finals as well. His career, unlike others, had been facing injuries since a long time but he braved them always. This time as well, fans were expecting the same to happen but it went on to become otherwise.
Matty Holmes career-ending clash with Kevin Muscat
Career ended: Matty Holmes
Age of retirement: 30
When: 1998
What: Severe leg injury
Matty’s career came to a stand-still following the clash with ‘dirty player’ Kevin Muskat. Kevin has a long record of inflicting severe injuries on his rival which thus earn him the above title. Matty’s injury was so severe that the surgeons told him that he was fortunate enough to not get his legs amputated. After his legal battle with Muskat, he was awarded a compensation of £750,000.
