5 footballers who ruined their legacy

Modified Dec 26, 2016 08:51 GMT

ATHENS, GREECE - OCTOBER 20: Francesc Fabregas of Arsenal is challenged by Dumitru Mitu of Panathinaikos during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Panathinaikos and Arsenal at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium on October 20, 2004 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) — Fabregas was one of the brightest footballers to come through Arsenal’s academy

#1 Michel Platini

Undated: Michel Platini (left) of Juventus chases Emidio Oddi of Roma during an Italian League match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Roma won the match 3-0. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport — Platini had a stellar playing career with Juventus

The only person who could possibly rival Sepp Blatter for the title of ‘most hated man among footballing fraternity,’ currently is Michel Platini.

The Frenchman was one of the best players to ever grace a football pitch, winning innumerable personal accolades and trophies in a career spanning across Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus. Platini won the Ballon d’Or 3 years on the bounce from 1983-1985 whilst at Juventus; a record that was only recently broken by Lionel Messi. He also won a European Championship for his country and was one of the most well-respected footballers of his time.

After taking up a role in the football politics, he’s been mired in controversy and has been charged with corruption in the sport alongside Blatter. The former UEFA president was banned from football for 8 years and the ethics committee stated that, ‘Platini lacked respect for the laws and regulations of the organisation.’ Not content with the corruption permeating FIFA, he was also involved in Greece’s football scandal as well as being named in the Panama papers.

He is undoubtedly the epitome of a footballer who ruined his legacy in the sport.

Edited by Staff Editor