5 football teammates who hated each other

Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool
Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool

Football has managed to harvest friendships which have lasted for years together. However, there have also been incidents when teammates have been at constant loggerheads.

Certain team members don't gel with one another, leading to unflattering comments and embarrassing moments. Such incidents are few and far between, but the volatility among certain teammates has been recorded.

We look at 5 teammates who hated each other.


#5 John Fashanu - Lawrie Sanchez (Wimbledon)

John Fashanu
John Fashanu

Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the 1987/88 FA Cup final, with the victory regarded as one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.

A headed goal from midfielder Lawrie Sanchez secured the win for Wimbledon, but all was not well behind the scenes. Sanchez and striker John Fashanu did not enjoy the best of relationships and were often critical of one another, and even had a training ground squabble.

Sanchez had this to say on Fashanu:

"From the first moment, he knew what I was and I knew what he was."

Fashanu was even more blunt in his assessment. When asked what he regretted, Fashanu said:

"Not striking Lawrie Sanchez sooner."

#4 Andy Cole - Teddy Sheringham (Manchester United/England)

Andy Cole looks on
Andy Cole looks on

Two great English strikers who represented the same club for some time did not enjoy one another's company.

Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham were both part of the Manchester United side which won the treble in 1999. Despite playing together for club and country, Sheringham and Cole maintained a cold distance. The reason for this feud was that Sheringham had snubbed Cole's hand when the latter was making his England debut.

Cole, in an interview to the Telegraph, admitted:

"We never spoke. Unless it was going to be another argument between us…no, never spoke. We didn’t exchange a single word while we were there. I was so volatile towards him. I just wasn’t having him."

Also Read: 5 biggest mistakes made by Barcelona this season (2020/21)


#3 Jamie Carragher - El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool)

Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool
Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool

El Hadji Diouf has always been a controversial figure in football, and he has often made scathing comments about Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

The two Liverpool legends weren't full of praise for Diouf, either. The Senegal international, who joined Liverpool from Lens in 2002, was a frustratingly inconsistent striker. Carragher even stated that he is the worst player he played with at Liverpool.

"The worst has to be El Hadji Diouf. Actually, I quite enjoyed playing against him as you could kick him then – can’t kick your own players."

Diouf did not keep quiet, though. Here's what he said about Carragher and Liverpool:

"He was a right-footed player with two left feet. If he wasn't a Scouser, a son of Liverpool, he would never have had the career he did. I can say today that the shirt that I regret wearing the most was Liverpool's."

#2 Jens Lehmann - Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)

Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers - Premier League
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers - Premier League

Jens Lehmann was renowned for his mercurial nature as a player and was a member of Arsenal's famous "Invincibles" side.

The arrival of Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia from Celta Vigo in 2004 proved to be a problem though. Inconsistent performances from Lehmann saw Almunia take over as Arsenal's no.1 goalkeeper for some time, a change which was not well received by the German.

Almunia stated that Lehmann was not happy when Wenger decided to try him in goal. This situation led to some awkward moments between the two goalkeepers.

"He’s a national-team goalkeeper, big name, and I’m a small goalkeeper from Spain who comes along and makes it difficult for him — he’s thinking, ‘What the hell? This is not possible?’ So yes, we had difficult moments."

#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax)

AC Milan v Benevento Calcio - Serie A
AC Milan v Benevento Calcio - Serie A

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never shied away from controversy, and during his early playing days he did not enjoy a good relationship with Ajax teammate Rafael van der Vaart.

During a Sweden-Netherlands game, Ibrahimovic ended up injuring van der Vaart. The Dutchman accused the striker of hurting him intentionally, and the accusation was not well received by Ibrahimovic.

"I didn’t injure you on purpose, and you know that. And if you accuse me again I’ll break both your legs - and that time it will be on purpose."

Ibrahimovic was sold to Juventus a few weeks later, while van der Vaart departed Ajax the following year.


Also Read: 5 most expensive attacking midfielders of all time

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Edited by Prem Deshpande
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