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Football is a contact sport, and aggression is a part of the game. Varied characters have played and their tenacious brand of play often comes at a cost.
While the likes of Sergio Ramos have made aggression and physicality their trademark, certain players have been criticized for needless red cards over the course of their careers.
Harnessing that aggression is important, as there have been multiple examples in the world of sport where unnecessary challenges have resulted in serious injuries.
On that note, we take a look at the top 10 players who have been sent off the most in the 21st century.
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#10 Giampiero Pinzi - 14 sending offs
A player who spent his entire playing career in Italy, Giampiero Pinzi's name is often associated with Udinese.
A product of the Lazio academy, Pinzi joined Udinese in 2000 and represented the club for 12 seasons. He made 334 appearances in all competitions for Udinese, playing alongside the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Antonio Di Natale, and scored 17 goals for the club.
Pinzi left Udinese in 2015 and went on to enjoy stints for Chievo, Brescia and Padova. The midfielder earned one cap for the Italian national team and retired in 2019 after being released by Padova.
#9 Alberto Lopo - 14 sending offs
A strong, physical center-back, Alberto Lopo predominantly played in La Liga, representing multiple clubs.
Lopo spent much of his playing career with Espanyol and Deportivo La Coruna. The center-back won two Copa del Reys with Espanyol, making 178 league appearances for the club. He joined Deportivo La Coruna in 2006, becoming an important player for the club. After a spell with Getafe, he returned to Deportivo La Coruna in 2014, spending two more seasons with the club.
Lopo was once called up to the Spain national team but failed to make an appearance. The defender retired in 2018 after a short stint with Andorran club Inter d'Escaldes.
#8 Carlos Marchena - 14 sending offs
A center-back who was capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, Carlos Marchena played for some top clubs and was a crucial member of the Spain national team.
Having begun his career with Sevilla, Marchena spent a season with Benfica before joining Valencia in 2001. He made his name with Los Che, as he spent nine seasons at the club and made 319 appearances in all competitions. Marchena also won La Liga twice with Valencia.
For the Spain national team, the center-back played an important role as they won the Euros in 2008. He was also part of the side which triumphed in the World Cup in 2010. After leaving Valencia, Marchena played for the likes of Villarreal, Deportivo La Coruna and Kerala Blasters before retiring in 2015.
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#7 Sulley Muntari - 14 sending-offs
Best known for his time with Inter Milan, Sulley Muntari was a strong, aggressive midfielder who was renowned for his tenacity.
Muntari began his career with Udinese before joining Portsmouth in 2007. After a season there, the Ghana international joined Inter Milan and was part of the side which won the treble under the management of Jose Mourinho.
Muntari also played for clubs like Sunderland and AC Milan. The midfielder left Europe in 2015 to play for Saudi side Ittihad but lasted only a season. After short stints with Pescara, Deportivo La Coruna and Albacete, the 36-year old retired in 2019.
#6 Gonzalo Rodriguez - 15 sending-offs
An underrated center-back, Gonzalo Rodriguez was a consistent player and an ever-present during his time with Villarreal and Fiorentina.
The Argentine started his career in Europe with Villarreal, where he made 253 appearances in all competitions. Rodriguez had a few injury concerns at Villarreal and after their relegation in 2012, he joined Serie A side Fiorentina.
The central defender made 203 appearances in all competitions for Fiorentina and became the club captain as well. Rodriguez made seven appearances for the Argentina national side. He retired in 2020 after spending three seasons with boyhood club San Lorenzo.
#5 Cyril Jeunechamp - 15 sending-offs
Cyril Jeunechamp spent his entire playing career in France, representing multiple clubs like Rennes, Nice and Montpellier.
A right-back, Jeunechamp began his career with Nimes, making 39 league appearances for them. He spent much of his career with Auxerre and Rennes, making more than 100 league appearances for both sides.
Jeunechamp was banned from football for a year after punching a journalist in 2012. He retired in 2015.
#4 Cyril Rool- 15 sending-offs
Like his namesake Cyril Jeunechamp, Cyril Rool represented only French clubs during his playing career.
A combative midfielder, Rool was renowned for his aggressive style of play. The Frenchman spent most of his career playing for Bastia and went on to represent top French clubs like Marseille and AS Monaco.
Rool spent four seasons with Nice before joining Marseille in 2009. He made only two league appearances for the club before announcing his retirement in 2010.
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#3 Philippe Mexes - 16 sending-offs
Philippe Mexes was well-known for his combative spirit and physical style of play throughout his career, which saw him enjoy stints in France and Italy.
A product of the Auxerre academy, Mexes made 168 appearances in all competitions for the club, with his performances resulting in a move to Serie A side Roma. The Frenchman spent seven seasons in the Italian capital before joining AC Milan in 2011.
Mexes' bicycle-kick against Anderlecht in 2012 in the UEFA Champions League was regarded as one of the best goals of the year. The center-back made 29 appearances for the French national team and was also named in the squad for Euro 2012.
#2 Thiago Motta - 16 sending-offs
Thiago Motta enjoyed stints with some of the biggest clubs in the world in what was a trophy-laden playing career.
Motta began his career with Barcelona, winning La Liga twice as well as the UEFA Champions League. The midfielder went on to play for Atletico Madrid, Genoa and Inter Milan, before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2012.
AT PSG, Motta firmly established himself in the first XI, spending seven seasons at the club and helping them make their mark domestically. After retiring in 2018, the 38-year-old was named as the manager of Genoa in 2019 but did not last long at the club.
#1 Sergio Ramos - 26 sending-offs
Regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, Sergio Ramos continues to be one of football's global superstars.
A product of the Sevilla academy, Ramos joined Real Madrid in 2005. The defender was immediately a starter for Los Blancos and nearly 16 seasons later, that is still the case. The Spain international has made 670 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring an astonishing 101 goals.
Ramos's contract expires in the summer, and there have been suggestions that he will leave. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been suggested as possible destinations for the legendary Spaniard.
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