Coral’s top 10 freak footballer accidents after Smalling holiday injury

Dave Beasant – Attacked by salad cream

Keepers these days tend to use their feet more than their hands to save shots, and it seems former Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Wimbledon and England stopper Beasant was one of the first to test this with a falling jar of salad cream. It didn’t end well, though, as he severed a tendon in his foot while trying to stop its fall. Use your hands!

Chic Brodie – Small dog ends keeper’s career

It is fair to say that, while a dog may be a man’s best friend, they are certainly a footballer’s worst enemy. The former Brentford goalie had to retire from football soon after clashing with a small dog whilst playing against Colchester United in 1970. On the incident, he said: “The dog might have been a small one, but it just happened to be a solid one.”

Santiago Canizares – A very close aftershave

Dogs and goalkeepers are synonymous with injuries to footballers caused off the pitch it seems. Former Valencia, Real Madrid and Spain icon Canizares hurt himself in similar vein to Beasant; this time, though, it was a bottle of aftershave that severed a ligament in his big toe. It resulted in him missing the 2002 World Cup.

Rio Ferdinand – Injured whilst stationary

Ex-Manchester United and England legend Ferdinand has had his fair share of injuries throughout his career, but none quite as bizarre as doing so whilst playing video games. While in the stationary position, he didn’t realise that putting his feet up on a coffee table for so long caused him to strain knee ligaments.

Svein Grondalen – Moose collision

Luckily no one would have this issue in the UK, but former Norway and Rosenborg defender Grondalen, who was known for his physicality, was going on a run in a forest, minding his own business, before colliding with a moose. He certainly met his match, and missed a World Cup qualifier as a result.

Mart Poom – Iron Maiden clash, be quick or be downed

Former Derby County keeper hero Poom suffered the misfortune of injuring his genitals whilst clashing with an Iron Maiden (heavy metal band) member in an unofficial match. Thankfully, he knew nothing about it at the time, as he was also knocked out in the collision.

Bryan Robson – Bed calamity with Gazza

Ex-Man Utd and England skipper Robson missed out on the 1990 World Cup due to lifting Paul Gascoigne’s bed onto his foot, whilst trying to wake up the fellow former legend, who was apparently passed out. Here is another animation someone has provided of the incident…

Alex Stepney – Jaw-dropping injury

Peter Schmeichel was renowned for being very vocal on the pitch whilst a player. However, he cannot claim to have dislocated his jaw whilst doing so, as another ex-Man Utd keeper, Stepney, once did whilst shouting orders at his own players. Here are some more angry goalies…

Darius Vassell – Stick to your day job

Footballers are not really known for their intelligence, and then-Aston Villa attacker Vassell confirmed this by once trying to pop a blood blister with a power drill, yes a power drill. Unsurprisingly, the unorthodox self-treatment did not work, and it only caused an infection.

Related

For more previews, offers and news on Euro 2016, stop by our dedicated tournament page.