Neil Ruddock

During his time at Liverpool, Ruddock became infamous for his on-field clashes, most notably with Manchester United star Eric Cantona. After Cantona’s taunts about his weight, Ruddock responded by turning down the Frenchman’s collar during an infamous incident. He also had a heated altercation with Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira at West Ham, which resulted in Vieira receiving a nine-match ban after spitting in Ruddock’s face following a verbal exchange.

At Swindon Town, Razor quickly became a fan favourite but his time there ended controversially. After refusing to step down from his coaching duties despite specialist advice, the club’s board appointed Steve Coppell as assistant manager and eventually ceased paying Ruddock’s wages in an attempt to force him out. Ruddock took the club to tribunal over unpaid wages, eventually agreeing to terminate his contract in return for a six-figure payment.

In November 2005, Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan accused Ruddock of taking the team out during a crucial relegation battle, further adding to his controversial reputation.

Ruddock earned four caps for the England Under-21 squad and played one game for England B in 1994, captaining the side in a match against Ireland B at Anfield. His career was often overshadowed by concerns over his fitness, which many attribute to his limited international appearances, with only one full cap for England earned in a 1994 friendly against Nigeria under Terry Venables.

Throughout his career, Ruddock was known for his strong personality and cult status among supporters, despite the numerous controversies that surrounded him.