Anger Mismanagement: Most Red Cards in Football

In the modern era, it seems there is always at least one footballer or team within touching distance of a record or two. Whether it be Newcastle United chasing down a club record for unbeaten games in the Premier League or Harry Kane’s pursuit of club and international goalscoring benchmarks, the subject of records is never too far away from the Football news headlines or the minds of punters assessing the very best New betting sites.

Avoiding defeat and plundering goals are noble aims, but not all records are as universally admired. Included in the annals of unwanted records is the list of men who have made the act of being sent off something of an art form – those players who have more red cards than birthday cards. 

There has been no shortage of players who simply can’t hold back in the heat of battle over the years, but none more so than the following rogue’s gallery, as we present the six men who have received their marching orders more than any other.

5. Rafael Márquez

Nationality: Mexican

Clubs: Atlas, Monaco, Barcelona, New York Red Bulls, León, Hellas Verona

Number of Red Cards: 21

Fifth on the all-time list is one of Mexico’s finest-ever footballers. A graceful central defender, Marquez could also operate as a holding midfielder and added a touch of class to proceedings whenever he took to the pitch. Nicknamed “El Káiser”, Marquez was a league winner in Mexico, France, and Spain and became the first Mexican player to win the Champions League during his time at Barcelona. Whilst blessed with many admirable attributes, Marquez was not renowned for his discipline or restraint! 

5. Paolo Montero

Nationality: Uruguayan 

Clubs: Peñarol, Atalanta, Juventus, San Lorenzo

Number of Red Cards: 21

Sharing the fifth spot is a man with legitimate claims of being the greatest defender in the history of Uruguayan football. Beginning his career at home town club Peñarol, it was in Italy where Montero made his name, most notably at Juventus where he served as an essential cog in a defence widely accepted as being the best in the world at the time. Four times a Serie A winner with “The Old Lady”, Montero was also sent off on 16 occasions in Serie A – a record for the top flight of the Italian game. 

4. Alexis Ruano Delgado

Nationality: Spanish

Clubs: Málaga, Getafe, Valencia, Sevilla, Beşiktas, Alavées, Al-Ahli, Racing Santander

Number of Red Cards: 22

Known simply as “Alexis”, Ruano Delgado enjoyed an impressive start to his playing career – winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain in 2004, and being crowned the La Liga Breakout Player of the season when with Getafe in 2006/07. The fact that the Barcelona-based club had the best defence in La Liga that season is a testament to the defensive talents of Alexis, who operated primarily as a central defender or fullback. Sent off 22 times during his career, his most memorable dismissal came for a left jab which sent Mario Mandzukic to the turf and earned Alexis a four-match suspension.

3. Cyril Rool

Nationality: French

Clubs: Bastia, Lens, Marseille, Monaco, Bordeaux, Nice

Number of Red Cards: 27

The first out-and-out midfielder on our list, Rool spent the entirety of his career in his native France, clocking up 366 appearances between making his debut with Bastia in 1993 and hanging up his boots with Marseille in 2010. His most successful spell came with Lens where he picked up the only trophy of his career when winning the 1998/99 Coupe de la Ligue. Rool was considerably more prolific in picking up cards of both colours; his totals of 187 yellows and 16 reds, both being Ligue 1 records. 

2. Sergio Ramos

Nationality: Spanish

Clubs: Sevilla, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain

Number of Red Cards: 28

The only active player on this list is the Real Madrid and Spain legend, Sergio Ramos. One of the most decorated footballers in the modern era, World Cup winner Ramos, is a five-time La Liga champ and has lifted the Champions League trophy on no fewer than four occasions. A composed and classy presence at the heart of the defence, Ramos is currently plying his trade with PSG in France. Lifting the Ligue 1 title with the Paris-based club in 2021/22, Ramos also continues to rack up the reds – his latest (as of January 2023) coming when arguing with the referee in a clash with Reims. 

1. Gerardo Bedoya

Nationality: Colombian

Clubs: Deportivo Pereira, Deportivo Cali, Racing Club, Colón, Puebla, Boca Juniors, Atlético Nacional, Millonarios, Envigado, Boyacá Chicó, Santa Fe, Fortaleza, Cúcuta Deportivo

Number of Red Cards: 46

Way out in front at the top of the red card charts is the man known as “The Beast” – a nickname Gerardo certainly earned over a career littered with outrageous tackles and assaults on the opposition. The most notorious moment on the Bedoya “highlights” reel came in the Bogota Derby of 2012; lining up for Santa Fe, he first elbowed and then kicked Jhonny Ramirez of Millonarios in the head, earning a red card and a 15-match ban. Now into his coaching career, a switch to the dugout doesn’t seem to have calmed Bedoya down. The Beast lasted a mere 21 minutes of his coaching debut as Santa Fe assistant manager in 2016 before adding yet another red to his collection!