Premier League turns 25: 10 most controversial figures

After a quarter of a century of watching the Premier League grow into the most lucrative football division in the world, theScore looks back and uncomfortably recalls the biggest villains of the past 25 years.

Alex Ferguson

The sight of ex-Manchester United manager Ferguson on the touchline, chewing gum open-mouthed and vigorously tapping at his watch, is one of the enduring images of the Premier League era. "Fergie time" is also firmly in the football vocabulary, showing both his influence in the English game and, perhaps, over officials.

He could be a cantankerous old man but, ultimately, there's no manager that comes close to his impact in the past 25 years.

Ashley Cole

Cole described himself as "trembling with anger" in his autobiography when Arsenal offered him a £55,000-a-week contract in 2006. He subsequently turned his back on the club that had made him, favouring a move to London rival Chelsea.

His personal life was also emblazoned across the front pages during his career. He married reality TV darling Cheryl Tweedy in 2006, but the relationship was doomed in 2010 following repeated allegations of adultery by Cole.

Joey Barton

The Scouser with underrated talents as a midfield mugger who can spray a pass has led a troubled career.

His 78 yellow cards and six dismissals in the Premier League, and recent ban for betting on football (including some matches he was involved in) only tell part of his tale. His most notorious flash point came when he attacked then-Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo during training in 2007, which saw him imprisoned for four months.

Roy Keane

Keane is undoubtedly the most voracious referee berater in the history of the Premier League.

Often before he left an official wiping a film of spittle off his face and dealing with ringing ears, the Irishman kicked an opponent up into the air. His most famous victim was Alf-Inge Haaland in a Manchester derby in April 2001. He drove his studs into the Norwegian's right knee, leaving him writhing in pain. He later admitted it was an act of revenge for a tackle performed by Haaland around three-and-a-half years earlier, and his foe never played a full game again.

Mike Ashley

For a short while, Ashley was a hero on Tyneside. He arrived with oodles of cash to pay off debts and chugged beers in the stands with away fans. It soon went awry.

The Magpies owner first irritated Newcastle United fans by taking all responsibility for transfers away from iconic manager Kevin Keegan, and into the hands of the deeply unpopular former Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise. He then went on to hire Joe Kinnear and John Carver, gave Alan Pardew an eight-year contract, and has gone AWOL during difficult spells.

Jose Mourinho

Mourinho was initially a popular figure. With the media, he was always good for a cocky declaration or witty put-down of a rival manager, but today his efforts to deflect attention away from his squad's failings are often ill-advised barbs about whoever stands in his way.

His obsession with denigrating Arsene Wenger's work is classless, and his repeated criticism of his own players unsettling. He's also increasingly become a purveyor of turgid, unadventurous football - a far cry from the ferocious front-three of Arjen Robben, Didier Drogba, and Damien Duff in his early Chelsea days.

El Hadji Diouf

El Hadji Diouf was signed by Liverpool before the 2002 World Cup, and his £10-million price tag looked a bargain when he starred in Senegal's run to the quarter-final stage.

He played with a chip on his shoulder. He was at the centre of several spitting incidents - most notably at Celtic fans and, later when with Bolton Wanderers, in the face of Portsmouth's Arjen de Zeeuw - and nearly ended Jamie Mackie's career with a dangerous challenge.

"For many years I've thought he is a gutter-type of boy and I was going to call him a sewer rat but that might be insulting the sewer rats," said Mackie's manager at Queens Park Rangers, Neil Warnock. "I think he's the lowest of the low."

Warnock went on to sign Diouf for Leeds United in 2012.

Eric Cantona

If you weren't a Manchester United fan, Cantona, with his peculiar soundbites and high opinion of himself, could be a galling character.

His kung-fu kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons is one of the most infamous images of the past quarter-century, but his post-career endeavours have to be noted. In addition to his woeful acting efforts (don't watch "Looking for Eric") he's also attempted to revive his reputation as a peddler of obscure and humorous quotes. He tries too hard, and sometimes it's just cringe-inducing.

Harry Redknapp

'Arry has been implicated in allegations of corruption, illegal approaches for players, and accepting bribes over his long managerial career, although it's his work at Portsmouth which left the most damaging legacy.

He won the 2008 FA Cup with Pompey - the second time the club had won it, after the 1939 triumph - but jumped ship twice under controversial circumstances. First, he left Portsmouth for archrival Southampton after falling out with owner Milan Mandaric and, when he returned, he stretched the club's resources beyond repair before fleeing to Tottenham. Portsmouth won the FA Cup in his second stint before facing financial ruin and, as a result, three relegations until a recent takeover.

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Portsmouth escaped League Two in May after four seasons in the basement division.

John Terry

Terry is rightly considered a legend at Chelsea, but his misdemeanours ensure he'll get a rough reception at grounds up and down the country - even now he's in the Championship with Aston Villa.

Among many other dubious acts, he was fined by Chelsea after mocking American tourists shortly after 9/11, took money from an undercover reporter to conduct a tour of the Blues' facilities, and was accused of having an extra-marital affair with then-teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)