If football gave out an award for the most annoying player, Robbie Savage would have won it every year. The Welsh midfielder built a career on diving, time-wasting and winding opponents up, then running to the referee to get them booked. He collected yellow cards the way other people collect stamps.
His clubs were Manchester United, Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and Brighton.
Savage's charge sheet
- At one point he held the record for the most yellow cards in Premier League history.
- Fans voted him the player they most loved to hate in more than one Premier League poll.
- He dived, pulled shirts and shouted at referees in just about every game.
- In his autobiography he admitted that winding opponents up was a deliberate tactic.
- He was once booked for time-wasting in the first half, which takes some doing.
Savage never had the talent of most of the other villains on this list. What he lacked in ability he made up for in pure irritation, and that carried him through a long Premier League career. You can respect the dedication and still dislike the man.
Tomorrow: villain number 26.
