Gennaro Gattuso played football, but a lot of the time it looked as if he had turned up for a fight. He was the most aggressive midfielder of his generation. Try to dribble past him and there was a fair chance you would be visiting the hospital afterwards. The Italian Pitbull never took a step back, and referees all over Europe knew his name very well.
He played from 1995 to 2013 for Perugia, Rangers, Salernitana, AC Milan and Sion, and the charge sheet is long.
The night against Tottenham
In a Champions League match in 2011, he headbutted Tottenham's assistant coach Joe Jordan. In the same game he grabbed a Tottenham staff member by the throat on the touchline.
Across his career he picked up over 100 yellow cards in all competitions. He was also known for his wild eyes and frightening tackles, and for shouting at everyone within reach, his own teammates included.
Gattuso won the World Cup and the Champions League. He played every match as if it were a street fight, and if you got in his way, that was your problem. A boxing belt would not have looked out of place next to the medals.
Tomorrow: villain number 29.
