ionigeria.com Nigerian Newspaper
For many, the game of football is a wide road to fortune. At the height of their football careers, some stars live like kings and princes. They drive flashy cars, rent and buy houses fit for kings, wear designer clothes, and have access to most luxuries of life.
While many are able to sustain their enviable lifestyles, for others, a common trend is the oscillation from rags to riches and back again.
We today take a look back at several high-profile stars who blew their millions on booze, bets, and.. football academies.
RONALDINHO
Brazil’s legendary star was reported to have just £5 in his bank account back in 2018 while still owing debts of up to £1.75million.
Ronaldinho was heavily fined for illegal construction in a protected area in Brazil.
Despite remortgaging his property, the former Barcelona star was still unable to cover the debts which saw a judge order for Ronaldinho’s passport to be seized.
ASAMOAH GYAN
The former Sunderland striker used to drive around in a Rolls-Royce but was claimed to have just £600 in his bank account back in 2018 whilst being unable to provide for his family.
Gyan who was reportedly earning £227,000-a-week at Shanghai SIPG, bizarrely seems to have lost all his money amid a fallout with his family.
DIEGO MARADONA
He was named Fifa’s Player of the Century and then went bust.
The Italian Tax Authority demanded he pays back £42m worth of unpaid taxes from his time playing for Napoli in the 1980s.
CELESTINE BABAYARO
Babayaro was the popular left-back at Chelsea and Newcastle.
Marauding up and down the left wing at Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park in the 2000s, the Nigerian picked up a healthy pay packet.
Having played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs at Manchester United, Djemba-Djemba was declared bankrupt four years after moving to Aston Villa.
The Cameroonian midfielder spent time at St Mirren and in the Indian Super League to recover funds, before later playing in front of just 88 fans in the Swiss fifth tier before retiring.
KEITH GILLESPIE
An addiction to gambling saw Man United product Keith Gillespie blow more than £7.2m.
In an interview with the Guardian, he said: “I lost an awful lot of money through gambling over the years, but I also lost money on property and got involved in a film scheme like a lot of footballers did.”
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BRAD FRIEDEL
Ambitious plans to build a football academy in the United States blew up in the American’s face.
Former Tottenham and Aston Villa goalkeeper Friedel reportedly owed £5m and repossession proceedings began on his £260,000 house.
This was despite the former head coach of MLS team New England Revolution, who he left in 2019, earning £50,000-a-week at Villa Park.
PAUL GASCOIGNE
Gazza managed to avoid bankruptcy in 2016 despite facing a £42,000 bill of unpaid taxes to HMRC.
But the England hero went through a troubled patch which saw him reportedly in debts of up to £200,000.
Gascoigne has struggled with depression and substance abuse.
PAUL MERSON
Gambling, booze, and drugs saw the Arsenal legend blow a staggering £7m fortune.
Merson went broke after cashing in on his £800,000 pension to allow him to go on a betting frenzy.
LEE HENDRIE
Depression and a gambling addiction saw one-cap England player Hendrie go broke.
Hendrie later revealed he tried to take his own life ‘five or six times’ after going bankrupt and now works as an ambassador for mental health organisation Young Minds.
He has also established himself as a popular pundit and commentator on Sky Sports in recent years.
JOHN ARNE RIISE
Two years after winning the Champions League with Liverpool, the defender was listed as bankrupt.
Norwegian left-back Riise was just 26 at the time and was believed to be earning £50,000-a-week at Anfield.
