Most Red Carded Players In Premier League History

Red cards are part and parcel of the game of football. Some players have deserved a sending-off for a bad tackle, some have been unlucky to receive two yellows, but there has also been a collection of players that made a habit of seeing red throughout their Premier League careers. 

Below are the three players who have taken an early bath on most occasions. 

Patrick Vieira 

The Arsenal legend was always going to receive red cards given his combative nature, but having been sent off on 8 occasions, the former Gunners captain is the joint holder of the red card record. Currently enjoying seeing his former team near the top of the Premier League and popular in the latest football odds, Vieira led by example with his aggressive displays, but sometimes the Frenchman crossed the line. 

With three Premier League titles and four FA Cups to his name, Vieira is one of the most decorated players in the league's history, but he will, perhaps, be known better for his poor discipline. The current Strasbourg manager has not only seen red for Arsenal in his career, but he also got into plenty of trouble during his spells at Man City, Juventus, and Inter Milan. 

Duncan Ferguson 

An Everton and Newcastle fan favourite, 'Big Dunc', was an old-style centre forward who liked to use his size and strength to win battles with rival defenders. Unfortunately for the Scotsman, this often led to him seeing red after getting a little too physical at times. 

Like Vieira, Ferguson was sent off 8 times in his career as a Premier League player and was probably lucky not to have seen red on more occasions. A former Everton manager, who has been vocal about the club's recent 10-point reduction, will forever be loved at Goodison Park, but there won't be much love given to him from his former foes. 

Richard Dunne 

Richard Dunne was never really known as a dirty or aggressive player, but the Irishman also received 8 red cards in his lengthy career. A powerful centre-half, Dunne was more clumsy than aggressive and received most of his reds for last-ditch fouls and handballs. 

Unlike Vieira and Ferguson, Dunne was a far more calm and collected player, but the Everton and Man City defender still shares the record for the most red cards in Premier League history with the two tough men. 

Honourable Mentions 

8 red cards may be the record total, but there are also plenty of players that have received just one fewer, some of which are not too surprising. The only surprise about seeing Roy Keane and Vinnie Jones on 7 reds, is that they haven't seen more. Two of the most famous hardmen in Premier League history, both players lived on the edge and had no problem tipping themselves over it. Keane, who captained Man Utd in their glory years under Alex Ferguson, had a knack for falling out with referees, managers, and players, whilst the same can be said for Jones who captained both Chelsea and Wimbledon. 

Another former Man Utd player, Alan Smith, has seen red on 7 occasions, whilst the same is true of former Sunderland and Middlesbrough tough man, Lee Cattermole.

©The Football History Boys, 2023