Money within football is at an all-time high as players regularly get handed lucrative deals that should set them up for life. However, this is not always the case, as clearly demonstrated by the following list of former professional players.
Ex-England international and Manchester United star Wes Brown was the latest name to be added to the growing list of players facing financial difficulties in the aftermath of their career, after being declared bankrupt at the age of 43.
Brown, who was on a reported figure of around £50,000 during his time at Old Trafford from 1996 to 2011, had a bankruptcy petition filed against him on April 12 and has now sparked a deeper dive into similar stories such as his, which will be outlined now.
Paul Merson
Problems with gamblings, alcohol and drugs plagued his stellar playing career across the top flight of English football with clubs such as Arsenal and Aston Villa. With the former star blowing his entire £7million fortune, according to The Sun.
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The former England international has since recovered and now works as a successful pundit at Sky Sports. However, has previously detailed stories such as blowing his full £500,000 pension on gambling and contemplating 'breaking his fingers' to stop himself from phoning the bookmakers.
Ronaldinho
The Brazilian football legend reportedly had just £5 in his bank account back in 2018 and had racked up debts worth around £1.75million after retiring from the professional game.
Despite remortgaging his own house, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain ace was still unable to overcome his debts and even spent time in prison, due to forging documents, to add to his issues.
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Brad Friedel
After his ambitious plans to create a football academy in the United States backfired, the former Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur shot-stopper was left with around £5million in debts as repossession orders began on his own home. A stark contrast to his time in the Premier League, where he reportedly earned around £50,000-per-week at certain points in his career.
Diego Maradona
Arguably one of the greatest players to have ever graced the beautiful game, who sadly passed away back in November 2020. His infectious personality on the pitch resonated with every fanbase that had the pleasure of calling him their own, but although his talents whilst playing were enough to avoid defenders, his antics off it did not avoid the Italian tax authorities.
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After playing for Napoli from 1984 to 1991, the Italian Tax Authority demanded the Argentinian legend repaid £42million worth of unpaid taxes that had accumulated across his seven year spell in the country.
Paul Gascoigne
The England legends struggles have been well documented throughout his career, with his issues peaking in 2016 when he was handed a £42,000 tax bill by the HMRC.
At other troubled times throughout his life, the former Spurs and Lazio midfielder has also been faced with debts of up to £200,000, to go along with substance abuse which he has since opened up about in the Channel 4 documentary 'Scared of the Dark'.
David James
Despite earnings of up to £20million throughout his impressive playing career, James was declared bankrupt back in 2014 after a costly divorce nine years earlier.
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A split which ended up in the former keeper being instructed to sell off some of his most prized possessions, including his DJ equipment, sports memorabilia and Vauxhall Astra van.
Topics: Diego Maradona, Football, Ronaldinho, Brazil, Argentina, England
Patrick Rowe