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Ten stars who blew their footballing fortune and ended up broke after reports Gyan claims to have just £600 in account


FROM rags to riches and back again.

Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan, who was earning £227,000-a-week at Shanghai SIPG, became the latest start to reportedly go broke.

 Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is understood to be broke

Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is understood to be brokeCredit: Instagram

The Ghanaian striker used to drive around in a Rolls-Royce but is now claimed to have just £600 in his bank account while being unable to provide for his family.

Yet he’s not the only footballer to go broke.

Here, SunSport takes a look back at the high-profile stars who blew their millions on booze, bets and.. football academies.

RONALDINHO

 Brazil star Ronaldinho was said to have just £5 to his name

Brazil star Ronaldinho was said to have just £5 to his nameCredit: CEN / ronaldinhooficial

Brazil’s legendary skillster was reported to have just £5 in his bank account last month 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.

DAVID JAMES

 Former England keeper David James blew a £20m fortune

Former England keeper David James blew a £20m fortuneCredit: The Digital South

Despite earning an estimated £20million from his career, the former England No1 declared himself bankrupt in 2014.

As well as a lucrative career at Prem clubs like Liverpool and Man City, James had modelled for Armani and owned multiple properties.

But a costly divorce in 2005 saw debts start racking up and courts instructed James to sell off his sports memorabilia, DJ equipment and a Vauxhall Astra van.

DIEGO MARADONA

 Argentina legend Diego Maradona was said to have had £42million worth of unpaid taxes in Italy

Argentina legend Diego Maradona was said to have had £42million worth of unpaid taxes in ItalyCredit: Reuters

He was named FIFA’s Player of the Century and then went bust.

Argentina icon Maradona twice broke the world record for transfers but in 2009 had to file for bankruptcy.

The Italian Tax Authority demanded he pay back £42million worth of unpaid taxes from his time playing for Napoli in the 1980s.

PAUL MERSON

 Paul Merson's addiction to gambling saw him blow a £7m fortune

Paul Merson’s addiction to gambling saw him blow a £7m fortuneCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty

Gambling, booze and drugs saw the Arsenal legend blow a staggering £7million fortune.

The former midfielder has recovered and works as a regular pundit for Sky Sports, but he once considered breaking his fingers to prevent him from phoning the bookies.

Merson went broke after cashing in on his £800,000 pension to allow him to go on a betting frenzy.

JOHN ARNE RIISE

 John Arne Riise was listed as bankrupt despite earning £50,000-a-week at Liverpool

John Arne Riise was listed as bankrupt despite earning £50,000-a-week at LiverpoolCredit: Getty – Contributor

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.

But an unpaid debt of around £100,000 was reportedly linked to an alleged £3m fraud investigation in Norway and Riise was declared bankrupt.

ERIC DJEMBA-DJEMBA

 Former Man United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba blew his fortune and now plays in the Swiss fifth tier

Former Man United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba blew his fortune and now plays in the Swiss fifth tierCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Having played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs at Man 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.

And as SunSport found out in November, Djemba-Djemba is now playing in front of 88 fans in the Swiss fifth tier.

BRAD FRIEDEL

 A football academy in the US saw Brad Friedel face repossession of his house as £5m of debts mounted up

A football academy in the US saw Brad Friedel face repossession of his house as £5m of debts mounted upCredit: PA:Press Association

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 £5million and repossession proceedings began on his £260,000 house.

This was despite the current head coach of MLS team New England Revolution then earning £50,000-a-week at Villa Park.

LEE HENDRIE

 Lee Hendrie's gambling addiction saw him go bust

Lee Hendrie’s gambling addiction saw him go bustCredit: PA:Press Association

Depression and a gambling addiction saw one-time England man Hendrie go broke.

Despite earning in excess of £30,000-a-week while at Aston Villa, the former midfielder was declared bankrupt in January 2012 as he faced huge debts and repossessions.

Hendrie tried to take his own life on two occasions and now works as an ambassador for mental health organisation Young Minds.

KEITH GILLESPIE

 Former Man United man Keith Gillespie admitted he blew more than £7.2m on gambling

Former Man United man Keith Gillespie admitted he blew more than £7.2m on gamblingCredit: Pacemaker Press

An addiction to gambling saw Man United product Keith Gillespie blow more than £7.2million.

After a career that saw him take Newcastle United to the Champions League and play 80 times for Northern Ireland, the midfielder was declared broke in 2010 at the age of 35.

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.”

PAUL GASCOIGNE

 Troubled England icon Paul Gascoigne came close to bankruptcy

Troubled England icon Paul Gascoigne came close to bankruptcyCredit: Reuters

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 Gascoigne in court – Ex-England, Newcastle United and Spurs footballer pleads not guilty to sexual assault after incident on train

CELESTINE BABAYARO

 Former Chelsea man Celestine Babayaro was declared bankrupt in 2011

Former Chelsea man Celestine Babayaro was declared bankrupt in 2011Credit: PA:Press Association

Babayaro was the popular left-back at Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Marauding up and down the left wing at Stamford Bridge and St. James’ Park in the noughties, the Nigerian picked up a healthy pay packet.

But by January 2011 the defender was declared bankrupt on the public record of the London Gazette.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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