Football’s worst debuts after Joao Felix’s Chelsea nightmare, from Ibrahimovic’s AC flop to Rio Ferdinand’s Leeds horror

IT’S not all bad news Joao Felix.

The Atletico Madrid loanee endured a miserable Chelsea debut as his side crashed to a 2-1 defeat to Fulham.

Joao Felix lunges in on Kenny TeteCredit: AP

The loanee was shown a red card on his debutCredit: Getty

The 23-year-old gave his new team-mates an uphill task by earning a red card for a shocking lunge on Kenny Tete just before the hour mark.

But Felix can take comfort in the fact that he’s not the first footballer to endure a horror show on their first appearance for their new club.

RIO FERDINAND

When you become Britain’s most expensive player, of course you will face scrutiny in your next game.

And that’s the cruel fate that awaited Ferdinand when he signed for Leeds in an £18million deal from West Ham.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC

A rare blip here for Ibra.

And it goes without saying that he was absolutely brilliant in his first season at AC Milan in 2010 – scoring 21 times in all competitions.

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But you wouldn’t have said he would be a hit after he missed a penalty against lowly Cesena in a 2-0 loss.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the chance to open his AC Milan account from the penalty spot against CesenaCredit: AFP – Getty

Ibrahimovic’s miss capped off a miserable debut for the SwedeCredit: AFP – Getty

TEDDY SHERINGHAM

As fate would have it, the fixture list paired Spurs and Manchester United on the opening day of the season in 1997.

It meant the Red Devils’ new signing Teddy Sheringham would return to White Hart Lane, where he enjoyed so much success, for his United debut.

With an hour on the clock, he was gifted the opportunity to open his Manchester United account from the penalty spot.

However, his effort struck the foot of the post before cannoning back to Teddy who stuck out a foot – only to see the ball bounce off it to safety.

As fate would have it, Teddy Sheringham’s debut for Man Utd came against old club SpursCredit: Rex Features

ALI DIA

And the award for worst footballer ever goes to…

Famously, Ali Dia conned his way into football folklore when he convinced then-Southampton boss Graeme Souness he would be the answer to the Saints’ goalscoring problems in 1996.

The self-proclaimed cousin of George Weah entered the fray in a game against Leeds in the 32nd minute – coming on for an injured Matt Le Tissier – only to be subbed off with five minutes left.

Le Tissier later said: “He ran around the pitch like Bambi on ice; it was very embarrassing to watch.”

Ali Dia ran around like ‘Bambi on ice’ according to Southampton striker Matt Le Tissier on his Saints debutCredit: Solent News

JONATHAN WOODGATE

Real Madrid fans were forced to wait a year for Woodgate to make his debut in LaLiga, following a £13million move from Newcastle in 2004.

And it all went wrong for the centre half against Athletic Bilbao, first scoring a comical own goal.

Then, shortly after the hour mark, he received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

On his Real Madrid debut Jonathan Woodgate first scored an own goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Woodgate was then given a second yellow card and sent offCredit: Getty

CHRIS IWELUMO

The journeyman striker was called up to the Scotland squad for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Norway in 2010.

And with time running out for the Tartan Army to find a winner, Iwelumo was introduced to try and grab a vital goal.

Instead, he missed an open goal from three-yards at Hampden Park. How did he miss this?

Even Chris Iwelumo couldn’t believe his missed sitter on his Scotland debutCredit: PA:Press Association

JOE HART

The downfall of the former England shotstopper could probably be chronicled from here.

After being discarded by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Hart was shipped out on loan to Torino.

With his confidence shattered by his ordeal at City, he was shaky for his new club on his first match.

Hart was at fault for Atalanta’s opening goal in a 2-1 defeat – punching a cross to the feet of an opposing attaker who scored.

Joe Hart had a debut to forget with TorinoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

CURTIS DAVIES

Former Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies had a mare on his first start for the Villans in a League Cup tie against Leicester that ended in a 1-0 defeat.

And he was completely honest about it, too – likening his performance to that of a “pub team player”.

“I was just awful,” he confessed.

“I didn’t contribute anything. I’ve been bigging myself up, saying I’m ready and obviously I’m not. I’m not good enough to get in the team yet.

“I’m honest with myself in every performance and that was rubbish – I looked like a pub team player.”

Curtis Davies likened his debut performance for Aston Villa to that of a pub playerCredit: Rex Features

HENRIK LARSSON

Former Manchester United striker Larsson can be excused – especially after he became such a Celtic legend.

But on his debut against Hibernian at Easter Road a slack pass to Chic Charnly saw the Hoops’ rivals claim a famous win.

It didn’t get better on his European debut either – scoring an own goal against Austrian side Tirol Innsbruck.

Luckily enough, Larsson would score 242 up the other end during his Celtic career to earn iconic status.

Despite a terrible start to life at Celtic, Henrik Larsson would become a club legendCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk