MODERN FOOTBALL has been accused of going soft in recent years.
We are told that players dive more than they used to, spend too much time in the barbershop, and care more about how many people follow them on Instagram than on a midweek away trip.
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Kolasinac put up a heroic defence of his team-mate’s carCredit: Getty – Contributor
However, there is still space in every Premier League club for the avowed hard man.
From Sead Kolasinac taking on knife wielding thugs with his bare hands to Phil Jones throwing his body at every shot and cross under the sun, Sun Sport reveals the toughest player in every team.
Arsenal – Sead Kolasinac
When Mesut Ozil’s car was besieged by thugs on mopeds, he couldn’t have been sat next to a better team-mate than Bosnian left-back Kolasinac.
While Ozil understandably rushed into the cover of a nearby cafe, Kolasinac faced down his attackers in dramatic footage caught on camera.
The thugs brandished large knives but were seen off in an outstanding display of bravery, which the player responded to by tweeting a fist emoji later that night – while fans from across the game lauded his heroics.
Aston Villa – Jack Grealish
Being sucker-punched by an opposition fan during a local derby and getting up to finish the game is one thing. But to then have a steward assault you later in the same game outlines the sort of treatment Grealish is used to facing.
Mesut Ozil attacked by knife-wielding moped gang in London as Arsenal team-mate Sead Kolasinac fights thugs off with bare hands
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Grealish was thumped from behind during Villa’s win over Birmingham in MarchCredit: Reuters
Having come through the Villa ranks as a skinny trickster, the 24-year-old is now an all-round leader: calm, composed… and tough.
It takes a special kind of player to rise above getting endlessly kicked for 90 minutes but Grealish manages to do so with a hard-nosed attitude that also earned him the captain’s armband.
Bournemouth – Artur Boruc
Standing at 6ft 4in, the beefy goalkeeper cannot be blamed for having balls of steel.
During his time at Celtic, Boruc continually wound up Rangers fans by tapping into the Old Firm’s historically religious undertones.
A devout Catholic, the Pole was slapped with a breach of the peace caution for gestures made to Gers fans which he often repeated in derbies – and he even rescued a pregnant woman from a racially-motivated street assault in 2007.
Brighton – Glenn Murray
At 36, the striker’s continued goalscoring prowess in the Premier League is a remarkable feat.
Aside from his finishing ability, the secret to Murray’s success has been his sheer bloody-mindedness.
No player committed more fouls than the former Workington Reds forward last season as he got in the faces of every defender unfortunate enough to stand between him and the goal.
Burnley – Ashley Barnes
It isn’t hard to see why Sean Dyche loves playing Ashley Barnes, who is an unashamed winder-upper.
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Cardiff defender Bennett probably didn’t expect this treatment when getting up close and personalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The English forward joked last season: “I do like to wind up the big ones, that’s for sure. Sometimes they fall for it, sometimes not. Of course I enjoy playing the villain.”
It certainly works, his 12 goals last season was a personal best in the top-flight and was topped off by a cheeky peck on Joe Bennett’s nose when the Cardiff defender tried to intimidate him.
Chelsea – Antonio Rudiger
Let’s face it, the Blues are hardly the toughest squad out there. Gone are the days of John Terry, Claude Makelele and Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris.
Nowadays, the muscle is provided by the silent-but-deadly N’Golo Kante and beefy defender Rudiger.
The German edges his colleague having celebrated their Europa League win wildly… despite being on crutches due to a serious knee injury.
Crystal Palace – Luka Milivojevic
The Eagles captain grew up in 1990s Serbia amid war and desolation, queuing for hours just to get a loaf of bread in an atmosphere that, as he put it last year, taught him to “respect life and money”.
At the heart of their midfield, Palace fans couldn’t wish for a stronger character.
Not only does Milivojevic never shirk from a challenge, he also stands up when the pressure is on from the penalty spot.
Everton – Jordan Pickford
Never one to let rival fans get the better of him, England No1 Pickford showed his fearlessness a bit too much in April.
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Pickford became a favourite with England fans when scoring a penalty in the Nations LeagueCredit: Darren Fletcher – The Sun
After an all-day drinking binge, the 25-year-old became involved in a pub brawl that left a bouncer with a black eye.
Pickford himself was seen throwing a couple of punches in the melee, meaning he takes the Everton gong in this list – in part thanks to the fact Idrissa Gueye is set to leave the club.
Leicester City – Wilfred Ndidi
Is there a tougher tackler in the Premier League than Ndidi?
The stats say no. A whopping 143 times the Nigerian stuck his foot in and won the ball last season, more than any other player.
With the feisty Jamie Vardy in attack and human brick Caglar Soyuncu in defence, the Foxes have arguably the sturdiest spine going.
Liverpool – Jordan Henderson
While Virgil van Dijk is the toughest nut to crack in the world right now, Jordan Henderson is still the chief hard man at Anfield.
The Liverpool captain has admitted to being “given a b******ing” by his mum for chatting back to referees and fans loved how he squared up to Diego Costa back in 2015.
And he carried this attitude into England duty when upsetting Stefan Savic in the controversy-ridden hammering of Montenegro in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Manchester City – Fernandinho
Rodri is surely destined to take City’s hard man mantle off Fernandinho soon but the Brazilian has led the way at Eastlands for years.
Indeed, when surrounded by Pep Guardiola’s diminutive ball-juggling wizards, it hasn’t been too hard for him to stand out in this regard.
Vincent Kompany’s exit deprives the champions of a key dressing room leader, demanding even more from Fernandinho and Diego Simeone bred powerhouse Rodri.
Manchester United – Phil Jones
Jones has managed to make himself something of a laughing stock amid United’s struggles in recent years.
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Jones will go to extreme lengths to win the ballCredit: Reuters
But behind all the gurns and flailing limbs is an absolute rock of a man, capable of atomising whatever tricky winger is attempting a cutback on him.
Granted, his lunges don’t always connect with his intended target, but it’s hard to envy the poor soul who gets wiped out when he does make an accurate challenge.
Newcastle United – Fabian Schar
Choosing between a man who played on after getting literally knocked unconscious and another who scrapped outside a pizza shop on the eve of a pre-season tour is probably the closet call of this list.
Jonjo Shelvey may have been the subject of a 3am fight earlier this month but didn’t actually get involved in the trading of blows.
Therefore, 6ft 2in defender Schar takes the honour having played the full 90 minutes after a sickening blow of heads knocked him out. Don’t try that at home, kids.
Norwich City – Timm Klose
When it comes to commitment to the Canaries cause, few can beat towering centre-back Klose.
The Swiss star kept the faith when Norwich were relegated just six months after he arrived and is a huge fan favourite.
On their return to the top-flight, the club will need his steely determination in defence with Klose among the best at dealing with aerial bombardments.
Sheffield United – Chris Basham
Considered a potential Premier League star as a youngster, Basham dropped down to League One with the Blades in 2014 and cut his teeth in the division’s rough-and-tumble atmosphere.
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Basham scored a crucial winner at Leeds as United won promotion last seasonCredit: Reuters
And Chris Wilder has made great use of Basham’s tough guys credentials, effectively letting him loose across all areas of the pitch.
Set up in central defence with the license to roam into attacking areas, there isn’t a challenge the 31-year-old won’t throw himself into.
Southampton – Oriol Romeu
The Saints are blessed with all types of hard men.
Midfield enforcers Romeu and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are joined by the attacking terrier that is Shane Long, the lanky centre-back Jannik Vestergaard and the deadly stare of coach Ralph Hasenhuttl.
The one most often found in the mix for the league’s most tackles, blocks and fouls is Romeu.
Tottenham Hotspur – Eric Dier
Dier’s toughness came to the fore in the famous ‘Battle of the Bridge’ match with Chelsea in 2016.
Inexplicably, he managed to avoid getting sent off – committing three cynical fouls, including one on Cesc Fabregas that saw him injure himself.
Most recently, he leapt into the stands and confronted a fan who was insulting his brother at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following Spurs’ penalty shootout defeat to Norwich.
And with Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele for company, Jose Mourinho boasts oodles of steel in his midfield.
Watford – Troy Deeney
Not many Premier League players have spent time in prison, as Deeney did when serving three months inside for breaking a man’s jaw in 2012.
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Deeney is an outspoken critic of opposition teamsCredit: Reuters
The striker, who puts that affray charge down to anger that stemmed from his father’s death, was also expelled from school at 14.
Now in his 30s, he is keen to loosen his hard man exterior and recently admitted: “It got too exhausting being the tough guy.” That hasn’t stopped him winding up Arsenal, though.
West Ham United – Fabian Balbuena
Any player known as ‘The General’ should not be underestimated.
The Paraguayan claims the nickname comes from a goal celebration during his time at Brazilian club Corinthians.
But the 6ft 2in defender stood out as a physical presence for the Hammers before getting injured in January.
Wolves – Ryan Bennett
Joao Moutinho is a top candidate for the Black Country club having attempted more tackles than any other player last season.
And yet, Bennett stands tall as the team’s true hard man having picked up 29 yellow cards in 95 premier League games – almost one every three matches – for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Perhaps an underrated figure in Wolves’ excellent 2018/19 campaign, the centre-back did as the best to tough guys do and went about his bruising business quietly.
Currently finishing a loan at Leicester City, he has played five times for them and surprisingly not got a yellow card. More
