Riches to rags: Stars who blew their footballing fortune
Here, SunSport of UK takes a look back at the high-profile stars who blew their millions on booze, bets and.. football academies.
Asamoah Gyan:
Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is understood to be broke
The former Sunderland striker used to drive around in a Rolls-Royce but was recently claimed to have just £600 in his bank account whilst being unable to provide for his family.
Gyan who was reportedly earning £227,000-a-week at Shanghai SIPG, bizarrely seems to have lost all his money amid a fallout with his family.
Ronaldinho:
Brazil star, Ronaldinho was said to have just £5 to his name
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
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 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
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 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
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
Ambitious plans to build a football academy in the United States blew up in 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.
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Paul Gascoigne:
Troubled England icon Paul Gascoigne came close to bankruptcy.
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.
Celestine Babayaro:
Former Chelsea man Celestine Babayaro was declared bankrupt in 2011.
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.