Worst Injuries

Number 10: Alan Smith, Manchester United vs Liverpool (2006)

Having had a glittering early career with Leeds, Alan Smith mad the move to Old Trafford and it was when playing for the Red Devils in an FA Cup tie in 2006 that he suffered what ranks as the number ten in our list of the worst football injuries in history. The striker-cum-midfielder jumped to block a John Arne Riise free kick, landed awkwardly and broke his leg whilst also dislocating his left ankle. Smith was missing from action for seven months after what Sir Alex Ferguson described as one of the worst injuries he had ever seen.

Number 9: Luc Nilis, Aston Villa vs Ipswich (2000)

At number nine on our countdown of the worst football injuries comes unfortunate Belgian striker Luc Nilis. The big forward signed for Aston Villa in 2000 following a hugely successful spell in Dutch football but only managed three full games before a collision with Ipswich keeper Richard Wright saw him suffer a double fracture of his right leg. At the age of 33, Nilis was unable to recover sufficiently to get himself back on the pitch and announced his retirement four months later.

Number 8: Djibril Cisse, Liverpool vs Blackburn (2004) AND France vs China (2006)

Every footballer has something that they are most famous for and for Cisse it’s a toss-up between ridiculous hair and horrific leg injuries. He earns his place at number eight on the list of the worst football injuries thanks to two separate incidents, two years apart. First, Cisse fracture both his tibia and fibula in his left leg when playing for Liverpool in 2004 before then shattering his other leg in an international friendly two years later. Almost miraculously, he made a full recovery each time, after just seven months on the side-lines.

Number 7: Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal vs Stoke (2010)

At number seven on the chart of the worst football injuries comes yet another double leg fracture. On this occasion the unlucky recipient was Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey who was on the wrong end of a nasty tackle from Ryan Shawcross in a league game in 2010. Arsene Wenger went off the deep end in his criticism of Shawcross after the game and Ramsey spent nine months on the treatment table.

Number 6: Eduardo, Arsenal vs Birmingham (2008)

Two years before Ramsey suffered his injury, Gunners’ striker Eduardo da Silva was the victim of a nasty challenge from Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor and broke his left fibula whilst also dislocating his ankle. The combination of the two injuries made the Mexican’s recovery far more difficult and Eduardo was in fact away from competitive action for 11 months and three weeks.