SOMETIMES, FOOTBALL CAN be the cruellest of games, taking players and coaches to within moments of glory only to snatch it from them without so much as a warning.
Sometimes it can be frustration boiling over at an inept performance or things just not going your way. Other times it can be an injury robbing you of everything you worked hard for.
On occasions, it can be returning to your spiritual home only to be overcome by love and emotion.
The latter was certainly the case on Wednesday as Rafa Benitez broke down in tears during his unveiling as coach of Real Madrid. The Spaniard was unable to control himself as he returned to the club where he began his career in coaching almost 30 years ago.
But Benitez is not the first footballing figure to cry – here are some other famous instances from the past.
Gazza’s tears
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
In arguably the most famous show of emotion ever witnessed on the pitch, England midfielder Paul Gascoigne wept in the centre of the Stadio Delle Alpi as the realisation sunk in that he would miss the 1990 World Cup final.
With England’s semi-final versus Germany locked at 1-1, the then-Tottenham midfielder threw himself rashly into a challenge on Thomas Berthold and was promptly booked by the referee. The caution meant that if his side progressed, he would be suspended from the biggest match in football. His crumpled expression became one of the abiding memories of the tournament, but his team exited on penalty kicks in any case, and Germany went on to be crowned champions.
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Romario’s anguish
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
After his goals fired Brazil to glory in World Cup ’94 in USA, the legendary striker was seen as a perfect supplement to the genius of Rivaldo and a 21-year-old Ronaldo as the Selecao looked to retain their trophy.
However, the prolific frontman sustained a muscular injury in the build-up to the tournament, and faced a race against time to recover and be included in Mario Zagallo’s squad. The 32-year-old’s weary legs had lost their healing powers, however, and a day before the Selecao’s team for the tournament was announced, Romario dissolved in a flood of tears when the realisation struck that he would play no part in the festival of football in France.
Terry’s tears
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Is there any explanation needed here?
The Chelsea skipper couldn’t hold back the tears as he missed that infamous penalty in Moscow.
The city of Rome makes Maradona weep
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Italy in 1990 was, for a month, the centre of the footballing universe. The hosts faced Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup, with an uncontainable air of expectancy sweeping across the nation. However, the South American side, with Napoli star Diego Maradona playing in front of the fans that adored him at the Stadio San Paolo, emerged triumphant.
The crowd that evening might have held aloft a banner saying, “Diego, we love you, but Italy is our father,” but in the final in Rome the diminutive genius received an altogether more racuous reception. As Germany defeated his beloved nation 1-0, fans of the eliminated Azzurri jeered him as he collected his runners-up medal. Maradona was already crying, however, as the famous trophy had slipped through his fingers.
Kuffour devastated by last-minute drama
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
The 1999 Champions League final has achieved immortal status in the annals of history thanks to Manchester United’s two goals in injury-time that helped to defeat Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. But while Red Devils relish in the memory of that evening, there are as many Bavarians who wake up with a cold sweat at the thought of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s big toe poking home the winner.
As captain and club legend Lothar Mattheus rested on the bench, thinking his work done, his team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The reaction of Germany was summed up by FCB defender Samuel Kuffour, who, upon the concession of Solkjaer’s goal, began beating the turf in anger, before his frustration turned to despair as the agony of the incident finally hit home.
Nedved and Ballack booked and banned
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
As Gazza had shed tears despite his nation failing to reach the World Cup final in 1990, Germany international Michael Ballack picked up a caution in the 2002 semi-final against South Korea – then set about making sure the rest of his team-mates could enjoy the showpiece occasion.
Four minutes after watching the referee raise the yellow card that ruled him out of a final meeting with Brazil, Ballack bravely struck the winner, and only after the match had ended did the realisation strike the playmaker that he would be denied from taking part.
Similarly in 2003, Juventus’ Pavel Nedved knew that he would be banned from the Champions League final if the Turin giants progressed past Real Madrid, shortly after smashing home a stunning goal to take his team to a meeting with AC Milan. He collapsed, distraught.
Terry, Gazza and now Rafa Benitez - the football figures who showed their soft side
SOMETIMES, FOOTBALL CAN be the cruellest of games, taking players and coaches to within moments of glory only to snatch it from them without so much as a warning.
Sometimes it can be frustration boiling over at an inept performance or things just not going your way. Other times it can be an injury robbing you of everything you worked hard for.
On occasions, it can be returning to your spiritual home only to be overcome by love and emotion.
The latter was certainly the case on Wednesday as Rafa Benitez broke down in tears during his unveiling as coach of Real Madrid. The Spaniard was unable to control himself as he returned to the club where he began his career in coaching almost 30 years ago.
But Benitez is not the first footballing figure to cry – here are some other famous instances from the past.
Gazza’s tears
In arguably the most famous show of emotion ever witnessed on the pitch, England midfielder Paul Gascoigne wept in the centre of the Stadio Delle Alpi as the realisation sunk in that he would miss the 1990 World Cup final.
With England’s semi-final versus Germany locked at 1-1, the then-Tottenham midfielder threw himself rashly into a challenge on Thomas Berthold and was promptly booked by the referee. The caution meant that if his side progressed, he would be suspended from the biggest match in football. His crumpled expression became one of the abiding memories of the tournament, but his team exited on penalty kicks in any case, and Germany went on to be crowned champions.
Romario’s anguish
After his goals fired Brazil to glory in World Cup ’94 in USA, the legendary striker was seen as a perfect supplement to the genius of Rivaldo and a 21-year-old Ronaldo as the Selecao looked to retain their trophy.
However, the prolific frontman sustained a muscular injury in the build-up to the tournament, and faced a race against time to recover and be included in Mario Zagallo’s squad. The 32-year-old’s weary legs had lost their healing powers, however, and a day before the Selecao’s team for the tournament was announced, Romario dissolved in a flood of tears when the realisation struck that he would play no part in the festival of football in France.
Terry’s tears
Is there any explanation needed here?
The Chelsea skipper couldn’t hold back the tears as he missed that infamous penalty in Moscow.
The city of Rome makes Maradona weep
Italy in 1990 was, for a month, the centre of the footballing universe. The hosts faced Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup, with an uncontainable air of expectancy sweeping across the nation. However, the South American side, with Napoli star Diego Maradona playing in front of the fans that adored him at the Stadio San Paolo, emerged triumphant.
The crowd that evening might have held aloft a banner saying, “Diego, we love you, but Italy is our father,” but in the final in Rome the diminutive genius received an altogether more racuous reception. As Germany defeated his beloved nation 1-0, fans of the eliminated Azzurri jeered him as he collected his runners-up medal. Maradona was already crying, however, as the famous trophy had slipped through his fingers.
Kuffour devastated by last-minute drama
The 1999 Champions League final has achieved immortal status in the annals of history thanks to Manchester United’s two goals in injury-time that helped to defeat Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. But while Red Devils relish in the memory of that evening, there are as many Bavarians who wake up with a cold sweat at the thought of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s big toe poking home the winner.
As captain and club legend Lothar Mattheus rested on the bench, thinking his work done, his team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The reaction of Germany was summed up by FCB defender Samuel Kuffour, who, upon the concession of Solkjaer’s goal, began beating the turf in anger, before his frustration turned to despair as the agony of the incident finally hit home.
Nedved and Ballack booked and banned
As Gazza had shed tears despite his nation failing to reach the World Cup final in 1990, Germany international Michael Ballack picked up a caution in the 2002 semi-final against South Korea – then set about making sure the rest of his team-mates could enjoy the showpiece occasion.
Four minutes after watching the referee raise the yellow card that ruled him out of a final meeting with Brazil, Ballack bravely struck the winner, and only after the match had ended did the realisation strike the playmaker that he would be denied from taking part.
Similarly in 2003, Juventus’ Pavel Nedved knew that he would be banned from the Champions League final if the Turin giants progressed past Real Madrid, shortly after smashing home a stunning goal to take his team to a meeting with AC Milan. He collapsed, distraught.
- Paul McDonald
German referee is a bad-ass mutha’ who don’t take no crap off of nobody
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blubbering Crying Rafa Benitez