They were millionaires at some point in their lives, but they became dazzled by the easy life, made mistakes and went bankrupt. That was the recent case with former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, but there are many more examples before him.
Wes Brown
Ex-European champion, he earned more than 56,000 euros a week at Manchester United, would have accumulated 10 million euros, but is now bankrupt in bankruptcy. The former defender of the Red Devils – where he was English champion seven times – was declared bankrupt by an English court.
Paul Gascoigne
Known for his skills on the field and also for his irreverence off it, Gascoigne struggled with alcohol addiction and other personal problems for several years. He declared bankruptcy in 2016, owing more than £50,000 in unpaid taxes. He represented the English national team 57 times. Paul Gascoigne played for clubs such as Rangers, Newcastle, Everton and Tottenham. As a coach, he spent time at Algarve United.
George Best
Another football legend, Best struggled with alcohol and gambling addictions, which led to dealing with financial problems throughout his life. The Northern Irishman won the Ballon d’Or in 1968.
Eric Djemba-Djemba
The Cameroonian played for Manchester United and Aston Villa in the Premier League but struggled to find success after leaving England. He was declared bankrupt by a Birmingham court while playing for Qatar SC, on a monthly salary of £15,000, according to the Daily Mail.
Daniel Kennedy
After a career where he played for Portuguese football greats Benfica and FC Porto, Kennedy lost his money because of his casino addiction. A doping case ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup in Japan and Korea, costing him a year of suspension. “I went through a very difficult phase. I wasn’t living well. In the midst of all this, I lost a lot. Me and my family”, laments the former player.
David James
At the top of his career he earned up to £50,000 a week when he was one of Portsmouth’s leading lights. The former England international goalkeeper played for a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Aston Villa (as well as Portsmouth), and was reportedly worth £20 million. The reasons for the bankruptcy are not very well known, but it would have helped him divorce his former wife Tanya in 2005.
Adrian Mutu
Signed by Chelsea from Parma for 22.5 million in 2003, the former Romanian striker allegedly tested positive for cocaine, a situation that led the London club to sue the former player to get the money back. The Swiss Federal Court ordered the payment of more than 17 million, but news reports in Romania indicated that he was going bankrupt.
