The Premier League is one of the most combative football leagues in the world game. However, some players are too combative and get themselves in trouble with officials. These players are sometimes reprimanded with a yellow card or even a red.
Who are the players who have picked up the most yellow cards since the Premier League began in 1992, though?
Gareth Barry (125 yellow cards in 652 appearances)
The former England midfielder featured for Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and West Brom in his Premier League career. No outfield player has made more Premier League appearances than Barry.
He holds the record for the most yellow cards picked up by any player in the Premier League. Although there is no disputing that the record is a poor one, the fact that he played so many games also played a big part in Barry picking up that unwelcome record.
Wayne Rooney (101 yellow cards in 491 appearances)
Throughout his playing career, the Manchester United legend was known as a player who was a bit of a hothead. The former England international’s style of play could well be described as ‘combative’.
However, his ferocious style of play was what made Rooney such a star for Everton, Manchester United, and, of course, the England national team. The forward finished his career with 208 goals and 108 assists in the Premier League, which will be his legacy, not the number of times he was cautioned.
Lee Bowyer (100 yellow cards in 397 appearances)
The midfielder earned himself a reputation as a tough-tackling figure in the centre of the park during his time in the Premier League. He was involved in one of the most incredible incidents in recent decades in the English top-flight, as the midfielder fought Newcastle teammate Kieron Dyer during a defeat against Aston Villa.
Bowyer represented Leeds, West Ham, Newcastle and Birmingham in his playing career, picking up a century of yellow cards during his top-flight career. The former Charlton star also picked up five red cards in the Premier League.
Kevin Davies (99 yellow cards in 444 appearances)
The forward was your old-fashioned rough and tough centre-forward, who would love nothing better than a battle with a centre-back. During his time in the Premier League with Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, that exuberance may have gone too far sometimes, as Davies picked up 99 yellow cards in his top-flight career.
Davies also contributed positively to the Premier League by scoring 88 goals and producing 55 assists at the top level of the English game.
Paul Scholes (99 yellow cards in 499 appearances)
The diminutive midfielder was known as a player capable of producing some fantastic attacking moments, so the fact that Scholes’s strength was never his tackling was not a major surprise, as he matched Davies in the yellow card count. The midfielder was also dismissed on four occasions in the Premier League.
Some would say, like Rooney, his tenacious approach to the game was what made him the player he was. Scholes is now remembered far more for his 107 league goals and 55 assists than he is for the number of yellow cards he picked up during his top-flight career.
Scott Parker (92 yellow cards in 367 appearances)
The midfielder enjoyed a long career in the Premier League, playing for Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham and Fulham. During his top-flight career, Parker was famous for being a midfielder who drove forward from the centre of the pitch.
However, he also garnered a reputation for putting his foot in, having picked up 92 yellow cards and five red cards in his top-flight career. Despite his misdemeanours, the midfielder will be fondly remembered by the fans of most of the clubs he represented.
Lee Cattermole (91 yellow cards in 271 appearances)
The midfielder played for Middlesbrough, Wigan and Sunderland during his Premier League career and was known as a player who loved to tackle. Unfortunately for Cattermole, officials didn’t seem to love his tackles as much as he received 91 yellow cards and an incredible seven red cards in just 271 top-flight appearances.
Cattermole was not without talent, though, as he had the potential to have a far better career. However, his disciplinary record arguably hampered his chances of fulfilling his true potential.
Robbie Savage (87 yellow cards in 346 appearances)
The Welsh midfielder came through the youth system at Manchester United. However, Savage made a name for himself at the heart of the Leicester midfield before also playing for Birmingham, Blackburn and Derby in the Premier League.
It was a case of savage by name and Savage by nature, as, at times, he was ruthless on the pitch with his tackling. However, he also liked to dive and generally be a pest to opponents and officials.
George Boateng (87 yellow cards in 384 appearances)
The Dutch midfielder enjoyed a long Premier League career after starting out at Feyenoord in his homeland. Boateng played for Coventry, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Hull City. His main job as a defensive midfielder was stopping opposition attacks, and he did well in the English top flight.
However, he did manage to pick up 87 yellow and five cards in his 384 appearances in the Premier League.
Kevin Nolan (86 yellow cards in 401 appearances)
The Liverpool-born midfielder was regarded as a leader at the clubs he represented, Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham. In fact, at various periods during his Premier League career, he captained all three clubs.
Nolan worked hard and gained a reputation as one of the toughest midfielders of his time. The 86 yellow cards in 401 appearances proved that he was a player who loved a tackle, whose robust style helped him score 69 top-flight goals and produce 26 assists.