Being top of the points table is the dream for every Premier League club, but there is certainly one table that you don’t want to be top of, and that is the table for the most red cards in the history of the competition.
Be it talking back to the referee, fighting on the pitch, persistent fouling or simply rocking up with a horrendous tackle on an opponent, there have been plenty of dramatic red cards dished out to Premier League players over the years.
While the game is undeniably changing, the drama and controversy of a red card will always remain, but which clubs have the most red cards in the history of the Premier League?
The top 10 clubs with the most red cards in Premier League history
10. Aston Villa – 65
The likes of Gareth Barry, Lee Hendrie and Dion Dublin all chipped in to help Aston Villa clinch a spot in the top 10 list.
Elsewhere, it’s been somewhat of a team effort that has resulted in the Villans seeing red so often, but it is indeed unsurprising given the fact Villa have played in 28 Premier League campaigns, just three short of the likes of mainstays Manchester United and Liverpool.
9. Manchester United – 70
Speaking of the Red Devils, they find themselves ninth in the all-time Premier League red cards list, with the footballing giants handed 70 such cards during their constant stay in the competition.
Again unsurprisingly, it is a certain midfielder by the name of Roy Keane who leads the way in terms of ex-Man United players, well supported by the likes of Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic, Nani, Paul Pogba and even Cristiano Ronaldo.
8. Tottenham Hotspur – 72
Another club that has played in all seasons of the Premier League are Tottenham Hotspur, with the north London outfit constantly battling it out with the big guns in the aim of toppling the likes of Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and of course rivals Arsenal.
Back in the day, former players Gus Poyet and Younes Kaboul were no strangers to an early bath.
6= Manchester City – 77
Man City weren’t always Premier League title challengers, but the financial income of recent years has helped etch their name in the competition’s history.
Former centre-backs Richard Dunne and Vincent Kompany lead the way alongside ex-midfield anchor Fernandinho, all of whom have three.
6= Blackburn Rovers – 77
They may not be playing Premier League football anymore, but Blackburn Rovers were once a mainstay of the competition, and as the evidence shows, the team were not afraid of flying in with a tackle or two.
5. West Ham – 83
The likes of Steve Lomas, Kevin Nolan, Paul Konchesky, Carlton Cole and John Hartson saw red for east London side West Ham in the Premier League, as did the incomparable former captain Mark Noble.
After a long period of miserable runs in the top flight, the Hammers have finally made their mark in the Premier League in recent years, and with such constant competition comes passion and intensity on the pitch, which often results in a red card or two.
4. Chelsea – 89
Premier League giants Chelsea have always been in the thick of it for things like titles, wins and goals, but they are also fond of a red card. The Blues, have often done whatever it takes to get the win, and that has inevitably involved picking up red cards here and there.
Again somewhat unsurprisingly, it is former skipper John Terry who tops Chelsea’s Premier League red card list, but he is joined by Trevor Sinclair, with the pair closely followed by a long list of players that includes Frank Lampard, Dennis Wise, Michael Essien, Thibaut Courtois and Cesar Azpilicueta.
3. Newcastle – 93
Newcastle have only missed three Premier League seasons since the league's inception in 1992/93, and are therefore well versed in all of the drama surrounding red cards. Two of their own players – Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer – even saw red for an on-field scuffle back in April 2005.
Both saw red twice in their Newcastle careers, as did Steven Taylor, Aleksandr Mitrovic and Nolberto Solano. It is, however, former defender Fabricio Coloccini who tops the Magpies’ list with four, with Pavel Srnicek in second on three reds.
2. Arsenal – 104
Arsenal have been handed more than 100 red cards throughout their uninterrupted spell in the Premier League. Former midfield maestro Patrick Vieira was responsible for eight of those offences alone, with the ex-France star sitting joint-top of the all-time list.
The likes of Martin Keown, Laurent Koscielny, Sol Campbell, Tony Adams and indeed current manager Mikel Arteta were also no strangers to seeing red while on the pitch for the Gunners.
1. Everton – 107
And just about taking the title of the Premier League’s dirtiest team are Everton, who have picked up 107 serious offences throughout their life in the top flight. It is perhaps very unsurprising, given that Richard Dunne and Duncan Ferguson are joint-top of the all-time red card list with Vieira with eight each.
Unlike the other ever-presents, Everton have never finished in the Premier League's podium places. On three occasions, they have stayed up on the last day, while they have failed to attain mathematical safety before the final home game of the season in two of the previous three seasons.
So it stands to reason that there would be a rash challenge here and there in difficult times. One little-known fact is that Everton once had the highest disciplinary points score in consecutive seasons (1997/98 and 1998/99), even though the latter campaign saw them sell Duncan Ferguson to Newcastle in November 1998!
Interesting facts about PL red cards
Who got the most red cards in 2023/24?
The short answer is Burnley, who racked up seven dismissals en-route to relegation in 19th place. Never quite with it from the off, they had to resort to desperate measures to keep alive any chance of avoiding relegation.
What is the record for the most red cards in a season?
Sunderland's 2009/10 squad saw a player receive his marching orders on nine occasions in league action.
What is the worst PL red card ever received?
Martin Taylor's horrendous challenge on Eduardo in February 2008 takes some beating. It was cynical, brutal and snapped the Croatian's leg clean in two. Eduardo was never the same again, and though Arsene Wenger's recommendation of a lifetime ban for Taylor never came to anything, he left an indelible stain on his legacy.
Who got the PL's first ever red card?
Mickey Quinn received the PL's first red while playing for Manchester City in a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on 19 August 1992. Later that same evening, Micky Adams saw red for Southampton as the Saints went down 3-1 to QPR in the capital.
But his agony is nothing compared to this group of players who have seen red in the Champions League final!
