10 Footballers even rival fans can never hate

Being a footballer is one profession where you are bound to have a number of ‘haters’. Every move on and off the pitch is scrutinised by the media, pundits on television and fans on social media. It's a tough job – not one for the faint-hearted – and takes a lot of willpower and determination to succeed in what is now essentially a cut-throat business where players sometimes overstep their boundaries to ensure their teams come away with a win.But at the other end of the spectrum, there are players who step onto the pitch, do their job and do what is most important – play the game with respect. These are the players that fans love to watch and kids want to emulate when they grow up. They have earned so much respect and plaudits that even rival fans have no qualms about accepting the fact that they are a delight to watch.So we present to you footballers even rival fans just cannot hate!

#1 Santi Cazorla

He is easily one of the smallest men on the pitch, especially in the Premier League. But Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla is a class apart and is loved by one and all – be it at the club or when he turns out for the Spanish national team.

The Spaniard is only 5’5” tall, but his love for the game and the talent he has is head and shoulders above 90% of the footballers in the world today. One of very few ambidextrous footballers in Europe, the little dynamite can shoot and even take set-pieces comfortably with either foot.

The man is always seen with a permanent smile etched on his face in training and always manages to lift the spirits of those at the club when he is around. And his opponents aren’t too far behind in giving him the respect he commands without even knowing it.

Cazorla is the living example of a man doing what he is asked to do while enjoying his football in the process.