10 most unfortunate injuries to high-profile footballers
Outweighing the dread of being dropped and topping the terror of a public scandal, being subjected to long-term injury is by far the greatest scourge faced by modern footballers. Whether it be a crunching break or a scorching tear, serious football casualties can sideline players for weeks on end, nullifying their fitness and putting them out of practice respectively. Many a player have declined in ability due to their time on the bench by virtue of a long-term injury and it has, albeit rarely, even stamped an abrupt end on those of others. Injuries are a familiar blot on multiple sporting copy books, but given the blistering intensity of the Premier League especially, football poses its fair share of horrific, high-profile afflictions.Clubs can witness their challenges derail should a key man see his campaign terminated with a single challenge and casualties of the significance you’re about to see can be some of the biggest talking points of a season.Here is a list of ten unfortunate injuries which you may be familiar with.
#1 Aaron Ramsey - Leg break
It was the injury that inaugurated a flood of tears from its perpetrator Ryan Shawcross, mass panic from the Arsenal faithful and a bucket-load of cynical comments from Arsene Wenger. Yes, Aaron Ramsey’s broken leg at the Britannia Stadium in 2010 formed the epicentre of the Premier League’s action that season, as the Welshman witnessed fractures to both his fibula and tibia, as the then 19-year-old’s future career hung in the balance.
Incredibly close to home for Arsenal and Wenger alike (a sentiment which prompted Wenger’s frustrations post-match), the Gunners had not long ago seen their Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva hacked down in similar fashion against Birmingham City two years earlier.
The Welshman’s rehabilitation comprised of loan spells with Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City respectively. At the latter he thrived, edging towards the image his youthful potential projected. It took time, but eventually Ramsey’s career ignited and he scored his first goal since returning in a 1-0 win over Manchester United in 2011.
Ultimately, the visions that day were scarring for a young professional like Ramsey and, whether it be due to modern footballers being far less robust than those who graced the pitch in the 1970s or not, leg breaks are growing far more regular on football pitches up and down the country.