RAZOR RUDDOCK’S 25 HARDEST PLAYERS EVER!
25 KEVIN MUSCAT
REPUTATION: In his Wolves days, the Aussie punctured Craig Bellamy’s kneecap and was sued by Matty Holmes for a challenge that almost led to the midfielder having his leg amputated. Muscat was sent off 12 times during his career, which ended not long after he was banned for eight games while playing for Melbourne Victory. This year, he became the manager of Belgian outfit Sint-Truiden.
RAZOR SAYS: “I never played against him, but he’d have got it if I had – he was in my little red book. Muscat, you’re a bully: I’ve seen you do people and hurt little wingers – you’re at No.25, but you’re only on this list so you know I haven’t forgotten you. I hope to bump into you one day…” [Evil laugh]
24 DAVE MACKAY
REPUTATION: The Scot gained the nickname of ‘Iron Man’ during his time at Hearts. Nine years at Spurs followed, where striker Jimmy Greaves described him as a “genuinely hard bastard”. That glowing endorsement was best personified when Mackay schooled Billy Bremner in 1966 – angrily grabbing the Scot after the Leeds man had gone into a tackle targeting Mackay’s left leg, which the Spurs defender had twice previously broken.
RAZOR SAYS: “I’ve got to pick Dave Mackay for that wonderful photo of when he had Billy Bremner by the throat – Bremner was meant to be a hard man...”
23 BILLY BONDS
REPUTATION: “Six foot two, eyes of blue, Billy Bonds is after you” echoed the terrace chant for many of his 21 years at West Ham. The fearless Bonds occasionally saw red – he was lucky to escape suspension for the Hammers’ FA Cup final triumph in 1980 after being sent off for scrapping with Birmingham’s Colin Todd. The pair even continued to kick each other on the floor. Bonds later managed West Ham, then had the cojones to boss arch-rivals Millwall.
RAZOR SAYS: “Billy’s era was before my playing days, but ‘Bonzo’ has to be on my list for all the stories I heard from my old West Ham mates and Hammers fans.”
22 RON HARRIS
Well, he wasn’t nicknamed ‘Chopper’ for his love of helicopters. Nope, the stopper was renowned for mercilessly hacking down strikers during two decades at Chelsea. He helped turn the 1970 FA Cup Final against rivals Leeds into
