As referee Mark Clattenburg joins the ranks with an appalling ink job, it’s time to round up twelve photos of bad football tattoos from fans and players.
Whether jumping the gun, misspelling a name or just doing something downright weird, the football community has a rich history of truly terrible tattoos.
However, it’s hard not to delight in seeing them, so do enjoy this selection of twelve of the worst football tattoos ever seen:
Mark Clattenburg’s Champions League tattoo
In case he ever forgets he once refereed the final, Clattenburg ensured it was inked onto his body:
Likewise, he is also a walking shrine to his own participation at Euro 2016:
Jay Bothroyd’s ‘LOVE’ tattoo spelt out of weapons
Remember when he played for England? The former Cardiff hot shot, now at Japanese side Júbilo Iwata, had this done in 2013:
Jay Bothroyd. pic.twitter.com/axXRyKVM1D
— Football Tattoos (@Football_Tattoo) March 28, 2015
Stephen Ireland’s angel wings
It’s fair to say they didn’t quite give his career the kind of lift-off he had in mind:
@MStrac89 that standard of tattoo falls just under the bar set by Stephen Ireland's tasteful "artwork"… pic.twitter.com/mFsLcIs7uL
— Edd Scicluna (@eddscicluna) October 12, 2015
Ryan Mason’s 12-year-old-boy tattoo
One Twitter user demanded to know why the image of his childhood self adorned the arm of a Spurs midfielder:
@andygoldstein05 Relevant: Ever noticed that Ryan Mason has a tattoo of a 12-year-old boy on his arm? pic.twitter.com/L8Lp1subbi
— WorldCupDanB (@WorldCupDanB) April 3, 2015
Nile Ranger gets ‘Ranger’ tattooed on his head
Once a promising youngster at Newcastle, Ranger recently surfaced at Phil Brown’s Southend presumably still looking like this:
Sometime the tattoo artist needs to be the voice of reason. RT @8by8mag: Ooooh Nile Ranger…why?!? #markedmen pic.twitter.com/RB7pJgXac2
— Andrew Das (@AndrewDasNYT) April 7, 2014
Fan’s Kolo Touré tattoo spelt wrongly
The Celtic defender, then of Liverpool, joked that he would change his name after an unfortunate supporter had ‘Kolo Touro’ inked on his foot:
"@JoshKillner: Can't believe @domjpearson made The Metro with his 'Kolo Touro' tattoo. #lad http://t.co/BJkggXENwf" I will change my name
— Kolo Toure (@KoloKolotoure28) September 5, 2013
“We Are Liverpool” tattoo
The Anfield faithful love to imbue their heroes with a sense of historical drama, as evidenced by this cringeworthy 300 pastiche:
"@MrBrightside910: Amazing tattoo… WE ARE LIVERPOOL #YNWA pic.twitter.com/9phXQ0ba"
— KLG (@KLGriesel90) August 19, 2012
‘Eeverton’ tattoo
However, the blue half of Merseyside is hardly exempt from ill-fated ink jobs:
Eeverton tattoo must have been done by an #LFC fan#Everton @davidvitty pic.twitter.com/9ZKpqcM3AS
— TwitForTatts (@TwitForTatts) June 8, 2014
Man City fan gets Wayne Rooney tattoo prematurely
Based on little more than a rumour that the Man Utd striker was set to switch allegiances:
The stupid City fan who got 'Rooney City Legend' tattoo because there was a rumor that Rooney was going to Man City :P pic.twitter.com/7nW13qH0
— Rathers (@MarkRathbone96) September 4, 2012
You might also recall the City fan who in 2009 got a ‘Champions League winners 2011’ tattoo, so sure was he that their newfound wealth would lead to such success.
They’ve won a couple of titles since then, but still no Champions League.
Poorly timed Andy Cole tattoo
As acquired by one Newcastle United supporter just days before his hero departed for Old Trafford:
@JustFutball @SportsWankers #NUFC fan had Andy Cole tattoo on his leg two days before he signed for #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/wH8K8vENmh
— Johnny Toobad (@poppa1138) August 27, 2015
Daniele De Rossi’s warning sign
“I will break your legs” appears to be what the Roma midfielder is saying with this eye-catching effort:
Daniele de Rossi still has the best tattoo a hard nosed defensive minded player can have. Love it. #ITA #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/yglo0tVYFe
— Hyphen (@DJHyphen) June 27, 2016
“Gary Lineker shags crisps” tattoo
Not sure what’s the worst thing about this – the weird statement, the choice of body part or the incorrect spelling of ‘Lineker’:
What an absolute belter this lad is.. @jonnoNUFC pic.twitter.com/Gy0dtVlL3w
— Kieran O'Malley (@KieranOMalley) June 29, 2015