Top 10 players with the most worst own goals in football

Own goals are always a nightmare for players and teams, because they can change the game in the blink of an eye. Although sometimes they come from unfortunate saves, personal mistakes or goalkeeper errors, the consequences they leave behind are still extremely serious. Surprisingly, even the legends of world football cannot avoid these unforgettable moments. In the list of worst own goals in football shared by Kingsoccertips.com, there are many names that used to be pillars in the defense, but still had to endure unwanted situations that changed the fate of the match.

Top 10 worst own goals in football

Top 10: Gareth McAuley

Former West Brom and Rangers defender Gareth McAuley is one of the unluckiest players to have scored five own goals in his career. While he may not be the most prominent centre-back, he remains a key figure for West Brom as he turns 30. McAuley has impressive aerial ability and has scored a number of important goals for the club, but he has also had his share of unlucky moments when he accidentally put the ball into his own net.

However, his most memorable own goal did not come at club level, but came while playing for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016. In the round of 16 match against Wales, with the game in the balance, McAuley made a mistake in the 75th minute. He misjudged Gareth Bale’s dangerous pass and accidentally put the ball into his own net, helping Wales to a narrow 1-0 win. The own goal proved to be the defining moment, sending Northern Ireland crashing out of the tournament, while Wales continued their impressive run at Euro 2002.

Top 9: Frank Sinclair

Frank Sinclair is a household name in the Premier League, having played for Chelsea and Leicester City. With a strong, aggressive style of play and the ability to play in a variety of positions across defence, he had a career spanning over two decades, making over 750 appearances in all competitions. During his time at Chelsea, Sinclair won major honours such as the FA Cup and the League Cup, cementing his place in English football.

However, alongside his successes, Sinclair also had his moments to forget, most notably an own goal against Middlesbrough in March 2002. In what seemed like an innocuous situation, he tried to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Ian Walker from 40 yards out. Unfortunately, the ball was too strong and did not reach Walker’s feet, but rolled straight into the Leicester net, helping Middlesbrough win 1-0. This became one of the most memorable moments in Sinclair’s career, although he has made many important contributions to the teams he has played for.

Top 8: Ryan Shawcross

Ryan Shawcross is a legendary defender for Stoke City, known for his outstanding physique and impressive aerial ability. He is a solid stopper in the team’s defense, always playing with a fierce and strong spirit. However, during his career, Shawcross has fallen into unfortunate situations that have led to six own goals, making him one of the players with the most own goals in the Premier League.

In addition to being a key centre-back, Shawcross also captained Stoke City for many years, making more than 370 appearances for the club. Despite his successful career, one of his most memorable moments came in 2017 against AFC Bournemouth. Josh King’s dangerous shot accidentally hit Shawcross and deflected into the net, leaving the match in a 2-2 draw. The own goal cost Stoke their first away win in two months, leaving an unfortunate memory in his career.

Top 7: Jonny Evans

Jonny Evans was once rated by Sir Alex Ferguson as one of the best young players at Manchester United, and his career has reflected that assessment. After his early years at Old Trafford, Evans became a key player in the Leicester City squad, contributing greatly to the team’s historic Premier League title. His tenacity and experience also saw him return to Manchester United later in his career, continuing to contribute to his former club. However, Evans has not been without his share of memorable moments, particularly his own goals.

One of his most notable own goals came in Leicester City’s 4-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth, when he accidentally put the ball into his own net. It was his sixth own goal in the Premier League, a remarkable number. However, with over 500 professional appearances, 23 club goals and over 100 caps for Northern Ireland, Evans remains one of the most reliable centre-backs in English football.

Top 6: Wes Brown

Wes Brown is remembered as an icon in Premier League history, having emerged from the Manchester United academy and enjoyed a long career with the club. A versatile defender, he could play at both centre-back and right-back, and was instrumental in the Red Devils’ success under Sir Alex Ferguson. With over 200 appearances in the English top flight, Brown was part of Manchester United’s golden era, winning five Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies.

However, alongside his glories, Brown also had his fair share of forgettable moments, particularly his own goals. He has scored six times in the Premier League, with the worst of them coming on 5 November 2011. While playing for Sunderland, Brown accidentally scored an own goal against Manchester United, helping his former club to a 1-0 win. The own goal was crucial in the title race that season, making the incident all the more regrettable in his career.

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Top 5: Phil Jagielka

Phil Jagielka is one of the Premier League’s standout defenders, known for his strong play and reliable defending. He is best known for his work with Everton, but is also remembered on the other side of Merseyside for his impressive performances. However, alongside his fierce tackles, Jagielka has also been unlucky, scoring seven own goals in his Premier League career, the fifth-most in the league.

However, Jagielka’s career has been remarkable, with 40 England caps and 350 appearances for Everton. The majority of his own goals have come from unfortunate situations or goalkeeper errors. One of his most memorable moments came while playing for Sheffield United in the Yorkshire derby at Elland Road. In an attempt to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Jagielka mishandled it and accidentally put the ball into his own net, giving Leeds United the lead.

Top 4: Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher is a surprising name on the list of players with many own goals, as he is remembered as one of the most consistent and reliable defenders of his era. With 700 appearances for Liverpool, Carragher was a club icon and was part of Steven Gerrard’s legendary 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul. However, he also had his moments to forget, notably an own goal in the 1999 FA Cup final against Manchester United, which cost Liverpool 1-2 and missed out on the trophy.

Despite his great career, Carragher holds the unwanted record of being one of the Premier League’s most prolific own goalscorers with seven. His errors were largely due to challenges or poor tackles, which may partly explain why he never won the Premier League during his Liverpool career.

Top 3: Martin Skrtel

Martin Skrtel is one of the standout defenders of his generation, with a strong playing style and impressive attacking ability. Originally from Slovakia, he is best known for his time at Liverpool, where he made his mark with both his fierce defending and his unfortunate own goals. Skrtel scored seven own goals in the Premier League, most of them from poor tackles or failed clearances, making him one of the unluckiest players in the competition.

Skrtel, however, remained a key figure for Liverpool for over eight seasons and is a firm favourite with Anfield fans. He helped the team win the League Cup in 2012 and is remembered as a warrior at the back. However, one of Skrtel’s most memorable moments came in the 2013-14 season, when Liverpool were locked in a fierce battle with Manchester City for the title. In a tense match, he accidentally scored an own goal, helping Man City earn a vital point in a 2-2 draw, which contributed to Liverpool’s loss of steam in the title race that season.

Top 2: Franco Baresi

Franco Baresi is perhaps the most surprising name on the list, considering he is considered one of the greatest defenders in football history. An AC Milan legend, Baresi not only has a huge trophy cabinet but also formed an excellent defensive partnership with Paolo Maldini. In 196 matches that the two played together, Milan conceded just 23 goals – an astonishing figure that reflects the solidity of the Rossoneri’s defence.

However, despite his career being filled with glorious moments, Baresi also scored eight own goals during his professional career. However, unlike many other names on this list, he never scored an own goal in an important match or one that affected a trophy. Baresi’s most memorable own goal came in the Coppa Italia semi-final, but fortunately AC Milan’s attack was able to make up for it, saving the team from a major loss. As a legacy, he remains an immortal icon in the Italian Football Hall of Fame and Milan’s golden era.

Top 1: Richard Dunne

Richard Dunne is remembered as a strong, solid defender for the teams he played for. However, alongside his impressive performances, he also holds an unwanted record – being the player with the most own goals in Premier League history. With a physical style of play, Dunne was often involved in aerial duels, but his fierce challenges sometimes resulted in the ball going into his own net.

Despite this, Dunne’s career was still impressive. He was named Manchester City’s Player of the Year four times and made a total of 430 Premier League appearances, playing for the likes of Everton, Aston Villa, and Queens Park Rangers. At international level, he also made over 80 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, scoring eight goals, establishing himself as a key figure in the national defence.

In Summary

The above worst own goals in football are not only unforgettable moments for the players but can also decide the outcome of the whole match. Whether they come from individual mistakes or unfortunate situations, they still leave their mark in football history. Even the best defenders are not immune to these unfortunate situations, showing that even great players sometimes make mistakes. However, what is important is how they get up and continue to contribute to the team, because an own goal cannot erase a glorious career.

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