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The Rise and Fall of Mark Bosnich: A Cautionary Tale of Unprofessionalism in Football

Paul Scholes has named his worst ever team-mate during his long career at Manchester United, tearing the culprit apart for his lack of professionalism. Let's delve into the controversial career of Mark Bosnich, once a promising goalkeeper who spiraled into chaos due to his unprofessional behavior and personal demons.

The Rise and Fall of Mark Bosnich: A Cautionary Tale of Unprofessionalism in Football

Paul Scholes has named his worst ever team-mate during his long career at Manchester United, tearing the culprit apart for his lack of professionalism. Scholes spent 20 seasons with the Red Devils, winning 12 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues. He shared a dressing room with the likes of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney but not every player impressed him.Scholes discussed United's worst signings in an episode of The Overlap. Juan Sebastian Veron as often cited as one of the worst signings the club made, with the Argentine disappointing in his two seasons following his £28m - then a Premier League record fee - move to United from Lazio in 2001. But Scholes defended Veron and named a former goalkeeper as the worst signing the club made during his career.Scholes said: "Veron was a great player, a talented player. Don't really know why it didn't work for him but what a footballer. I go back to the goalkeepers, when you had to try and replace Peter Schmeichel, which is always going to be difficult. We had a few. I was thinking [Massimo] Taibi, Mark Bosnich. I thought he was a good keeper at [Aston] Villa, Mark. He came to us, he was so unprofessional. Honestly, it was ridiculous. In shooting practice, you normally have like 15, 20 shots. After three shots, he's knackered, 'Oh no, get someone else in'.Scholes also revealed that Bosnich lacked a basic ability for goal-kicks. He added: "I never realised, he couldn't kick a football. I've never seen anything like it. We played Everton away in first game of the season, and none of us picked up on it, he couldn't reach the halfway line. There was no wind, it was a perfect day. But when you look at his feet, size 14s, honestly he was just kicking the floor all the time, big flippers. Honestly, it was disappointing."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingBosnich was one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League at the time he signed for United from Aston Villa in 1999 as the successor to departing club legend Peter Schmeichel. But just one week into his time at the club there was a clear sign that he did not have the mentality to play for Sir Alex Ferguson's winning machine. He turned up one hour late to his own wedding after spending the previous night in a police cell following a punch-up with a photographer while out on his stag do with friends including United striker Dwight Yorke.Ferguson, who also signed Bosnich in 1988 when the goalkeeper was just 16, was less than impressed with him when he met him for the second time. He described him as a "terrible professional" and "overweight". Nonetheless, Bosnich was Ferguson's No. 1 for the majority of the 1999-00 season, making 23 Premier League appearances for United and winning the title in his first season.However, his contract was terminated 18 months after he arrived and he joined Chelsea. But his time in west London was even more disastrous. He failed a drugs test in September 2002, leading to him being kicked out of the club and banned from playing football for nine months. The Australian claimed his drink had been spiked with cocaine but he later confessed to becoming addicted to the drug.He said: "I wasn't taking any drugs when I was found guilty by the FA. In 15 years of football, I never touched them. But everybody believed that I was into drugs... So one day I thought, 'F*** it, I'm going to do it.' I went to a club, bought a £50 wrap of coke, and brought it home to try. Basically, I cracked. I was angry and bitter and I succumbed to what everyone said I was, a coke fiend."Bosnich said at one point he was taking six grams of cocaine a day and in one infamous incident was so inebriated he mistook his father for a burglar, attempting to shoot him with an air rifle.

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The Talented Yet Unprofessional Mark Bosnich

Mark Bosnich, once considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, made a high-profile move to Manchester United from Aston Villa in 1999. However, his time at United was marred by unprofessionalism from the start. Paul Scholes revealed Bosnich's lack of dedication and basic abilities during his stint at the club.

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A Troubled Career and a Drastic Downfall

Bosnich's unprofessional behavior extended beyond the pitch, culminating in a failed drugs test while playing for Chelsea. His subsequent battle with addiction and confessions about his struggles serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of succumbing to personal demons and societal pressures in the world of professional football.

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From Triumph to Tragedy: The Story of Mark Bosnich

Mark Bosnich's journey from a promising goalkeeper to a cautionary tale of unprofessionalism and addiction showcases the dark side of the footballing world. Despite initial success, his career was overshadowed by controversies and personal turmoil, ultimately leading to a tragic downfall that serves as a stark reminder of the importance of professionalism in sports.

Published on Dec 27, 2025