In his autobiography The Didi Man: My Love Affair with Liverpool German midfielder Dietmar Hamann revealed that he enjoyed smoking.
After Liverpoolֳ miraculous comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan in 2005 the German celebrated by smoking a cigarette in the showers with the reds chairman David Moores.
We think that the modern footballer treats his body like a temple. Injuries and first aid kits are a fact of life for any sportsman playing a physical game but it seems odd that a number of high profile players have enjoyed puffing away on a cheroot between and sometimes during matches.
Osvaldo Ardilles
Ardiles was a foreign footballer in England at a time when there were not that many players from overseas. He was a sublime midfielder who won the World Cup with Argentina.
Glenn Hoddle revealed that when Ardiles won that World Cup in 1978 he enjoyed a 40-a-day smoking habit. It didnִ seem to affect the little Argentinean who had a fantastic career with Tottenham and recorded a hit single with Chas & Dave.
Paul Gascoigne
Gazza started smoking when he played in Italy for Lazio. To be fair the Geordie maestro was not the sort of player who took greatest care of his body during his career. His battle with alcohol, of course, is well documented.
Johann Cruyff
One of the greatest players of all time used to suck on 20 fags a day when he was a player. This doubled to 40 a day when he was managing Barcelona. However, a double heart bypass operation forced him to stop and he made a number of anti-smoking adverts once he kicked the habit.
Preben Elkjaer
This super-fit player who rarely needed any physio supplies used to have a quick smoke at half time and apparently once smoked during a penalty shootout. The story goes that he casually flicked his fag away just before burying the ball in the net.
Socrates
Probably one of the greatest players never to win a World Cup Socrates was one of the heroes of the 1982 World Cup. He was also a medical doctor which makes it even more surprising to learn that he had a love of nicotine.
David James
Even though he was still playing into his forties the England goalkeeper admitted that for fifteen years he had puffed away at 20 fags a day. It could explain why he didnִ always get to the ball when coming for crosses.
Mario Ballotelli
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is reportedly unhappy about his wayward strikerֳ habit but he is a lightweight compared to some of his predecessors. He only smokes ҵ or 6 a dayӠwhich is nothing compared to Cryuff.
When the physios come on the pitch to look after these players they are more likely to apply nicotine patches than cold packs.
And as Manchester City youth player Jamie Tandy found out at a Christmas party when Joey Barton stubbed out a lit cigar in his eye smoking really is bad for your health.