The player who was dubbed the “dirtiest” in the history of football was issued 45 red cards and was even dismissed 21 minutes into his coaching career.

The player who was dubbed the “dirtiest” in the history of football was issued 45 red cards and was even dismissed 21 minutes into his coaching career. Gerardo ‘The General’ Bedoya was labeled the “world’s dirtiest footballer” after accumulating the most red cards of any player in history.

 

 

 

However, what transpired after his playing career concluded? Bedoya’s aggressive, no-nonsense approach to the game gained him a reputation. In fact, his website referred to him as “one of the most aggressive players in the history of Colombian soccer and globally.” He was issued 45 red cards during his 20-year playing tenure, which remains the world record for the most red cards in football history.

 

 

 

 

Carl Worswick, a Colombian football journalist, stated to the BBC in 2020, “He was a decent footballer, but that has not been sufficient to diminish the other aspects of his career.” Worswick would characterize the former defender as a “explosive personality” who was unable to contain himself when he saw red, stating, “In the heat of the moment, he wasn’t able to take a breather and get on with it.”

 

 

 

 

The headlines consistently scream “the world’s dirtiest player.” He consistently contributed.In 2012, Bedoya was issued a 15-match suspension for belligerent conduct, which is widely considered to be his most notorious red card. It is alleged that he struck an opponent in the face with his foot. Bedoya’s career was relatively prosperous, despite his disciplinary record.

 

 

 

 

He was instrumental in Colombia’s sole significant footballing victory at the 2001 Copa América, where his strike assisted his country in defeating Honduras in the semi-finals. In the same year, his 86th-minute strike for Argentina’s Racing against title rivals River Plate resulted in a 1-1 draw, which maintained Racing’s position at the top and

 

 

 

 

ultimately secured the 2001 Apertura championship, the club’s first title in 35 years. Bedoya has served as a caretaker manager for his beloved Santa Fe on three distinct occasions since retiring. His most recent stint at the Colombian club was in 2023, when he briefly succeeded Harold Rivera. Bedoya’s sole permanent position was with Real Soacha Cundinamarca, a team based in Bogota.

 

 

 

 

He was responsible for 24 matches and earned an average of 1.21 points per game before his dismissal in August 2022. He is currently engaged in the process of “rewriting his reputation” as a manager, following years of malfeasance on the field. Worswick consistently emphasizes that he has no adversaries at present. Featured Image Credit: Getty Images