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14 of essentially the most disastrous debuts in soccer historical past ft. Khusanov, Woodgate, Messi…


You solely get one likelihood to make a primary impression in soccer, and Manchester Metropolis’s Abdukodir Khusanov has joined former Chelsea, Manchester United and Actual Madrid stars in making a debut memorable for all of the incorrect causes.

In any office, your first day is a case of getting your head down, doing all your job and making an attempt to not f*ck issues up. Alas, that’s usually simpler stated than performed contemplating the pratfalls that this lot fell into.

We’ve trawled via the archives to carry you 14 of the worst debut performances in soccer historical past.

Abdukodir Khusanov

“It’s a second that makes you are feeling like crying for the lad.”

Gary Neville saying that from the commentary field two minutes into your debut can by no means be good.

The Premier League’s first-ever Uzbek endured an absolute horrorshow when he made his bow towards Chelsea. First up he badly misjudged an aerial duel with Nicolas Jackson earlier than a calamitously under-hit header again to Ederson allowed the striker to sq. to Noni Madueke for a tap-in.

One minute later he took out Cole Palmer and was booked; a distinct ref may’ve despatched him off.

He appeared a deer within the headlights from there and was hooked early within the second half. To be honest, issues may’ve been worse; Metropolis didn’t concede any additional objectives and got here again to win 2-1.

“What I believed was it’s not the most effective begin, proper? He’ll take the teachings; he’s younger and has come for a few years,” Pep Guardiola responded.

The one approach is up.

Moises Caicedo

Chelsea broke the British switch file to signal Caicedo for £115million after a comedy bidding warfare with Liverpool, creating 1,000,000 memes and permitting their supporters a interval of superb gloating.

Any sense of satisfaction immediately diminished after the Ecuadorian’s debut at West Ham; showing as a late substitute, Caicedo was miles off the tempo, made quite a few errors and conceded the penalty that confirmed Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat.

Since then he’s taken his time to justify the payment, however to be honest he’s undoubtedly been among the many Premier League’s greatest midfielders in 2024-25.

Jonathan Woodgate

No notes.

Jonathan Woodgate during a Real Madrid training session at Valdebebas, Madrid. August 2005.

READ: Remembering Jonathan Woodgate’s calamitous Actual Madrid debut

Lionel Messi

Arguably the best footballer of all time, Messi was sensational as he led Argentina to glory on the 2022 World Cup – however his worldwide debut was one to overlook.

The ahead was given his first call-up for a pleasant towards Hungary by supervisor Jose Pekerman, coming off the bench within the 63rd minute.

Nevertheless, slightly than impress in its place, Messi was as a substitute despatched off simply two minutes after getting into the sphere after a foul on Hungary’s Vilmos Vanczak.

Messi was reportedly present in tears within the altering room after being despatched his marching orders, however we’re betting it doesn’t maintain him up at night time as of late.

Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva is one in all Chelsea’s greatest signings of the fashionable period, however his bow in English soccer was extraordinarily inauspicious.

Away at newly-promoted West Brom, the Brazil worldwide misplaced possession in his personal half and allowed Callum Robinson to attain the second of the Baggies’ three first-half efforts.

He additionally didn’t make a single deal with and was dribbled previous twice. However objectives from Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham within the second half bailed the veteran defender out and he’s barely appeared again since.


READ NEXT: The 14 Barcelona gamers who made their debut in the identical season as Messi

TRY A QUIZ: Are you able to title each Premier League membership’s file signing?


Patrice Evra

Evra joined United in January 2006 and went on to get pleasure from an excellent profession at Previous Trafford, profitable 14 trophies – together with 5 Premier League titles and the Champions League – and performed 379 instances for the Pink Devils.

Which all appeared unlikely after being hooked at half-time on his United debut, following 45 minutes of getting the run round by Trevor Sinclair as Sir Alex Ferguson’s aspect misplaced to Manchester Metropolis.

“After the primary 5 minutes I performed towards Trevor Sinclair,” Evra stated in 2022. “I used to be minimize right here [on the head] I keep in mind I used to be towards the submit and you understand if you’re speaking to your self, I used to be like ‘what the hell am I doing right here?’

“The soccer was so quick, so robust. I used to be chilling in Monte Carlo – I used to be named the most effective left-back 4 instances. I used to be considering I’d made it, that I used to be an enormous participant. Then at half-time, that’s the primary time I used to be launched to the hairdryer by Sir Alex Ferguson.

“He destroyed everybody and he got here to me and stated, ‘You’re going to take a seat subsequent to me and also you’re going to be taught English soccer’. I’ve performed for the French nationwide crew, I’ve been within the ultimate of the Champions League – and on my first sport I’ve been subbed after 45 minutes.”

Joe Cole

Cole’s purple card on his Liverpool debut towards Arsenal in 2010 was most likely the spotlight of his spell at Anfield – neither Cole nor the Reds supporters notably warmed to one another and he stays one of many membership’s most underwhelming signings.

Gervinho

When Arsenal signed Gervinho from Lille in 2011, after being linked along with his then team-mate Eden Hazard for a lot of the window, their followers have been hopeful that the winger can be virtually nearly as good because the Belgium ahead.

It was an phantasm that lasted only one match after Gervinho was sent-off for slapping Joey Barton in a goalless draw at Newcastle. In equity, few would begrudge him for touchdown one on Barton’s chops.

Ali Dia

Hearsay has it that Dia’s solely look for Southampton set Matt Le Tissier heading in the right direction to turn into Britain’s greatest crank.

Southampton manager Graeme Souness.

READ: I rewatched Ali Dia’s one sport & realised he wasn’t *that* dangerous

Saul Niguez

Though he’d fallen out of favour beneath Diego Simeone, Saul was nonetheless thought of one in all Europe’s most proficient midfielders when he joined Chelsea on mortgage from Atletico Madrid in 2021.

However he was utterly overrun by John McGinn and the Aston Villa midfield on his debut, whereas two stray passes virtually led to Ollie Watkins discovering the again of the web.

Saul was hooked at half-time and began simply 4 extra league video games throughout his season-long mortgage transfer.

Gaetano Berardi

Berardi grew to become a cult hero at Leeds regardless of, or maybe as a result of, he marked his debut with a purple card for a jaw-dropping karate kick towards Accrington Stanley.

“I didn’t really feel something,” Will Hatfield, recipient of Berardi’s Jackie Chan impression, informed The Sq. Ball in 2023. “He by no means really put his two ft collectively. He type of wrapped his legs round, so I didn’t actually really feel a lot contact.

“I didn’t go down and make a meal of it. I used to be so shocked. I used to be simply considering, ‘What’s he really doing? Why has he performed that?’

“Being a Leeds fan, I didn’t wish to begin inflicting a stir and pushing to start out a struggle. As a result of I used to be younger as nicely, I believed, ‘Have you learnt what, I’m simply going to maintain quiet right here.’

“If he did that to me now, ten years on, I’d make a little bit of a meal of it and doubtless sq. as much as him. You recognize what it’s like in soccer, purses. I’d have favored a little bit of argy-bargy with him.

“I used to be solely younger and I didn’t wish to upset the Leeds followers, so I simply thought I greatest not do something. It was a very unusual one. I’ve by no means had that in my profession since. It was humorous the way it occurred.”

Rio Ferdinand

Leeds set a brand new British switch file and made Ferdinand the world’s most costly defender upon his £18million transfer to Elland Highway from West Ham in 2000.

However his membership bow was a chastening one. After David O’Leary rejigged his Leeds defence to accommodate their new signing, mid-table Leicester raced right into a three-goal lead inside 28 minutes.

Conceding objectives to Robbie Savage, Ade Akinbiyi, and Gerry Taggart wasn’t within the script. Leeds would miss out on Champions League qualification that season, beginning their doom spiral to League One.

Wayne Bridge

Deep in relegation hassle firstly of 2011, West Ham turned to the expertise of Wayne Bridge to stabilise their defence and kickstart their march to security.

Fats likelihood; the England defender endured a horrible time as he appeared nicely off the tempo and was at fault for the primary two objectives that Arsenal scored.

If that alone wasn’t dangerous sufficient, he additionally gave away a late penalty that helped Arsenal safe a 3-0 win. West Ham have been relegated in backside place.

Alex Jankewitz

We’ve saved the worst till final; Jankewitz lasted 79 seconds of his Premier League debut for Southampton towards Manchester United in February 2021 earlier than being red-carded for a harmful deal with on Scott McTominay.

Southampton misplaced 9-0. Jankewitz by no means performed one other match for the membership and was offered to Younger Boys that summer season.



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