Former Wales and Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall recently made a guest appearance on BT Sport’s ‘Fletch and Sav’ at Goodison Park, sporting some substantial weight gain.
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(Image) Former Everton keeper Neville Southall appears on BT Sport after colossal weight gain
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In tribute to the legendary stopper, here are 10 of the most overweight players to have graced the game:
Mido
The former Egypt international retired from professional football after a disappointing spell at Barnsley in 2013. Mido burst onto the scene after coming on loan to Tottenham in 2006 before moving to Middlesbrough and claiming to have lost two stone during the preseason in 2008.
Adebayo Akinfenwa
Beast mode on. The world’s strongest footballer, who can allegedly bench press the weight of an adult lion (around 180kg) and has a less than slight and agile frame. The huge striker weighs all of a monstrous 16 stone and stands at five foot 10 inches and it would take a brave man to tell him he was overweight to his face.
John Barnes
Definitely one of the ‘big boys’ of the top division due to his goalscoring attributes for Liverpool along with his insistence to squeeze into a tight football shirt, which did him no favours whatsoever.
Steve Bruce
One of the big men of the Premier League which was cemented through the publication of some holiday snaps. Hull City fans will be pleased though, as it seems Steve Bruce definitely has the gut for the battle for survival.
Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock
The larger than life ex-Liverpool and Southampton defender struggled with a battle against his belly throughout his career. In the twilight of his career, Ruddock had his contract at Swindon Town terminated due to weighing over 15 stone.
Neville Southall
The legendary goalkeeper made nearly 900 senior appearances in an impressive career, the last of which came in odd circumstances as he filled in for Bradford City in the Premier League at the age of 41. The Bantams lost the game 2-1 at Valley Parade, though afterwards Southall was criticised at being too overweight to play professional football.
Diego Maradona
Legendary footballer, not so legendary in leading a healthy lifestyle or keeping the pounds off. Clearly enjoyed using his ‘Hand of God’ to shovel food into his mouth a bit too much.
Jan Molby
A man with a generous frame and often regaled with chants of ‘Who ate all the pies?!’, though he does have an FA Cup final unofficially named after him. Such was his influence in the 1986 3-1 FA Cup final win against Everton, the Dane’s name will forever be synonymous with it, though it did make people wonder how good he would have been without the extra weight.
Adriano
The former Inter Milan and Brazil forward was once one of the most feared strikers in world football. Adriano has had many fleeting spells at clubs in South America, but the man who was once quoted saying “I eat a lot of salad”, has struggled to keep the weight off.
Ronaldo
Never has such a talented player had such an acrimonious and depressing fall from grace. Ronaldo won two World Cups and three World Player of the Year titles, but will forever be known as ‘Fat Ronaldo’, due to his namesake.