Defense is the most underappreciated skill in football. Defending is a true art.
But sometimes all these words and quotes get thrown right out of the window when a defender puts the ball into the back of his own net!
Nobody and I mean nobody, scores an own goal on purpose. It is the reaction induced by the defender’s action in attempting to prevent the goal. However, occasionally the consequence is the polar opposite of what was intended.
A nick of the ball, a bad decision, or a miscommunication can all be the factors that lead to this self-inflicted pain that is the own goal.
Just recently a bizarre event took place in a women’s match between the USA and New Zealand.
Meikayla Moore a defender for New Zealand scored 3 own goals within the first 30 min of that match.
A hattrick of own goals within the first 30 min!
To top all that off, she even scored the perfect hattrick – left foot, right foot, and a header!
Just like an attacker has to be at the right place at the right time to score a goal, a defender has to be at the wrong place at the wrong time to score an own goal.
So, here is a list of Premier League players who found themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time on multiple occasions!
Jamie Carragher (7 own goals)
Jamie Carragher is a Liverpool legend who has made the second-most appearances for the club in all competitions (737). Unfortunately for him, he also ranks second on the Premier League’s infamous list of most own goals.
In reality, Carragher scored seven own goals in his career while only scoring three for his own team.
Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Hull City, and Blackburn Rovers have all benefited from Jamie Carragher’s own goals.
Martin Skrtel (7 own goals)
Another Liverpool player on the list is Martin Skrtel.
Martin Skrtel has been a valuable asset to Liverpool during his stint with the six-time European champions. However, his erratic personality, along with his bad luck, resulted in him being on the losing end of the scoring.
During his eight years at Liverpool, Skrtel scored seven own goals.
Martin Skrtel also holds the record for the most own goals in a single Premier League season with four in the 2013-14 season, when Liverpool finished second to champions Manchester City.
Teams who benefitted from Martin Skrtel’s own goals: Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Hull City, West Ham United, Swansea City, and Newcastle United.
Phil Jagielka (7 own goals)
Another player who makes the list with 7 own goals is Phil Jagielka.
In his two teams, he has been a symbol of loyalty: Sheffield United as a junior player, and Everton in over 360 Premier League appearances.
Jagielka, on the other hand, hasn’t won a single prize in his career. What’s worse, Jagielka has been the guilty party on seven instances of putting the ball into his own net.
His tally places him among the top five Premier League players in terms of own goals scored. A feat that does not provide actual evidence of his ability but does much to alleviate his misfortune.
Teams who benefitted from Phil Jagielka’s own goals: Arsenal, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, Aston Villa, and Leeds United.
Richard Dunne (10 own goals)
Richard Dunne has the unfortunate record for the most own goals in the Premier League. Dunne scored 10 own goals in his Premier League career while playing for Manchester City, Everton, Aston Villa, and QPR.
Dunne’s records, as an experienced campaigner, appear to be likely to be preserved for a long time. But he made up for it by appearing in 431 Premier League games and representing the Republic of Ireland 80 times.
