10 Infamous Premier League Goal Celebrations
With the start of the new season just around the corner, we take a look at some of the most iconic premier league goal celebrations in an attempt to fill the premier league football limbo. Off the bat, I’d like to state that these are in no particular order and I am a lifelong Liverpool fan, so there may be a little bias behind my selections.
RoboCrouch
We’re off with a bang! Former Spurs, QPR, Southampton, Liverpool, Stoke (actually, it may be easier to list the clubs he hasn’t played for) striker, Peter Crouch’s iconic robot goal celebration debuted at the 2006 World Cup and, despite it being undeniably legendary, Crouchy has only ever done it three times: twice at the 2006 World Cup and once in 2017 when he marked his 100th Premier League goal, scoring for Stoke in a 1-1 draw against Everton.
2. Aguerooooooo!
Arguably the most infamous goal in Premier League history, Sergio Aguero’s dramatic last-second winner against QPR in May 2012 clinched the title for Manchester City, out of the hands of their rivals, Manchester United. The ball hit the back of the net and the Etihad erupted. Aguero took off his shirt and started swinging it around over his head whilst Martin Tyler delivered one of the most iconic pieces of football commentary: “Aguerooooooo! I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again. So watch it, drink it in.
3. Balotelli’s “Why Always Me?”
Italian striker Mario Balotelli seemed to make the headlines week in, week out during his spell at Manchester City. He went to a strip club two nights before a game and was fined two weeks’ wages (£250,000), he spent an inordinate amount of time trying (and failing) to put on a bib (if you haven’t seen the footage, it’s definitely worth a Google), and, two days before the Manchester derby in October 2011, his bathroom was set ablaze after a firework was released in his home. Balotelli ended up scoring the opening goal in City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford and lifted his shirt to reveal the message “Why always me?”. I’d wager it’s probably because of your wild antics, Mario.
4. Rooney’s K.O
On March 15th 2015, footage emerged of Wayne Rooney boxing in his kitchen with Stoke City defender Phil Bardsley, in the video, Rooney appears to have been knocked unconscious. Later that very same day, Rooney scored in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Tottenham and celebrated by throwing a few punches and theatrically falling on his back - K.O.
5. Shearer’s Classic
Alan Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer. How did he celebrate nearly all of those 260 goals? Skidding on his knees into the corner flag? Perhaps some sort of choreographed dance? Nope, he ran off with his right-arm raised above his head. Simple, effective, iconic.
6. Stevie’s Smooch
Steven Gerrard, I could write an entire dissertation on him alone, but in the interest of journalistic integrity and objectivity, I’ll spare you the eulogy. What I will say is that, throughout his 17-years in the Liverpool first team, he took great delight in scoring against Manchester United - and boy did I love watching him do it. In March 2009, Gerrard scored from the penalty spot in a 4-1 away win against United, celebrating by running to the corner flag, kissing the badge...and then a camera lens! He went on to repeat the celebration five years later when Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.
7. Fowler’s Class A Goal
Now, this one sparked some controversy. Legendary Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler had been getting a lot of stick from Everton fans during the Merseyside derby in April 1999 after some unfounded allegations of drug-taking. After putting a penalty away, Fowler celebrated by kneeling down and pretending to sniff the white line of the penalty area. In an attempt to save him from getting into trouble with the FA, then-manager Gerard Houllier claimed it was a Cameroonian grass-eating celebration he had picked up from teammate Rigobert Song. Needless to say, they weren’t having any of it and Fowler received a four-match ban from the FA and was fined two weeks’ wages by Liverpool.
8. Adebayor’s Antagonism
Apologies Arsenal fans, but I couldn’t leave this one off the list. In August 2009, just two months after joining Manchester City from Arsenal, Emmanuel Adebayor faced his old club. He received a hostile reception from the travelling Arsenal fans and went on to twist the knife by scoring with 10 minutes to go, running the length of the pitch, and sliding on his knees right in front of them. Adebayor later apologised but was given a suspended two-match ban and fined £25,000.
9. Bullard’s Team Talk
Hull City were losing 4-0 to Manchester City in 2008 when manager Phil Brown gave his players a half-time dressing down on the pitch. A year later, when Jimmy Bullard scored an equaliser in the very same fixture, he recreated the scene as his teammates sat in a circle while Bullard pretended to give them a team talk. Brown laughed off the celebration, calling it “fantastic”, although Bullard later revealed he was told by his manager to “wind his neck in” after the match.
10. Cool Cantona
And finally, rounding out our top 10, is Eric Cantona’s glorious nonchalance. In December 1996, after chipping Sunderland goalkeeper Lionel Perez, King Eric, collar up, looked around the stadium, puffed his chest, and held his arms in the air. He later revealed that his celebration was revenge for fellow Frenchman Perez refusing to shake his hand before kick-off. “That’s the biggest humiliation for a goalkeeper, and this kind of celebration too,” Cantona explained. “Because he’s angry and you don’t run anywhere. I just stand there. Look at me.”
And there you have it, 10 infamous premier league goal celebrations. With a matter of days to go, who knows what the 2021-22 season has in store for us? We may see another entry into the goal celebration hall of fame.
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Written by Victorianna Balaktsoglou
Victorianna Balaktsoglou is a content marketer turned supply languages teacher based in Milton Keynes, but hailing from the much sunnier Athens, Greece. A keen linguist and craft enthusiast, she is passionate about body liberation, gender equality, football, all things creative, and good food.
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