Source: Daily_Mail
The Friday Five: The star footballers who wound up in prison
Marlon King is set to return to the pitch with new club Coventry after being released from prison in July.[LNB]The former Wigan striker served nine months of his 18-month sentence after being found guilty of sexual assault. [LNB]Whether King can recover bounce back remains to be seen, but here's five footballers who also spent time behind bars...[LNB] Bad times: Joey Barton on his way out of Strangeways in Manchester[LNB]Joey BartonBarton has always been dogged by trouble. He stubbed out a cigar in the eyes of Manchester City reserve player Jamie Tandy during the 2004 Christmas party and in May 2008, he was imprisoned for assault and affray, serving less than half of a six-month sentence. While inside, he also received a suspended sentence for an attack on team-mate Ousmane Dabo during training. Now at Newcastle, on his release Barton resumed his career in as a substitute in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in August 2008.[LNB]Tony AdamsArsenal legend Tony Adams got six months in jail for drink-driving when he crashed into a garden wall just before Christmas in 1990. He served half the sentence and in February returned in the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury. Arsenal conceded just 18 goals as they won the First Division that season - their only defeat coming while Adams was locked up. But it was several years before 'Mr Arsenal' headed for rehab to address his issues with alcohol[LNB]Lee HughesHughes, then a striker for West Brom, was imprisoned for six years in 2004 for causing death by dangerous driving. Hughes eventually returned with Oldham at Hartlepool in September 2007. By the end of the season, Hughes was the club's second highest goalscorer.[LNB]Jan MolbyLiverpool's Molby was sentenced to three months in jail in in October 1989 for drink-driving outside a Merseyside nightclub. He was back on New Year's Day 1989 for a 3-1 loss away to Manchester United.[LNB]George BestOne of the greatest footballers of all time, Manchester United's George Best was also an alcoholic, once famously saying: 'I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.' In 1984 - a year after retiring from the game - Best got three months in jail for drink driving, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail. There he appeared for his final team - Ford Open Prison. [LNB] Nightmare: George Best is driven off to Pentonville prison[LNB] Treated like a King - but it's great for football that Marlon's been sent to CoventryCoventry's decision to sign sex offender King sparks female fan protest[LNB]
