Wayne Rooney celebrated his side’s third goal against Tottenham yesterday by responding to a video that appeared online, showing him in a kitchen sparring match with Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley. Rooney ended up on the floor.
We thought it was a good time to reminisce on some of the other great celebrations we’ve witnessed over the years.
1. Peter Crouch’s robot
This was a great celebration by Crouch, but his doing of this dance means that whenever you’re too quick with the buttons celebrating a goal on Fifa you end up doing the robot. It has ruined many a good goal.
2. Jurgen Klinsmann dive
When Klinsmann came to the UK he had a bit of a reputation for diving. What better way to show self-awareness than celebrating with a dive after scoring your first goal.
3. Luis Suarez dive
Sticking with the diving theme, Suarez took it a step further – as he does with most things – when he scored against Everton in the 2012/13 season. He ran all the way to the dug-outs and made sure he dived right in front of David Moyes, who had said in the preceding week that divers like Suarez were turning supporters away from football.
4. Tim Cahill
Cahill is one of those players who has an instantly recognisable celebration – and it was usually seen after great headers.
5. Dundee FC
The worlds of wrestling and football rarely collide, but they have more than once this season. This was the first time, when Jim McAlister and Gary Harkins celebrated a goal against Motherwell. They then inspired a similar celebration in Germany.
6. Robbie Fowler snorts the line
The relationship between Liverpool and Everton is tumultuous at the best of times, but it was even more so when Fowler simulated snorting a line of cocaine after scoring a penalty in the Merseyside derby.
It wasn’t just something he thought would be funny, it was in response to Everton fans who had accused him of drug abuse.
7. Paolo Di Canio
Di Canio was never one to shy away from the spotlight, whether he was playing or managing. As he watched Sunderland defeat Newcastle during his much-talked about spell as manager at the Stadium of Light, he celebrated in a way that only he would. Love him or hate him, he’s certainly entertaining.
8. Dzmitry Kowb’s self appreciation
Every striker needs to feel appreciated, and there’s nothing wrong with showing that appreciation yourself, as shown here. Who needs modesty? It’s a celebration we’d seen a few years earlier – but that doesn’t make it any worse.
9. Lee Bradbury
If Rooney really wanted to make a statement about getting knocked out in his kitchen, he should’ve looked to former Bournemouth player and manager Bradbury for an example. Possibly one of the greatest football celebrations, ever.
10. Jimmy Bullard
Phil Brown’s telling off of his Hull players at half time on the pitch a season before this celebration is infamous. Who other than perpetual joker Bullard would emulate it. Classic.
11. Emmanuel Adebayor
Adebayor has given a lot to football… albeit sporadically. His dances are legendary, it’s just a shame we don’t see them so much any more.
12. Asamoah Gyan
And you can’t speak of dancing in football celebrations without thinking of Gyan. This effort in particular comes to mind – not so much for him but for Boudewijn Zenden’s contribution.
13. Jose Mourinho
No words needed.
14. Eric Cantona
The king of cool does non-celebrations so well they turn into actual celebrations.
15. Paul Gascoigne
Having been photographed playing drinking games on a night out in Hong Kong in the build-up to Euro 1996, England’s players were quick to make light of the situation after Gascoigne scored a stunning goal in England’s victory over Scotland.
16. Stjarnan FC
This Icelandic team arguably have the patent on extravagant goal celebrations. Their creativity knows no bounds.
17. Excessive sprinting celebrations
There are a few players that, for whatever reason, certain games and goals mean more to. Here’s a few of the celebrations that prove this.
Gary Neville, die-hard United fan and subscriber to all the emotions that come with that, made a pitch-length dash to the away end to celebrate a United goal in front of the Liverpool fans. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t earn him any new mates in Liverpool – though him and Jamie Carragher are quite close these days.
One of Thierry Henry’s most famous Arsenal goals was followed by his most famous Arsenal celebration. It’s now immortalised in bronze outside the Emirates.
Arsenal fans weren’t so happy when the same celebration was emulated in front of them though, by old boy Adebayor. He was fined £25,000.
18. Totti’s selfie
SELFIE: Francesco Totti's selfie with Roma fans after scoring against Lazio. pic.twitter.com/nZKNZvq7gM
— BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) January 11, 2015
Truly a celebration of the modern age, Roma legend Francesco Totti celebrated by taking a selfie with Roma’s fanatical fans. His footballing talent can’t be denied, but his photography skills can be.
19. The headbutt
A truly bizarre celebration, responded to with a red card.
20. The “too soon”
If cliches have taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen in football. France’s under 21s found that out the hard way when after scoring in the 87th minute and celebrating as if the game was over, Sweden scored straight after and mocked them. Mocked them hard.
21. The revenge
The French team should’ve learnt from this earlier example of why you should never mock an opposition player. Especially not a top striker.
22. Elber
Probably the greatest Brazilian to ever grace the Bundesliga, with what’s probably the greatest celebration to grace the Bundesliga. We can’t explain why, it just is.
23. The Grandma
Proving that footballers do have hearts.
24. The Shearer
Because there’s something so underrated about celebrating all of your 260 Premier League goals by waving an arm in the air.
Source: SNAPPA
