Like the neighbour who loves to relax by a burning a mattress in his garden, or the creepy uncle who’s always in need of “just a few quid”, every football club’s fans know a player who is never, ever welcome. These are the players who are so disliked they even have special unfriendly chants composed in their honour.

Arsenal: Ashley Cole
The brainless left-back was spotted having dinner with Chelsea executives just days before Arsenal had a crucial clash with Manchester United. Bad case of greediness.

Aston Villa: Robbie Savage
Villa and Birmingham don’t agree on much, but one thing brings them together - a deep and pure loathing of Robbie Savage.

Birmingham City: Robbie Savage
Decided he needed to leave Birmingham to move closer to his ailing parents in Wrexham. His new club…Blackburn!

Blackburn Rovers: Kevin Davies
He did absolutely nothing at Ewood Park, scoring one league goal, before going down the road to rivals Bolton and enjoying a fairly successful career.

Bolton Wanderers: Robbie Savage
No particular reason. He’s just a wanker.

Chelsea: Stephen Hunt
The Irish winger became public enemy number one at Stamford Bridge when he clonked Petr Cech on the head, causing him the spend the season in bed with his special headgear on.

Derby County: Lee Bowyer
Derby’s fierce rivals include Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, whose high turnover of players make it hard to pick out a specific individual to hate before they’re gone again. The combination of Bowyer’s thuggery and time at Leeds, combined with the fact he scored twice at Pride Park this season make him a big villain.

Everton: Steven Gerrard
A hatred borne out of envy that their biggest rivals have one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the world rather than out of anything Gerrard has done to the Toffees.

Fulham: Frank Lampard
The Fulham faithful loath Lampard and chant songs about robbing his house and stealing his wife’s bras:

Frank, Frank, wherever you may be,
Better change the locks ‘cos we’ve got your key,
And we’ll be back for your colour TV,
And the scrawl on the wall says FFC.

Who’s that climbing through the window?
Who’s that writing on the wall?
We’ve got the key to Lampard’s car
And we’ve got his wife’s bra,
And Fulham are the team we all adore…

Liverpool: Gary Neville
Failed the endear himself to the Anfield crowd when he ran the full length of the pitch to taunt Liverpool fans after Manchester United scored a winner there last season. But unpopular well before that.

Manchester City: Cristiano Ronaldo
City fans don’t take too kindly to seeing My Little Pony working his magic up in their faces. They also adhere to the nationwide phenomenon of hating Frank Lampard.

Manchester United: Steven Gerrard
Enough that he plays for Liverpool. Love to sing their hilarious songs about his wife.

Middlesbrough:
There must be someone - but who?

Newcastle United: Roy Keane
Had the nerve to captain the Manchester United team that pipped them to the title, and has now made himself more unpopular by taking over as Sunderland boss.

Portsmouth: Ben Thatcher
That would be the same Ben Thatcher who charged across the pitch to elbow Pedro Mendes in the head, giving the midfielder a seizure.

Reading: Alan Pardew
The closest those affable Berkshire types come to hatred is former manager Pardew who left the club for league rivals West Ham. Despite Sidwell leaving for Chelsea on a free transfer, many supporters show no resentment.

Sunderland: Alan Shearer
Obviously.

Tottenham Hotspur: Sol Campbell
Was never going to successfully communicate the reasons for joining Arsenal.

West Ham United: Frank Lampard
It’s a no-contest at Upton Park as ‘Big Fat Frank’ is given 90 minutes of non-stop abuse twice a season following unnecessary comments he has made against the club and its supporters since leaving for Chelsea in 2000.

Wigan Athletic: Pascal Chimbonda
Helped keep Wigan up then slappen in a transfer request IN THE DRESSING ROOM after their last game. Is now doing an excellent job of making himself unpopular at Spurs.