Top five Premier League red card receivers

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 09 February 2014

Sports Mole looks back on the players who have been sent off more times than their Premier League peers.

Yesterday afternoon, Sunderland defender Wes Brown was red-carded for the third time this season.

It meant that the former Manchester United centre-back has now been sent off on four occasions during his career.

However, there are those who have been dismissed more times than the 34-year-old. Below, Sports Mole has picked out the top five most red-carded players in the history of the Premier League.

1. Lee Cattermole
He may only be 25, but Sunderland midfielder Cattermole has been sent for an early bath on seven separate occasions. Even more remarkably, all of those red cards have been brandished in his direction during the last five-and-a-half seasons. He was dismissed earlier this term against Hull City, which at the time meant that he averaged a dismissal every 26 outings.

Lee Cattermole of Sunderland is sent off with a red card by referee Andre Marriner after a foul on Ahmed Elmohamady (down) of Hull during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Sunderland at KC Stadium on November 2, 2013 © Getty Images

2. Roy Keane
Keeping Cattermole company on seven is ex-Manchester United captain Keane, who was sent off five times away from Old Trafford. However, it's the red card that he received in front of his home supporters that most people remember. Having had a long-running feud with Manchester City midfielder Alf-Inge Haland, the Irishman left his mark on the Norwegian (literally) with a knee-high challenge that had David Ellery reaching for a straight red.

Roy Keane of Manchester United shouts at Alf Inge Haaland of Manchester City following his red card during the FA Carling Premiership match on April 21, 2001 © Getty Images

3. Richard Dunne
Not only does Dunne hold the unwanted record of most own goals (10) in the Premier League, no player also surpasses him in terms of red cards. During the 2008-09 campaign with Manchester City, Dunne was sent off three times. In total, the now Queens Park Rangers centre-back has been ordered back to the dressing room eight times.

Richard Dunne is red carded against Wigan Athletic on November 09, 2008. © Getty Images

4. Duncan Ferguson
Few strikers have sent shivers down the spine's of defenders more than former Everton and Newcastle United striker Duncan Ferguson. He was sent off a total of eight times, three of which came during the first half of encounters. What's more, he was dismissed every 1524 minutes. The majority of his red cards were for violent conduct, such as when he punched Bolton Wanderers player Bo Hansen.

5. Patrick Vieira
While his talent was never in doubt following his arrival at Arsenal from AC Milan in 1996, he was perhaps more known for his hot-headed streak during the early part of his stint with the North Londoners. After all, two of his eight red cards came in the space of three days during matches against Sunderland and Liverpool in 2000. A further two were handed to him during fixtures with Man United.