Six ex-Premier League stars who hate football from Assou-Ekotto to Tevez

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For many supporters, playing football for a living would be an absolute dream.

The idea that you could be payed bucket-loads for literally playing your favourite game is enough to make shudder with excitement.

It's why we hear Premier League stars often talk about how 'lucky' they are to be doing what they're doing – living out the fantasy of millions. But there are a handful of players who don't see it that way.

Some, remarkably, only see football as a job or a way to make money. Some have admitted they get bored watching games, while others have claimed they simply have no time for the sport whatsoever.

So without further ado, here are six ex-Premier League players who hate football.

Bobby Zamora

The former West Ham United, Fulham and QPR striker revealed in 2012 that he "wasn't a massive football fan" and claims that a lot of players feel the same way, even if they don't admit it.

"I don’t watch games on an evening or anything like that," he told the Daily Mail.

"Quite a lot more players than [those who admit it] are the same.

"I’m not sure what I want to do after I finish playing but if it means watching football then I don’t want to get involved."

The former England international has been true to his word and has steered clear of football since retiring in 2016, focusing instead on a social housing scheme he set up with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and West Ham midfielder Mark Noble.

Would you be happy if your club signed a player who said he didn't like football? Let us know in the comments section below…

Benoit Assou-Ekotto

The Cameroon international has always been very open and honest about his feelings towards the sport which made him famous.

During an interview in 2010, the former Tottenham Hotspur left-back not only admitted that for him football was "just a job", but also criticised his fellow professionals who claim – insincerely in his view – to 'play for the shirt' rather than for money.

"Why did I come here? For a job. A career is only 10, 15 years. It's only a job … football is not my passion," he told the Guardian.

"I have never bought into the hypocrisy of football. [It] is just a job, a means to an end … there are more important things in life than kicking a ball around.

"Yes, I play for money, but then doesn't everybody who gets up in the morning and goes to work? It infuriates me when footballers go on about playing for the shirt. I think they should be held accountable for it when they kiss the badge and six months later clear off for a better pay day."

Oof. Strong words.

David Batty

No one has really seen much of David Batty since he retired in 2004. The former Leeds United and England midfielder has shunned the limelight, opting never to appear as a pundit or even to attend live games.

It's no surprise given that in 2007 he said told the Guardian he can't understand why anyone would pay to watch football.

"The national game is boring. I can never understand anybody paying to watch it, never mind going all the way across the world to see it," he said about international football.

Despite playing for England during the 1998 World Cup, Batty failed to see what all the fuss was about.

“Yeah, you play in the World Cup, but it’s still just another game in a different country."

Carlos Tevez

Gareth Bale isn't the only footballer who prefers golf, you know.

Three years ago, Carlos Tevez admitted to an Argentinian newspaper that he didn't like football and that he'd rather tune in to a golf tournament than watch two of European football's biggest teams lock horns.

"If Barcelona and Real Madrid are playing each other, but there is a golf tournament on another channel, I'll choose to watch the golf instead," he explained.

In 2011, Tevez was placed on gardening leave by Manchester City after refusing to come on as a substitute during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

During his six months away from football, the striker was snapped playing golf in his native Argentina, and even celebrated a goal against Norwich City later that season with a golf swing.

It all makes sense now.

David Bentley

David Bentley was dubbed 'the next David Beckham' at one point, but the former Blackburn Rovers and Spurs star ending up retiring in 2014 aged just 29.

Why? Because he didn't love the game anymore.

In an interview with the Mirror shortly after, Bentley said he got fed up with modern football and the influence of social media.

"I remember walking my dog, thinking ‘This ain’t for me’," he revealed.

"I remember being a bit disappointed in myself. I was thinking: ‘You should love it, what’s the matter with you?'

"But in the end I just got tired of all the bull**** that goes with it, people wanting you to sell yourself as something you’re not."

A few months later, Bentley opened up a restaurant in Marbella and he and his family haven't look back since. Fair play!

Carlos Vela

After signing for Arsenal in 2005 Carlos Vela appeared to have the world at his feet.

The exciting young Mexican spent two years on loan in Spain before returning to London amid plenty of fanfare, but failed to blossom into the world beater he looked destined to be.

He had all the technical tools to become a fabulous player, but lacked the ambition to make it happen, and after an interview in 2018, it became clear why – he didn't like football.

"I really like basketball, I've always said that I would one thousand times rather watch a basketball game than a football one."

Despite enjoying fruitful spells with Real Sociedad and Los Angeles FC later on in his career, we can't help but wonder what sort of player Vela would have become if he actually enjoyed what he did for a living.

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