The 10 worst England players of all time, ranked

November 14, 2025 Kris Isaksen

Wearing the England shirt is a moment of pride for most footballers—but not every player has lived up to the honour. Some call-ups left fans baffled, with performances that ranged from forgettable to outright embarrassing. Here’s a countdown of the worst to ever represent the Three Lions, ranked from No. 10 to No. 1.

10. Keith Curle – Played out of position and out of luck

Keith Curle made three appearances for England, but never got to play in his natural centre-back position. Used as a right-back under Graham Taylor in 1992, he looked uncomfortable and failed to make an impression in any of his games.

9. Carlton Palmer – Too many caps, too few moments

Despite earning 18 caps, Carlton Palmer is often remembered as a puzzling inclusion in the England squad. His only goal came against San Marino, and his performances under Graham Taylor never convinced the fans or pundits.

8. Michael Ricketts – The ultimate one-cap wonder

Michael Ricketts got his England chance in 2002 after a good spell with Bolton. But he looked completely out of place against the Netherlands, was subbed at half-time, and never played for England—or hit double-digit goals in a season—again.

7. Zat Knight – From non-league to national misfire

Zat Knight’s journey from Rushall Olympic to England international is impressive, but his two friendly appearances in 2005 didn’t justify his place. He was quickly forgotten after failing to stand out against the United States and Colombia.

6. Gavin McCann – Just not England material

Gavin McCann was reliable at club level but didn’t cut it on the international stage. His only England cap came in a 2001 friendly against Spain, where his uninspiring display saw him immediately dropped by Sven-Göran Eriksson.

5. David Nugent – A poacher’s fluke

David Nugent’s England legacy is one of the strangest. He came off the bench against Andorra in a Euro 2008 qualifier, stole a goal that was already going in, and never played for his country again.

4. Francis Jeffers – One goal, one cap, big disappointment

Tipped for stardom early on, Francis Jeffers scored on his only England appearance in a 3-1 loss to Australia. Despite that goal, his career failed to match the hype, and he’s often labelled one of the biggest striker flops in Premier League history.

3. Michael Ball – Blink and you missed it

Michael Ball was capped once in the same game as McCann—a friendly win over Spain in 2001. His short and forgettable cameo was his only taste of international football, and he never got near the England setup again.

2. Andy Gray – One half, one howler

Andy Gray was called up in 1991 despite poor club form at Crystal Palace. In his lone appearance, he missed a sitter from four yards in a crucial Euro 1992 qualifier against Poland and was never selected again.

1. Jay Bothroyd – A truly bizarre inclusion

Jay Bothroyd’s call-up in 2010 came while playing in the Championship with Cardiff City. He made one appearance in a 2-1 defeat to France, failed to impress, and never got another look-in. It remains one of the most baffling England selections ever.