Vinnie Jones picks Man United player as the toughest hardman in the Premier League right now
Vinnie Jones has shared who he thinks is the toughest player in the Premier League, someone who really fits the “hardman” description. Known as one of English football’s toughest players himself, Jones earned a huge 12 red cards during his career before moving on to act in Hollywood.
He says today’s game isn’t like when he played, as tough tackles are nearly gone, especially with VAR watching every move. Hardly anyone plays with the fearless spirit Jones had during his time with the famous Wimbledon ‘Crazy Gang’ team.
In a chat with SPORTbible, Jones said he really connects with Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, who plays with that same tough, aggressive style. Jones, nicknamed ‘The Butcher,’ calls Martinez a “tough little lad” and thinks being a hardman means not worrying about what could happen when you give your all for the team.
“When you talk about hardmen, there are different kinds,” Jones said before his Netflix documentary ‘Untold’ came out. “I know loads of tough lads from my time. Some got red cards and were in the spotlight. Players like Ben Thatcher, Billy Whitehurst, and Jimmy Case were real tough guys. Being a hardman is about putting your heart on the line. It’s tougher now with so many cameras watching everything.
“Back then, there were maybe one or two cameras. If you had a scuffle off the ball, it often went unseen by referees. Lots of those little clashes are punished now. We even had full-on fights sometimes, but today you mostly see some pushing and shoving.
“That Manchester United centre-half, Martinez, is a tough little bloke who isn’t afraid to get stuck in.”
Jones added, “A hardman is someone who jumps in and doesn’t think about the consequences. Some of my players warned me I’d get my legs broken with my tackles! But you just went for it without hesitation.”
He also praised players like Billy Whitehurst, Stuart Pearce, Jimmy Case, Ronnie Whelan, Bryan Robson, Graeme Souness, and Steve Nicol—all known for being tough and giving their all. “In those days, every team had players who weren’t afraid to throw themselves into challenges.”
Before making it big, Jones played in Sweden for Umea for a year. He loved living there so much that he thought he’d stay forever—until he got a chance to try out for Wimbledon. His fondness for Scandinavia makes it no surprise that he’s a big fan of Manchester City star Erling Haaland, who’s about to win the Golden Boot again.
Jones said, “They’re wonderful people who care about the world. I think I even played against his dad, Alfie. There’s a strong bond between them. Erling hasn’t let fame go to his head and instead lets his football speak for itself.”
You can watch ‘Untold UK: Vinnie Jones’ only on Netflix from May 26.