The Premier League entertains football fans the world around every single year. From the drama of a relegation battle through to the tension of a title race, nobody could accuse the topflight of lacking passion. And the same can be said of the players who trot out onto the field of play every weekend - from praying before matches, to kicking out at, and even biting an opponent. We've seen passion bubble over in recent months, and to honour those who leave it all on the pitch, here, we round up the 10 Most Passionate Players In The Premier League.
10. Rafael
There's something about Brazilians that make them fiery individuals. That may seem like a sweeping generalisation, but we see it week in, week out, every time the likes of David Luiz and Rafael walk out for Chelsea and Manchester United. Put them on the same pitch, and there's bound to be fireworks, like there was back in May last year when the two clashed in a bitty, high-octane coming together that saw Rafael receive a red card and Luiz smirk on the floor as he watched his hot-headed countryman receive his marching orders. Rafael doesn't leave much in reserve and is a bundle of energy but there are times when his passion gives way to immaturity, which has been problematic in the past.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
