11 Legendary Hardmen Who Make Modern Footballers Look Like Wimps

10. Tommy Smith

Putting it in plain and simple terms, Tommy Smith was the hardman's hardman, and legendary manager Bill Shankly testified to just how ferocious Smith was on the pitch: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried" and "Tommy doesn't tackle opponents, so much as break them down for resale as scrap." Bobby Charlton referred to Smith as the hardest player he had ever played against - and Charlton had played against more than most, and wasn't exactly an push-over himself. Perhaps the best story about Smith is one that happened before he had even stepped out onto the field of play. Before a clash against Jimmy Greaves' Tottenham Hotspur, he warned Greaves just what kind of a game he was in for - by handing him a hospital food menu. Imagine that happening in this day and age: the offending prankster would probably get a red card before even stepping out of the tunnel.