JOEY Barton has never been shy and retiring.

Throughout his colourful football career Barton has made headlines on and off the pitch.

From fights with teammates to putting high-profile football figures to task on Twitter, Barton loves getting involved.

Record Sport Online takes a look at five of his craziest football moments.

1. Booking the England stars

World Cup 2006
World Cup 2006

In 2006, Barton berated members of the England World Cup squad for releasing autobiographies following the Three Lions' exit at the quarter-final stage.

Players such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard released books within a year of the tournament and the razor-tongued Scousers didn't miss when taking the players to task.

Barton commented on the situation in usual style.

He said: "England did nothing in that World Cup, so why were they bringing books out? 'We got beat in the quarter-finals. I played like sh*t. Here's my book.' Who wants to read that?"


2. Punching his way into trouble

Joey Barton Ousmane Dabo

Barton has shown his fiery side on a number of occasions including a training ground bust-up with former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo and and cigarette stubbing incident on former teammate Jamie Tandy.

One of his more violent incidents on the field occurred in 2010 when he punched Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen in the stomach while he was playing for Newcastle.

The incident landed Barton in hot water and earned him a three-game suspsension.

3. Comparing Neil Warnock to fictional England manager

Ricky Tomlinson in Mike Bassett: England Manager
Ricky Tomlinson in Mike Bassett: England Manager

For all his naughty moments, Barton has a knack for a funny one-liner.

After Neil Warnock was relieved of his duties during 2012 at Queens Park Rangers the outspoken manager claimed that too many people were speaking on social media both outside and within the club.

Barton obviously felt that was a reference to him.

He said: "Not a big fan of people that try to make scapegoats out of others. If u live by the sword, u die by it. If I talked about Neil, he'd do well to get another job. Twitter cost him his job???? I can think of a million other things! #shutitwarnock Neil Warnock saying I talk to much."

"Now that is funny #mikebassett,"


4. Baring his backside to Everton fans

Everton v Man City Joey Barton shows his bottom to the crowd at the end of the game.

Joey Barton is happy to wind up anyone, even the supporters of the team he has supported throughout his life.

Barton is a die-hard Toffee but he couldn't resist having a cheeky joke with the Goodison Park faithful when he bared his backside at the end of a match in 2006.

He's never shy is Joey.

5. Daring to Zlatan

David Beckham jumps on teammate Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic to celebrate as Marseille's Joey Barton looks dejected

Joey Barton isn't scared of the limelight ... and Zlatan Ibrahimovic loves it so the two were always bound to clash when they faced each other for Marseille and PSG.

Ibrahimovic was left unamused by Barton and allegedly called him an "English so and so", which led Barton to make his infamous Pinnochio jibe at the Swedish superstar.

Paris were leading 1-0 when Barton turned his attentions to Ibrahimovic and continually gestured with his hands about the size of his honker.

Barton enjoyed a relatively successful season in France but that was the moment he was best remembered for.