Mr Barton takes the award for 2009 for the pot calling the kettle black :-
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton claims the decadent lifestyles of many players puts them out of touch with reality.
Barton's own discipline problems have seen him jailed but he told Radio 4's Today programme that gave him a sense of perspective other players lack.
"A lot of them are so detached from reality it's untrue and there was a stage when I was like that," he said.
"It's only the fact I'm grounded by the trouble I've been in that's forced me away from being in the football world."
Barton also said the huge amounts of money players were paid added to their sense of isolation from the world that normal fans live in.
"Driving round in flash cars and changing them like you change your socks, wearing stupid diamond watches and spending money like it's going out of fashion in the middle of a recession when some people are struggling to put food on the table for the kids - it's not the way to do it," he said.
Former Manchester City player Barton, 27, who has one England cap, has been plagued by unsavoury episodes the whole way through his career.
His list of misdemeanours includes stubbing a lit cigarette into the eye of a team-mate, slapping a fan, hitting Manchester City colleague Ousmane Dabo and assaulting a man during a night out in Liverpool, which earned him a six-month prison sentence.
I was forced to address my issues, either carry on doing what you're doing and your career is gone, or you address it
And he admitted he could have been in even more trouble had other incidents been made public.
"That's the stuff people know about - there's stuff I got away with," he said.
"I'm very fortunate, because of my profile and the job I do, and the fact I'm in the public eye, it got addressed - I was forced to address my issues, either carry on doing what you're doing and your career is gone, or you address it."
Barton addressed some of his personal problems with counsellors at the Sporting Chance clinic, which helps sports men and women with lifestyle and addiction problems, and is now a vocal public advocate of the clinic's work.
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Comments
Vermin.
"That's the stuff people know about - there's stuff I got away with," he said.
God only knows what else he got up to then! An absolute prick who should've been kicked out of football a long time ago.
Heard the interview. He sounded very sincere and can't disagree with many of his thoughts re top pro footballers but as you say we've heard the reformed character bit before. Real Jekyll & Hyde is Joey!
He also said most professional footballers are "nobs". Sadly, probably about right.
Could it be the Transfer window is about to open, and some struggling Prem teams may look at a player like him??
Dont believe any of it, just looking for a move thats all
This bloke's an utter, utter turd. He's not even a veey good player - I never understood the fuss about him at the time, he always seemed to me to be a very poor man's Scott Parker
He's slagging off flash footballers stupid lifestyles, which I suspect is a view shared by those pouring scorn on him for saying this.
Yep I saw that too. All turned out to be autocue read Bullshit didn't it!
What difference does 3 weeks make? If team mates think he's a cunt who's gone too far, then they'll still think it in 3 weeks time.
Living proof that if you continue to spout incessant clap trap about yourself and others you will eventually kid yourself into believing it because of your lack of intellect and ability.
Three full season in the Championship and three promotion.
If he wasn't so controversial he would have never had to play in that league in the first place.
Have UEFA been informed?
He's nothing but a thug with a thesaurus!