Five worst substitutions in football history as Thomas Tuchel blasted for taking Harry Kane off for Stoke flop
BAYERN MUNICH imploded last night as they crashed out of the Champions League to Real Madrid.
The Germans were leading 1-0 with minutes to go before Joselu’s double wrecked their European dreams.
It was all going fine for Thomas Tuchel until the 85th minute.
An injury forced him to take off Jamal Musiala for Thomas Muller.
And to everyone’s shock, Tuchel also hooked star man and 44-goal hero Harry Kane for ex-Stoke flop Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Bayern were never the same again as they were pinned in their own box by Real, with Joselu sealing their fate.
Tuchel insisted afterwards that he subbed Kane due to a “back” injury, but the history books show it will go down as one of the worst subs ever.
But it’s not the only time a change has backfired.
There are plenty of other instances where a manager has jumped the gun too quickly.
From World Cups to Euros and the Premier League, there have been some disastrous decisions.
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And they have each altered the course of football history as a result.
Here, SunSport’s Russell Lanning guides you through the five worst substitutions ever.
June 14, 1970
World Cup quarter-final
Game: West Germany 3 England 2
Manager: Alf Ramsey
Substitution: Colin Bell for Bobby Charlton
ENGLAND were leading 2-0, but had just conceded a Franz Beckenbauer goal when Alf Ramsey took off Three Lions’ leading scorer Bobby Charlton in Mexico.
The Germans scored two more goals from Uwe Seeler and Gerd Muller to knock reigning champs England out of the World Cup.
June 17, 1992
European Championship finals, group stage
Game: Sweden 2 England 1
Manager: Graham Taylor
Substitution: Alan Smith for Gary Lineker
DAVID PLATT had put England ahead early in their 1992 European Championship group decider against hosts Sweden, with a place in the semi-finals awaiting the victor, but with Jan Eriksson equalising in the second half, the match hung in the balance.
In an effort to change the game, Graham Taylor made the controversial decision to haul off skipper and prolific goalscorer Gary Lineker for Alan Smith, in the process denying Lineker the chance to equal Bobby Charlton’s 49 goals for his country,
November 23, 1996
Premier League
Game: Southampton 0 Leeds 2
Manager: Graeme Souness
Substitution: Ali Dia for Matt Le Tissier
SOUTHAMPTON manager Graeme Souness infamously decided to take off injured Matt Le Tissier for new arrival Ali Dia in a Premier League match against Leeds.
Dia had joined Saints after being personally recommended to Souness by his “cousin” George Weah – a double lie – only days prior. He lasted 53 minutes before being hooked off in the same game and never played for the club again.
December 15, 1999
Worthington Cup quarter-final
Game: West Ham 2 Aston Villa 2 (West Ham won 5-4 on pens) but match later replayed
Manager: Harry Redknapp
Substitution: Manny Omoyinmi for Paulo Wanchope
MANNY OMOYINMI came on as a sub for West Ham for the last eight minutes of extra-time in the Worthington Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa.
The Hammers won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. However, the match was ordered to be replayed as Omoyinmi had played in the competition for Gillingham earlier in the season and was thus ineligible. West Ham lost the replay 3-1.
May 8, 2024
Champions League semi-final, 2nd leg
Game: Real Madrid 2 Bayern Munich 1
Manager: Thomas Tuchel
Substitution: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for Harry Kane
WITH Bayern leading 1-0, Thomas Tuchel took off Harry Kane in the 85th minute.
Within 341 seconds, Real turned the game around with two goals to win the match to qualify for their 18th European Cup/Champions League final.