\n<\/p>\n
5) Jermaine Pennant (Tampines Rovers)<\/p>\n
Nationality: England<\/p>\n
DOB: Jan 15, 1983<\/p>\n
Joined in 2016<\/p>\n
One of the biggest names to grace Singapore football’s top flight, Pennant’s arrival brought both excitement and trepidation.<\/p>\n
After all, his career had been marred by controversy and off-the-field issues, including a drink-driving conviction.<\/p>\n
He arrived in Singapore to much fanfare and was even mobbed by fans after a pre-season friendly.<\/p>\n
But his star-studded Tampines side, headlined by the former Liverpool and Arsenal winger, could only finish second in the league and also fell short in the cup competitions.<\/p>\n
With his best years clearly behind him, Pennant, earning a reported S$20,000 a month, scored five goals in 32 appearances for Tampines.<\/p>\n
Eventually, he left at the end of the season when the club decided to cut costs by reducing wages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“He’s a great player, but no player makes the team,” club chairman Krishna Ramachandra said at the time.<\/p>\n
“While the club could afford his wages, it would also send the wrong message to all the other players that one player is getting a super-scale salary while the others have to take a pay cut,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n