Published by Programme B
It’s easy to see why football is so popular with gamblers across the world, given that it is an emotional rollercoaster for spectators. It’s no wonder though, as the betting options are endless. One such example is betting tips for over 2.5. Now here are the top seven most outrageous soccer bets ever made.
1. The £417k World Cup Wager
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be remembered for a variety of events. For England’s Frank Lampard, the inexplicable handball by Luis Suarez, and the disaster that was the vuvuzelas.
One gambler will be known for making an audacious £417,000 wager that never materialized during the World Cup. The largest wager in World Cup history was placed by an anonymous punter who predicted Germany would win the Semi-Finals against Spain.
Before the tournament began, Spain was expected to be one of the favorites to win it. The gambler missed out on a possible £800,000 payout. It is still the largest single bet loss in the history of soccer.
2. £2.50 Bet Pays £272,000 On 9-Match Accumulator
In 2011, one gambler could not have had a better start to the year. The brave client wagered a £2.50 stake on a 9-match accumulator, believing that doing so would double their winnings.
It was a bet that appeared even more far-fetched when it was revealed the gambler had backed several underdog clubs, such as Wolves and Blackburn, to win. The Copa Del Rey has also started with Athletic Bilbao picking up a point against Barcelona in the competition. Given that Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi had just been chosen as the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or’s top three players.
The hosts took the lead in the first half, but Real Madrid scored twice and Schalke was unable to pull back from a two-goal deficit.
3. £4,400 African Nations Cup Betting Fail
During the 2010 African Nations Cup, one of the most outrageous wagers ever placed on a soccer match took place. A college student placed a £4,400 bet on Angola to win against Mali. It was the punter’s entire yearly student loan.
Angola was 4-0 up with just 12 minutes remaining when the bet was taken. Mali amazingly scored four goals in the last minutes to tie the game that was widely considered lost.
Even worse, the punter learned that if their wager was correct, they would only have earned £44 instead of the £440 they anticipated.
4. The £25k Xabi Alonso Long Ranger
Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool midfielder, was known for his long-range shooting. The odds on Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos scoring from his half at some point during the season were such that one gambler, Adrian Hayward, decided it was a good idea to wager money on it in 2006.
The bookmakers offered him odds of 125.00, which he accepted. To summarize, Adrian took advantage of the odds and placed a bet for £200 on the event’s outcome.
Fast forward to the FA Cup third-round encounter between Liverpool and Luton. The Reds win the game 5-3, with Alonso scoring his second goal of the match and earning Adrian £25,000 by doing so.
This is truly the stuff that dreams are made of.
5. Moyes Misery Denise Pensioner £1 Million
When a Pembroke, West Wales pensioner missed out on an incredible £1 million in regular £1 bets, he was denied the most thrilling of soccer betting victories.
The veteran had correctly predicted the result of 14 out of the 15 matches during the weekend. He had also succeeded in the North London Derby. When all he needed Manchester United to do was beat Liverpool, though, he was burned by David Moyes’ old tactics once again.
Despite United’s failure to win, the pensioner was only given a £72,000 retirement payment instead of the £100,000 he had sought.
6. The Euro 2016 £1 Million Winner
It’s uncommon for a tale about a soccer gambler becoming a millionaire overnight to be true. That, however, was true for a certain British kitchen fitter named Daman Chick in 2016.
The Aston Villa supporter slammed down a £5 bet on Portugal’s Eder to score the winner in the Euro 2016 Final’s 109th minute. The £1 million Goal Competition was the main event at BetVictor (formerly Ladbrokes).
7. Both Teams to Score Bonanza
Both teams to score bets are popular. After a 15-match BTTS accumulator earned him £112,500 with a £15 wager, one punter will always adore them more.
Brian Matthews, a Wolves fan, simply picked every team in his 15-game prediction to win. The best aspect of winning the bet was that the ultimate goal to finish the triumph arrived in injury time when Middlesbrough’s Marten de Roon scored an unlikely equalizer against Manchester City.
It was the late drama of a sort that soccer betting has never seen before and will unlikely to see again.
Photo by Lucas Meneses from Pexels