Unusual Football Bonuses: From Burgers to Luxury Cars
Discover the most unusual football bonuses in history, from burgers and sea bass to luxury cars and even live pigs. Explore how clubs rewarded players in ways money couldn’t always buy.
Unusual Football Bonuses: When Victory Brought Burgers, Cars and Even Pigs
Financial bonuses are nothing new in modern football, where millions of euros are often promised for titles, qualifications or historic wins. Recently, Olympiacos made headlines after eliminating Bayer Leverkusen, with club owner Evangelos Marinakis announcing record-breaking rewards if the team wins five league matches and reaches the Champions League Round of 16. Impressive as it sounds, football history has delivered far more unusual – and sometimes hilarious – bonus stories.
Burgers for Goals: Yannick Bolasie’s Tasty Incentive
Before reaching the top level, Yannick Bolasie played for the amateur side Hillingdon Borough. Instead of financial rewards, he received a burger for every goal he scored. In one memorable match, Bolasie netted eight times and went home carrying an entire bag of fast food. It may not compare to modern-day contracts, but it certainly remains one of the most charming bonus stories in football.
Sea Bass and Survival: Spanish Football’s Creative Rewards
At Real Sociedad, teammates of Xabi Alonso reportedly rewarded him with a sea bass for every goal he scored. A rather unusual but fitting gift in a coastal region famous for its seafood.
Meanwhile, players of Osasuna once received 12 live pigs after defeating Espanyol in a crucial relegation battle in La Liga. The reward perfectly reflected the rural traditions of the Navarra region and remains one of the most bizarre team bonuses ever recorded.
From Draws to Las Vegas: Trips Instead of Cash
Not all bonuses come in envelopes. When Leyton Orient managed a surprising FA Cup draw against Arsenal, chairman Barry Hearn rewarded the squad with a celebratory trip to Las Vegas. The getaway became legendary among supporters and players alike.
Similarly, after Leicester City’s historic Premier League triumph in 2016, the club’s owner organized a luxury trip to the United States and reportedly gifted each player a Mercedes. A fairy-tale season deserved fairy-tale rewards.
An Aston Martin for an 8–1 Victory
At Mansfield Town, chairman John Radford was so impressed by his team’s 8–1 demolition of Barrow that he rewarded the manager with a brand-new Aston Martin. It was a gesture that demonstrated pure enthusiasm and passion for the game.
A Bus Instead of a Bonus
In Kenya, Tusker FC received a club bus from their sponsor after winning the domestic league title. Surprisingly, the team had not previously owned one, making the prize not only symbolic but extremely practical.
Football Beyond Money: Creativity Knows No Limits
Across lower divisions and smaller leagues worldwide, players have been rewarded with livestock, restaurant vouchers, household appliances, crates of beer or construction materials – depending on the sponsor’s business. These stories remind us that football is deeply rooted in local culture and community spirit.
Conclusion
While modern football often revolves around multi-million-euro bonuses, some of the most memorable rewards have been burgers, pigs, luxury trips or even buses. These unusual incentives show that the beauty of football does not always lie in financial value, but in the stories and emotions created along the way.