18 times Man Utd’s Eric Bailly was the funniest player in the world

Nathan Egerton • 13 Jul 2022

While Eric Bailly has been plagued by injury problems during his six years at Manchester United, he’s still been able to provide plenty of entertainment.

Despite making just 70 Premier League appearances for the club, Bailly has become something of a cult hero at Old Trafford by delighting fans with his eccentric personality.

“The funniest [team-mate]? I think it’s Bailly,” United midfielder Paul Pogba told Copa 90 in 2017. “He doesn’t even want to be funny but he’s just funny.”

We’ve collected 18 of his funniest and most wonderful moments on and off the pitch since joining United in 2016.

The charge

United have a new manager in Erik ten Hag and Bailly used his first pre-season game to impress… by doing a stepover then making a 90-yard run into the box.

Bailly 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/epzAWjj3dE

— United Zone Clips (@utdzonevid) July 12, 2022

Celebration

It’s fair to say Bailly enjoyed United’s late winner against Hull in 2016.

Bailly's had a brilliant start but his celebration at Hull topped his performance #mufc pic.twitter.com/YYVrBkI1sc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) August 28, 2016

Dancing

He should probably stick to football.

Ander Herrera and Eric Bailly showing their dance moves in the United dressing room. 😂💃 [via Bailly's insta]#MUFC pic.twitter.com/QBYW0GrXVX

— RedReveal (@RedReveal) December 24, 2016

Air shot

His fall makes this even funnier.

RIP to Eric Bailly, who was shot on live TV today. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/y9V3VEhCin

— GeniusFootball (@AnythinFootball) October 3, 2016

Long range

And this is what happens when he actually connects with the ball.

Eric Bailly 🙈

Summing up Man Utd's season so far… pic.twitter.com/zuptlMIwa7

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 3, 2018

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

It takes a brave man to start a fight with Ibrahimovic.

Happy birthday to Eric Bailly, the only man to have kicked Zlatan Ibrahimovic and lived to tell the tale 😅 pic.twitter.com/1K5t2Arpbp

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 12, 2021

Romelu Lukaku

But Ibrahimovic isn’t the only former United striker that Bailly has tried to wind up.

Eric Bailly actually tagged Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku in this Instagram story pic.twitter.com/oVUC31s18y

— Odds On FPL (@OddsOnFPL) July 23, 2021

Jose Mourinho

Bailly and Ibrahimovic were like two misbehaving school kids during the Europa League final.

Zlatan and Bailly were a mad duo 😂

Watch Ibrahimovic at the end 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/BLkzXFTP4V

— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) January 30, 2020

Community Shield

Never change Eric.

Community Shield Winners 🏆 #MUFC Bailly is my favourite player already 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/7bbxtgSHKh

— Steve Gill (@gillg007) August 7, 2016

National anthem

Bailly wasn’t going to let the national anthem interrupt his warm-up.

Happy birthday to Eric Bailly, the only player to ever warm-up during the national anthem at Wembley. pic.twitter.com/YcCWtk1Zun

— Jordan (@FourFourJordan) April 12, 2018

Ice

We might actually try this now it’s summer.

Eric Bailly got subbed at half time so has spent the second half wearing a bag of ice on his head pic.twitter.com/VZTURhLUur

— Jayfuz (🗣️Rufus, but Jay) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Jayfuz) July 22, 2018

Antonio Valencia

Just wait until the end.

Genuinely think Bailly is a little bit nuts hahahahahaha that look he gave Valencia pic.twitter.com/l3FuGUU8ma

— Scotty Tridge (@TridgeTV) February 26, 2017

Jamie Vardy

That’s one way to stop Vardy…

Eric Bailly vs Jamie Vardy needed on Sunday 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/QlB9RGjYfC

— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) July 24, 2020

The gift that keeps on giving

They say it’s the thought that counts…

Eric Bailly presented Sir Alex Ferguson with a stick from Africa at a recent game #mulive [uws]

— utdreport (@utdreport) January 17, 2018

Roll

An unorthodox yet effective piece of defending against Tottenham.

Spins

Bailly channelled his inner Booker T with the “Spinarooney” against Young Boys.

Eric Bailly turns 28 today.

He always brings a different energy 👌🤣

(via @ChampionsLeague)pic.twitter.com/VyCyqbnP37

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 12, 2022