As fans, we get attached to every player at the club we support and when that favourite player of ours leaves the club, a part of us leaves with them, but what happens when that same player plays for another club to defeat our club? It’s crushing! Today, BestofBets take a look at some top players who returned back with rival teams to haunt their former clubs, as they scored and led their teams to famous wins!
Players who returned to haunt their former clubs
- Eric Cantona:
After leading Leeds United to a Premier League title in 1992, Eric Cantona infamously made a move to Manchester United to create a dynasty in English football.
On his first return back to Elland Road for with his new team, Cantona was fined £1,000 by the FA for spitting at home fans.
In 1996, Cantona scored in the final minutes to help Manchester United claim a 4-0 win over Leeds with the Frenchman ending up celebrating right in front of Leeds’ Kop. - Denis Law:
Part of the iconic Holy Trinity at Manchester United alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton, an ageing Denis Law joined Manchester City towards the end of his career in 1973, but he did make a historical contribution to the Blues’ history, scoring one of his most famous goals in his career. That goal was one of the reasons for Manchester United’s relegation that season. - Frank Lampard:
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard left the club for a stint in the MLS before returning back to the Premier League with Manchester City on a loan in 2014.
Lampard bagged a late equaliser for City when Chelsea visited the Etihad in 2014. - Andrea Pirlo:
One of the greatest midfielders of all time, Andrea Pirlo started out at Inter Milan, but wasn’t seemed quality enough before moving to AC Milan. There, he created history and rose to the level of the best midfielder in world football.
After a decade in Milan, he joined Juventus as a free agent and took his game to the next level. Pirlo made both Inter and AC Milan look foolish when he led Juventus to four successive Serie A titles. - Emmanuel Adebayor:
Remember that incident when Emmanuel Adebayor scored for Manchester City against his former team Arsenal and ran the full length of the Etihad Stadium pitch to celebrate by sliding on his knees in front of the Gunners’ fans?
Arsenal fans hate him to this day. Enough said! - Cesc Fabregas:
When Arsenal rejected the chance to re-sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona, Jose Mourinho brought him to Chelsea and he helped the Blues win the league title, which included provided a match-winning assist for Diego Costa in his first game against Arsene Wenger’s men. - Cristiano Ronaldo:
Manchester United let go of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009 and throughout his spell at Los Blancos, he got the chance to play against his former club in five competitive games. He scored in both legs as Real Madrid knocked the Red Devils out of the Champions League round of 16 in 2012-13. - Robin van Persie:
Dutch striker Robin van Persie became “villain number 1” at Arsenal when he decided to join Manchester United as he wanted to win a Premier League title.
Van Persie scored twice against Arsenal in his first season at Old Trafford, but he didn’t go on to celebrate any of those two goals.
However, Arsenal fans continued to boo him and the next time he arrived at the Emirates and scored, Van Persie intentionally celebrated in front of the Gunners fans.
The Dutchman, eventually had the last laugh as he went on to win the Premier League.You can check more of our content like this on BestofBets’ football section.
