Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Leeds United and West Ham United players all feature in the XI.
Peter Schmeichel and Dwight Yorke celebrate winning the 1999 Champions League
The Premier League is packed full of different rivalries between local teams, and there have been numerous players throughout the years who have crossed the divide and represented two rival clubs.
Here is an XI comprised of players who have made acrimonious moves from one rival to another:
GK – Peter Schmeichel:
The legendary United ‘keeper won everything there is to win in the game at Old Trafford.
He left in 1999, after winning the treble, and moved to Sporting Lisbon before returning to England two years later with Aston Villa.
He then made the dramatic move to his former club’s bitter rivals Man City in 2002. If it was any consolation to United fans though, he failed to emulate the success he had in the red half of Manchester, and made just 29 league appearances for the Citizens.
LB – Ashely Cole:
One of the most hate-fuelled moves in recent history.
Cole left Arsenal for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, after handing in a transfer request.
And his move to Stamford Bridge proved to be vindicated, as he went on to win a Premier League title, four FA Cups and a Champions League.
RB – William Gallas:
The Frenchman was part of the deal that saw Cole move to the Blues, as he went in the opposite direction.
And Gallas’ fortunes were in stark contrast to the English left-back’s, as he failed to win a single trophy at the Emirates.
CB – Rio Ferdinand:
The former England international made the move from Leeds United to bitter rivals Manchester United in 2002, and went on to become one of the most highly-decorated Premier League payers of all-time.
CB – Sol Campbell:
Quite possibly the most shocking Premier League transfer since its’ inception in 1992.
The centre-back moved from White Hart Lane to Highbury in 2001.
He went on to win two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time with Arsenal. Another move vindicated.
CM – Frank Lampard:
Frank Lampard
One of the all-time greats, Lampard left West Ham for Chelsea in 2001, and went on to become on of the most highly decorated players in the English game.
Highly vilified by Hammers fans, and adored by the Chelsea faithful, he went on to earn 106 caps for England.
CM – Lee Clarke:
The midfielder moved from Newcastle to Sunderland in 1997, and was part of the Black Cats team who won promotion back to the Premier League in 1999.
CM – Nick Barmby:
Barmby moved from Everton to Liverpool in 2000, and won the treble with the Reds in his first season with the club – another success story.
LF – Carlos Tevez:
Carlos Tevez in action for Manchester City
The Argentine left United for bitter rivals City in 2009 and was part of the Premier League title winning class of 2012.
His move inspired the famous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ poster with his face plastered boldly in the city centre.
RF – Eric Cantona:
The mercurial Frenchman is the second name on the list to have swapped Elland Road for Old Trafford.
His arrival in Manchester coincided with an era of dominance for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men that has never been matched in the English game, and Cantona was the spark that started the fire.
CF – Jermain Defoe
The striker made his acrimonious exit from the Hammers in 2004, and joined Tottenham.
His move caused much controversy after he handed in a transfer request literally hours after West Ham suffered relegation to the Championship.
A common theme throughout the XI is how many of the players have gone on to be vindicated following their moves.
The likes of Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole were extremely successful following their switches, and it just goes to show, the lure of winning trophies can far outweigh loyalty to one particular club.
Ashley Cole
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