"Players Who Have Donned Manchester United And Liverpool Jerseys"
Post on: January 18, 2018
I had written about the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool and what it entails. The fans of both camps religiously stand by their team no matter what — changing allegiance to the other side is unheard of.
Fans staunchly subscribe to the view that loyalty isn’t grey. It’s black and white. The black and white rhetoric is akin to “You’re either with us or against us” — there is no room for neutrality.
But it is interesting to note that there are players who have donned both the jerseys – albeit a handful (less than 7 if I’m not wrong). They ran the risk of drawing the ire of diehard fans.
I bring you the names amongst the handful Bravehearts who have boldly gone where no man would have dared.
Michael Owen – This wonder kid from Liverpool needs no introduction. He had an illustrious career with his goal-scoring prowess. His ability didn’t go unnoticed – He was the recipient of the revered Ballon d’Or award and regarded as one of the greatest Liverpool players. After plying his trade at Real Madrid and Newcastle United, he moved to Manchester United where he was awarded the number 7 shirt made possible by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. He was held in high esteem as the No. 7 shirt was much coveted and worn by illustrious players like George Best and Eric Cantona.
Paul Ince – This stalwart represented Manchester United when it began dominating the English league in the early 90s. He played at the highest level at United and won many medals. His accolades include being the first black player to captain England. He played for Liverpool alongside Robbie Fowler. Although he did not win any medals at Anfield, he was much valued.
Peter Beardsley — He was a Newcastle legend who later plied his skills with Liverpool. His partnership with Barnes was a formidable force at Anfield, tearing the opponent’s defences apart with much finesse. Many felt that Beardsley, together with John Aldridge, John Barnes and Ray Houghton were a foursome that was the best Liverpool had seen since the quartet of John, Paul, Ringo and George (Beatlemania).
However, his days with United was not as stupendous — he managed only a solitary appearance. In fact, he played for United first before his foray into the rival clubs where he made his mark. Most fans have forgotten that as a youngster, he laboured to make his grade at United which bore fruits at subsequent clubs.
Phil Chisnall — He was the last player to be directly transferred between the two clubs — in 1964! It has been more than half a century since the two clubs sat down at the negotiation table to clinch a deal. The stars mentioned above went to other clubs before making inroads to the rival camp. Direct transfer in modern times is tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack!
When a player jumps ship, fans feel devastated. Football is such a passionate game that we get very emotionally attached to our team. The players, especially the top names are deemed the representation of the club and fans equate them with everything the club stands for.
However, we fail to realise that players have mouths to feed too. In the local analogy, it is unmistakably reinforced by Jack Neo in the production, “Money No Enough”. Soccer is their career and they have to make the most of it in their short working life. For players, job security and superior contract take precedence over club loyalty. A professional has to go when opportunity knocks — Say, Aye!
The Jolly Good Times hopes the article resonates with the Manchester United and Liverpool fans… and all soccer fans. Share it with your kakis — Invite them to Like us on Facebook.
By Shaji Thomas Varughese
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