Top 10 player returns

Tottenham legend: Klinsmann went from being hated to adored by the English public in the space of a year
Ben Bailey13 April 2012

North London is buzzing with talk that former fans' favourite, Robbie Keane, may make a return to White Hart Lane. As Keane ponders his future at Liverpool, we look at 10 of the most notorious returns to former clubs...

10 Robbie Fowler, Liverpool

The red half of Merseyside went completely berserk when they found out that Robbie Fowler was returning to Anfield. Fans chanted "God is back" at every opportunity and Fowler himself said he felt like a kid waking up on Christmas day. In his two spells at the club the Toxteth Terror' scored 183 goals in 369 games making him one of Liverpool's all time heroes.

9 Duncan Ferguson, Everton

Ruud Gullit was so impressed with the way that Everton pumped the ball up field to big "Slam Dunc" that he paid £7 million to bring the Scotsman to Newcastle. Unfortunately, in his two years in the North East, Ferguson was almost permanently injured and was eventually sent back to Everton where he was welcomed with open arms.

8 Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda, Tottenham

Jermain Defoe's transfer back to Tottenham, just one year after he was sold to Portsmouth, has been one of the most intriguing transfers of recent times. And yet if selling a player just to buy him back a year later seems rather odd, then Pascal Chimbonda's transfer back to Spurs after only six months is darn-right ridiculous. One by one Harry Redknapp is re-signing all the players sold under Juande Ramos. Keane, Berbatov, Robinson and Malbranque beware

7 Shaun Wright-Philips, Manchester City

Once upon a time Shaun Wright-Philips was one of most promising players in the league. He'd scamper up and down Manchester City's wing as fast as his little legs could carry him, twisting and turning defenders inside out. Then he left for Chelsea where he found life difficult, always struggling to get a regular run in the side. Upon his return to City last summer, the fans rejoiced - especially after he bagged two on his debut against Sunderland. It was as if he had never left.

6 Mark Hughes, Manchester United

Hughes was adored by the United fans for his physical no-nonsense approach to the game. Having signed as a schoolboy, he spent six years at the club before being sold to Barcelona. Two years later he returned to Old Trafford and in 1991 scored two goals in the Cup Winners' Cup final against Barca. An integral part of the United side that would go on to dominate the Premier League he is now a potential option to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as manager.

5 Juninho, Middlesbrough

Fans were dancing in the streets of Middlesbrough when the little Brazilian returned to Teesside. In his first stint in the North East Juninho breathed life into Middlesbrough with his stunning dribbling, and samba skills, helping Boro to a Wembley final. In fact he was so enamoured with his adopted home, that he had an unprecedented three spells at the club. He is one Middlesbrough's most loved players.

4 Teddy Sheringham, Tottenham

In his first spell at Tottenham from 1992-97 Sheringham was outstanding. He quickly galvanised his reputation as one of the most intelligent players in the league and scored 103 goals in 197 games. Spurs fans took his departure to Old Trafford badly, but after winning the silverware that had always eluded him, including a historic Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup treble, Teddy returned to Tottenham and led them to a League Cup final.

3 Diego Maradona, Boca Juniors

In 1982 Maradona scored 28 goals in 40 games for Boca Juniors, winning the league before he was transferred to Barcelona. After being sent home from the 1994 USA World Cup for taking drugs, Maradona returned to Boca to play out the twighlight of his career. He failed to make the same impact as he had done as a younger man, but still pulled at the heart-strings of Boca fans who flocked to watch their greatest ever player.

2 Ian Rush, Liverpool

One of Liverpool's all-time greats, Rushie spent 15 seasons at the club, only broken by a stint at Juventus. For Liverpool, Rush scored goal after goal after goal. Not only was he part of the great Liverpool sides of the 1980s, but the Welshman was also equally successful playing alongside the Spice Boys in the 1990s. Ian Rush is Liverpool's all time top goalscorer, and his name will continue to echo around Anfield for generations.

1 Jurgen Klinsmann, Tottenham

Before he arrived in England, Klinsmann was regarded as a cheating diver, hated for his involvement in the 1990 World Cup which saw Germany beat England and win the tournament. However, after scoring on his Tottenham debut, he famously simulated his 'Klinsmann dive', and instantly became a legend. In his first year the German was prolific for Spurs, scoring 21 goals in 41 games. He then left for Bayern Munich, much to the disappointment of the Tottenham fans, but returned on loan in 1997 and retired at the club he loved. His goals, talent and geniality made Klinsmann the most popular German footballer in the history of the English game.

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