In brief
Players betray supporters and incite fierce hostility by making contentious moves between rival clubs.
Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, and Alan Smith are among the those whose actions have yet to be pardoned.
There is a list of the top ten traitors in British football history.
In the past, loyalty was the foundation of football. Prior to the sport being permanently altered by expensive contracts and mind-blowing moves, players from the local and neighbouring areas donned the colours of their city.
This change created new opportunities, enabling players to join teams in other nations or relocate to clubs with a higher winning percentage, not to mention the ability to make money that could support their families for many generations. But it also offered players the opportunity to go to a rival team and alter the football landscape.
Whether they are the result of competitive success or geographic proximity, intense rivalries have always been at the heart of the sport. Normally, this would stop players from switching sides in these kinds of conflicts. However, as these names have demonstrated, that isn’t always the case. The top ten traitors in British football history are listed here.
10. Alan Smith
Manchester United and Leeds United
As he rose through the Leeds United ranks, Alan Smith—a real Yorkshireman—spoke openly about his deep distaste for Manchester United. To show his devotion to his boyhood club, he was known to proudly kiss his Leeds badge in front of the Old Trafford fans. Therefore, it became obvious which team Smith would not join after Leeds was relegated from the Premier League in 2004 and it became apparent he would be departing.
Naturally, Smith would eventually relocate to Old Trafford, where he would initially exhibit some potential until his career was severely wrecked by a horrific broken leg in his second season.
9Teddy Sheringham
Millwall and West Ham United
Teddy Sheringham, who had a big influence at Millwall in his early years, was a Millwall icon. But when he later made the contentious decision to join bitter rivals West Ham United, his standing with the Millwall supporters suffered.
Sheringham’s decision to cross that line was not a direct move, as the striker only joined the Hammers near the conclusion of his career, but the animosity between the Lions and the Irons is so strong that no matter how many years have gone by, there will never be love lost between them.
8George Graham
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur
There was a lot of animosity against George Graham’s transfer to Tottenham Hotspur after he had a brilliant 14-year career at Arsenal as a player and manager. Many saw his move to Arsenal’s north London rivals as a major betrayal because he had played a crucial role in the team’s success, which included league titles and European honours.
Spurs supporters also did not take well to him after he moved to White Hart Lane, as they found it difficult to embrace the former Arsenal star among their own. The decision caused indignation, underscoring the fierce rivalry between the two teams and the difficulty Graham had in winning over Tottenham fans.
7Rio Ferdinand
Leeds United and Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand had already established himself as a fan favourite at Elland Road after joining Leeds for a record £18 million just a year earlier. However, Leeds fans were startled and incensed by his choice to go for United, especially considering the intense rivalry between the two teams. The club and its supporters felt betrayed by Ferdinand’s costly sale, which made him the most expensive defender in the world. At the time, Manchester United was one of Leeds’ fiercest rivals.
As it turned out, Ferdinand’s departure from the club was partly caused by the Yorkshire team’s financial crisis and their extreme need for money. The centre-back became one of the best defenders in the history of the team after United made the most generous offer.
6 Frank Lampard Chelsea and West Ham United
A number of players have made contentious transfers between teams over the years, but few have received as much contempt from their former fans as Frank Lampard. Lampard had a tense relationship with the West Ham supporters during his tenure, who frequently made fun of him for his size and even applauded when he broke his leg.
Lampard eventually went for Chelsea, where he became a club icon, despite having deep roots at West Ham, where his family had great ties. In the end, those Hammers supporters who doubted Lampard’s ascent to the top have been proven to be gravely mistaken.
5. Liverpool and Everton’s Nick Barmby
The first player to go from Liverpool to Everton since 1959 was a talented and promising English football player who made the contentious move across Stanley Park. Because he had bridged the gap between the two fierce rivals, Nick Barmby’s transfer swiftly made him a hate figure among Toffee fans.
The departure caused controversy despite his talent, and the Goodison Park supporters saw him as a traitor. After making 58 appearances for Liverpool, Barmby won the only four major awards of his career before leaving for Leeds United two years later.
4.
Michael Owen
Manchester United and Liverpool
After establishing himself at Liverpool a decade and a half prior, Michael Owen declared, “If you can’t beat them, join them,” following his Premier League victory at Manchester United. Liverpool supporters felt betrayed and abandoned their long-time hero when he joined the Red Devils in 2009. He had previously played for Real Madrid and Newcastle, so it wasn’t a straight-forward transfer, but it was still impossible.
Even though he had a history at Anfield, many people couldn’t forgive the move to their bitter rivals. According to rumours, Owen was actually calling someone at Liverpool on the day of the transfer, pleading with them to try to sign him. He must have known that he would face criticism at Anfield, yet he still decided to sign with United.
3Mo Johnston
Celtic and Rangers
Mo Johnston joined his childhood team, Celtic, in 1984. Three years later, he made the decision to travel to France and join FC Nantes. He wanted to return to Scotland by the end of the decade, but not just any Scottish club. He stated at a news conference that Celtic was the only and largest club for him. But a few weeks later, Johnston abruptly changed his mind and joined Rangers.
As a result of this choice, Johnston became despised by both Rangers and Celtic fans, gaining a renowned reputation as one of football’s greatest “Judas” personalities. His time on the Blue side of the City ended just two years later when he was compelled to go to London for his safety due to the harsh criticism, escaping Glasgow’s unfriendly atmosphere.
2Ashley Cole
Arsenal and Chelsea
Despite being a lifetime Arsenal supporter, Ashley Cole, who is regarded as one of the most controversial people in English football, orchestrated a very controversial transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea. A “tapping-up” incident marred his transfer, as he met with Chelsea officials in private while still bound by his Arsenal contract.
Cole’s public complaints about his pay made matters worse. He later disclosed in his autobiography that he almost had an automobile accident when he heard Arsenal’s offer of £55,000 per week, which would have changed most people’s lives. In a transaction reportedly worth nearly twice the Gunners’ first offer, he instead joined Jose Mourinho’s team.
One Campbell, Sol
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur
Sol Campbell used the Bosman Ruling to mastermind a very contentious transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal, arch rivals in North London. Years of fierce hostility that persists to this day were caused by this choice. “Judas,” as Spurs supporters swiftly called him, was a crucial member of the Invincibles team at Highbury, when Campbell’s dream of winning trophies was fulfilled.
Despite his achievements, Campbell has later complained that Spurs fans do not forgive him. His efforts to patch things up, though, were thwarted when he appeared in a recent advertisement making fun of Tottenham supporters and calling the move one of his best choices ever.
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