You Can Never Go Back, Except in Football

By: Daryl | September 1st, 2007

Thomas Gravesen returns Just as the transfer window was slamming shut, Everton boss David Moyes completed a deal to bring Thomas Gravesen back to Goodison Park. The shiny-headed Danish midfielder had the best few years of his career at Everton from 2000 to January 2005, when (literally) out of the blue he was lured into becoming a sort of low wattage Galactico with a £2.5 million move to Real Madrid. He never quite rediscovered his old form, and Madrid sold him onto Celtic last year, where he’s now so out of favour that the 31 year old has been loaned back to Everton. But is it wise to try and recapture former glories by returning to your old club? Here’s a quick list of players who went back…

Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham Hotspur 1992-7 and 2001-3)

Edgar Davids (Ajax 1991-6 and 2007-present)

Miguel Ángel Nadal (Mallorca 1986-1991 and 1999-2005)

Peter Beardsley (Newcastle United 1983-7 and 1993-7)

Robbie Fowler (Liverpool 1992-2001 and 2006-7)

Diego Maradona (Boca Juniors 1981-2 and 1995-7)

Frank Rijkaard (Ajax 1980-7 and 1993-5)

Jurgen Klinsmann (Tottenham Hotspur 1994-5 and 1997-8 (loan)

Duncan Ferguson (Everton 1994-8 and 2000-6)

Barry Ferguson (Rangers 1997-2003 and 2005-present)

Nolberto Solano (Newcastle United 1998-2004 and 2005-7)

Jaime Moreno (DC United 1996-2002 and 2004-present)

Juninho Paulista (Middlesbrough 1995-7 and 1999-200 (loan) and 2002-4)

None of these players returns were a disaster, though Robbie Fowler’s was a little disappointing. Peter Beardsley’s return to Newcastle was one of my favourites, because he was supposed to be more or less finished, but actually wowed the crowds with some fantastic displays and nearly nearly nearly won the Premiership.

Frank Rijkaard’s return to Ajax takes some beating though. After making his name there in the ’80s he moved on (via Sporting and Zaragoza) to have five great trophy-laden seasons at AC Milan, before coming back for two more years in Amsterdam. In his final game for Ajax in 1995 he lifted the European Cup and then retired.