Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list of top football legends who took a trip back to their former clubs either as a player or manager.
Here are our five top football legends who returned to their former clubs:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021 after 12 years away. He had previously played for the club from 2003 to 2009, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in a bid to help the club win more trophies, and he scored 24 goals in all competitions in his first season back.
- Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Didier Drogba returned to Chelsea in 2014 after two years away. He had previously played for the club from 2004 to 2012, and he is one of the most iconic players in the club’s history. Drogba returned to Stamford Bridge to help the club win the Premier League title in 2014/15, and he scored seven goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.
- Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal in 2012 after two-and-a-half years away. He had previously played for the club from 1999 to 2007, and he is the club’s all-time leading scorer. Henry returned to the Emirates Stadium to help the club qualify for the Champions League, and he scored two goals in seven appearances in all competitions.
- Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Frank Lampard returned to Chelsea in 2019 as manager after a year at Derby County. He had previously played for the club from 2001 to 2014, and he is the club’s all-time leading scorer. Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge to manage the club in a difficult period, but he led the team to the Champions League final in 2021.
- Wayne Rooney (Everton)
Wayne Rooney returned to Everton in 2017 after 13 years away. He had previously played for the club from 2002 to 2004, and he is the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League. Rooney returned to Goodison Park to help the club qualify for Europe, and he scored 11 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions.
These are just a few of the many football legends who have returned to their former clubs as players. It is always a special moment when a player returns to the club where they made their name, and it can be a great way for them to finish their careers.
