AFTER an incredible series of Celebrity Traitors concluded, we have taken a look at the most faithful and worst traitors in football history, made a team out of them and pitched them up against each other.
Traitors (4-2-4):
GK: Peter Schmeichel
The Danish great is one of the best goalkeepers to play in the Premier League. Known for his time at Manchester United, winning everything, but there is a bitter side to his time at United, after he joined Manchester City on a free transfer a few years after leaving United. Of course, United fans were not best pleased with him, neither were some of his former team mates, the clip of him lining up in the tunnel next to Gary Neville tells you everything you need to know.
LB: Ashley Cole
Nicknamed ‘Cashley Cole’, the English left back is one of the many players to play for both Arsenal and Chelsea. Cole rejected a contract extension with Arsenal, he then met with Chelsea representatives without Arsenal’s permission, leading to a famous transfer saga. Cole’s decision to join Chelsea, coupled with his subsequent remarks criticising Arsenal, ensured his status as a traitor in the eyes of many Gunners supporters.
CB: Sol Campbell
Possibly the most infamous transfer in Premier League history. In 2001 Campbell was Tottenham Hotspur’s Captain, a fan favourite. His move to bitter rivals Arsenal on a free transfer shocked the footballing world. Spurs fans were outraged, and rightly so. For your captain to say in an interview that he is staying, to then join your arch rivals, and then go on and win many trophies with them, whilst your team wins nothing, was a low for Spurs fans.
CB: John Terry
You must be reading this thinking, “Hang on, he played for Chelsea pretty much is whole career!” Whilst that is true, he was quite literally unfaithful when he had an affair with his team mate Wayne Bridge’s girlfriend, cheating on his wife in the process. See this as a faithful being recruited to the traitors.
RB: William Gallas
Gallas was part of the deal involving Ashley Cole to Chelsea, but the manner in which he left is what gets him in this team. Chelsea released a bitter statement following his departure, after a messy saga in leaving the club. Certainly not in the good books at Chelsea.
CM: Cesc Fabregas
Whilst captain, the Spaniard openly spoke on his dream to return to his boyhood club Barcelona, and in 2011, managed to force the move back home, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of Arsenal fans. To make matters worse, he then joined London Rivals Chelsea from Barcelona a few years later, winning many trophies there.
CAM: Carlos Tevez
Tevez became a hate figure among Manchester United fans when he joined cross-town rivals Manchester City in 2009. The move ignited the rivalry between the two clubs. The transfer was a shock to the footballing world.
LW: Michael Owen
Owen strained his relationship with Liverpool fans greatly when he joined Manchester United in 2009. The 2001 Ballon D’or winner had spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle before making the move, which was met with disdain by Liverpool supporters.
RW: Luis Figo
One of the most famous transfers of all time, this one sparked incredible outrage amongst Barcelona fans. The Portuguese midfielder, made his move to arch-rivals Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of £37 million even more shocking.. Figo’s added fuel to the fire because of how he celebrated goals against his former club, forever souring his relationship with Barcelona supporters. One of the biggest reasons why he is called the “biggest traitor in football history” is also because of the love and support Barca fans gave him during his time in Barcelona, He was adored and loved by all the fans in Camp Nou, when the shock deal broke out Barca fans felt like they have been betrayed by their family member.
ST: Emmanuel Adebayor
Although his transfer from Arsenal to Manchester City was not that shocking, he infamously ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans making him one the most disliked players amongst Gunners supporters.
ST: Denis Law
A bit old school, but he can not be left out after what he did.
If leaving United to join City was bad enough, scoring the goal to relegate United in the final minutes of the game should make you understand why Law had to be included. Although, the look of shock and regret immeidately after scoring makes you think he wishes he could take it back. The goal was pure instinct, but United fans of back then, and now, know of his doings.
Manager: Harry Redknapp
After his sacking at Portsmouth, Southampton surprisingly snatched Redknapp up. In the year he was in charge of Saints, he got them relegated, and then went back to Portsmouth. To the Pompey fans he is known as ‘Special Agent Redknapp’.
Faithful XI (4-4-2)
GK: Lev Yashin
Deemed by many as the greatest gaolkeeper of all-time, Yashin spent the entirety of his 20 year career at Dynamo Moscow, making 326 appearances for them. A true faithful to his boyhood club.
LB: Paolo Maldini
Maldini spent his entire career faithful to AC Milan, 25 years to be precise, beloved by all AC Milan fans, he is one of their greatest ever players and stayed loyal from start to finish.
CB: Tony Adams
Adams spent his 19 year career at Arsenal, captaining them at 21 until he retired, winning the famous invicibles title as well as many other trophies. An all-timer player and an all-timer faithful.
CB: Jamie Carragher
Carragher made 508 appearances for Liverpool between 1996-2013, as well as nine years in the youth system before that. He consistently played for the Reds his whole career and is faithful to them as a pundit now.
RB: Gary Neville
During his 19 year career, Neville won it all, a quality, solid right back who played at the highest level his whole career, a true captain and leader who loves the club inside and out, and backs them as a pundit all the time, just lke his colleague Carragher.
LM: Ryan Giggs
Giggs spent 24 years at Manchester United, and like Gary Neville, he won it all. A quality player who was also consistent, one of Alex Fergusons loyal servants that had an amazing career only playing at United.
CM: Steven Gerrard
Captain fantastic. Gerrard spent 17 years at Liverpool after growing up there locally. He captained them to their famous comeback against AC Milan in 2005, scoring in the final. He is beloved by all fans for everything he did for the club, apart from the famous slip….
CM: Paul Scholes
Another one of Ferguson’s disciples, Scholes spent his whole professional career at Manchester United, notching up 499 appearances over two stints. A quality central midfielder who was crucial in Ferguson’s success.
RM: Matt Le Tissier
Over 16 years, Le Tissier racked up 443 appearances for Southampton, a true magician with the ball, with an incredible highlight reel, he was a Saint for the Saints.
ST: Marco Reus
Reus was the one that stuck at Dortmund when everyone was leaving, he was actively pursued by giants and rivals Bayern Munich, but stayed at Dortmund for the majority of his career, making 294 appearances over 12 years.
ST: Francesco Totti
Totti is one of the most famous one club men ever. spending 24 years at Roma, making 619 appearances, no one is more loved than him at the club, the epitomy of faithful.
Manager: Ted Bates
Bates spent 70 years at Saints as a player, manager, director and club president. As manager he took them from the third division to the top division and into Europe for the first time, he was everything Southampton, loved the club to bits. Faithfulness at its peak.
