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10 players who returned to former clubs, including Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Robbie Fowler

Thierry Henry of Arsenal celebrates scoring during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Leeds United

After Stewart Downing followed in the footsteps of Jonathan Woodgate and Juninho by making a hero’s return to Middlesbrough, we take a look at 10 other players who went back to their former clubs with varying degrees of success...

Didier Drogba

Chelsea's Didier Drogba celebrates after winning the Premier League title
Image: Didier Drogba helped Chelsea win the Premier League in his second spell

When Didier Drogba fired in the decisive penalty to win Chelsea the Champions League in 2012 there was a sense it was the perfect time for the Ivorian to bow out. Indeed, there was no extension to Drogba’s contract and the Chelsea legend headed to China and then Turkey to seemingly wind-down his career. It was something of a surprise, therefore, when he answered Jose Mourinho’s call and made a return to the Blues in 2014. While the striker – who turned 37 in March – was initially hired to play a bit-part role, he in fact made 40 appearances across all competitions in 2014/15, scoring seven times – including a trademark header at Old Trafford. Drogba also racked up his 350th appearance for the club – and got to celebrate another Premier League title triumph at Stamford Bridge.

Robbie Fowler

Robbie Fowler celebrates his second goal before scoring the Premier League's fastest ever hat-trick against Arsenal
Image: Robbie Fowler was prolific in his first stint with Liverpool

Loved by the Liverpool fans, Robbie Fowler made an instant impact at Anfield, scoring over 30 goals in all competitions in three of his first four seasons as a pro. However, after a host of cup wins and glut of goals, Fowler fell out with Gerard Houllier and was sold to Leeds United for £12m. Fowler’s association with the club wasn’t over, though – in January 2006 Rafa Benitez signed Fowler from Manchester City on a free transfer. While Fowler didn’t have the same impact has he had previously, he was delighted to be ‘home’.  “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player quite so happy to be joining a club before,” Benitez said as Fowler returned.

Thierry Henry

henry
Image: Thierry Henry struck two winners on his two-month loan return to Arsenal

The return of a club legend is always a risk and, after two seasons in the MLS, Thierry Henry’s loan move to Arsenal from New York Red Bulls had the potential to disappoint. After all, the Frenchman had scored over 200 goals and fired the Gunners to two Premier League titles and three FA Cup wins in his first spell with the club.  However, even he couldn’t have anticipated the success of his two-month stint. Henry scored the only goal in an FA Cup victory over Leeds and then went on to bag a late decider against Sunderland in the Premier League - his final game for Arsenal.

Ian Rush

Ian Rush
Image: Ian Rush enjoyed success at Liverpool either side of his time in Italy

After winning four league titles and two European cups, Ian Rush set off for a new adventure with Juventus in 1987. However, the Welshman returned to Liverpool just nine months later after struggling to settle in Turin and went on to spend another eight years with the Reds – winning another league title, a couple of FA Cups, a League Cup and becoming the club’s record goalscorer in the process. Things may have been very different for Rush. He later described Juventus as the “right club at the wrong time” and also suggested that joining Mark Hughes and Gary Lineker and playing under Terry Venables at Barcelona would have been better for him.

Mark Hughes

Image: Mark Hughes's left Barcelona to come back to Manchester United

Like Ian Rush and Liverpool, Mark Hughes spent time abroad in between his two spells at Manchester United. However at Barcelona and Bayern Munich he was never able to recapture the form he found at Old Trafford, managing only ten league goals in two seasons on the continent. He made his return in 1988 for a then club record fee of £1.8m and scored 83 goals in seven years under Alex Ferguson, winning two Premier League titles, two FA Cups as well as the League Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup. During this second stint, Hughes also became the first Manchester United man to win the PFA Player of the Year award.

Peter Beardsley

Newcastle Peter Beardsley Robert Lee 1993
Image: Peter Beardsley (second right) delighted Newcastle fans with his return

Peter Beardsley established himself as a cult hero during his first spell at Newcastle, but left for Liverpool in 1987 to pursue more trophies. The move paid off, as Beardsley earned two league titles and an FA Cup winners’ medal during his time at Anfield. Edged out by the arrival of Dean Saunders in the early 90s, Beardsley spent two seasons at Everton before returning to Newcastle in 1993 and very nearly captained the side into Newcastle folklore. However, the north east outfit narrowly missed out on the Premier League title two seasons running to Manchester United, finishing runners-up in 1995/96 and 1996/97.

Graeme Le Saux

He won the PL at Blackburn in between, but GRAEME LE SAUX is perhaps best known for his second spell at CHELSEA, returning in 1997 after leaving in 1993.
Image: Ruud Gullit brought Graeme Le Saux back to Chelsea

Graeme Le Saux ended his first spell at Chelsea in controversy – the defender ripped off his shirt and threw it at the feet of his manager Ian Porterfield when he was substituted against Southampton in 1993. He was soon sold to Blackburn, where he went on to win the Premier League and become an England regular. Le Saux returned to Chelsea in 1997 as the most expensive defender in England – costing £5m – and played a key role as Chelsea landed the FA Cup, League Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup over the next three years.

Carlos Tevez

Boca Juniors' Carlos Tevez
Image: Carlos Tevez was greeted by huge crowds on his return to Boca Juniors

After scoring 20 goals and helping Juventus to a domestic double and the Champions League final last season, Carlos Tevez’s decision to move back to Boca Juniors may have been a surprise to many – but the Argentina international has long planned an eventual return to his boyhood club. Tevez – who came through Boca’s youth system – lifted the Copa Libertadores with Boca in 2003 before moving on to Corinthians and then making his name in Europe with West Ham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juve.  

Teddy Sheringham

With 125 goals in 277 appearances, TEDDY SHERINGHAM proved a hit on both occasions for SPURS, with his Man United spell in between.
Image: Teddy Sheringham made his mark in his second spell with Spurs, as well as his first

Teddy Sheringham hit the ground running in his first season at Tottenham after arriving from Nottingham Forest, bagging the golden boot in the Premier League’s inaugural season. However, as Spurs’ wait for a trophy went on, Manchester United stepped in and signed the England international in 1997. Sheringham played a key role in United’s treble win in 1998/99, coming off the bench to score key goals in the FA Cup and Champions League final wins. However, the forward returned to White Hart Lane in 2001, scoring 22 times in two seasons, before finishing his career with Portsmouth, West Ham and Colchester United.   

Joe Cole

Joe Cole celebrates his opening goal for West Ham against Cardiff Cityn
Image: A former West Ham starlet, Joe Cole returned to Upton Park in 2012

West Ham’s academy is renowned for producing stars of the future – Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick have all come through their system – but few shone as brightly in their early years as Joe Cole. Despite being named captain at 21, Cole was sold to Chelsea when West Ham were relegated in 2003 and went on to win three Premier League titles and become and England regular with the Blues. After a disappointing spell at Liverpool, Cole came home to West Ham in 2012. However, after a man of the match display against Manchester United on his second debut, Cole failed to have the fairytale impact the Upton Park faithful may have hoped for and he moved on to Aston Villa at the end of his 18-month deal in 2014.

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