The ''golden traitor'' award

[guado]

If he takes the Mexico job then I'd nominate....

http://www.nos.nl/archief/voetbalkrant/images/niet-spelers/Buitenlanders/Duitsland/Klinsmann_jurgen/klinsmann.jpg

Many Americans would also consider Landon Donovan sort of a traitor for how he kind of manufactured his San Jose - Los Angeles move. Although the rivalry between those clubs is nowhere near as intense as some of the aforementioned.

Mo Johnston, Luis Figo & Michael Laudrup, and Alan Smith are a few names that come to mind.

Oh yeah... and how about George Graham?

not going to happen.

[Tim Malloy]

I think Maurice 'Judas' Johnstone would have to win, purely because of the nature of his move - the fact that he was paraded in a Celtic strip, and claimed that Celtic were the only club he would sign for, and the next day signing for Rangers, who had not employed a Roman Catholic for 116 years, or if they had, only by accident, as well as having never signed an ex-Celtic player.

The way in which he went back on his word, made fools of the Celtic management and board, and betrayed his community in such a devastating fashion - provoking outrage amongst fans of both his old and new clubs and turning his back on his beliefs for money was shocking, and he is quite rightly reviled in Glasgow to this day.

Breaking their sectarian-signing policy was a definite step-forward for Rangers, but it was a terrible act of betrayal by Mo Johnstone.

Harry Redknapp definitely would be up there too, going from Portsmouth to Southampton, then back again, and Luis Figo's Barca - Real move is another notable one, although it must have been sanctioned by Barca to have gone through.

[Leto]

I think Maurice 'Judas' Johnstone would have to win, purely because of the nature of his move - the fact that he was paraded in a Celtic strip, and claimed that Celtic were the only club he would sign for, and the next day signing for Rangers, who had not employed a Roman Catholic for 116 years, or if they had, only by accident, as well as having never signed an ex-Celtic player.

The way in which he went back on his word, made fools of the Celtic management and board, and betrayed his community in such a devastating fashion - provoking outrage amongst fans of both his old and new clubs and turning his back on his beliefs for money was shocking, and he is quite rightly reviled in Glasgow to this day.

Breaking their sectarian-signing policy was a definite step-forward for Rangers, but it was a terrible act of betrayal by Mo Johnstone.

Harry Redknapp definitely would be up there too, going from Portsmouth to Southampton, then back again, and Luis Figo's Barca - Real move is another notable one, although it must have been sanctioned by Barca to have gone through.

Betrayed his community? He may have betrayed his club, but it was a brave move and a forward step for both communities.

[SankaCofie]

Figo should get extra points because of the severed pig's head.
Donovan deserves extra points because he's a jackass.

Its a tough call tbh.

[Milliano]

Harry Redknapp definitely would be up there too, going from Portsmouth to Southampton, then back again, and Luis Figo's Barca - Real move is another notable one, although it must have been sanctioned by Barca to have gone through.

No, what happened was Real Madrid offered the buyout clause price of Figo's contract. Barca had to sell him. IIRC all players in La Liga have a buyout clause price... players like Messi and Ronaldinho probably are around 100-200 million Euros.

[Excape Goat]

Figo should get extra points because of the severed pig's head.
Donovan deserves extra points because he's a jackass.

Its a tough call tbh.

We knew that he will end up in LA eventually on the day he left Leverkusen complaining about life in germany. That kid cannot live anywhere outside Southern California.

[Tim Malloy]

Betrayed his community? He may have betrayed his club, but it was a brave move and a forward step for both communities.
I wouldn't say it was any kind of step forward for Celtic, Celtic have never had any qualms about signing Protestants or Rangers supporters through their history, although it was a step forward for Rangers.
However, Mojo himself lead Celtic on in such a way, declaring his love for the club and his desire to re-sign (in a period of serious trouble for the club, when they needed every break they could get), and then instead signed for their arch-rivals - if there was ever a greater act of betrayal, and selling out your allegiances for 40 pieces of silver in football I've yet to hear about it.

All Mojo ever cared about was money and Mojo, he had no loyalty to, and no respect for the club he claimed to love, and by leading the Celtic on, only to sign for their historic rivals was an act of betrayal.

[Leto]

Oh yeah, from a Celtic point of view he's definately a traitor.

I'm just quibbling with the association between 'club' and 'community' - it was definately a step forward to see Rangers signing a Catholic, and a Scottish Catholic who was prepared to sign for Rangers in such a high-profile deal.

[GoodDead]

I heard that he was basically an exile. He cannot live in Scotland for his own safety.

He's the 1st coach for Toronto FC.

[zenden]

Crespo.

[akofman12345]

Ashley Cole. I want to say Landon Donavan but half the 2005 Earthquakes were former galaxy players, and vice versa, happens all the time in the MLS.

[jameslamont]

Absolutely.

Maybe its the fact that time is a great healer, but Pat Jennings is an idol at Spurs still. He actually has his own hospitality lounge where he greets guests on matchdays.

In fairness Spurs consented to his move to Arsenal.

Campbell though will never be forgiven. He deliberately misled Spurs fans by telling us he was going to stay, only to walk out to our most bitter rivals when he had the pick of any club in the world. The fact that we lost a £20m player for nothing didn't help matters either.

He will always be a judas and never forgiven.

As an Arsenal fan I can sort of understand why so many Tottenham fans still call Sol "judas", but all he wanted to do was play Champians League football! Can you blame him really? He had spent many good years with Spurs but look at the success he achieved at Arsenal. In his first season with us alone he won the Premiership and FA cup.

[Jimbob]

I want to say Landon Donavan but half the 2005 Earthquakes were former galaxy players, and vice versa, happens all the time in the MLS.

Landon Donovan definately. The Quakes always had former Galaxy players on their squad, but these were always bit-role players in La that had been cut or waived. The fact that we made starters and All-Stars out of the Galaxy's mismanagement of Brian Ching, Brian Mullan, and Craig Waibel meant something for the club and the rivalry, and fit in with the whole working-class, underdog spirit that guided out club through those years.

Donovan was different. This was a player who took our club to its great heights, and came of age in those great rivalry games between the Quakes and the Galaxy. Us Quakes fans must admit that we always defined ourselves as the anti-Galaxy, and to see our favorite son, that teenager/young man that did us so proud over his four years here leave Germany so soon and seem so eager to join the Galaxy hurt. It took me a few days to come to terms with his transfer to LA, and even a couple years later, its tough to watch him suit up in the Yellow and Green.

With that said, when the Quakes do come back to the league, he is one man who will never be welcomed back by the fans.

Cheers! -Chris

[akofman12345]

Landon Donovan definately. The Quakes always had former Galaxy players on their squad, but these were always bit-role players in La that had been cut or waived. The fact that we made starters and All-Stars out of the Galaxy's mismanagement of Brian Ching, Brian Mullan, and Craig Waibel meant something for the club and the rivalry, and fit in with the whole working-class, underdog spirit that guided out club through those years.

Donovan was different. This was a player who took our club to its great heights, and came of age in those great rivalry games between the Quakes and the Galaxy. Us Quakes fans must admit that we always defined ourselves as the anti-Galaxy, and to see our favorite son, that teenager/young man that did us so proud over his four years here leave Germany so soon and seem so eager to join the Galaxy hurt. It took me a few days to come to terms with his transfer to LA, and even a couple years later, its tough to watch him suit up in the Yellow and Green.

With that said, when the Quakes do come back to the league, he is one man who will never be welcomed back by the fans.

Cheers! -Chris

Completely agree with you there. It was one thing to Boo Donovan when he played against us in 2005, but it will be another when he gets the same treatment in 2008. I personally will never forgive him.

It is really hard to call someone a traitor when they are playing a couple thousand miles away. For example, it is much easier for Arsenal fans in London to hate on Ashley Cole. But when it is a player that practically grew up at a stadium 10 miles away from your house, only to go play for your bitter rivals, that hurts.

[theopeppas]

I thought that honour would go to Krzysztof Warzycha.

The "Golden Traitor" award should go to Luis Figo for moving from Barca to Real.

You know Greek soccer well, but despite supporting Olympiakos I must admit, as any Greek soccer fan will, that Domazos was the greatest Panathinaikos player ever

[theopeppas]

Figo, internationally

Nationally, Olympiakos fans will say Delikaris, AEK fans Bajevic and Panathinaikos fans Konstantinou

Still, long way back, most unintentional damage (he did not celebrate) was the 1974 moment of Denis Law scoring for Man City a back heel that beat Man Utd and sent them to Division 2

Theo

[fedwood]

Bergkamp was both a Feyenoord-fan and a Spurs-fan at early age, yet played for Ajax and Arsenal.
He said he liked Glenn Hoddle

If i like Shevchenko, it doesnt make me a Chelsea fan

[leg_breaker]

I don't see how you can call Figo a traitor. He's Portuguese and has no connection to Barcelona.

[Bertje]

He said he liked Glenn Hoddle

If i like Shevchenko, it doesnt make me a Chelsea fan

Bergkamp has been quoted to follow the Spurs intensely at a young age. If that doesn't make you a fan you can write me off as an Ajax fan.

[juanse_moncayo]

what about luis enrique?

Yeah, he is the original traitor in my opinion...lol. We call him the OT