Footballers who have played for plenty of clubs

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by wm442433, Mar 10, 2019.

  1. wm442433

    wm442433 Member+

    Sep 19, 2014
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    I'll start with two players that I have just added to the thread "Left-footed players : name them", which gave me this idea.


    Didier Six.
    LW.

    Valenciennes (1972-1977, incl. D2). Lens (1977-1978), Marseille (1978-1980), Cercle Bruges (Jul. '80-Nov. '81), Strasbourg (Nov. '80-Jun '81), VfB Stuttgart (1981-1983), Mulhouse (1983-1984, D2), Aston Villa (1984-1985), Metz (1985-1986), Strasbourg (Jul. '86-Dec. '87, D2), Valenciennes (Jan. '86-Jun. '87, D2), Galatasaray 1987-1988, VfB Leipzig (1991-1992, BL2), France 52 times (1976-1984).

    Named Dündar Siz in Turkey.
    11 different clubs, 11 transferts, one last contract in 1991-1992.

    More details, stats : https://www.pari-et-gagne.com/joueur/didier_six.html


    Xavier Gravelaine.
    2nd striker, LW, AM.

    Nantes (1988-1991, 0 appearances in the first team), Pau (1988-1989, D3, on loan), Saint-Seurin (1989-1990, D2, on loan), Laval (1990-1991, D2, on loan), Caen (1991-1993), PSG (1993-1994), Strasbourg (1994-1995 on loan), PSG (Jul. '95-Nov. '96), Guingamp (Dec. '95-Jun. '96 on loan), Marseille (1996-1998), Montpellier (Jul. '98-Dec. '98), PSG (Jan.-Jul. '99), Watford (Nov. '99-Jan. 2000, on loan), Le Havre (Feb. 2000-Jun. 2000), Monaco (2000-2001), Caen (2001-2002, D2), Istres (2002-2004, D2), Sion (2004-2005), France 4 times (1992-1993).

    16 different clubs. 17 changings of club.
    Made his formation in Nantes in the 80s (with Deschamps and Desailly).

    More details : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Gravelaine
     
  2. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Sebastian Abreu, 26 clubs. 70 caps and 26 goals for Uruguay.

    Scored the penalty to send Uruguay to the first WC semi final in 40 years.

    Among former Ballon d'Or winners, I guess Rivaldo is the record holder. 15 clubs.
     
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  3. Tom Stevens

    Tom Stevens Member+

    Dec 12, 2012
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    An interesting offshoot of this is players who have been great for a lot of clubs. Great is obviously subjective but how many players have really been great or even club legends at multiple clubs, as most great players get locked up in one or two places.
     
  4. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    'Club legend' is something difficult because this often requires a long stay and also that the legacy isn't tarnished by playing for a rival club.

    These players received ESM team of the month selections for four or more teams.

    Ibrahimovic (Inter, Barca, Milan, PSG, ManUnited)
    Dani Alves (Sevilla, Barca, Juventus, PSG)
    Seedorf (Sampdoria, Real Madrid, Inter, Milan)*
    Ronaldo (PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid)
    Vieri (Juventus, Atletico, Lazio, Inter; played for 13 different clubs)
    Crespo (Parma, Lazio, Inter, Milan)

    *) in 94/95 only a team of the year was chosen and he received votes for that one too among the 10 men panel. Ibrahimovic is the only player to score a CL goal for six different clubs. He's followed by a number of players with four different clubs: Robben, Eto'o, Crespo, Balotelli, Schurrle.
     
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  5. Tom Stevens

    Tom Stevens Member+

    Dec 12, 2012
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Ibra and Vieri where the two that jumped out in my mind when I thought of this.
     
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  6. wm442433

    wm442433 Member+

    Sep 19, 2014
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    That is impressive.

    ____

    Not sure if he'll ever match Abreu's record (that must be the record I guess) but Gaël Kakuta, 27 years old, has played for 11 clubs so far. Will he continue his journey or settle somewhere, future will tell.
    Formed at US Lille-Moulins then RC Lens he left for Chelsea as a 16 years old. Played for them 6 times in the PL from 2009 to 2011. Follows a series of loans : Fulham, Bolton, Dijon, Vitesse Arnhem, Lazio, Rayo Vallecano. Then he's signed by Sevilla before to be quickly sold to... Hebei China Fortune (2016). He plays near 25 games for them an comes back to Europe on loan : Deportivo La Coruna, Amiens. Back to Rayo Vallecano in 2018-2019 with a contract.

    (I'm interested in career's journeys across different continents too but I'm not really making researches, I see this when I come across things or think about a specific player too, so thanks in advance).
     
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  7. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    #7 PuckVanHeel, Mar 12, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2019

    'Club legend' is something else but if I look at the Voetbal International top 100 all-time then the number of players who were 'great' for three or more clubs is indeed scarce (also some debatable cases like Henry, Matthaus).

    Jimmy Greaves is the only one to receive a BdO vote while playing for three different club teams in the same year.

    Among NED players I think Gullit and Seedorf are the guys with the four (or more) clubs while receiving a vote/nomination. Gullit was also not too bad for Chelsea (#2 in FWA vote) but didn't receive a vote there, could have been five clubs.

    Others with four clubs are Boniek, Hagi, Ibrahimovic, Laudrup, Klinsmann, Ronaldo, Scifo. That's all if I'm not mistaken (Crespo and Vieri didn't receive nominations or votes for four clubs, nor did someone like Eto'o).

    Remarkably, Johan Cruijff was voted as 'player of the year' in his league (by the press corps) for five different club teams: his first spell at Ajax, Barcelona, Aztecs, Diplomats, Feyenoord (not during his 2nd spell at Ajax). This was probably merited (i.e. facts and stats to back it up) & wasn't treated too gently either.

    This is maybe something to be done too, for example Keegan being 'player of the year' for three different club teams.

    A few of the 'über legends' (say, the usual top 30 all-time) were indeed only really good at one or two clubs (provided that they tried elsewhere).
     
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  8. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Yes I think that's the record. Rivaldo his 15 clubs is the record for BdO winners.

    Another variation are players who played for multiple top teams. For example Edgar Davids (who has his birthday today) played for Ajax, Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter, Tottenham (finished 5th, two points behind #4 Arsenal). Six top sides one can say. That must be relatively rare, Ibrahimovic can't surpass that.



     
  9. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So many players play for many clubs. I found somebody who played for 11 clubs which is the same amount as Didier Six's 11 from the first post. Yossi Benayoun made a senior debut in 1997 and his Israeli national team debut in 1998. If you count youth clubs, you can add Ajax and Hapoel Dimona. My source is Wikipedia. Here is the list (a * means he played for that club non-consecutively and only the first time is listed):

    Hapoel Be'er Sheva
    Maccabi Haifa*
    Racing Santander
    West Ham United*
    Liverpool
    Chelsea
    Arsenal
    Queens Park Rangers
    Maccabi Tel Aviv
    Beitar Jerusalem*
    Maccabi Petah Tikva

    How many players played for at least five clubs each in two countries? Benayoun did that. What player played for the most clubs in one city? He played for West Ham United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Queens Park Rangers in London.

    David N'Gog is 29 and has played for 8 clubs. Benik Afobe is 26 and has played for 9 clubs.
     
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  10. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    The first French player that entered my mind was Nicolas Anelka. Has played for 12 different clubs.

    Marco Boriello has scored for twelve different Serie A clubs in the highest league, and also played for West Ham in the Premier League, plus for Triestina in the Serie C.

    Here three other peculiar ones:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutz_Pfannenstiel
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Benjamin
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Burridge
     
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  11. annoyedbyneedoflogin

    Juventus Football Clube Ajax Mineiro de Deportes
    Jun 11, 2012
    Carlos Mozer is named in the alltime XI of 3 teams; Flamengo, Marseille and Benfica.
     
  12. wm442433

    wm442433 Member+

    Sep 19, 2014
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    #12 wm442433, Mar 15, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2019
    Yep, me too right after the two firsts (PSG, Arsenal for 5 MF/ 1 M euros, Real Madrid for 34 M Euros, PSG who pay the same as Real for his return in 2000, then Liverpool on loan in Jan. 2002, only 2 goals scored for PSG since the start of the season 2000-2001, Man City from 2002 until Jan. 2005, Fener, Bolton, Chelsea, Shangaï, Juve, West Brom, Mumbai).

    Peculiar, fascinating. John Burridge's name rings a bell, he must be a legend.

    I know that he made the Team of the 110 ans de l'OM : internet poll ran by the club itself (can't find the internet pages apart from a video... and the copy of the final results on a blog : https://officiel-om-2009-2010.skyrock.com/2847757914-Voici-votre-Dream-Team-des-110-ans.html).
    Was it the same from Flamengo and Benfica, It's the clubs themselves? In this case, can you provide links? Thanks.
     
  13. annoyedbyneedoflogin

    Juventus Football Clube Ajax Mineiro de Deportes
    Jun 11, 2012
    For Flamengo
    Grandes Times Brasileiros" Magazine (1971)
    Amado
    Biguá - Newton - Domingos da Guia - Jaime
    Bria - Dequinha
    Zizinho
    Valido - Leônidas da Silva - Vevé

    Placar Magazine (1982)
    Garcia
    Biguá - Domingos da Guia - Reyes - Júnior
    Dequinha
    Zizinho - Zico
    Joel - Leônidas da Silva - Vevé

    Placar Magazine (1994)
    Raul
    Leandro - Domingos da Guia - Mozer - Júnior
    Dequinha
    Zizinho - Zico
    Joel - Leônidas da Silva - Bebeto

    Lance! Newspaper's special magazine (1999)
    Raul
    Leandro - Domingos da Guia - Mozer - Júnior
    Dequinha - Adílio
    Dida - Zico
    Leônidas da Silva - Romário

    I can't find the Benfica one. Still, he sits on the border with Germano and Coelho, according to public opinion.
    Honestly, I prefer Coelho for his aerial ability, despite being a worse defender. Germano could play midfield as well.
     
  14. wm442433

    wm442433 Member+

    Sep 19, 2014
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    Ok. That being, Mozer is one of the best headers ever.
    But let's stay on the topic now. Thanks to avoid to the max the "all-time discussions".
    Some names were interesting to bring in the discussion as they played for several "great clubs" but then we can add Pirlo, why not Benetti and so on, so yeah it's more about 10-12 clubs in career players (or youngs who already travelled a lot), "incredible journeys" or "peculiar" careers as PuckvanHeel said. Also, it can be a bit less than 10, or way more than 12 as we have seen too.
     
  15. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Pirlo played 'only' for three big clubs. Benetti for three as well, if we see AS Roma of that time (early 80s) as a big club. I think this is a nice variation of the theme since it is less common.

    Saw later Abreu received a Guiness certificate for his travels:
    https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ult...nness-world-record/14q6w8ffdzwrh1npouss2qq86g
     
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  16. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Peter Crouch:

    1. Tottenham (0 games but came back and played for them later)
    2. Dulwich Hamlet (currently in the sixth level in England)
    3. IFK Hässleholm (currently in the fourth level in Sweden)
    4. Queens Park Rangers
    5. Portsmouth
    6. Aston Villa
    7. Norwich City
    8. Southampton
    9. Liverpool
    Back to Portsmouth
    Back to Tottenham and played for them
    10. Stoke City (2011-2019)
    11. Burnley (first game for them was January 31)
     
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  17. msioux75

    msioux75 Member+

    Jan 8, 2006
    Lima, Peru
    From my mind, for Perú:
    - Percy Olivares
    - Augusto Palacios, a candidate to had played in most Confederations
     
  18. lanman

    lanman BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 30, 2002
    John Burridge has played for the most clubs of anyone in England - 15 Football League clubs and 29 total, including several in Scotland.
    He's also the oldest player to play in the Premier League.
     
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  19. msioux75

    msioux75 Member+

    Jan 8, 2006
    Lima, Peru
    Olivares played in 13 clubs & 3 Confederations
    Palacios played in 15 clubs & 6 Confederations
     
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  20. annoyedbyneedoflogin

    Juventus Football Clube Ajax Mineiro de Deportes
    Jun 11, 2012
    Then I would add Carlos Tévez to the thread. Plenty of clubs, titles and appreciation.
    From Wikipedia:
    Boca Juniors

    Primera División: 2003 Apertura, 2015
    Copa Libertadores: 2003
    Copa Sudamericana: 2004
    Intercontinental Cup: 2003
    Copa Argentina: 2014–15
    Corinthians

    Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2005
    Manchester United

    Premier League: 2007–08, 2008–09
    Football League Cup: 2008–09
    FA Community Shield: 2008
    UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
    FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
    Manchester City

    Premier League: 2011–12
    FA Cup: 2010–11
    FA Community Shield: 2012
    Juventus

    Serie A: 2013–14, 2014–15
    Coppa Italia: 2014–15
    Supercoppa Italiana: 2013
    Individual

    South American Footballer of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005
    South American Team of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005
    Copa Libertadores MVP Award: 2003
    Player of the Year of Argentina: 2003, 2004
    Argentine Sportsperson of the Year: 2004
    Summer Olympics Golden Boot: 2004
    Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Player: 2005
    Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2005
    Bola de Ouro: 2005
    Bola de Prata: 2005
    West Ham United Hammer of the Year: 2006–07
    Manchester City Official Supporter's Player of the Year: 2009–10
    Manchester City Player's Player of the Year: 2009–10
    Premier League Golden Boot: 2010–11
    PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 Premier League
    Premier League Player of the Month: December 2009
    PFA Fans' Premier League Player of the Month: March 2010
    Guerin d'Oro: 2014, 2015
    Juventus Player of the Season: 2013–14,[192] 2014–15
    Serie A Team of the Year: 2013–14, 2014–15
    UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2013–14
    Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2014–15
     
  21. wm442433

    wm442433 Member+

    Sep 19, 2014
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    Humm, yeaahh, okaayy... Tévez...and his owners.
     
  22. wm442433

    wm442433 Member+

    Sep 19, 2014
    Club:
    FC Nantes
    I don't have exact memories (contrarily to you surely) but Roberto Palacios was an excellent player.
    As for Augusto, I love the fact that he was the coach of the Hong-Kong women national team. It is like the final touch on his profile.
     
  23. lanman

    lanman BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 30, 2002
    Jamie Cureton has played for 17 clubs, including appearing in the 8 top levels of the English pyramid, and is still active at 43.
     
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  24. mark_ward

    mark_ward New Member

    Arsenal
    England
    Mar 11, 2019
    there cannot be many who played in all 8 levels
     
  25. lanman

    lanman BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 30, 2002
    I think Burridge may have as well. He's certainly played at level 7 (Enfield) and level 8 (Blyth). He's also played in the top 3 Scottish divisions (at the time).
     

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