Poll: We are asking who is football’s biggest traitor?
Published:
“It’s the beginning of a war”. Those were the words of one Lisbon-based broadcaster after Benfica boss Jorge Jesus left the club for arch rivals Sporting Lisbon this week.
The manager is set for a fierce ‘welcome’ back to Estadio Da Luz when he brings his new side there this season.
The move will be seen as traitorous by some, especially As Aguias fans, but he wouldn’t be the first man in football to put club rivalries to one side when jumping ship.
For today’s poll we are asking you who can be described as the biggest traitor in football?
[poll id=”199″]
Mo Johnston
When the former Celtic poster boy announced he was leaving Nantes after two years in 1989, his former club shipped out his replacement Frank McAvennie to make room for a reunion of sorts.
That was all set until a chance meeting with then-Rangers boss Graeme Souness, led him to sign for the blue half of Glasgow, and become the first catholic to sign for the club in the process.
Souness’ description of the move as “a little bit of mischief” was probably an understatement.
Sol Campbell
Having made over 250 appearances for Tottenham, Campbell was becoming something of a club legend, an imposing presence at the heart of the Spurs defence.
That was until his contract expired, and arch rivals Arsenal came knocking.
Having previously stated in an interview that he would never play for the Gunners, his decision to switch allegiances (and become the club’s highest paid player in the process) didn’t go down well.
Luis Figo
Few things in life will result in having a pig’s head thrown at you, but Luis Figo knows one thing that will.
Having adorned the red and blue of Barcelona for five years, it seemed unthinkable that he would join the Catalans’ biggest rivals.
The switch to Real Madrid in 2000 was already bad enough, but the Portuguese star went on to enjoy the best years of his career at the Bernabeu.
Ashley Cole
In what might be described as a bit of a taste of their own medicine after the Campbell affair, Arsenal fans were most aggrieved when Cole swapped north London for west London.
The left-back earned the nickname ‘Cashley’ for his decision to follow Roman Abramovich’s millions to Chelsea.
A Premier League title and a Champions League triumph later though, and his move was probably justified.
Harry Redknapp
Joining Tottenham after spending seven solid years at West Ham may have angered Hammers fans, but it is Redknapp’s relocation on the south coast that gets him on this list.
Some Southampton fans weren’t happy with the former Portsmouth manager’s appointment in 2004, and that was before they were relegated under him.
No bother for Redknapp though, as in December the following year he resigned from his position at St Mary’s to rejoin Pompey.
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