10 footballers who returned to play for their boyhood clubs

Racing Club v Sao Paulo - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2021
Racing Club v Sao Paulo - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2021

8. Carlos Tevez - Boca Juniors

Boca Juniors v Racing Club - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020
Boca Juniors v Racing Club - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020

Just like Dani Alves, Carlos Tevez shocked the footballing world with his decision to head back home in 2015, even though he had just finished a successful campaign with Juventus.

Netting 20 Serie A goals for the Old Lady was enough to gain the attraction of Liverpool, PSG and Atletico Madrid, but the then-31-year-old had his sights set on his Argentine boyhood club Boca Juniors.

Notably, the former Manchester City striker left Boca Juniors to ply his trade in China, but ended up returning again. He's officially at Boca for the third time in his career.

7. Daniel Agger - Brondby

Denmark v Sweden - UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier: Play-Off Second Leg
Denmark v Sweden - UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier: Play-Off Second Leg

The former Liverpool centre-back made a surprising decision to leave Anfield and return to Brondby, his boyhood club, in 2014 when he was just 29. At the time, Agger was regarded as one of the best center-backs in Europe, and his transfer fee should've been difficult for Brondby to settle.

He joined Liverpool from Brondby as a 21-year-old, commanding a transfer fee of €8.76m at the time. After eight years of dutifully serving at Anfield, Liverpool let Brondby buy him back for less than half that amount - a compassionate gesture to a longstanding and devoted player to the Reds.

After just two years at his boyhood club, he made the decision to hang up his boots. He's back in football again, but as head coach of HB Køge, and we can't wait to see what he brings to the table.

6. Nick Barmby

Cardiff City v Hull City - npower Championship
Cardiff City v Hull City - npower Championship

Having endured two difficult seasons at Leeds United, many pundits expected that Barmby would make the decision to leave. To their credit, he did.

However, his destination came as a profound shock: Barmby was leaving Leeds and the Premier League to join boyhood club Hull City two league tiers down, taking a £27,000-a-week wage cut along.

However, he helped Hull City rise to the Premier League within just four years, and he eventually became their manager in 2011.

5. Dirk Kuyt - Quick Boys

Feyenoord v SC Heracles Almelo - Eredivisie
Feyenoord v SC Heracles Almelo - Eredivisie

Kuyt started his career in the late 90s with Dutch amateur side Quick Boys. He eventually joined Ultrecht and Feyenoord before joining Liverpool in 2006. With over 200 appearances for the Liverpool, the star eventually returned to Feyenoord before eventually hanging up his boots.

While everyone thought his career was done and dusted, he was 37 after all, Kuyt made headlines when he decided to come out of retirement to play for his amateur boyhood club and help them gain promotion.

Looks like Arjen Robben picked a few things from Kuyt!

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