10 Premier League stars that grew up supporting rival English clubs

Premier League players grew up supporting another rival club
John Terry grew up supporting Manchester United

When football players sign on the dotted line of a professional contract, they are expected to give their body and soul to fight for the club they represent, fight for the name on the front of the shirt.

But at times it can be difficult to play with their heart because they grew up supporting another club, possibly even a major rival. But as professionals, they are asked to put that aside and focus on the task at hand.

It is difficult; imagine trying to support another club, even a derby rival. These players have lived through it all.


#1 John Terry: Manchester United

Captain. Leader. Legend. That's what his moniker is at Chelsea. And why not? Terry is a player who spent nearly two decades in the Blues senior team and captained the club to five Premier League titles and a historic Champions League title.

So you'd expect him to bleed blue, right? Well the fact of the matter is that he supported arch rivals Manchester United when growing up.

One can't blame him. It ran in the family. His grandfather and father supported the Red Devils and the love for the Old Trafford club was passed down to him.

"I was Man United growing up. You know what it's like when you're a boy, you want to support the team that's winning everything. And my dad and granddad were Man United fans.
"But my first day at Chelsea I knew that was the club I wanted to be at. I just loved it. But Man United also approached me.
"I met Alex Ferguson - great to meet. During the school holidays I would go up to Manchester and train with their boys for two weeks, play a few games and come home."

Terry had even uploaded an old photograph where he was sat beside Sir Alex Ferguson and his parents.

The former England international was only 14 at the time and played as a holding midfielder. And although he loved the club, he decided that Chelsea was the right way to go.

"I think it was hard for my dad to take that I was going to sign for Chelsea," Terry said. "But I had to sit him down and tell him it was definitely the right decision."

#2 Adam Lallana: Everton

Liverpool v Everton - Premier League
Adam Lallana grew up supporting Everton

The Merseyside Derby is one of the fiercest rivalries in England even though the balance of power has always been on the red side. Liverpool and Everton are located just a mile apart with Stanley Park separating the two historic clubs.

And Liverpool star Adam Lallana grew up supporting Everton all thanks to his father who watched the Toffees in their heyday when they won two league titles, an FA Cup, and a European Cup Winners' cup in the mid '80s.

"I have a confession. It was Everton because my dad supported them. I'm a Red now though.
"When I was supporting them Everton always seemed to be fighting relegation. I seem to remember there were a lot of tears!"

Indeed, there were many seasons where the Toffees finished in the lower half of the table, perilously close to the relegation zone on a few occasions.

However, Lallana would make a name for himself on the south coast at Southampton and Bournemouth before making a £25m move to Anfield.

#3 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Liverpool

Danny Murphy of Liverpool and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer supported Manchester United when growing up in Norway

Yep, Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer actually grew up supporting North-West derby rivals Liverpool when he was a young kid growing up in Norway.

But you can't blame him for supporting the Reds back then. It was in the '70s and '80s when the Anfield side reigned supreme in England.

"You know when you are back home and you watch games on television and you tend to support the team that is winning. So in the '80s Liverpool were winning.
"Kenny Dalglish, he was the best player I thought, then Marco van Basten and Zico. But in England Liverpool won, so you get caught up in the moment."

Solskjaer would then prove himself with Norwegian club Molde before sealing a move to Old Trafford after United failed to land Alan Shearer.

The 'Baby-faced Assasin' would then score 18 times in his first season to help the Red Devils seal the 1996/97 league title, pipping Newcastle to the finish line.

Of course, he would then go on to become famous for what was arguably United's biggest goal in history - the last-minute winner in the 1999 Champions League final to seal a famous treble.

#4 Jamie Carragher: Everton

Everton v Liverpool - Premier League
Jamie Carragher was a schoolboy Everton fan

As a bus with the Liverpool squad made its way back to Melwood in 1996, they tuned in to the radio that had the live commentary from a game between Stockport and Everton. Stockport were leading 1-0, much to the joy of many in the bus when Everton equalised and one Liverpool player yelled in delight.

"Get in!"

"Who the f*** was that?" shouted first-team coach Ronnie Moran.

Jamie Carragher was soon told that he had to start behaving like a Liverpool player even though he grew up supporting Everton.

The centre-back would go on to make 737 appearances over 17 seasons at Anfield, the archetypal one-club man who made his debut and retired at the same club.

But deep down, he was always an Evertonian at heart. And he did score for the Toffees when he had the chance in a testimonial game. Although he was in the Reds team, he stepped up to take a 'penalty' for Everton.

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#5 Gareth Bale: Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - Premier League
Gareth Bale was an Arsenal fan growing up

Before Gareth Bale became the most expensive player in the world in 2013, he was tearing it up in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. A two-time PFA Player of the Year award winner, the Welsh left-back-turned-winger-turned-forward had a stellar 2012/13 season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions (21 in the Premier League).

But then came the admission that he wasn't a Tottenham fan. Growing up, he had eyes only for their north London rivals - Arsenal.

He was smitten with the team of players that went an entire campaign unbeaten (the Invincibles). Of course, back then he was just a young player at Southampton's youth academy (where he was roommates with Theo Walcott).

"I used to like Arsenal a lot. But when I moved to Tottenham, of course, I liked them less.
"But I really admired Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, those kind of players. They were incredible."

Bale's heroics at White Hart Lane eventually earned him an £86m move to Real Madrid where he has since won three Champions League titles.

#6 Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Arsenal

Arsenal v Manchester United - Premier League
Henrikh Mkhitaryan grew up an Arsenal fan

Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has made a long journey to reach the Premier League. Starting his career in Armenia, he has played in Ukraine, Germany, and now England.

Armenian footballers aren't exactly in high demand in Europe but Mkhitaryan has made a name for himself - first in the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar Donetsk and then in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.

But when he was growing up, it was Arsenal that caught his eye as Thierry Henry ripped apart and dismantled Premier League defences at Highbury.

"I always supported [Thierry] Henry when he was playing for Arsenal.
"He is one of my favourite players because at that time I was also playing as a striker as a child. Then I became a midfielder."

Mkhitaryan used to play as a second striker before moving into an attacking midfielder role as formations evolved. It was also reported that had he not become a footballer, he would have become a sprinter.

No wonder he idolised the Arsenal striker who was feared across Europe because of his deadly pace both on and off the ball.

#7 Luke Shaw: Chelsea

Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League
Luke Shaw grew up in London supporting Chelsea

While Luke Shaw came through Southampton's famous academy, he was a Chelsea fan as a kid. The left-back, now at Manchester United, loved the Blues and admitted that he idolised two Blues legends.

"My hero was Didier Drogba but [Ashley] Cole was the kind of player I aspired to be.

"I rated him the best left back in the world and if I had gone to Chelsea all those years ago, I still would have been kicking me heels waiting for a chance to play."

Shaw grew up in south-west London so it comes as no surprise that Chelsea was a popular choice at the time, given their success under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Even after moving to Southampton, he couldn't hide his delight when Chelsea qualified for the final after Fernando Torres rounded Victor Valdes to equalise at the Camp Nou in stoppage time.

There were other tweets (which have since been deleted) where he admitted to being a Chelsea fan. But after the Saints gained promotion, he did say he was looking forward to playing the Blues away.

Although his time at Old Trafford has been hard, thanks to injuries and a leg-break that kept him out for months, Shaw hasn't given up hope and continues to work hard to play under Jose Mourinho.

#8 Raheem Sterling: Manchester United

Manchester City v Manchester United - Premier League
Raheem Sterling supported Manchester United

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling may play for England but he was actually born in Kingston, Jamaica. He didn't move to England until he turned five years old.

And when he did come across the pond, he admitted that he was a big fan of Manchester United. Despite Arsenal and Chelsea dominating a couple of seasons now and then, Sir Alex Ferguson's side ruled the roost in the 2000s.

"I need to keep that quiet!" he said when his love for Manchester United was brought up.
"But when you start playing for a team, you immediately start supporting them because you want to do your best for your team and you always want them to do well.

Sterling would go on to play four seasons at Liverpool before making a £49m move to United's derby rivals - Manchester City.

#9 Ashley Young: Arsenal

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League
Ashley Young was an Arsenal fan

Manchester United winger Ashley Young has had a rather strange career. A player gifted with pace on the ball, the Englishman did not see his career take off the way he would have liked.

A hero at Aston Villa where he spent five seasons and made 190 appearances, he made the switch to Manchester United in 2011 but has since failed to really establish himself in the starting Iineup.

However, he has still made over 170 appearances for the Red Devils in six seasons. Now in his seventh season at Old Trafford, Young is yet to hit the heights he did in his first season at the club when he scored 8 goals.

He will forever remember his first Premier League goal for United - a brace in the 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal at home. Not because of the scoreline alone - he supported the Gunners as a child when legendary striker Ian Wright was his idol.

"Ian Wright was my hero.
"But even then, if you asked most kids which team they would like to play for, quite a lot would say Manchester United.
"People judge me differently because I am at the biggest club in the world. I could tell the difference as soon as I got there."

#10 Joe Cole: Chelsea

Joe Cole West Ham Chelsea
Joe Cole grew up at West Ham but supported Chelsea

Most people would remember Joe Cole as a Chelsea player so why does he make this list? Well, it's because he started his career at another London club - West Ham United.

Cole was a Hammer for 13 years, joining the club even before he had turned 10 years old. The English midfielder would spend five years with the senior team, rising up the ranks and rejecting interest from Manchester United.

But when Chelsea came in with a £6.6m offer in 2003, Cole moved across town to Stamford Bridge to live his dream of playing for the Blues. He was captain at West Ham at the tender age of 21.

Just when the Hammers thought they had found 'The next Paul Gascoigne', Chelsea found their 'Next Gianfranco Zola', giving him the no.10 shirt.

Cole would only improve at Chelsea and he even picked up the club's Player of the Year award in 2008.

"I always dreamt of playing for Chelsea and my other dream was to play for the best team in the world. I think I am doing both things at the moment so I am very happy."

In seven seasons at Stamford Bridge, he scored 40 goals and won 10 trophies before making a move to Liverpool.

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Edited by Rohith Nair