'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The summer transfer window is just a few months away, and we’re set to see big splurges on some of world football’s top talents. We are sure to once again witness players shifting allegiances and leaving their old club for a new one before they line up for the 2021/22 season. Unfortunately, loyalty has become a thing of the past in the footballing world right now.
With this quality being in short supply, football fans love nothing more than a loyal player who gives it their all for the club. Consider the case of Borussia Dortmund, a club which Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze left when top dogs of German football, Bayern Munich, came calling. However, Marco Reus managed to earn massive plaudits and respect from football fans all over when he decided to sign a new contract for his hometown club, instead.
On that note, let’s take a look at:
5 footballers who rejected big moves to stay with their boyhood clubs
#5 Tony Adams
We kick off our list with the man dubbed “Mr. Arsenal” - Tony Adams. The Englishman shrugged off repeated approaches from arch-rivals Manchester United to remain with the Gunners for almost two decades.
In his autobiography, “Sober,” Adams revealed that then-Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson approached the centre-half on two occasions. However, he rejected both his advances as Adams was “Arsenal through and through.”
After joining Arsenal’s youth setup as a teenager, Adams went on to represent the Gunners for 19 years - winning 10 major trophies with the club. The four-time English league winner made 416 appearances for the Gunners, was immortalized by a statue of his located outside the Emirates Stadium.
The Englishman wrapped up his professional career in the perfect way, with Arsenal winning the domestic double of the Premier League and FA Cup in his farewell season.
#4 Matt Le Tissier
Next up, we have a legend of the Premier League era - Matt Le Tissier, who remained at boyhood club Southampton for 16 seasons.
While most players on our list stayed with their boyhood clubs - which were in the top half of the domestic league table - Le Tissier was dragged into relegation battles almost every season. However, he chose to stick with the Saints despite strong interest from Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, and helped the South Coast club stay afloat in the English football’s top tier. The Englishman joined Southampton as a 17-year-old, and would make 540 appearances for the club, recording a mammoth tally of 209 goals in the process.
Explaining his decision to spend a significant part of his professional career at The Dell, Le Tissier said, “I enjoyed being a big fish in a medium-sized pond, the person in the team that most fans were coming to watch, just to see if I could do something.”
#3 Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini is one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, and a footballing legend in every sense of the word.
Maldini enrolled in AC Milan’s youth side when he was 17, and would work his way up the ranks to stage an incredible 902 appearances for the Rossoneri. The Italian was an immovable force in Milan’s defense, and formed a lethal defensive pair with Franco Baresi.
The duo kept a clean sheet ratio of 0.49, with a maximum of 22 clean sheets in a single season, and went 929 minutes without conceding a goal in Serie A. Nicknamed “Il Capitano” by the fans, it was almost impossible to get past Maldini, as his positioning and defensive acumen were second to none. Despite interest from Premier League clubs like Chelsea, as he himself revealed later, Maldini chose to retire at the club where it all began.
Paolo Maldini spent a record 25 seasons at the club and showed no signs of slowing down even as he entered his last season as a 40-year old.-The three-time Champions League and two-time European Champions Clubs Cup winner has continued his association with the club post-retirement. Maldini is currently the Technical Director at AC Milan.
#2 Francesco Totti
Taking the second spot is one of football’s legendary one-club men, Francesco Totti, who rejected a mega move to Real Madrid. Madrid president, Florentino Perez, devised the famous “Galactico” transfer policy, and Totti was regarded as a potential “Galactico,” especially when he was at the height of his powers in the 2003/04 season.
However, Totti turned down the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, because, in his own words, “They taught us in school that family is the most important thing. Did you ever hear of someone leaving his poor parents to live with rich strangers?”
Totti admitted he could have had a Champions League, Golden Ball, Golden Boot, and maybe even the Ballon D’Or under his belt had he moved to Santiago Bernabeu, but Roma was more than a club for the Italian - Roma was an emotion.
As Totti explained, “I had everything I wanted: love and passion were more important to me than winning trophies elsewhere. I put Roma ahead of myself, personal issues and a private life. Roma was everything.”
The World Cup winner would end as Roma’s most capped player - making 786 appearances for the club. “Il Gladiatore” was involved in 491 goals (307 goals, 184 assists), winning a Scudetto and two Coppa Italias with his boyhood club.
#1 Steven Gerrard
While Liverpool have historically been a big club and regained their top status in recent times, Steven Gerrard stuck with the club through an indifferent spell.
While the Premier League trophy eluded him, Gerrard captained the Liverpool side to a Champions League trophy, along with 2 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, and 2 UEFA SuperCups, among others.
The Champions League winner was regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, and it is no surprise that Real Madrid had a strong interest in Gerrard. Liverpool struggled in the Premier League, especially in the early 2010s, and found themselves outside the Champions League spot on various occasions, but Gerrard never abandoned his boyhood club.
In 710 appearances for the club, Gerrard notched up 186 goals, along with 143 assists - making him a Liverpool legend and one of the greatest in the club’s illustrious history. The Englishman admitted that he might regret his decision not to join Real Madrid when he retires and looks back on his career, but after 8 trophies and acquiring legendary status at his boyhood club - there’s little to regret for the midfield maestro.
