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Fernando Torres returns to Atletico Madrid on loan from AC MilanFernando Torres has come back home was the chant ushered by the forty thousand strong crowd inside the Vicente Calderon. On 24th July, 2007, El Nino left Atletico Madrid to join Premier League side, Liverpool FC, before signing a record £50 million fee with Chelsea.However, Torres struggled to make a mark at Stamford Bridge scoring just 46 goals in 117 appearances. Considering his transfer fee, his cost per goal was £ 1,162,79. In an attempt to rejuvenate his career, Torres has now reversed his career trajectory, to where it all began.That being said, he is not the first high profile player to move back to his former club. Here are the top five players who returned to their former clubs.
#1 Thierry Henry (Arsenal, 1999 -2007 & 2012)
The French striker might have recently announced his retirement, but his impact on Premier League side, Arsenal will be a long lasting one. Arsenal top goal-scorer with 226 goals in all competitions, played for the club from 1999 to 2007, before returning to the club on a two month loan in 2012.
He went onto score three crucial goals in that tenure and helped raise the morale of a depleted Arsenal squad, which was plagued by injuries.
Henry moved to FC Barcelona in 2007, where he scored 35 goals in 80 appearances and also became a fan favourite. After his time at Catalonia, he moved to Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, New York Red Bulls, where he scored 51 goals in 122 appearances.
#2 Ian Rush (Liverpool, 1980-1987 & 1988-1996)
As Liverpool fans would tell you, it’s like he never left. Liverpool’s all time top-scorer with 346 goals in 660 appearances left the club in 1987 to join Serie A side, Juventus. Rush managed to score only seven goals for the club from Turin.
His return to Merseyside was as prolific as ever, in a span of eight years, the Welshman found the back of the net more than 100 times.
After leaving the club in 1997, he played for a host of clubs, which included Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Wrexham and Sydney Olympic. However, he failed to recreate the kind of form he showcased at Liverpool.
Unfortunately, Ian Rush along with players such as Mark Hughes was a part of a Welsh squad, which never made it to the World Cup.
#3 Stefan Effenberg (Bayern Munich,1990-1992 & 1998-2002)
The Central Midfielder failed to yield any trophies, during his first spell at the club. However, Effenberg’s performances in the 2001 UEFA Champions League (UCL) helped the Bavarian club lift the trophy. He also won the Most Valuable Player award the same season.
Apart from contributing heavily on the defensive side, the German was never shy of scoring. In both his tenures for the club, Effenberg scored 19 and 16 goals respectively.
Munich fans also went on to vote for him in their all-time XI.
Effenberg represented two clubs in his six-year absence from Bavaria. Borussia Moenchengladbach and Fiorentina managed to acquire his services, before the finally returned to Bayern. He went onto to play for VFL Wolfsburg and Al-Arabi, where he subsequently ended his career.
#4 Mark Hughes (Manchester United,1980-1986 & 1988-1995)
The Englishman joined Manchester United as a teenager, straight out of school. However, Hughes had to wait till 1984 before getting his first start. He played the 1987 under Terry Vernables in Barcelona, before joining Alex Ferguson’s star studded Manchester United lineup.
In his first tenure, Hughes went onto score 37 goals in 89 matches and his second stint saw him score 83 goals in 256 matches. The Welshman was a key soldier in Alex Ferguson’s Premiership conquering army.
He signed for Chelsea, after his stint at United, where he went onto score 25 goals in 95 games. From 1998 to 2002, Hughes played for Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, before taking over as the latter’s manager in 2004.
Hughes now manages Premier League outfit, Stoke City, who are currently 11th on the table.
#5 Didier Drogba (Chelsea, 2004-2012 & 2014)
When Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba left for Shanghai Shenhua in 2012, critics and pundits alike thought his career has reached its final straight. However, after re-signing for the blues in 2012, Drogba has scored thrice highlighting that he still has what it takes to make it at the top.
Drogba moved up the French football hierarchy, before putting pen to paper for Chelsea. He started his career at Le Mans, then moving to Guingamp, before finally arriving at Marseille. His time at Marseille saw him scored 19 goals in 35 games.
His previous stint was prolific, to say the least, he went on to lift the UCL and Premier League titles, scoring 100 goals in the process. Will be as successful this time, only time will tell!
