When the Chelsea fans finally stopped dancing up and down the King’s Road in feverish celebration of the return of the prodigal son, they may have been woken up from their delirium by a jolt of cold hard reality. The second coming of Didier Drogba may seem like their collective prayers have been answered but sometimes idols are best left where they belong… in the past.
Here are some football greats who returned to their former clubs with varying degrees of success. It looks like The Drog has a lot to live up to...
Paul Scholes – Affectionately known as the Ginger Ninja for his elusiveness on the pitch and his life-endangering ‘scissors’ tackling style, Scholesy was one of the famed Class of 92. Between 1993 and 2011 the fiery ball playing midfield schemer had played 466 league games for United scoring 102 goals before retiring to do other things, such as painting his garden fence and walking his golden retriever.
In his absence, Ashley Young had taken over his number 18 shirt and so it was no coincidence that Fergie’s boys were struggling with a lack of fluency and vision on show in the middle of the park. An injury crisis midway through the season was enough to prompt Scholes to ask if he could come back to help out. Sir Alex bit his hand off. On the 8 January 2012, the silent assassin returned like a ghost in the mist of a dank Etihad Stadium and helped United to a 3-2 win over their noisy neighbours in the FA Cup 3rd round tie. Although United went potless that season, Scholesy stayed on and helped them win their 20th Premier League title the next.
SUCCESS RATING: 8.5/10
Thierry Henry – The King of Highbury renowned for his finesse, cool finishing and Gallic shrugs became Arsenal's record goal scorer during an eight year stint as the focal point of Wenger’s Invincibles. With his natural speed, elegance and a disproportionate amount of self-love, the French striker became the talisman of the North London club for whom he would declare his eternal loyalty.
That was soon forgotten when he was tempted to depart for warmer climes, leaving for Barcelona in 2007 and then onto the burgeoning MSL scene with the New York Red Bulls. Five years after he last donned the famous white and red of Arsenal, Henry returned to the club in a short-term loan move during the MSL off-season.
Making his second debut coming on as a 2nd half substitute against Leeds, in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, and scored a trademark goal within minutes of entering the fray. A moment, like his bronze statue outside the Emirates, that sealed his legend forever. In his farewell game against Sunderland, he scored a stoppage time winner before riding off into the sunset while Arsenal finished 4th in the league (again).
SUCCESS RATING: 8/10
Robbie Fowler – Otherwise known as 'God' by the Liverpool faithful, the boy from Toxteth was the most natural finisher of his generation. Not only could he score goals but was also very creative in his goal celebrations (just ask Everton fans and Graeme Le Saux). A real live wire in and around the box, Fowler went on play 330 times for his home town club during 1993 to 2002 scoring 171 goals in the process. A falling out with manager Gérard Houllier eventually saw him leave the club for Leeds United.
On the 27 January 2006 ‘God’ rejoined Liverpool from Man City on a free transfer and although he didn’t exactly turn water into wine, he would go on to score 12 more goals to overtake Kenny Dalglish in the club’s all-time top scorers and would end his Liverpool career with a Champions League Runners-Up medal in May 2007. Fowler went on to play out his English football career with Blackburn Rovers before going to Australia for a jolly-up. He may not have been ‘God’ and was indeed a very naughty boy on occasions but he shall remain worshipped by the Kop forever.
SUCCESS RATING: 7/10
