Top Ten: Infamous Bosman transfers
Liam Apicella
Posted on: 19 August 2010 - 15:30
Football
Every football manager loves to claim the services of a player at a bargain price, but adding a player of international pedigree to your squad for free is every bosses dream. Considering the current financial climate gripping the game, with the exception of Manchester City whose owners appear to have a bottomless pit of resources, managers around the globe are now hunting for the cheapest possible deals to help improve their squads.
In view of Joe Cole’s recent switch from Chelsea to Liverpool on a free transfer, Sport.co.uk reviews 10 of the most memorable transfers since the Bosman ruling swept into world football back in 1995.
10. Joe Cole – Chelsea to Liverpool (2010)
The England international is the latest high profile player to make a Bosman switch in the Premier League. Fitness will be the key to determine whether Cole’s move to Anfield will prove to be a success. There can be no doubting the attacking midfielder’s ability, but recent seasons have been tainted by injury and manager Roy Hodgson will be hoping the 28-year-old is now over the worst.
The former West Ham United star, who has moved away from London for the first time his career, won three Premier League titles while at Stamford Bridge.
9. Michael Ballack – Bayern Munich to Chelsea (2006)
The central midfielder sparked a scramble for his services in 2006 when he allowed his contract at Bayern Munich to expire. Eventually Chelsea won the race after a summer duel with Manchester United, and despite a slow start to his career in West London, the German international found form to play a major role in last season’s title winning side.
Now 34-years-old, Ballack has exercised his right to another Bosman transfer with a switch back to his native Germany and Bayer Leverkusen, the club where he exploded onto the footballing scene just after the turn of the millennium.
8. Edgar Davids – Ajax to AC Milan (1996)
Despite being one of the best holding midfield players to ever grace the game, Davids’ move to the San Siro can only be described as a disaster.
After helping to guide the Dutch giants to Champions League success in 1995, Davids was seen as one of the hottest young properties in European football.
Milan claimed the Dutchman’s signature, but after failing to establish himself in the starting eleven he was on the move again, this time to Juventus where he returned to his pitbull best. A free transfer also brought Davids to the British Isles when he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2005.
7. Steve McManaman – Liverpool to Real Madrid (1999)
After a nine year stint with his hometown club Liverpool, McManaman made the switch to the Spanish capital at the very start of the Galactico era.
And trophy wise, the former England man’s decision to switch Merseyside for Madrid proved to be a very astute one.
In his four year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, McManaman claimed two La Liga titles and a further two Champions League winners medal, also scoring in one final.
Despite the success, the Spanish giants began to add the likes of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane to their squad, leaving the winger surplus to requirements.
6. Javier Saviola – Barcelona to Real Madrid (2007)
When the Argentinian striker appeared on the football radar back in 2001 he was inevitably dubbed “the new Maradona.” That tag alerted Barcelona, who paid £15m to take Saviola from River Plate.
Despite showing some early promise, Saviola’s Nou Camp career dwindled, resulting in a move which meant he would never be welcome back at the Catalan club when he joined great rivals Real Madrid for nothing. Saviola’s time at Madrid mirrored his spell at Barcelona and he was soon on the move again, this time trying his luck in Portugal with Benfica.
5. David Beckham – Real Madrid to LA Galaxy (2007)
After spending a largely successful 14 years in the top flights of England and Spain, the former England captain decided it was time for a change, opting for a switch to Major League Soccer. The transfer fee may have been nothing, but the deal would earn mega bucks for Beckham and soccer in the United States of America.
On the pitch the move hasn’t worked out to well for all concerned, with the Galaxy struggling to make the league’s play-offs while Beckham has had two loan spells with AC Milan in an attempt to keep his international career alive.
4. Esteban Cambiasso – Real Madrid to Inter Milan (2004)
Cambiasso was deemed not good enough by the powers that be at Real Madrid in 2004 who subsequently decided not to offer the midfielder a new contract, paving the way for a Bosman move to Inter Milan.
In his six seasons at the San Siro to date, the Argentine destroyer has helped the club win four straight league titles and their first Champions League title in 45 long years.
Taking into consideration the success Cambiasso has helped to bring to the Italian giants, Real must be cursing the day they let the Argentinian walkaway for nothing.
3. Henrik Larsson – Celtic to Barcelona (2004)
The Swedish star spent seven goal and trophy filled seasons with Celtic before getting a deserved move to one of the game’s biggest clubs. The strikers first season at the Nou Camp was hampered with injury, but in the second season he brought success to the club, scoring one of the goals during Barca’s 2-1 Champions League final victory over Arsenal in Paris.
His performance in this match, where he was credited with changing the balance of the game after the Spanish club fell a goal behind, means he is still adored by Barcelona fans to this day.
2. Michael Owen – Newcastle United to Manchester United (2009)
Due to his connections with Liverpool, Michael Owen is one of those players that no-one ever expected to wear the shirt of Manchester United.
However, after allowing his contract to run down at Newcastle United, the former England striker opted to infuriate the supporters that once adored him by joining bitter rivals United.
Injuries have meant that Owen has only played a bit part role at Old Trafford so far and with the competition for striking places at United fierce, the former Real Madrid will probably have to settle for a similar scenario this campaign.
1. Sol Campbell – Tottenham Hostpur to Arsenal (2001)
There isn’t much that can be said about this Bosman transfer that hasn’t already been voiced. Easily the most controversial transfer in Premier League history saw defender Campbell move across North London to link up with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
To this very day Spurs fans have never forgiven man who not only joined their greatest rivals, but also lost the club around £20m in transfer fees had he not have allowed his contract to expire. On a personal level, the switch to Arsenal proved to be the right one for Campbell as he collected two Premier League titles and three FA Cup winners’ medals.