Got me thinking of a time when football was played with passion...more passion than you could imagine now. When fans were true to their clubs...and players dare not cross the great divide.
If they did! All hell would break loose.
Robin Van Persie has just joined MUFC from Arsenal. Honestly speaking, I never saw this coming. It just didn't seem possible...but, alas...it's happened.
In modern times, we've seen Tevez move across town from MUFC to City...Adebayor has gone from being a Gunner to now courting a relationship with THFC, this after the Spurs fans sang a rather defamatory song relating to his parents. You'd think, that sorta rubbish would deter him...if not the city rivalry!?
Luis Figo left FC Barcelona to join Real Madrid FC in 2000. One of the strongest rivalries in the game and he shuns loyalty to join Los Blancos for a fee of 37million Euro...that's great business for Barca, as they paid just over 2million for him. Football isn't about business though, or at least, back then it wasn't all about bringing home the bacon...I think he got off easily with just the pigs head.
London rivalries are quite big. The North London derby, arguably the biggest, with the first encounter dating back to the late 1800s. So when Sol Campbell decided to leave Spurs, on a free, to join the Gunners...it was no surprise when the COYS faithful felt hard done by and quite frankly, betrayed.
Another feisty rivalry is the one between the two Milan giants. The box to box midfielder had a stint with either side. Starting off at Internazionale, who signed him for close to $25m from Real Madrid FC, before moving to i Rossoneri in 2002, where he rewrote the record books with a memorable decade at the club.
Looking back a number of years, a certain Johann Cruyff, the finest player out of Europe at the time did the unthinkable and left the grandiosity of Ajax Amsterdam for the working-class Feyenoord. This infuriated the Amsterdam faithful...although in honesty, it was their [clubs'] fault as they had not offered Johann a new contract.
The Superclasico. Argentina's fiercest rivalry. Gabriel Batistuta didn't quite get that. One of the finest forwards for Albiceleste opted to move from River Plate to Boca Juniors after having a fall-out with River coach Daniel Passarella. He only stayed at Boca for a year though, before moving to Fiorentina, where his performances would turn him into a cult-hero...
Finally, closer to home, Kaizer Motaung left Orlando Pirates FC to play abroad, returning home in 1970 he chose to establish Kaizer Chiefs. Today we have one of the fiercest football rivalries on the planet, based mainly on one man's decision.
Years later the likes of Jimmy Tau would also cross the great divide. This time leaving the Buccaneers to play for the Glamour Boys. Unthinkable, but it happens.
A decade+ ago, players joining rival clubs was not the norm. There was loyalty and respect for the badge and the fans.
Today, it's common-place.
Then again, loyalty amongst fans is hardly existent either...with any and everyone jumping on the most fashionable bandwagon and hopping off the moment it loses it's shine.
This is modern football.
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