Ahead of Dimitar Berbatov's return to Spurs, Chris Burton examines players who are loved or loathed on old stomping grounds.
Football folklore dictates 'never go back', Chris Burton examines the case for and against
One of the many clichés which get banded around football circles warns former heroes to 'never go back' to a club where they were once idolised.
Of course, there are occasions when a return to familiar surroundings is completely unavoidable.
Unfortunately for many of those concerned, these 'homecomings' are not always pleasant experiences.
Heroes can become villains in the time it takes to complete one ill-advised transfer, with a glorious reputation suddenly left in tatters.
All of a sudden those who could do no wrong are vilified as sacrilegious traitors, with burning effigies and x-rated taunts the order of the day.
This is not always the case, though, and in skysports.com's latest Top 10 countdown we will attempt to throw together an intriguing blend of those players that retain God-like status at certain grounds across the globe and those that are now perceived as the Devil incarnate.
Dimitar Berbatov - White Hot Lane
The surly Bulgarian is yet to set foot back in North London following his acrimonious exit from Tottenham on transfer deadline day, but he can expect a frosty reception when he rolls into town with new charges Manchester United on Saturday. Having spent the summer sulking like a hormonal teenager, desperately seeking an exit from White Hart Lane, the former Bayer Leverkusen ace finally got his way when Sir Alex Ferguson stumped up the best part of £31million to take him to Old Trafford. Making no secret of your desire to secure a move elsewhere is a guaranteed way to rile staunchly loyal supporters and Berbatov's eye-catching two-year spell with Spurs will mean nothing when he returns with the Red Devils this weekend.
Paul Ince - Always Hammered
Quite what the self-proclaimed Guv'nor was thinking when he allowed himself to be photographed in a Manchester United shirt while still a West Ham player at the time only he knows, but it is fair to say that his antics did not go down too well in the East End. A Hammers supporter as a boy, Ince had committed a cardinal sin in the eyes of the Upton Park faithful. One of their own had been taken in by the bright lights of the Theatre of Dreams, and the former England international will never be forgiven for turning his back on his roots. Every appearance he made at the Boleyn Ground from that point on, with United, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Wolves, was greeted by a chorus of jeers and jibes from a frustrated fan base. Having now stepped into management, the Blackburn boss can expect more of the same in the future. His first venture back into the lion's den on 30th August did not go entirely to plan, as Rovers slipped to a 4-1 defeat, and Ince is likely to still have the terrace taunts from that day ringing in his ears.
Sol Campbell - Never forget
While it is possible to forgive - with time - a player for wanting to further their career after achieving all they can at one destination or another, there are some moves that are deemed inexcusable. For instance, as a home-grown talent, you do not allow your contract to run out, preventing the club which has nurtured you to your current status to demand a transfer fee, and then swan off to join their fiercest rivals. That, though, is precisely what Campbell did in 2001 when he bid farewell to Tottenham and crossed north London as a free agent to sign a lucrative contract at Arsenal. Unsurprisingly, the burly centre-half quickly become public enemy No. 1 at White Hart Lane, and still holds that mantle to this day. The 'Judas' tag which has been bestowed upon him will never be removed, while Spurs supporters got themselves into trouble earlier this season by serenading their former charge with a number of questionable chants during a trip to Campbell's current club Portsmouth.
Luis Figo - Pigged out
While the rivalry which exists between Real Madrid and Barcelona may not be based on geographical gripes, it remains one of the feistiest in Europe. There have been countless players over the years that have turned out for both clubs during the course of a career, but few make a direct switch - or least not under the dramatic circumstances which overshadowed Figo's record-breaking transfer from Catalunya to the capital in 2000. Los Blancos shelled out £38million to get their man, a move which sparked the 'Galactico' era at Santiago Bernabeu and left those at Camp Nou slightly miffed to say the least. The Portuguese winger was greeted by a cauldron of whistles upon his first trip back to Camp Nou, although that was nothing compared to his second trip in 2002. Missiles rained down upon him every time he dared to tread within projectile range, with a pig's head representing the most bizarre of the objects to fall at his feet. At least that night saw disgruntled supporters remain in the stands, though, because at Euro 2004 Figo was confronted by an on-field intruder who, in a choreographed act of defiance, hurled a Barca flag at his feet during a game against Greece.
Wayne Rooney - Fury across the Mersey
Croxteth's finest once displayed his loyalty to boyhood heroes Everton by scrawling 'Once a Blue, always a Blue' on a hastily designed home-made T-shirt during his days at Goodison Park. However, he suddenly had a change of heart when Manchester United came calling in 2004 - deciding that perhaps he was not all that fond of the Toffees after all. The most expensive teenager in football history was suddenly off to Old Trafford, much to the disgust of those who once idolised him on Merseyside. Now vehemently committed to the Red Devils' cause, Rooney has become an easy target for those who have nailed their colours to David Moyes' mast. Not that the England international does anything to try and appease the volatile situation, with public badge-kissing exercises seemingly the order of the day when he heads back to his old stomping ground.
Mo Johnston - Such a hoopla
The Glasgow-born striker was not the first man to cross the Old Firm divide, but remains the most notable. Johnston spent three years with his beloved Celtic between 1984 and 1987, before heading off to a France for a two-year stint at Nantes. Having then decided he fancied a move back home, the flame-haired forward boldly proclaimed that he would be making an emotional return to Parkhead in 1989. However, a last-minute change of heart saw him inexplicably sign for the Hoops' arch-enemies Rangers. Gers supporters saw the signing of a high-profile Roman Catholic as a betrayal of the club's traditions, while Celtic were left gob-smacked by the whole escapade. Johnston was able to win over a sceptical Ibrox public by helping the club to two league titles, but he remained the epitome of evil to all those with green and white blood running through their veins.
Ashley Cole - Cashing in
It is fair to say that England's first-choice left-back does not enjoy universal acclaim across the country - with his reputation hardest hit around Ashburton Grove. A product of Arsenal's famed youth academy, Cole quickly established himself as one of the finest exponents of his position in world football. Fame and fortune followed, but it was not enough. Reports of cloak and dagger meetings with Chelsea soon surfaced and an inevitable switch across the capital arrived in the summer of 2006. Around that time, Cole also released his now infamous autobiography. Gunners supporters were already peeved at seeing one of their top talents snatched by one of their closest rivals, but outlandish revelations in the aforementioned book pushed them over the edge. Mr Cheryl Tweedy is now about as welcome at the Emirates as Jeremy Clarkson at a Greenpeace convention and will be forced to pay the price for his previous misdemeanours for the rest of his career.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Sporting gesture
Steering away from those who have caused controversy and contempt with their actions over the years, we will end by taking a look at some of those who enjoy a social standing which ensures they will never have an empty glass in their hand when they return to the scene of former glories. Ronaldo is one such man, with the flying Portuguese winger still held in high regard by those who helped put him on the road to superstardom. The current owner of the coveted Ballon d'Or shot to fame at Sporting Lisbon and holds a special place in the hearts of those who follow the capital club. The Real Madrid transfer saga which dominated the headlines last summer has seen his popularity wane in the eyes of some Manchester United supporters, but he can rest assured that he will always be welcomed with open arms in his homeland.
Robbie Fowler - Kop idol
The fact that Liverpool followers still refer to Fowler as 'God' speaks for itself, especially as the club have boasted their fair share of special players down the years. The man who embodied the 'fox-in-the-box' mantle more than any other is as much a part of Anfield folklore as 'You'll Never Walk Alone', Bill Shankly and the Kop. A public falling out with then boss Gerard Houllier in 2001 saw him wrenched away from the Reds, only to make a shock return five years later under the guidance of Rafa Benitez. While the waistline may have expanded and the pace diminished, a goal scorer never loses his instinct and Fowler embraced his return to Merseyside like a child in a sweet shop. He may get another opportunity to tread the hallowed turf after signing a short-term agreement with Blackburn this season, but a record of 183 goals in 369 appearances has guaranteed his standing as Anfield's favourite son.
Roberto Baggio - Divine ponytail
A fine example from beyond British shores of how one man can capture the imagination of a city and be placed on a pedestal for all eternity. Baggio arrived in Florence as a promising teenager in 1985 and left five years later as a messiah. Street riots greeted the announcement of his departure to Juventus in the summer of 1990, with the player himself admitting that he was reluctant to leave his spiritual home. However, the move went through and Il Divin Codino's relationship with La Viola was over. The passion for his former club continued to rage inside Baggio, though, and he even refused to take a penalty in a clash with Fiorentina a year later. Having slipped into the shadows since announcing his retirement from the game four years ago, a poignant moment for all of his many fans came in October of this year when he once again pulled on the famous purple jersey for a charity match in aid of his seriously ill former team-mate Stefano Borgonovo. Having not seen the great man grace Stadio Artemio Franchi for almost 20 years, the highlight for those in attendance that day was seeing Baggio despatch a coolly taken spot-kick and celebrate once again in front of his adoring public.
