When a participant or supervisor is linked with a return to their former membership, it’s usually mentioned: “By no means return.”
Second spells are hardly ever as profitable as the primary in soccer or seldom dwell as much as expectations if the participant in query was successful of their preliminary stint.
There are many exceptions, after all, with gamers who have been extra profitable after leaving at a younger age or exceeded expectations on their return.
Right here, a have a look at some high-profile gamers from the boys’s recreation who went again to their former golf equipment and the way they received on second time round…
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba in motion for Manchester United towards Norwich Metropolis in April 2022. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Paul Pogba joined Manchester United as a youth participant however left for Juventus in 2012 resulting from an absence of alternatives at Outdated Trafford.
After 4 years at Juve, Pogba returned to United in 2016 for a world report price of €105 million (£89.3 million). The World Cup-winning midfielder spent six seasons again with the Crimson Devils, earlier than transferring to Juventus once more in 2022. His contract was rescinded in November 2024 following a medicine ban.
Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona applauds the Boca Juniors followers in a recreation towards San Lorenzo in September 1997. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Diego Maradona began his profession at Argentinos Juniors within the late Nineteen Seventies earlier than starring for Boca Juniors between 1981 and 1982.
A transfer to Barcelona adopted after which a wonderful spell at Napoli, however after a medicine ban and a brief stint at Sevilla, the World Cup winner went again to Argentina with Newell’s Outdated Boys and later made an emotional return to Boca in 1995. His second spell was interrupted by controversial incidents, health points and blended performances on the pitch, however the followers cherished having him again.
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben in motion for FC Groningen towards FC Utrecht in Could 2021. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Arjen Robben began his profession at FC Groningen and after two seasons at PSV, the winger went on to play for Chelsea, Actual Madrid after which for a decade at Bayern Munich.
Robben referred to as time on his profession in 2019, however got here out of retirement to hitch Groningen in 2020. He made solely a handful of appearances resulting from a seven-month spell on the sidelines and hung up his boots definitively in 2021.
Zico
Zico at Flamengo in 1976. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Zico is considered one of Brazil’s all-time greats and a legend at Flamengo, the place he spent greater than 15 years throughout two spells and received a string of titles, together with the Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup.
The attacking midfielder broke by way of on the Rio de Janeiro membership within the early Nineteen Seventies and starred with the Rubro-Negro for over a decade. After two seasons with Udinese within the mid-Eighties, he returned to Flamengo in 1985 and spent 4 extra years with the membership earlier than ending his profession in Japan.
Luis Suárez
Luis Suarez kisses the Uruguayan championship trophy after successful the title with Nacional in November 2022. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Earlier than embarking on a massively profitable profession in Europe with Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, Luis Suárez began out at Nacional in Montevideo.
And the Uruguayan ahead returned to his former membership in 2022 after leaving Atleti, serving to Nacional win the championship earlier than transferring to Grêmio in Brazil and later to Inter Miami.
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba celebrates his equaliser for Chelsea towards Bayern Munich within the 2012 Champions League closing. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
One of many best centre-forwards in Premier League historical past, Didier Drogba spent eight seasons at Chelsea between 2004 and 2012 and capped an outstanding spell in west London by scoring the equaliser and later the successful penalty because the Blues beat Bayern Munich within the Champions League closing in 2012.
After quick stints with Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray, Drogba returned to Chelsea for a second spell in 2014 and received a fourth Premier League title in a sole season again with the Blues earlier than becoming a member of Montreal Influence in 2015.
Álvaro Arbeloa
Alvaro Arbeloa in motion for Actual Madrid towards Lyon in February 2011. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Álvaro Arbeloa began his profession at Actual Madrid however moved to Deportivo La Coruña in 2006 following an absence of alternatives on the Santiago Bernabéu and spent two years at Liverpool between 2007 and 2009.
The correct-back returned to Madrid in 2009 and spent seven years with Los Blancos in a profitable interval, earlier than ending his profession with a short spell at West Ham in 2016/17.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney in motion for Everton towards Newcastle United in April 2018. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Wayne Rooney started his profession at Everton, impressing as a youngster between 2002 and 2004 earlier than a big-money transfer to Manchester United.
The previous England ahead spent 13 seasons at Outdated Trafford and received a string of trophies, turning into Manchester United’s all-time high scorer earlier than returning to Goodison Park for the 2017/18 marketing campaign. Later, he performed for D.C. United and Derby County, the place he started his managerial profession.
Juan Román Riquelme
Juan Roman Riquelme celebrates a purpose for Boca Juniors towards Velez Sarsfield in Could 2007. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Juan Román Riquelme earned hero standing at Boca Juniors within the late Nineties and early 2000s, serving to the Buenos Aires giants win two Copas Libertadores, an Intercontinental Cup and three Argentine titles in a extremely profitable spell at La Bombonera.
After four-and-a-half years in Spain with Barcelona and Villarreal, Riquelme returned triumphantly to Boca in early 2007 and stayed for one more seven years, successful one other Libertadores crown and a pair extra Argentine championships earlier than ending his enjoying days with Argentinos Juniors.
Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit on the ball for AC Milan towards Napoli in Could 1988. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
One of many world’s best gamers within the late Eighties and early Nineties, Ruud Gullit helped AC Milan to 3 Serie A titles and two European Cups in a massively profitable spell.
The Dutch midfielder left for Sampdoria in 1993 and received the Coppa Italia with the Genoa-based membership. He briefly returned to Milan within the 1994/95 season, however performed solely a handful of video games and moved to Chelsea in the summertime.
Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla in motion for Villarreal towards Eibar in July 2020. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Santi Cazorla was a youth participant at Actual Oviedo, however joined Villarreal as a youngster and spent three seasons on the Yellow Submarine earlier than becoming a member of Recreativo Huelva in 2006.
After a 12 months on the Andalusian membership, Cazorla returned for a second spell between 2007 and 2011, later enjoying for Málaga and Arsenal. He left the Gunners in 2018 after an extended interval on the sidelines, however was again in motion at Villarreal for a 3rd time later that 12 months following a sequence of operations. The previous Spain midfielder later joined Al-Sadd in 2020, however returned to his homeland with first membership Oviedo in 2023.
Kaká
Kaka in motion for AC Milan towards Inter in Could 2014. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
AC Milan followers protested outdoors the membership’s workplaces forward of the Brazilian midfielder’s sale to Actual Madrid in 2009.
Kaká’s time in Madrid was interrupted by accidents and didn’t dwell as much as expectations. After 4 seasons in Spain, he returned to AC Milan for the 2013/14 marketing campaign and in addition had a spell on mortgage at first membership São Paulo following a transfer to Orlando Metropolis.
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov in motion for Barcelona towards San Lorenzo within the Gamper Trophy in August 1996. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
A legendary determine in Johan Cruyff’s Dream Group between 1990 and 1995, Hristo Stoichkov performed an enormous a part of Barcelona’s success in that period, scoring 108 targets and successful 4 La Liga titles, a European Cup and extra.
After a single season at Parma in 1996/97, Stoichkov returned to Barça and picked up just a few extra trophies underneath Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, however was on the fringes in his second spell and left for CSKA Sofia in early 1998.
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jurgen Klinsmann holds up a Tottenham scarf at his unveiling in August 1994. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Jürgen Klinsmann signed for Tottenham in a shock switch after the 1994 World Cup and the Germany ahead shortly turned a fan favorite at White Hart Lane.
Klinsmann broke the followers’ hearts and upset chairman Alan Sugar by leaving for Bayern Munich after a single season in north London, however he returned on mortgage for six months in 1998 to assist save Spurs from relegation. Throughout his two spells, he hit 38 targets in 68 appearances.
Marcelo
Marcelo celebrates with the Copa Libertadores trophy after Fluminense’s win within the closing towards Boca Juniors in November 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Marcelo left Actual Madrid in 2022 as Los Blancos’ most adorned participant, having received 25 trophies with the membership, together with six La Liga titles and 5 Champions League crowns.
After a short spell at Olympiacos, the Brazilian left-back returned to his homeland with first membership Fluminense in early 2023 and helped the Rio de Janeiro facet win the Copa Libertadores in November that 12 months. His contract was rescinded by mutual consent in November 2024.
Ian Rush
Ian Rush in motion for Liverpool towards Sheffield Wednesday in February 1985. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Ian Rush spent 15 years at Liverpool throughout two spells within the Eighties and Nineties, both facet of a tough season as a Juventus participant in 1987/88.
Rush hit over 200 targets in seven seasons with the Reds between 1980 and 1987, successful 4 First Division titles, two European Cups, an FA Cup and 4 League Cups in a massively profitable period for the membership. The Wales centre-forward returned in 1987 and went on to develop into the Reds’ all-time high scorer with 346 targets throughout his two spells, including three extra trophies earlier than leaving for Leeds United in 1996.
Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Shevchenko in motion for Dynamo Kyiv in October 2009. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Andriy Shevchenko got here by way of the youth system at Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian striker turned considered one of Europe’s most interesting forwards.
Shevchenko spent seven profitable seasons at AC Milan between 1999 and 2006. After a much less prolific stint at Chelsea, he returned to Milan on mortgage in 2008 and later completed his profession again at Dynamo from 2009 to 2011. He scored 30 targets in 83 video games in his second spell, however received only one Ukrainian Tremendous Cup.
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry, on mortgage from New York Crimson Bulls, scores for Arsenal towards Leeds United within the FA Cup in January 2012. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Thierry Henry left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007 after two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and 226 targets in 370 appearances for the Gunners.
Already the membership’s all-time high scorer, Henry made an emotional return to Arsenal on mortgage from New York Crimson Bulls in January 2012 and scored two extra targets in seven video games to make it 228 in 377 appearances general.