Footballers often move to other clubs in search of trophies, first-team opportunities or a bigger wage, but it doesn’t always work out the way they would have liked.
There have been instances when a player moves back to a hometown club or where he first got his big break. But, the return may fail dramatically.
Let’s take a look at 5 players who made a mistake by returning to their former Premier League clubs:
#5 Steven Pienaar (Everton)
Steven Pienaar was a key component in Everton‘s success under David Moyes as the South African formed a deadly partnership with Leighton Baines on Everton’s left flank.
But, Pienaar left the Toffees in the 2011 winter transfer window, joining Tottenham in the process. The move to the North London club did not work out, and he returned to Everton a year later, initially on a loan deal and then a permanent one.
(Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
His second run with the club wasn’t good, though, and he quickly fell out-of-favour, playing 17 games in his last two seasons combined. He then moved to Sunderland, where he played one season before retiring.
#4 Robbie Keane (Tottenham)
Irish striker Robbie Keane had six fantastic seasons with Tottenham, scoring plenty of goals and winning over the fans. His goals led to interest from Liverpool and he moved to the Reds in 2008, a club that he was a fan of.
But, his dream move ended in just six months as he rejoined Tottenham in the 2009 winter transfer window after being used sparsely at Anfield.
Keane’s second spell with Spurs ended in just one year as he could not recapture his past goalscoring form, and he left to join Celtic.
#3 Joe Cole (West Ham United)
Attacking midfielder Joe Cole was one of the most promising players in England in the late ‘90s when he played for West Ham United. The Englishman returned to the Hammers in January 2013, following an injury-ravaged spell at Liverpool.
But, Cole’s second spell at West Ham, although promising at times, failed to live up to the expectations that the passionate fans had.
In 37 appearances over one-and-a-half seasons, Cole scored 5 goals and made 3 assists in all competitions – not good numbers for a player of his quality.
#2 Andy Carroll (Newcastle United)
Andy Carroll is another player that Liverpool gambled upon to be their next big star, but the striker didn’t deliver in his one-and-a-half seasons at the club.
Carroll joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on the back of two good seasons for the Magpies. He then moved to West Ham United, where he played just 134 times in six injury-hit seasons, scoring only 34 goals.
The Geordie re-joined Newcastle United at the start of the 2019-20 season on a free transfer, and looks far off the pace, as he is yet to score in 14 appearances. Injuries have plagued him this season as well.
#1 Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Paul Pogba, shockingly, left Manchester United in 2012 to join Juventus on a free transfer. The Frenchman was for long regarded as one of the most talented players in the United academy, but a lack of opportunities in the United first-team resulted in him leaving the club.
He returned to the club in 2016 for a world-record fee, signed by Jose Mourinho. The Frenchman was an integral part in Mourinho’s team, and helped the club to Europa League and League Cup titles in his first season. Even though he was scoring and assisting, his relationship with Mourinho wasn’t the best.
And now, after an injury-plagued season, his future is up in the air after he and his agent have hinted at the World Cup-winning midfielder leaving the club, which has left a sour taste in the mouths of the United fans all over the world.