5 Greatest Players to Have Represented Manchester United and Manchester City
In the Premier League era, just five players have worn the red of Manchester United and the sky blue of Manchester City.
It has never been particularly common for players to make the cross-city switch, but it has happened occasionally. Among the ranks of those who have played for both teams are some bona-fide all-time greats.
Those unlucky to miss out on a place in this list include players like Brian Kidd, who also made the switch as a coach, the injury ravaged Owen Hargreaves and turn-of-the-century legends Billy Meredith and Sandy Turnbull, whose exclusion is based on the difficulties in assessing their relative merits to more contemporary players.
The players included are not judged on their contribution at both clubs, rather their peak level, whichever club it was at. Most of them were at their best at United rather than City, but the first player featured saved his best displays for his days in sky blue...
Carlos Tevez
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Carlos Tevez seemed born to play for Manchester United. He was hugely popular with the fans because, in spite of his relatively meagre goalscoring contribution, he worked absolutely tirelessly for the team's cause.
However, the love he must have felt from the Stretford End turned into a very different emotion once he had made the cross-town switch. Deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, City were more than happy to snap Tevez up and celebrated his arrival with the infamous "Welcome to Manchester" billboard.
The idea that Tevez had been a natural fit at United suddenly felt very misguided.
He thrived at City for a time, scoring 59 goals in 97 starts in the league, according to Soccerbase.com. It was a hit rate considerably in excess of his time with the Red Devils.
Eventually, his relationship with the club soured, as he infamously fell out with Roberto Mancini. However, for his crucial impact at a time when City were emerging as a genuine force in the Premier League, Tevez deserves his place on this list.
Sammy McIlroy
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Sammy McIlroy's time at City was a pitstop in his career, but he definitely qualifies for legendary status in the red half of Manchester.
Sir Matt Busby's last signing, McIlroy made his debut in a Manchester derby, scoring and setting up a goal, at the age of just 17.
Prolific for a midfielder, "Sammy Mac" scored 71 times in 419 United appearances, per Manchester United's official website, and he was a bright light during one of the club's less successful spells. He was a crucial part of the side who won Division Two in the 1974/75 season and the FA Cup in 1977.
Andy Cole
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Like McIlroy, Cole's City career was brief as he spent just one injury-shortened season at Maine Road.
Like McIlory, his United career was rather more storied. Five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and, of course, a starring role in the club's greatest-ever season, as he scored 24 goals during United's march to the treble.
Facing competition from Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Cole remained first choice for much of that season, playing 32 times in the league and 10 times in Europe. His goals were crucial to United for much of his trophy-laden stay at the club.
A predator in the box, Cole was also able to link up brilliantly with his fellow strikers—his interplay with Yorke in particular was a sight to behold.
Peter Schmeichel
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Peter Schmeichel may just be United's greatest-ever goalkeeper. His command of the box, his remarkable shot-stopping and his ability to start counter-attacks by bowling out the ball with tremendous power and accuracy were all important parts of the football United played en route to amassing a glittering trophy haul during his time at the club.
He was less brilliant by the time he arrived at City—again, a later port of call. But at United, he seemed to revolutionise the goalkeeper's art before our eyes, inventing the star-jump style which made him so tough to beat in one-on-ones.
The Great Dane won five Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, a League Cup and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford. It took Sir Alex Ferguson many years to find an adequate replacement once he had left the club.
The void he left behind him is a pretty decent indicator of why he deserves a place on this list.
Denis Law
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Given that he is immortalised in a statue outside Old Trafford, it is entirely uncontroversial to call Denis Law a Manchester United legend. The "King," as he was known by the Stretford End, was a prolific goalscorer and formed part of the so called "Holy Trinity" with his team-mates George Best and Bobby Charlton.
He played for City either side of his United career. It was his performances at Maine Road which attracted the attentions of Torino, from whom Sir Matt Busby signed Law for United.
There is a famous myth that Law—upon his post-United return to City—scored a goal which relegated the Red Devils. Of course, United would have gone down that day whether or not Law had scored, but he did not know that at the time.
His reaction to scoring was perhaps the most emotionally authentic non-celebration of a goal against a former club of all time. He looked genuinely devastated.
United fans prefer to remember him in happier times, and there were many, as Law won the FA Cup, two league titles and, most famously of all, the 1968 European Cup.
He is one of football's all-time greats and worthy of his place atop this list.
