Meet the 20 players who played for both Manchester United and Manchester City

admin January 14, 2023 Sports Leave a comment

More than 20 players have represented both the red and blue side of Manchester, including some all-time greats

Manchester United and Manchester City have had their fair share of superstars throughout the years, but few players got to wear both the red as well as the blue jersey.

One player who seemed to be on the verge of doing just that was Cristiano Ronaldo when he appeared to be close to joining Manchester City after opting to leave Juventus, only for the Portugal legend to remember just in time that United was actually the club of his heart.

There have been others who did not worry about crossing the city divide, though, and plied their trade at both United and City.

But who were those rebels who cared little about club loyalty and potentially upsetting thousands of fans,?

Let’s take a look at the list of stars who have been part of both clubs!

Getty Images

Andy Cole

After graduating from Arsenal’s academy and making one senior appearance for the Gunners, Andy Cole made moves to Bristol City and Newcastle United before Manchester United came calling in 1995.

At United, Cole made history as he scored 93 goals in 195 appearances between 1995 and 2001, winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League.

The fourth-highest goal scorer in Premier League history with 187 goals, Cole left United to move to Blackburn in 2001 before joining Fulham in 2004 and Manchester City a year later.

The English striker scored nine goals in 22 appearances for City in his solitary 2005-06 season at the club.
Google

John Gidman

Aston Villa legend John Gidman moved to Manchester United in the summer of 1981, becoming then new manager Ron Atkinson’s first signing at the club.

After making 120 appearances for United and winning the FA Cup, Gidman moved to City in 1986, where he spent two seasons.

Gidman got relegated with City during his two seasons at the club.
Getty Images

Brian Kidd

Most recently, you might have seen him play the role of Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager at City, but Brian Kidd is way more than just that.

A 1967-68 European Cup winner with Manchester United, Kidd featured for the Red Devils between 1967 and 1974 before moving to Arsenal after United’s relegation and then went on to join Manchester City in 1976.

The striker scored 52 goals for United in 203 appearances, 30 goals in 77 appearances for Arsenal and 44 goals in 98 appearances for City.

Kidd scored three times for City against United.
Getty Images

Denis Law

Part of Manchester United’s famous ‘holy trinity’ alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, Law first featured for Manchester City after joining from Huddersfield Town in 1960, before moving to Torino in Italy one season later.

In 1962, Manchester United signed Law for a then British record fee and the forward went on to become one of the greatest players the club has ever seen.

The 1964 Ballon d’Or winner made 404 appearances for United, scoring 237 goals and is till date the third highest goalscorer in the club’s rich history, behind Sir Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney.

Nicknamed “The King”, Law is the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or.

In 1973, Law returned to Manchester City and retired a season later.
Getty

Sammy McIlroy

Sir Matt Busby’s last signing as Manchester United manager, Mcllroy joined the club’s academy in 1969 and went on to become an absolute legend at the club.

The midfielder made 342 senior appearances for United, scoring 57 goals between 1971 and 1982, before moving to Stoke City in 1982.

Three seasons later, Mcllroy made the move to Manchester City, where he made 13 appearances over the course of a solitary season.
Getty Images

Peter Schmeichel

One of the greatest Manchester United goalkeepers of all time, Schmeichel did not make the direct switch from United to City, taking a detour via Sporting CP and Aston Villa before featuring for the blue side of Manchester.

Between 1991 to 1999, Schmeichel made 292 appearances for United.

In 2002, he moved to City and ensured he held an incredible record in Manchester derbies as he never lost one in his career.

During his nine years at Old Trafford, he went unbeaten against City and in his solitary season at Maine Road, he helped City beat United at home and conjure up a draw at Old Trafford.

Despite him playing for the blue side of Manchester, most United players and fans still hold Schmeichel close to their heart.
Carlos Tevez

The first player to have made the transfer between the Manchester clubs since Terry Cooke moved from United to City in 1999, Tevez left the Red Devils on a sour note.

The Argentine moved to City in the summer of 2009 and made his first derby appearance in an iconic 4-3 loss at Old Trafford.

Tevez won an FA Cup and the 2011-12 Premier League title with City.

After a rather sad end to his time at City, Tevez moved to Juventus in 2013.
Getty

Andrei Kanchelskis

Kanchelskis became a cult hero at Manchester United between 1991 and 1995, making over a century of appearances for the club before moving to Everton and later, Fiorentina and Rangers.

He returned to England with arch-rivals Manchester City on a loan in 2001 and made 10 appearances in blue.

Kanchelskis holds a rather unique record as he is the only player to have scored in each of the Manchester, Merseyside and Glasgow derbies.
Getty Images

Owen Hargreaves

Champions League winner with Manchester United in the 2008-09 season – in which he scored his penalty in the shootout in the final against Chelsea – Hargreaves made just 27 appearances for the Red Devils between 2007 and 2011.

In August 2011, Manchester City signed him as a replacement for Patrick Vieira and preparing in advance for Yaya Toure’s absence due to the African Cup of Nations in January 2012.

However, his solitary season at City was rather underwhelming as he made just one appearance in the club’s Premier League title winning season, thus missing out on a winner’s medal.
Getty Images

The rest, from Mark Robins to Peter Barnes

Multiple other stars of their respective eras have crossed the Manchester divide over the years, with the first-ever player being Wyn Davies.

The Welsh striker featured for Manchester City in the 1971-72 season, before making a move to Manchester United the following season.

Then there’s Terry Cooke, who started his career with United in 1994, but could only make four appearances till 1999 when he moved to Manchester City.

Mark Robins is a striker who featured 48 times for United between 1988 and 1992. Later in his career, in 1999, he made a season-long loan move to Manchester City.

Last but not least, there’s Peter Barnes. The winger played for over 20 clubs in his career. He started out at City in 1974 at senior level and played for United between 1985 and 1987.