Shock Returns In Football

Recalling some shock returns by players first revered, then sorely missed by fans of the club.

Robbie Fowler (Liverpool 2006)

Fowler, one of the most natural finishers I’ve had the pleasure of watching, was a Liverpool legend having scored 183 goals in 369 appearances and earned the nickname “God” on the Kop. Having left the club for Leeds Utd in 2002 and then moving to Manchester City in 2003, it seemed his Anfield career was a thing of the past, part of the folklore — yet in 2006, he returned to Liverpool to a hero’s welcome, getting off the mark against Fulham — just like he had the first time he was at the club. He did enough in the remainder of the season to earn a 1 year contract extension, sadly scoring as Captain against Reading in the League Cup (a game Liverpool won 4–3, unfortunately).

Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur, 2009)

The acrobatic Irish striker was a mainstay in the Spurs side for many a year, consistently scoring and beloved by those at White Hart Lane. His 18m GBP transfer to Liverpool before the 2008/09 season was a shock in itself. Failing to establish himself in a team resplendent with the likes of Torres and… well no, he certainly should have staked a claim for the second striker’s role. Nevertheless, he failed to fully settle at Anfield and so a move seemed likely — but the real surprise came in January 2009 when the news broke that he had re-signed for Spurs.

Kenny Miller (Rangers, 2008)

When I heard the news that Miller was returning to Rangers, I was somewhat surprised. What made this a shock return? Take your pick: Miller had played for arch-rivals Celtic; or perhaps more likely: Miller really isn’t particularly good and is quite a dislikeable person, publicly at least (I’ve no idea what he’s like when you get to know him, he might be sound). But Walter Smith clearly saw something in the striker and it was back to Ibrox.

Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth 2005)

Having transformed Portsmouth in to a Premier League fixture, the move to Southampton (bitter south coast rivals) was unexpected and left a sour taste in many a Pompey mouth. A typically fickle Pompey mouth, it emerged, as it was with open arms that ‘arry was welcomed back a year later — touted as the saviour (which, to be fair — he was, keeping Pompey in the league).