Top 5 Loyal football greats who returned back to the clubs where it all began; see who makes the cut

By
Jehan Mucadum
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Footballers First Clubs: The old saying still holds true- Home is where the heart lies and even footballers believe in that ideology as well.

Many footballers over the globe have used their last few years of their careers as a chance to go back to the clubs where they began it all.

It gives them a homely feeling and also a sense of belonging to the club that first believed in their talent.

We have seen a number of greats return to their first clubs once they are towards the fag end of their careers.

Today, we look at the top 5 football greats who went back to the clubs where it all began.

Carlos Tevez

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The Argentina and ex-Manchester City forward began his career at Boca Juniors in 2001 where he spent 3 years before making the move.

At the age of 16, Tevez made his debut for Juniors where he showcased his potential and the world witnessed a player set to create magic.

Carlos was a huge hit later on in his career when he represented West Ham and the Manchester Clubs during his stay in England.

At the age of 31 years, Tevez returned to Boca Juniors for a season before finishing off his career with them in 2021.

Wayne Rooney

ImageEnglish forward, Rooney made his senior debut in 2002 for Everton as a 17-year-old.

One cannot forget the moment he showcased his brilliance with that goal vs Arsenal at Goodison Park.

After moving from Everton to Man United in 2004, Rooney spent 13 years at Old Trafford, where he etched every record and became an all time great.

Wayne returned to Everton in 2017 for a season long spell with the Toffees; which showed his loyalty to the club. In his 2nd spell at Everton, Rooney scored 11 goals in 40 appearances.

Fernando Torres

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One of the most talented strikers of his time, Fernando Torres is another great who went back to his first time before he finished his career.

His first senior club was Atletico Madrid, where he spent 6 seasons and made his debut at 17.

Fernando proved his potential at the club which saw him make the move to UK, where he was a celebrated striker at Liverpool.

In 2015, he returned to the Spanish side on loan from AC Milan before signing permanently for 2 more years post that season.

Torres spent a total of 9 seasons in Atletico Madrid before retiring in 2019.

Robin van Persie

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Van Persie began his career at Dutch club, Feyenoord as an 18-year-old and spent 3 years before moving to Arsenal.

In those three years, Van Persie proved his talent and capabilities, showcasing he has what it takes to reach the top.

After a resounding career in the EPL, RVP returned to the Dutch side in 2018 for one last shot at success, where he helped them win the Dutch Cup.

Robin currently is the assistant manager at the club and is a celebrated figure in Netherlands.

Throughout his career, he was a shrewd, clever and intelligent striker and always credit Feyenoord for his success as a player.

Luis Suárez

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Suárez made his senior debut at 18 for Nacional in 2005 where he began his professional life as a footballer.

From there on it was a move from strength-to-strength as Luis Suarez became one of the world’s most quick footed and fierce strikers.

In 2022, he made it a point to return to his parent club at the age of 35 after spells at Groningen, Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Suarez has played 17 years as a senior footballer and could well want to finish off his career at the club which saw his talent first.

It is this loyalty that makes him one of the most loved footballers despite his disciplinary record.

This will be Suarez’s second year at Nacional after spending a year early in his career.


       

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