Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Of course on Sunday, Manchester United host Manchester City in arguably the biggest game of the season so far. With that in mind it’s worth looking at these 6 individuals who have spent time at United and the Scousers in their careers.
Peter Barnes
The son of Manchester City legend Ken, Peter enjoyed a successful start to his career and scored at Wembley as City won the 1976 League Cup at Wembley in a 2-1 win over Newcastle United. His career never quite reached the heights that his talent suggested he would sadly.
After leaving City, Peter’s form dropped and after having a month on-loan at United from Leeds under Ron Atkinson in 1984, in which he never played a game joined United in 1985. Despite enjoying a great start to his first season, his form slipped again and he was sold back to City by Sir Alex Ferguson. He later enjoyed short (loan and permanent) spells with Bolton.
Peter Beardsley
There are not too many players who have played for both Merseyside and Manchester clubs but Beardsley is one of them. It’s easy to forget that arguably one of the best wingers in the 1980’s played just the once for United after signing from Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps under Ron Atkinson in a League Cup tie in 1982.
Surprisingly Atkinson failed to see Peter’s talent and his time at Old Trafford was cut short as he would return back to Vancouver. After that the rest is history as Peter signed for Newcastle United in 1983 before becoming a household name on Merseyside and for England. He would enjoy a brief loan spell with Manchester City in the twilight of his career.
Sir Matt Busby
United’s most successful manager before Sir Alex Ferguson, incredibly played for not only Manchester City but Liverpool as well. Busby a useful inside forward, even captained the Scousers and would later go onto form a close friendship with future Liverpool manager Bob Paisley at the end of his playing career which was sadly cut short by the Second World War.
Despite being offered a coaching role back at Anfield after the war, Sir Matt took over at Old Trafford and immediately got United playing a successful brand of football. Three league titles were won before the Munich Disaster in 1958, but the Scot kept going and led a side 10 years later to European Cup success.
Andrew Cole
Despite scoring 121 goals for United, it’s easy to forget that Cole started his career at Arsenal after coming through their ranks as a schoolboy. After only making 2 first team appearances, he left London in 1992 and moved to Bristol City where he scored goals for fun.
Andrew would join Newcastle United where he rose to prominence in the Premier League. He surprisingly joined United in January 1995 in a deal and starred in the treble-winning season in 1999 up top alongside Dwight Yorke. After leaving Fuham in 2005 he joined Manchester City scoring 10 goals before leaving to join Portsmouth.
Brian Kidd
Younger United fans may only know Kidd as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant during the 1990’s, but he’s much more than that. At the age of 18 he broke into the United team at the start of the historic 1967-68 season which ended in him scoring at Wembley in the side’s European Cup win.
Sadly after that historic night at the home of football, United’s side declined and Brian a decent forward, sadly didn’t develop to the standard that his potential suggested he would. He left and joined good spells at Arsenal and Manchester City before having a two-year stay at Bolton in the 1980’s. He is now Roberto Mancini’s assistant at City where he is warmly remembered too.
Carlos Tevez
Right now Tevez is probably one of the most hated footballer’s in the country due to his appalling behaviour in Manchester City’s recent Champions League defeat away to Bayern Munich when he ‘refused’ to come on as a substitute. It’s easy to forget he is still a fantastic footballer.
After impressing everyone in South America, Carlos surprisingly joined West Ham in 2006 and single-handily helped keep the Hammers in the Premier League. He joined United the following season and won a League and Champions League double. Despite scoring goals the following season he moved to City where he has since won an FA Cup.
Peter Schiemchel
The man they called ‘The Great Dane’ joined United in 1991 and arguably went onto become the club’s best and most iconic goalkeeper of all-time. He was big, brave and nasty and had a habit of pulling of outstanding saves just when the team needed it the most and was not afraid to put his body on the line.
His final game for the club came against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final and he made his presence felt in the area late on, causing confusion in the box that led to Teddy Sheringham’s equaliser. After leaving United, he spent two seasons at Sporting Lisbon before ending his career at Manchester City in 2003.
Dennis Law
One part of the ‘Holy Trinity’, Scottish striker Law will go down as not just one of United’s greatest ever players and goalscorers but one of British football’s as well. He was a striker who had everything: pace, bravery, quick feet – the lot! He joined United from Italian side Torino, and was signed by the aforementioned Sir Matt Busby.
His partnership with George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton wowed Old Trafford and Europe with stunning displays. Sadly though he never won a medal in United’s European Cup triumph in 1968, missing out via injury. He was still scoring goals though and would rejoin Manchester City (who he left to sign for Torino) in 1973, scoring a famous backheel againgst United on the day the club got relegated to the second division.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
