Top five footballers to play for both Manchester United and Manchester City

Football clubs from the same city have long been the bitterest rivals, and Manchester City and Manchester United are no exception. There never was any love lost between the two teams, but their rivalry appears to have intensified in recent years.

Manchester United has been the dominant power for many years, but that has all changed. Following City’s takeover and subsequent success, the Blue side of Manchester has been able to compete on an equal basis with their Red counterparts, both on and off the pitch.

Despite the intense rivalry between the two teams, a few players have represented both. Here are the top five players who have played on behalf of Manchester City and Manchester United.

1. Denis Law

Denis Law moved to Manchester City in 1960 for a then-record transfer price. The Scot played only one season for City before going to Torino. He then joined Manchester United in 1962 for another record transfer price. The attacker had a highly successful career with the Red Devils, winning two Division One titles and the European Cup in 1968.

Denis Law also became the only Scotsman to win the Ballon d’Or while at Manchester United. Law is United’s third-highest goalscorer in history. The striker returned to Manchester City in 1973 and scored a memorable backheel against Manchester United, which resulted in the Red Devils’ relegation that season.

2. Andy Cole

Andy Cole joined Manchester United from Newcastle United in the summer of 1995, setting a British transfer record at the time. The striker was enormously successful for the Red Devils, winning three Premier League titles and the treble in 1998-99.

Cole made 195 league appearances for United, scoring 93 goals. He left United in 2001 and played for a few more teams before joining Manchester City in 2005. The striker lasted only one season with City and was the team’s leading scorer.

3. Brian Kidd

Brian Kidd rose through the ranks at Manchester United, making his senior debut in 1966. He scored a goal in the European Cup final, which United won 4–1. The forward appeared in 203 league games and scored 52 goals for the Red Devils before joining Arsenal in 1974, following United’s relegation from the top tier. His spell with Arsenal was brief, as he returned to Manchester in 1976, this time for the Blues. Kidd played three years at Manchester City, where he scored 44 goals in 98 league games.

4.  Peter Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel is regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League era. The Danish stopper spent the most of his career at Manchester United, joining the club in 1991. He went on to become captain and win several titles, including a treble in 1998-99.

Schmeichel’s final match as a Manchester United player was in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, which United won 2-1. The goalkeeper joined Manchester City in 2002 and played 29 league games for them. He only stayed with them for one season, and his professional career ended after that.

5. Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez was successful at both City and United, and he is the only player on this list to have won the Premier League with both teams. Following his success with West Ham United, Tevez moved to Manchester United on a two-year loan contract in 2007.

During that time, the Argentine won two Premier League titles and one Champions League. Tevez signed for rivals Manchester City in the summer of 2009. The attacker played an important role in Manchester City’s revival, helping a rejuvenated City club win the FA Cup and the Premier League, as well as the Premier League Golden Boot in 2010-11.