Top 10 Bosman transfers of all time

[Scouser_Dave]

Success in the free market: The top ten Bosmans of all time | Mail Online

Everyone loves a bargain and getting a player of international pedigree without paying a penny to his former club makes the acquisition all the sweeter.

Or, in the case of Sol Campbell, it makes the loss even more acute for the club the player leaves behind as there is no cash to soften the blow.

1. Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur - Arsenal, 2001)

England international Campbell became a Spurs 'Judas' when the Tottenham captain joined Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001.
As if defection to Tottenham's north London rivals wasn't bad enough, Campbell's first season at Highbury saw the centre half win the double with the Gunners.
He won a further Premier League title with Arsenal in 2004, making 197 appearances for the club before moving to Portsmouth in 2006 after scoring in Arsenal's 2-1 loss to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final in Paris.

2. Steve McManaman (Liverpool - Real Madrid, 1999)

Several years before David Beckham had even heard of the Bernabeu, one of the original 'Spice Boys' ran down his contract at Liverpool and joined Real Madrid on a free transfer.

McManaman won two Spanish league titles, a European Super Cup, the World Club Cup and two Champions League titles with the Spanish outfit, scoring Real's second goal in the 2000 final against Valencia in Paris.

McManaman's role with a club who boasted the likes of Zidane and Figo in midfield roles can only be described as peripheral, but his trophy cabinet is impressive and he has the honour of being the first English player to win the European Cup with a foreign team.

A lucky part-time player or an instrumental component of Real's European success? The jury's out.

3. Geovanni (Manchester City - Hull City, 200

Hull City's Geovanni has been a revelation in East Yorkshire as his long-range efforts and set pieces have brought the Tigers Premier League wins away at Spurs and Arsenal.

Phil Brown snapped up the 28-year-old last summer from Manchester City as Geovanni was deemed surplus to Mark Hughes' requirements and 'Geo' has repaid Brown's faith with six goals this season.

The former Benfica and Barcelona midfiedler can also lay claim to two Hull City records - he scored their first goal in top-flight football when he secured the Tigers' opener against Fulham in August and is the first Brazilian Hull City player.

4. Denis Law (Manchester United - Manchester City, 1973)

The 1964 European Footballer of the Year played in some of the greatest Manchester United sides of the 1960s alongside the likes of Bobby Charlton and George Best, scoring 237 goals for the Red Devils.

Law became the first £100,000 footballer when he signed from Torino in 1962 and had played for Manchester City before leaving for Italy.

In 1973 Law crossed the Manchester divide again when, controversially, he was given a free transfer by Tommy Docherty. Apparently, Law only found out about the news because he was watching TV in a pub in Aberdeen with friends.

'The King' may have been past the peak of his powers when he joined City as a 33-year-old, but he is credited with scoring the goal that sent Docherty's United down to Division Two.

5. Gary McAllister (Coventry - Liverpool, 2000)

You could have been forgiven for thinking Gerard Houllier had lost his marbles when snapped up Coventry midfielder McAllister on a free transfer in 2000. The midfielder had enjoyed a distinguished career with Leicester City, Leeds United and the Sky Blues but, at 36 years of age, it looked like McAllister was past his best.

But, despite being sent off in his full Liverpool debut against Arsenal at Highbury, McAllister proved to be an instrumental part of the Anfield side's unique 2001 cup treble, when The Reds secured the League, FA and UEFA Cups in the same season.

McAllister cemented his part in Anfield folklore with a 94th minute 44-yard free-kick against Everton that year, as well as scoring in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Manchester United in the Charity Shield of 2001 and getting a winner's medal for the 3-2 Super Cup win over Bayern Munich in Monaco.

6. Gordon Strachan (Leeds United - Coventry, 1995)

Strachan was reunited with former Manchester United boss Ron Atkinson when he joined the Sky Blues in 1995.

The Scottish dynamo enjoyed six years at Elland Road and lifted the Premier League trophy aged 35 in 1992, but ended his illustrious career at Coventry.

He made 26 appearances for the club, becoming manager in 1996 and stayed for five years -overseeing Coventry's relegation from the Premier League after 34 years in the top flight.

7. Henrik Larsson (Celtic - Barcelona, 2004)

Larsson won four Scottish league titles with Celtic in his seven years at Celtic Park scoring 52 goals in the 2001-01 season to win the European Goldon Boot Award.

The honours followed when the Swedish striker joined Barcelona on a free transfer in 2004 as the Nou Camp club won La Liga twice, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Champions League before Larsson left Spain in 2006.

8. Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich - Chelsea, 2006)

Ballack joined Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in the summer of 2006 after captaining Germany to the semi final of the World Cup on home turf.

An ankle injury limited the midfielder's appearances for Premier League runners up Chelsea in 2006/07, but he came back strongly the following season with nine goals in just 30 appearances.

A stunning goal against West Ham in March and two goals against Manchester United in April (including an 86th minute penalty - he is German afterall) this year have won the 32-year-old plaudits at Stamford Bridge.

9. Teddy Sheringham (Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur, 2001; Tottenham - Portsmouth, 2003; West Ham United - Colchester United, 2007)

Sheringham returned 'home' to White Hart Lane in 2001 after four hugely successful years at Old Trafford that saw him win the Champions League, FA Cup as well as three Premier League titles. His brilliant performances for United received the recognition they deserved when he was voted PFA and Football Writers' player of the year in 2001.

He helped Tottenham reach the League Cup final in 2002 in his second spell at Spurs, but his best days appeared to be behind him when he joined Portsmouth.

The move, however, revitalised Sheringham and the former England striker was instrumental in keeping Harry Redknapp's newly-promoted team in the Premier League.

10. Brad Friedel (Liverpool - Blackburn, 2000; Blackburn - Aston Villa, 200

Few could have predicted the impact Friedel would have on the Premier League when Liverpool allowed him to move to Blackburn Rovers for nothing back in 2000, but the American has since developed into one of the best goalkeepers in England.

Inspirational performances at Blackburn helped the club win the 2002 League Cup and qualify for Europe on four seperate occasions. The American has continued his excellent form at Aston Villa, helping the club into the top four.

[SempreInter]

lol no chance top 10 involving British clubs...

but still a good list..

[MaschPotato]

Gary Mac only 5th

[Scouser_Dave]

Michael Ballack 8th he shouldn't even be on the list

[Californication]

Its a bit early to be holding Geovanni in such high regard is it not?

[Holminho]

Originally Posted by Californication

Its a bit early to be holding Geovanni in such high regard is it not?

I was going to say that too, he hasn't even played half a season yet but he's already above Ballack who has been here for 3 season's and was instrumental to our near title winning run last season

[Dan]

Shouldn't Friedel be much higher than that..

[Scuba Steve]

Possibly, but one, he is a keeper, and two, he is American.

Just joking there (at least about the American bit). You could argue it, but just getting on that list is a pretty good achievement.

[joegerrard]

What about Zidane and Ronaldo transfer to Real Madrid???

[magicsven101]

Originally Posted by joegerrard

What about Zidane and Ronaldo transfer to Real Madrid???

Why?!

[SempreInter]

Originally Posted by joegerrard

What about Zidane and Ronaldo transfer to Real Madrid???

they were not on frees if they were then Real Madrid would be the gurus of the transfer market.

[Black Cat Bellerby]

shouldnt Jean-Marc Bosman be on, I mean he is what made the Bosman Possible...Hence the name Bosman-Free

[chris louie II]

Originally Posted by Scouser_Dave

Michael Ballack 8th he shouldn't even be on the list

Yes he should

[Laurencioso]

Originally Posted by SempreInter

they were not on frees if they were then Real Madrid would be the gurus of the transfer market.

Not only that, but the record of biggest transfer-fee would all be a hoax!

[The Masterpiece]

Originally Posted by chris louie II

Yes he should

If Ballack deserves to be there then so should Sidwell, with his move to Chelsae

[jamielfc89]

Andriy Voronin

Bayern Leverkusen to Liverpool











































Only jokin haha

[Scouser_Dave]

Originally Posted by jamielfc89

Andriy Voronin

Bayern Leverkusen to Liverpool


Only jokin haha

Not as laughable as Ballack being on the list

[ForeverBlue'86]

Originally Posted by ProDog

If Ballack deserves to be there then so should Sidwell, with his move to Chelsae

Meaningless list, but Geovanni 3rd? Bit worse than Ballack being 8th.

Besides, Ballack is a class act for us, guess people are still a bit jealous/envious we managed to sign one of the worlds best central midfielders for absoloutly nothing.

[Holminho]

Getting Ballack would probably be one of the greatest Bosman coups of all time, He was probably within the top 3 best midfielders at the time, started off kinda slow but then found his feet as is a massive farcry from the useless duds that Liverpool manage to bring in on frees like Voronin and Degen

[den525player]

Why is larsson up there on the list? great player, but the bosman deal didn't do much.

What about Patrick Kluivert's move from Ajax - Milan? his time at milan was troubled but he was probably one of the best strikers going around back than.

i think laudrup's move to rangers should probably be on that list as well

[liltruko87]

Mark Vam Bommel to Barcelona !

[WinterHammer]

you should have added "On the Premiership" in title

[Dan]

Originally Posted by RerereChelsea

Getting Ballack would probably be one of the greatest Bosman coups of all time, He was probably within the top 3 best midfielders at the time, started off kinda slow but then found his feet as is a massive farcry from the useless duds that Liverpool manage to bring in on frees like Voronin and Degen

What has he really done for the team.. Nothing much..

I love the way you brought up Voronin and Degen.. Did you not realise that they weren't going to be in the first-team.. They are back-up players..

I still don't consider either of them flops..

[AriseForLife]

How exactly is Geovanni one of the top frees of all time?

Hell if Geovanni is on the list then surely Cesc Fabregas to Arsenal needs merit because there was no transfer fee, there was a £100K administrative fee paid to Barca and that has nothing to do with the player who was not contracted to them.

So I would have to say Cesc deserves to be on that list.

[Dan]

But he wasn't signed on a Bosman deal, so he shouldn't be in the list..