Inspiration for Steven Gerrard: the veterans who won major silverware after switching clubs
PSG and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has advised Steven Gerrard that he should move to a bigger club if he hopes to win more trophies before his career ends, and though the Swede's claim has been met with some derision, could he actually have a point? talkSPORT look at the veterans who won silverware after making the move from their long-term clubs...
Name: Andrea Pirlo
From: AC Milan to Juventus
Years at former club: 10
Age at time of move: 32
Won: Serie A (2011/12), Supercoppa Italia (2012)
Andrea Pirlo was the heartbeat of a hugely successful Milan side in the 2000s, pulling the strings from deep and supplying a host of stars with goals en route to two Serie A titles, two Champions League wins as well as a host of additional cup triumphs. By the time 2011 came around, however, Pirlo was considered past it by the Rossoneri, only making 17 appearances in the 2010/11 Serie A campaign and the midfielder was allowed to leave the San Siro for free that summer. The error proved costly for Milan, with Juventus signing the midfielder and going on to construct their team around his brilliant range of passing. Pirlo went on to make 41 appearances for Juve in all competitions in 2011/12, and his influence was huge in their successful campaign to wrestle the Serie A title from the very team he left. The switch to the Old Lady seemed to revitalise Pirlo, and he would go on to produce a fine and dominant tournament display with the Italian national the following summer at Euro 2012, making it all the way to the final. Sometimes a change of scenery makes the world of difference.
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Name: Henrik Larsson
From: Celtic to Barcelona
Years at former club: Seven
Age at time of move: 33
Won: La Liga (x2), UEFA Champions League (2005/06)
Henrik Larsson was the darling of Parkhead for seven years, so when he finally decided to leave the Scottish side for Barcelona in 2004, it broke the hearts of the Celtic faithful. For the neutrals, the general consensus was that the move had come too late for the the 33-year-old, but the Swede proved that class is permanent. Larsson only scored three goals in the league during his first season at the club, with a major injury eating in to his time on the field, but the Catalans chose to extend his contract regardless, and he would pay them back in spades the following year. His 10 goals in the winning 2005/06 league campaign were worth their weight in gold for Barcelona, but it was his game-changing appearance in the 2005/06 Champions League final for which he will always be remembered in Catalunya. Larsson's arrival on the field against Arsenal turned the tide for the Catalans, with the striker assisting Samuel Eto'o's equaliser, then providing a further assist for Juliano Belleti's winner. Ask Larsson if he regrets leaving his beloved Celtic for Barcelona, and he'll surely point to his one and only Champions League winner's medal in response.
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Name: Gary McAllister
From: Coventry City to Liverpool
Years at former club: Four
Age at time of move: 35
Won: FA Cup (2000/01), UEFA Cup (2000/01), League Cup (2000/01), UEFA Super Cup (2001)
More than a few eyebrows were raised when Gerrard Houllier decided to bring 35-year-old Gary McAllister to Liverpool in 2000, but in the end it proved to be the Frenchman's greatest decision at the club. In his first season with the Reds, McAllister played a key role in a cup treble, including the Reds' first European trophy since 1984, and he even had time to help them bowl over Bayern to lift the 2001 UEFA Super Cup. Not bad for an old man. Not bad by any standards, in fact. In Gary McAllister, Steven Gerrard has an example close to home that proves it's never too late to make a move.
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Name: Thierry Henry
From: Arsenal to Barcelona
Years at former club: Eight
Age at time of move: 30
Won: La Liga (x2), Copa del Rey (2008/09), UEFA Champions League (2008/09), UEFA Super Cup (2009), FIFA Club World Cup (2009), Supercopa de Espanya (2009)
Though Arsenal were undoubtedly sad to see Thierry Henry leave for £16m in June 2007, there was a feeling by some that the Frenchman's best days were behind him, with the striker due to turn 30 before the start of the following season. Henry couldn't have arrived at Barca at a worst time, with the 2007/08 marking the last dying embers of Frank Rijkaard's era at the club and though he would finish the campaign with 19 goals in all competitions, there was still uncertainty over whether he could recapture the form he showed at Arsenal. The next season under Pep Guardiola Henry proved the doubters wrong, forming a deadly, record-breaking front three with Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi and scoring 26 goals in all competitions and assisting 12. That year, Henry got his hands on the one major trophy to have eluded him, the UEFA Champions League, a trophy Arsenal have still failed to win since his departure, proving that breaking Arsenal hearts was worth it for the elegant French forward.
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Name: Teddy Sheringham
From: Tottenham to Man United
Years at former club: Five
Age at time of move: 31
Won: Premier League (x3), FA Cup (1998/99), UEFA Champions League (1998/99), PFA Players' Player of the Year (2000/01)
At the age of 31, Teddy Sheringham had more than established himself as a Spurs favourite by the time 1997 came around, but without a major honour to his name, the striker was forced to seriously consider his future. A move to Man United followed and in hindsight it's easy to forget that signing a striker the wrong side of thirty was a gamble for United boss Alex Ferguson. His first season with the club didn't bring a trophy or any particularly convincing displays, while a heated relationship with Andy Cole didn't help his cause and despite the arrival of Dwight Yorke the following campaign, Sheringham managed to make 17 appearances in the Premier League and lift his first domestic title. His biggest contribution was yet to come, however, when he scored the equaliser in the dying minutes of United's 1999 Champions League final win against Bayern and the veteran then set up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the winner. A Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League winners medals - the best decision he ever made?
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Name: Raul
From: Real to Schalke
Years at former club: 20
Age at time of move: 33
Won: DFB-Pokal (2010/11), DFL-Supercup (2011)
Raul's honours list with Real could fill a bottomless hole, but when the Spaniard was deemed persona-non-grata at the club he had given so much to in 2010, he was faced with a big choice. He had the option of going to the MLS, Russia, or Qatar to play out his final days at a less challenging level, but he instead opted for one final challenge at German side Schalke, who had qualified for Champions League football. Raul proved he wasn't in Germany for an easy ride on his debut, netting a brace against Bayern in a 3-1 pre-season win and by the end of the 2010/11 season, the Spainard had scored 19 goals in all competitions for the Germans, including a goal against Bayern to help Schalke reach the DFB-Pokal final for the first time in six years, while his celebrations at the final whistle in the semi-final showed just how much it meant to him. Schalke would win the trophy, adding a domestic cup, one honour he had never won, to his bulging cabinet. He also made a major contribution that season in Schalke's run to their first ever Champions League semi final, scoring twice in the quarter final against Inter to take them through to a glamour tie with Man United. He also added a second trophy to his honours list in Germany, the 2011 DFL-Supercup, in July of 2011. In his time at Schalke, Raul scored three hat-tricks and 40 goals over two seasons, leaving the German side a firm fan favourite, with his parting words summing up the success of his move from Madrid: “I had a wonderful two years here and the club will always be in my heart. I also want to say many thanks to the fans. It will be emotionally difficult to say goodbye, Schalke will always be a part of my life”.
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Will Steven Gerrard regret staying at Liverpool for the entirety of his career or should he move on while he still can? Leave a comment below and have your say...