15 British Players Who Returned To Their Former Clubs

When Joe Cole moved from Chelsea to Liverpool in 2010 there was much excitement. Only 28 years old, he'd impressed for both Chelsea and England throughout his career and had a cabinet full of trophies from his time at Stamford Bridge to show for it.

Steven Gerrard, then Liverpool captain, believed he was England's answer to Messi and saw him as a major coup. Unfortunately it turned out to be a major misstep in his career and he never reached those heights again. After a brave, steadying loan deal to Lille, Cole found himself going back to the team where it had all started for him, West Ham United.

A product of their youth system, he was widely recognised as a hot prospect for top clubs to keep their eyes on as he progressed into the main squad. Cole quickly claimed a place in the first team after debuting aged 17 and won the Intertoto Cup in his first full season with the club. By the time he was 19 he would captain the side and won the "Hammer of the Year Award" in 2006 before moving to Chelsea as West Ham were unfortunately relegated from the top flight.

He returned in January 2013 on a free transfer to significantly less fanfare than he'd left to. Nevertheless he went on to play a creditable 37 games and score five goals for the club, though this time was marred by a nasty hamstring tear and a clear depletion of his former talents. He left on another free to Aston Villa in the summer of 2014.