Top Six: famous football Judases
Judas! Judas! Judas!
1. Harry Kewell to Galatasaray
Leeds Utd fans are incensed that one of their former stars has signed for the club they hate almost as much as Man Utd – as you probably remember, two Leeds fans were stabbed to death by Turkish fans at a UEFA Cup semi final between the two clubs in 2000. Kewell has insisted the move is not disrespectful: “I chose the number 19 shirt when I signed for Galatasaray as a sign of respect for Leeds because that was the number I got when I first became a regular member of the Leeds starting XI,” he said.
More below…
2. Paul Ince (West Ham to Man Utd)
Ince was photographed in a Man Utd kit before his £1million transfer was completed. The snap was published in the Daily Express – West Ham fans have never forgiven the Guvnor for the gaffe. Ince went on to playe for Man Yoo’s bitter rivals Liverpool, making him a double Judas.
3. Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid)
When Judas Figo returned to the Nou Camp in 2002, for Real Madrid, Barca fans pelted him with bottles, mobile phones, coins and – most famously – a pig’s head.
4. Maurice “Mo” Johnston (Celtic to Rangers, via Nantes)
Just days before signing for Graeme Souness’ Rangers, from Nantes, Johnston had appeared at a press conference at Celtic Park where he declared that “Celtic are the only club that I want to play for.” Oops. As you might expect, the u-turn was not popular with either set of Glaswegian fans.
5. Sol Campbell (Spurs to Arsenal)
When Campbell signed for the Gooners, he ensured that he would forever be known as “Judas” by all but the most forgiving of Tottenham fans.
6. Eric Cantona (Leeds Utd to Man Utd)
Ooh ahh Cantona was Leeds United’s hero. Then Howard Wilkinson sold him to their arch rivals across the Pennines, for the criminally low sum of £1.2m. Nice one, Howard. Leeds fans have never forgiven Wilkinson for selling Cantona.
