After week’s of speculation, Arsenal’s all time record goal scorer Thierry Henry is set to return to the club in which he sealed his reputations as one of the best strikers in the world. In nine years with the Gunners the speedy striker won seven titles, including the European championship with France. So, in the face of both Gervinho & Marouane Chamakh heading off to the African Cup of nations, it’s logical to use the services of the clubs all time record goal scorer?
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| Shevchenko in action for the Ukraine |
But does absence make the heart grow fonder? Henry was at the Emirates a few week’s ago revealing a statue of himself and was reduced to tears. At 34 he returns after two successful years for the New York Redbulls. But will Henry be able to roll back the years and torment defenses like he used to? I decided to look at the history books to look at some players who have returned to clubs after time away.
Andriy Shevchenko - AC Milan.
Milan’s second all time goal scorer Andriey Shevchenko, is recognised as one of the greatest Eastern European footballers of the modern age. In his first spell with Milan he bagged 127 goals in eight seasons. In between his return to the San Siro spent a miserable season at Chelsea where he endured a torrid time, having just scored 9 times in 48 starts. But a lifeline came in a loan deal from his former club who welcomed back the prodigal son with open arms. However it wasn’t the return that many had hoped for. Shevchenko only scored twice in twenty six appearances and only started on 9 occasions. He was promptly shipped back to Chelsea and then out of the club back to Dynamo Kiev.
Ian Rush - Liverpool
Liverpool’s record all time goal scorer Ian Rush returned back to England from Juventus, after one disastrous season in Italy. Rush joined a number of English players heading to Italy in the mid to late 80’s with the likes of Luther Blisset, Ray Wilkins & Tony Dorigo. It’s alleged that Rush claimed that living in Italy was ‘just like living in another country’. But the Welshman returned back to Anfield for a record fee of 2.7 million in 1988 and picked up from where he left of scoring a total 90 goals in his second nine year stint with the club.
Hernan Crespo - Parma
The Argentine striker is coming towards the end of a formidable career having played for both Inter Milan, AC Milan & Chelsea. However he still has a soft spot for his first European club Parma. Crespo joined from Argentine giants River Plate in 1996, in four seasons he went on to lift the Copa Italia and the Uefa Cup with the The Parmigiani, before being sold to Lazio for a then record transfer fee of £35 million. Despite leaving in controversial circumstances Crespo has always had a soft spot for Parma, and after 10 years away from the club retuned in the January transfer window last season. He has continued to score for Parma and is looking to add to his tally as Parma’s top goal scorer with 93 goals for the club so far.
Produced by Mitch Freely - follow Mitch on Twitter @mitchos
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