Ilkay Gündogan is back at Manchester City and could make his ‘second debut’ for the club against Ipswich on Saturday. Prior to the 33-year-old doing so, we revisit five other Premier League players who returned to clubs where they were stars and reflect on what happened the first time they played for them again.
Robbie Fowler, Liverpool, 2006
The striker who became known as “God” among the Anfield faithful returned there just over four years after leaving for Leeds, via Manchester City on a free transfer in January 2006. Fowler never wanted to leave Liverpool in the first place and was clearly moved by the hero’s welcome he received as he came on as a 63rd-minute substitute against Birmingham. Liverpool were leading 1-0 at the time thanks to a goal from Steven Gerrard but ultimately Fowler’s big day was spoiled by Xabi Alonso who, having also come on as a substitute, scored an own goal two minutes from full-time. Fowler almost had the last word after scoring with a bicycle kick in added time, only for the 30-year-old to be adjudged offside. He eventually scored again for Liverpool in a 5-1 victory over Fulham in March and continued to play for them until May 2007.
Paul Scholes, Man Utd, 2012
The return of one of Manchester United’s longest-serving players came as a huge shock. Less than a year after hanging up his boots after an illustrious 18-year career at Old Trafford, Scholes was back having been convinced by Sir Alex Ferguson to come out of retirement to help his boyhood club amid an injury crisis. Out of nowhere, the 37-year-old was named by Ferguson as one of his substitutes for United’s FA Cup third-round match against Manchester City in January 2012 and came on with half an hour remaining of a thrilling derby that ended in a 3-2 victory for the visitors at the Etihad. Scholes continued at United for another 15 months, winning an 11th Premier League title before retiring again for good.
Thierry Henry, Arsenal, 2012
January 2012 also saw Arsenal bring their record goalscorer back to the club. The Frenchman returned on a two-month loan from New York Red Bulls to provide cover for Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh, who were unavailable due to their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations and the 34-year-old made the perfect comeback, scoring a 78th-minute winner in a third-round FA Cup tie against Leeds at the Emirates having coming on as a substitute. It was Henry’s 227th goal for Arsenal and, not surprisingly, sent the home supporters into rapture. Henry’s final goal for Arsenal came in stoppage time during a Premier League trip to Sunderland a few weeks later. He departed Arsenal for a second time in February 2012 and, once again, did so as a hero.
Didier Drogba, Chelsea, 2014
José Mourinho convinced the 36-year-old to return to Stamford Bridge to help bolster Chelsea’s attack as they sought to win another Premier League title under the Portuguese. Drogba, who had been a key figure during Chelsea’s success under Mourinho the first time around, heeded the call, insisting he “couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with José again” and did so as a free agent after stints at Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray. The Ivorian made his second debut in Chelsea’s opening game of the 2014-15 season against Burnley. Mourinho’s men cruised to a 3-1 win at Turf Moor. Drogba replaced Eden Hazard with six minutes remaining and came close to scoring a volley. He would end the season with four goals in the league as Chelsea indeed won the title, their third with Mourinho in charge and fourth with Drogba in attack.
Gareth Bale, Tottenham, 2020
Bale lifted spirits at Tottenham during the dark days of the pandemic by returning after a trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid. The Welshman insisted he was “hungry and motivated” to make an impact at the club he had once dazzled for after an increasingly difficult time in the capital and made his second debut for Spurs at an empty Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a thrilling 3-3 draw against West Ham in October 2020. The hosts had gone 3-0 up only to let a seemingly unassailable lead slip from their grasp at the death. Bale came on as a 72nd-minute substitute and missed a great chance in added time. There were also flashes of brilliance from the 31-year-old who went on to score 11 goals in 20 league appearances before heading back to the Bernabéu.