Throughout football history, several players have had the unique distinction of representing both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, two of England’s most storied clubs.
5 Footballers to Play for Both Manchester United and Spurs
Here’s a look at the careers of five such players: Alan Brazil, Christian Eriksen, Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, and Teddy Sheringham.
Manchester United and Spurs: Alan Brazil
Brazil had been one of the stars of the Ipswich side that achieved UEFA Cup success in 1981 and consecutive league runners-up spots, so there were high expectations for him when he arrived at White Hart Lane in March 1983 for £425,000. Despite a bright start, scoring six goals in his first 10 games, his only full season at Spurs was underwhelming. He managed just three goals in 19 league appearances and missed out on Keith Burkinshaw’s final 16-man squads for the UEFA Cup Final.
So it was no great surprise when Spurs accepted United’s £625,000 bid for the Scotland international later that summer. Brazil’s time at Old Trafford was hampered by recurring back injuries and fierce competition from forwards such as Mark Hughes and Frank Stapleton. Over two seasons, he scored 16 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions before being transferred to Coventry City in January 1986 as part of the deal that sent Terry Gibson to Manchester.
Manchester United and Spurs Legends: Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen quickly became a fan favorite during his seven years at Tottenham after joining from Ajax in 2013. Known for his creativity and technical brilliance, Eriksen scored 69 goals and provided 90 assists in 305 appearances for Spurs. The Denmark international played a pivotal role in the club’s run to the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019 and was twice named Tottenham’s Player of the Season.
After a brief stint at Inter Milan, Eriksen joined Manchester United in July 2022 following his remarkable recovery from a cardiac arrest suffered at Euro 2020. At United, he has continued to impress with his playmaking abilities, contributing key goals and assists while helping the team win the EFL Cup in the 2022-23 campaign.
Manchester United and Spurs Legends: Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick began his career at West Ham before swapping the East End for North London in 2004. A composed midfielder known for his passing range and tactical intelligence, Carrick spent two seasons at Spurs before joining Manchester United in 2006 for £18.6 million. He arrived at Old Trafford a year after the departure of Roy Keane, inheriting the Irishman’s iconic number 16 shirt and, although he was a different type of midfielder, his influence grew to similar levels over the course of a glorious 12 years in Manchester.
Carrick won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and the Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson. He made over 460 appearances for the Red Devils before retiring in 2018 and taking what he had learned under Ferguson into coaching and managerial roles.
Manchester United and Spurs Legends: Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov dazzled fans with his elegance and languid skills during his time at both clubs. The Bulgarian joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 and scored 46 goals across two seasons. He was instrumental in Spurs’ League Cup triumph in 2008 before moving to Manchester United later that year for £30.75 million.
At Old Trafford Berbatov won two Premier League titles and earned the Golden Boot in the 2010-11 season with 20 league goals. Memorable moments include a hat-trick against Liverpool and a five-goal haul against Blackburn Rovers.
Manchester United and Spurs: Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham is one of the most iconic players to represent both clubs. After an impressive spell at Millwall, Sheringham joined Tottenham in 1992 and became their talismanic striker, scoring over 100 goals across two stints with the club. In 1997, he moved to Manchester United with huge shoes to fill as Eric Cantona’s replacement. But Sheringham helped United to heights that the Frenchman could not, playing a crucial role in the Red Devils’ historic treble-winning season in 1998-99.
Man of the match after coming off the bench to change the course of the FA Cup Final against Newcastle, Sheringham was disappointed not to be starting in the Champions League Final a few days later. However, he again made an impact as a substitute by scoring the equaliser and also assisting Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s winner against Bayern Munich. Over four seasons at Old Trafford, he won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and numerous other accolades before returning to Spurs.
By Adrian Mills
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