Footballers come and go, but some leave a lasting impression and show incredible loyalty to their clubs – with some football romances lasting longer than others.
Football Romances: 5 of the Greatest Love Affairs in the Beautiful Game
So, with St Valentine’s Day on the horizon, here are five footballers who fell in love with their clubs and their feelings were undoubtedly reciprocated.
Football Romances: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Local boys who do brilliant for their childhood clubs always hold a special place in fans’ hearts and there is little doubt that Steven Gerrard fitted the bill perfectly at Liverpool. A true club legend, Gerrard was unable to bring a Premier League title to Anfield, but he was inspirational in helping them to the 2005 Champions League after their memorable comeback against AC Milan and was worshipped on The Kop.
Other clubs, particularly Chelsea, were desperate to sign the England midfielder but he saw out his domestic playing career at the club where he is regarded as one of their greatest players.
Football Romances: Francesco Totti (Roma)
It is a monumental achievement for a player to ply his trade at the highest level for 25 years, and it is exceedingly rare for him to do it all at one club, but that’s the story of the love affair between Francesco Totti and Roma. A native of the Eternal City, Totti was idolised by the Wolves and is second on the list of all-time Serie A goalscorers with 250 strikes between 1992 and 2017.
He was voted Serie A Italian player of the year five times and won a top-flight title in 2001, and will undoubtedly be regarded as one of the most popular players in the club’s history for generations to come.
Football Romances: Tony Adams (Arsenal)
Tony Adams grew up in the West Ham heartland of Romford, east London, but fell in love with Arsenal when he made his debut at the age of 17 and became one of the Gunners’ favourite sons. Fans showed their support for their captain as he coped with off-the-field issues and his honesty adhered him to virtually everyone who loyally turned up at Highbury.
His career was rejuvenated by Arsene Wenger’s arrival at the club and he became Mr Arsenal, making 672 appearances and winning four top-flight titles to the joy of all those who idolised him.
Football Romances: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
Like Totti, Paolo Maldini spent all 25 years of his career at one club, AC Milan, and was idolised at the San Siro as one of the club’s greatest players. He made 674 Serie A appearances for the club where his father Cesare was both a player and manager, and it was a combination of Maldini’s quality and loyalty that adhered him so much to his fan base.
Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton)
Matthew Le Tissier stood out like a beacon in a Southampton team who were used to battles at the wrong end of the Premier League table, but the man from Guernsey will go down as one of the most talented home-grown players to grace the English top flight.
His omission from the side heightened huge protests against manager Ian Branfoot in the early 1990s and Le Tissier was capable of scoring spectacular goals, some of which have gone down as being among the best in Premier League history. Southampton loyalists loved him and it was fitting that he scored the last goal at The Dell in a 3-2 win over Arsenal in May 2001.
By Tom McGarry
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