10 Athletes Who Shocked Fans by Joining Their Rivals
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio
WRITTEN BY: Jordy McKen
These players broke one of the unwritten rules of their sport. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at notorious times athletes left their team to join a despised rival. Our countdown of athletes who switched to their arch-rivals includes Mark Recchi, Terrell Owens, Babe Ruth, and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at notorious times athletes left their team to join a despised rival. To make this list, the players had to have made the switch directly rather than joining other sides in between.
Known as the Battle of Pennsylvania, the feud between NHL sides the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers is intense. In 1991, Mark Recchi was on top of the world with the Pittsburgh Penguins after winning the Stanley Cup. Yet, the following season, he was traded to the Flyers, and had to watch as the Penguins picked up another Stanley. Recchi then had a stint with the Montreal Canadiens[a] before returning to the Flyers. But in 2004, the Penguins' call lured him back and he signed as a free agent. The winger enjoyed 3 seasons with the side, in between turning out for the Carolina Hurricanes. In 2011, Recchi finished on a high by retiring after his side, the Boston Bruins, won the Stanley Cup.
Alongside Bobby Charlton and George Best, Denis Law was part of Manchester United’s legendary trident that gave the side much success in the 1960s. After all, each of these players won the iconic Ballon d’Or through this time. But by 1973, Law struggled for game time and was given a free transfer to his former side and local rivals, Manchester City. In City’s last game of the season, they faced United. Late in the game, Law rolled back the years with a nifty backheel goal against his former employers, eventually giving them the win. However, instead of celebrating, the Scottish forward looked broken. At the time, Law believed his goal had relegated United. However, due to other results, they were down regardless.
Throughout the 1960s and early '70s, the Baltimore Bullets, now the Washington Wizards, and the New York Knicks had a heated rivalry as two of the best sides in the NBA as they battled in the playoffs often. While the Knicks had Walt Frazier as their star, the Bullets had Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. However, in 1971, Monroe wanted to move on to another side as a contract dispute with the Bullets emerged. In the end, Monroe was traded to the Knicks for two players plus cash. There were concerns Frazier and Monroe’s styles would clash. Instead, the duo created one of the most successful partnerships in NBA history. Monroe would end up having his number retired by the Knicks and the Wizards.
There aren’t many rivalries in the MLB more intense than that between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. So you can imagine the shock when, in 1964, the Cubs decided Lou Brock wasn’t developing enough and traded him as part of a deal to the Cardinals to get Ernie Broglio. However, instead of being the coup it seemed, this trade would become a phrase for lopsided exchanges in sports with “Brock for Broglio.” While Broglio petered out, Brock became a machine at the Cardinals, especially when it came to stealing bases and setting records. The left fielder would be part of a Cardinals side that took two World Series, leading to him getting his shirt retired and going into their Hall of Fame.
In the early '90s, the Dallas Cowboys were on another level in the NFL with Ken Norton Jr. as its linebacker. After all, in 1993 and ‘94, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl consecutively. However, in 1994, the Cowboys decided with the restriction of a salary cap, they didn’t need to splash out for Norton anymore and let him leave for free. So he signed up with the Cowboys’ hated adversaries, the San Francisco 49ers. Norton’s first season got off to a rough start, but it ended perfectly as he was involved in securing the franchise the Super Bowl in 1995, becoming the first player – and at the time of writing the only one – to win 3 of them in a row.
After making his name in Formula One and getting a World Championship in 2008 with McLaren, Lewis Hamilton left the team in 2013 for Mercedes in a shock move. There began one of the most successful partnerships in racing history. Hamilton picked up 6 more World Championships, 4 of which he won in a row. However, in 2024, Hamilton announced he was activating a release clause and leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025, sending shockwaves through the racing world. Mercedes and Ferrari's rivalry began in 1954 before the former stopped racing for decades. But that old animosity returned when they came back as a team in 2010 and traded wins and championships.
Separated by 4 miles are English Premier League sides Arsenal and Tottenham. And they have one of the fiercest rivalries whenever they face off in the North London Derby. There’s an unwritten rule that players can’t move between the clubs. Well, in 2001, Spurs defender Sol Campbell, a homegrown player, broke that. With his contract expiring, a host of quality sides like Barcelona and Bayern Munich were interested in his signature. Yet he chose Arsenal, causing him to be known as “Judas” to Tottenham fans. Even years later, when Campbell was playing for Portsmouth, some Spurs fans were banned after making offensive chants towards him.
In 2000, the San Francisco 49ers’ Terrell Owens sparked controversy when he ran to the center and celebrated touchdowns on the Dallas Cowboys’ star logo, causing a fight to break out. Fast forward to 2005, when Owens was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He found himself in another scandal after publicly criticizing his quarterback Donovan McNabb and Eagles management. In 2006, Owens was released by the franchise. So, he got some revenge by joining the Cowboys, the Eagles’ arch rival. When he arrived in Philadelphia to face the Eagles, the reaction of their fans was intense as boos and jeers rang out, causing the wide receiver to struggle.
After joining the Boston Red Sox in 1914, Babe Ruth led the side to three World Series wins, beginning his legend and turning him into their beloved hero. Yet in 1919, his contract was suddenly sold to the New York Yankees. It’s rumored it was done to finance a Broadway play. There, Ruth continued to excel, winning more World Series, while Boston underwent the infamous “Curse of the Bambino.” They didn't win a championship for 86 years, causing further resentment between the two baseball teams. This led to the Red Sox and Yankees developing one of the most intense rivalries in not just baseball but in all American sports.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
In the world of sports, there aren’t many rivalries as iconic and as bitter as Spain’s El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. For five years, Portugal’s Luís Figo was Barça’s standout player. Yet, in 2000, he broke the sacred rules when Madrid signed him. Shortly after, Figo won the Ballon d’Or for his performances with Barça, rubbing more salt in the wound. When he returned to Camp Nou after his transfer, Figo was met with horrendous signs and taunts as he feared attack. Yet it got worse in 2002. Whenever Figo took a corner, projectiles rained down from the Barça crowd, forcing the winger to remove them from the pitch. One of the items disturbingly and infamously included a pig’s head.
Who’s the greatest athlete to spend their whole careers with one team? Paul Scholes? Lou Groza? George Armstrong? George Brett? Or someone else? Let us know below!
#10: Mark Recchi
Pittsburgh Penguins to Philadelphia Flyers & Philadelphia Flyers to Pittsburgh PenguinsKnown as the Battle of Pennsylvania, the feud between NHL sides the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers is intense. In 1991, Mark Recchi was on top of the world with the Pittsburgh Penguins after winning the Stanley Cup. Yet, the following season, he was traded to the Flyers, and had to watch as the Penguins picked up another Stanley. Recchi then had a stint with the Montreal Canadiens[a] before returning to the Flyers. But in 2004, the Penguins' call lured him back and he signed as a free agent. The winger enjoyed 3 seasons with the side, in between turning out for the Carolina Hurricanes. In 2011, Recchi finished on a high by retiring after his side, the Boston Bruins, won the Stanley Cup.
#9: Denis Law
Manchester United to Manchester CityAlongside Bobby Charlton and George Best, Denis Law was part of Manchester United’s legendary trident that gave the side much success in the 1960s. After all, each of these players won the iconic Ballon d’Or through this time. But by 1973, Law struggled for game time and was given a free transfer to his former side and local rivals, Manchester City. In City’s last game of the season, they faced United. Late in the game, Law rolled back the years with a nifty backheel goal against his former employers, eventually giving them the win. However, instead of celebrating, the Scottish forward looked broken. At the time, Law believed his goal had relegated United. However, due to other results, they were down regardless.
#8: Earl Monroe
Baltimore Bullets to New York KnicksThroughout the 1960s and early '70s, the Baltimore Bullets, now the Washington Wizards, and the New York Knicks had a heated rivalry as two of the best sides in the NBA as they battled in the playoffs often. While the Knicks had Walt Frazier as their star, the Bullets had Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. However, in 1971, Monroe wanted to move on to another side as a contract dispute with the Bullets emerged. In the end, Monroe was traded to the Knicks for two players plus cash. There were concerns Frazier and Monroe’s styles would clash. Instead, the duo created one of the most successful partnerships in NBA history. Monroe would end up having his number retired by the Knicks and the Wizards.
#7: Lou Brock
Chicago Cubs to St. Louis CardinalsThere aren’t many rivalries in the MLB more intense than that between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. So you can imagine the shock when, in 1964, the Cubs decided Lou Brock wasn’t developing enough and traded him as part of a deal to the Cardinals to get Ernie Broglio. However, instead of being the coup it seemed, this trade would become a phrase for lopsided exchanges in sports with “Brock for Broglio.” While Broglio petered out, Brock became a machine at the Cardinals, especially when it came to stealing bases and setting records. The left fielder would be part of a Cardinals side that took two World Series, leading to him getting his shirt retired and going into their Hall of Fame.
#6: Ken Norton Jr.
Dallas Cowboys to San Francisco 49ersIn the early '90s, the Dallas Cowboys were on another level in the NFL with Ken Norton Jr. as its linebacker. After all, in 1993 and ‘94, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl consecutively. However, in 1994, the Cowboys decided with the restriction of a salary cap, they didn’t need to splash out for Norton anymore and let him leave for free. So he signed up with the Cowboys’ hated adversaries, the San Francisco 49ers. Norton’s first season got off to a rough start, but it ended perfectly as he was involved in securing the franchise the Super Bowl in 1995, becoming the first player – and at the time of writing the only one – to win 3 of them in a row.
#5: Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes to FerrariAfter making his name in Formula One and getting a World Championship in 2008 with McLaren, Lewis Hamilton left the team in 2013 for Mercedes in a shock move. There began one of the most successful partnerships in racing history. Hamilton picked up 6 more World Championships, 4 of which he won in a row. However, in 2024, Hamilton announced he was activating a release clause and leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025, sending shockwaves through the racing world. Mercedes and Ferrari's rivalry began in 1954 before the former stopped racing for decades. But that old animosity returned when they came back as a team in 2010 and traded wins and championships.
#4: Sol Campbell
Tottenham Hotspur to ArsenalSeparated by 4 miles are English Premier League sides Arsenal and Tottenham. And they have one of the fiercest rivalries whenever they face off in the North London Derby. There’s an unwritten rule that players can’t move between the clubs. Well, in 2001, Spurs defender Sol Campbell, a homegrown player, broke that. With his contract expiring, a host of quality sides like Barcelona and Bayern Munich were interested in his signature. Yet he chose Arsenal, causing him to be known as “Judas” to Tottenham fans. Even years later, when Campbell was playing for Portsmouth, some Spurs fans were banned after making offensive chants towards him.
#3: Terrell Owens
Philadelphia Eagles to Dallas CowboysIn 2000, the San Francisco 49ers’ Terrell Owens sparked controversy when he ran to the center and celebrated touchdowns on the Dallas Cowboys’ star logo, causing a fight to break out. Fast forward to 2005, when Owens was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He found himself in another scandal after publicly criticizing his quarterback Donovan McNabb and Eagles management. In 2006, Owens was released by the franchise. So, he got some revenge by joining the Cowboys, the Eagles’ arch rival. When he arrived in Philadelphia to face the Eagles, the reaction of their fans was intense as boos and jeers rang out, causing the wide receiver to struggle.
#2: Babe Ruth
Boston Red Sox to New York YankeesAfter joining the Boston Red Sox in 1914, Babe Ruth led the side to three World Series wins, beginning his legend and turning him into their beloved hero. Yet in 1919, his contract was suddenly sold to the New York Yankees. It’s rumored it was done to finance a Broadway play. There, Ruth continued to excel, winning more World Series, while Boston underwent the infamous “Curse of the Bambino.” They didn't win a championship for 86 years, causing further resentment between the two baseball teams. This led to the Red Sox and Yankees developing one of the most intense rivalries in not just baseball but in all American sports.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Bernd Schuster
The Midfielder Shockingly Went From Barcelona to Real Madrid to Atlético MadridJohnny Damon
After Claiming He Wouldn’t Do It, Damon Left the Boston Red Sox for the New York YankeesDeion Sanders
The Super Bowl-Winning 49er Left Them for the Dallas Cowboys to Win It Again#1: Luís Figo
Barcelona to Real MadridIn the world of sports, there aren’t many rivalries as iconic and as bitter as Spain’s El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. For five years, Portugal’s Luís Figo was Barça’s standout player. Yet, in 2000, he broke the sacred rules when Madrid signed him. Shortly after, Figo won the Ballon d’Or for his performances with Barça, rubbing more salt in the wound. When he returned to Camp Nou after his transfer, Figo was met with horrendous signs and taunts as he feared attack. Yet it got worse in 2002. Whenever Figo took a corner, projectiles rained down from the Barça crowd, forcing the winger to remove them from the pitch. One of the items disturbingly and infamously included a pig’s head.
Who’s the greatest athlete to spend their whole careers with one team? Paul Scholes? Lou Groza? George Armstrong? George Brett? Or someone else? Let us know below!
