10 footballers who abandoned a sinking ship

One of the most painful feelings for any football fan is to see their favourite team struggle, losing match after match. The pain deepens at the end of an exhausting season if the team is relegated. And finally, the pain reaches its height if their favourite players leave at that critical point. There have been many instances throughout the history of club football where players, who may have declared their unwavering loyalty to their teams, left at the first sign of danger. It is an act that incurs them the eternal wrath of the fans they have just betrayed.Yet, when we look at it from the perspective of the players, they were just doing what they thought was best for their careers. Some players were even forced to leave due to the precarious financial conditions of their teams.Here are 10 footballers who abandoned a sinking ship.

#1 Charlie Adam - Blackpool to Liverpool

WHEN? – July 2011

WHAT HAPPENED? – Unable to strike down a starting spot at Rangers, Charlie Adam found himself on his way to the English seaside town of Blackpool in January 2009. Adam went on to become a fan favourite, captaining the team to a Championship playoff victory in his first full season and winning promotion to the Premier League for the first time. 

The 2010/11 Premier League season, however, would end in heartbreak. Blackpool were relegated after just one season with the big boys. For captain Charlie Adam, it was a sign that this was not the place to be. He had had a good season personally, scoring 12 goals and being nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. Liverpool came calling in July and he duly left in a £6.75 million transfer.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? –  Blackpool replaced Adam with fellow Scot Barry Ferguson. Once again, they reached the Championship Playoff final, where they lost to West Ham United. They are now in League Two – the fourth division.

Adam spent one season at Liverpool, winning the League Cup before being offloaded to Stoke City.