Bolton Wanderers handed Wigan Athletic a Premier League era club legend: View | OneFootball

Ali Al Habsi became a Wigan Athletic hero after joining from rivals Bolton Wanderers

Football is a game full of ups and downs, and over the last couple of decades, Wigan Athletic are a club who have experienced a particularly unique rollercoaster.

The Latics were promoted to the Premier League in 2005, just ten years after Dave Whelan purchased the club in 1995, and would survive in the top-flight for eight years despite often relying on dramatic last-day survival efforts following relegation battles.

The Greater Manchester club were relegated back to the Championship in 2013, but this was still the finest year in the club's history as they lifted the FA Cup by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final courtesy of Ben Watson's header.

The Latics' time following their Premier League exit has often been less glamorous, as they have been relegated to League One on four occasions and also faced administration in 2020, as well as an HMRC winding-up petition amid unpaid wages in 2023.

Wigan have experienced some fine moments since their top-flight relegation, such as appearing in the 2013/14 Europa League campaign courtesy of their FA Cup triumph.

But they have never been able to emulate their Premier League glory days, and one player who was central to much of the Latics' top-flight era was goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who signed for the club from bitter rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton handed Wigan a club legend

Despite the fierce rivalry between the Wanderers and the Latics, the Greater Manchester neighbours have shared many players over the years, including former Liverpool and England hot-shot Emile Heskey.

However, direct transfers between the two clubs are still somewhat of a rarity, making former Premier League ace Al Habsi a particularly prominent example.

The ex-Oman international became a stalwart for the Latics in their latter top-flight years, initially joining on loan from the Wanderers ahead of the 2010/11 season.

This was a campaign in which the shotstopper really shone for his side, who avoided relegation with a last-day victory over Stoke City, and was named as the Latics' 2010/11 player of the season.

Wanderers finished above their local rivals by four points that year, but he signed for the Brick Community Stadium side on a permanent basis ahead of the 2011/12 season.

According to the Premier League, Al Habsi made six penalty saves during his time as a top-flight goalkeeper, while the Wigan faithful will have particularly fond memories of a spot-kick save he made against Liverpool's Charlie Adam during a 0-0 draw in December 2011.

Al Habsi's status as a Latics legend was arguably certified by then manager Roberto Martinez in April 2013, when he chose to select the Oman international for an FA Cup semi-final clash with Millwall, despite the fact that by this time Joel Robles had become first choice between the sticks.

The former Wanderers man repaid the faith Martinez had instilled in him, as he kept a clean sheet during a 2-0 win which sent the Latics back to Wembley for the final the following May.

Al Habsi also played for Wigan in the Championship

Following the club's relegation to the second tier in 2013, Robles followed Martinez to Everton, which allowed the Oman international to enjoy more playing time once more, as he decided to stay at the Brick Community Stadium in an effort to prove his worth in the Championship.

However, the Latics did sign Scott Carson that summer, but Al Habsi was usually preferred to the Englishman as he made 24 Championship appearances during 2013/14, compared to Carson's 18.

The Greater Manchester outfit were relegated to League One following the conclusion of a disastrous 2014/15 season, which prompted Al Habsi to leave the club and join Reading.

But the shotstopper will always be remembered for his exploits in Latics colours, and ironically, it all came thanks to the fact that local rivals Wanderers were willing to sell their man.