Which players have celebrated against their former sides? | OneFootball

16 years ago today, Emmanuel Adebayor shocked the Premier League as he ran the full length of the Etihad stadium to celebrate Manchester City’s third goal of an eventual 4-2 win over Arsenal in front of the away fans just a month after he had left the club.

City signed the former Togo international from Arsenal for £25 million in the summer window of 2009 after he had scored 62 goals across a three-year spell at the Emirates.

The striker later said in an interview with Optus Sport that he “will never regret that celebration”.

Adebayor further explained the reason for his actions, saying: “They were singing a song that abused my parents.

“Today I will make it clear, I don’t think any human being would accept it if people were singing about and insulting your family, especially your mother and father.”

However, Adebayor was not the first, nor the last, player to celebrate against his former team. Here are five players that have done the same…

Robin van Persie vs Arsenal

Robin van Persie celebrates for Man Utd against Arsenal (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Van Persie joined Manchester United for £24 million in 2012 after spending the previous eight years of his career playing for Arsenal.

In his first season for the Red Devils, the striker did score at the Emirates for his new side but refused to celebrate, but things were different when he would score against the Gunners in 2013 at Old Trafford.

In the 27th minute of the match the Dutchman scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win for the Red Devils over Arsenal and their former hero wheeled away in delight to celebrate in front of the United fans.

Wayne Rooney vs Everton

Wayne Rooney in front of the Everton fans (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Playing for Everton in 2002, Rooney announced himself to the footballing world with a thumping strike against Arsenal at just 16 years of age to end the Gunners’ 30-game unbeaten run.

But just five years later in 2007 it was Everton that the striker would be celebrating against.

In 2004, the young Evertonian joined Manchester United for £25.6 million and by 2007 the criticism and jeers from fans of his former club proved to be too much for him.

United fought back from 2-0 down to level the game at 2-2 before Rooney stepped up. The England international scored the goal to put United ahead before kissing the United badge at Goodison Park.

The game eventually ended 4-2 to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Jack Grealish vs Ireland

Jack Grealish celebrates against Ireland (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Both Grealish and Declan Rice played for Ireland at youth level, while the latter also made three senior appearances for the nation.

However, in September 2024, both players lined up and found the net for England against their former nation in the Nations League.

Rice scored after 11 minutes but opted not to celebrate, but the same cannot be said for his teammate Grealish.

The midfielder’s strike hit the net 26 minutes into the match and he ran to celebrate in front of the English fans.

Ian Wright vs Crystal Palace

Ian Wright shot to fame as a Palace player, scoring 90 goals in 228 appearances for the south London club but that did not stop the striker from celebrating against them when he scored.

After joining Arsenal in 1991, it did not take Wright long to get on the scoresheet against his old club.

Just a year later, in 1992, the striker scored against Palace at Selhurst Park and did not hide his elation after he had been booed all match by the home support.

Wright said a few years later: “I celebrated it because the Palace fans were being really nasty, so I celebrated it… quite hard.”

Paul Ince vs Manchester United

Paul Ince celebrates for Liverpool against Man Utd. Mandatory Credit: Ross Kinnaird /Allsport

Ince won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one League Cup as a United player but in 1997 he would join their rivals Liverpool in a transfer from Inter Milan – the club he joined after he left United in 1995.

With 88 minutes on the clock and his side 2-1 down to Ferguson’s side, the former Red Devil fired home a late equaliser to get Liverpool a point at Anfield in 1999.

Ince’s former allegiance to the Manchester club did not stop him from showing his emotions as he celebrated in front of the Kop.