5 players who were successful with both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City

Adebayor and Walker are the most recent players to play for both sides.
Adebayor and Walker are the most recent players to play for both sides.

Tottenham Hotspur will host Manchester City at New White Hart Lane in what could be an early season-defining couple of weeks for Jose Mourinho. Spurs are set to start a gruesome run that will see them playing seven matches in three weeks.

The presence of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola provides a different dimension to the Manchester City-Tottenham Hotspur match. Both managers have locked horns at different times in their long and illustrious careers. This will be the second time the two face each other after Mourinho took over at Tottenham.

Over the years, several players have played for both Tottenham and Manchester City. However, many of these players did not have successful stints with both teams.

We look at five players who were successful while playing for both Tottenham and Manchester City.

#5 Neil McNab

McNab was arguably Manchester City's best player during the 80s.
McNab was arguably Manchester City's best player during the 80s.

Signed as a 16-year old from Greenock Morton, Neil McNab arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in 1974 as Bill Nicholson's last signing. Regarded as one of the greatest talents in the country at the time, McNab made his Spurs debut at 16 as one of the youngest in the club's history.

McNab initially struggled for regular playing time, taking nearly three seasons to establish himself in the first-team. However, the signing of the Argentinian duo of Oscar Ardilles and Ricky Villa meant McNab's time was up at White Hart Lane. The midfielder left the club after making 72 league appearances.

Neil McNab joined Manchester City in 1983 and was arguably the club's best player during the 80s. The midfielder stayed loyal to the club during their tumultuous periods. McNab went on to make 221 league appearances and score 21 goals during a seven-season spell at the club. The midfielder left the club in 1990, joining Tranmere Rovers.

#4 Clive Allen

Clive Allen once scored 49 goals in a season.
Clive Allen once scored 49 goals in a season.

One of the most consistent goalscorers of the 1980s, Clive Allen, joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1984 after two successful spells with the Queens Park Rangers. Initially overshadowed by Mark Falco, Clive Allen really came to life following Falco's move to Watford.

The striker scored an impressive 49 goals in all competitions the season after Falco left, winning the PFA Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards. Despite his heroics in front of goal, Spurs never won anything during his time at White Hart Lane. The striker 105 league appearances and scored 60 goals during that period.

Allen joined Manchester City in 1988 following a brief spell in France with Bordeaux. After showing promise in the early part of the season, Allen struggled in front of goal. He scored just 16 goals in 53 appearances before moving to Chelsea in 1991.

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#3 Paul Stewart

Paul Stewart is one of the greatest players in the history of Blackpool.
Paul Stewart is one of the greatest players in the history of Blackpool.

Paul Stewart joined Manchester City in 1987, following six successful seasons at Blackpool. The striker could not help the struggling side as the Cityzens finished 21st in the first division, suffering their second relegation in four seasons.

Stewart stayed at Maine Road for one more season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions. However, Stewart but couldn't help the Cityzens gain promotion back to the first division.

Paul Stewart moved Tottenham to 1988 after making 63 appearances and scoring 30 goals for the Cityzens. After a good debut season, Stewart was converted to a midfielder following an injury crisis in Tottenham.

The change in role at the club made Stewart one of the best midfielders in the league. Stewart left Tottenham in 1992 to join Liverpool after making 172 appearances and scoring 37 goals.

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#2 Emmanuel Adebayor

Who can forget Adebayor's infamous celebration against Arsenal?
Who can forget Adebayor's infamous celebration against Arsenal?

One of the few players who have represented Arsenal and Tottenham in the Premier League era, Emmanuel Adebayor, joined Manchester City in 2010 after five seasons with Arsenal. The Togolese striker had a great start at the Etihad, scoring in his first four consecutive matches for the Cityzens.

Despite having a good debut season, Adebayor fell down the pecking order following the arrival of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, and Mario Balotelli. Adebayor played just 14 matches in his second season at the club. Deemed surplus to requirements by Roberto Mancini, Adebayor spent the next two seasons on loan with Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

Adebayor moved permanently to Spurs in 2012 after an impressive loan spell with the club. The striker went on to spend three more seasons at the club before terminating his contract in 2015. During his time at the club, Adebayor made 113 appearances and scored 42 times.

#1 Kyle Walker

Walker is the most successful player to play for both the clubs.
Walker is the most successful player to play for both the clubs.

The last player to play for both sides, Kyle Walker moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2009. After spending his first two seasons on loan, Walker became Spurs' first-choice right-back in 2011. His impressive performances for Spurs in his first full season at the club saw him named the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Walker is arguably one of the best full-backs in Tottenham's history. The England international went on to make 229 appearances and score four goals during eight years at the club.

Kyle Walker joined Manchester City in 2017 as one of the most expensive English players of all-time. The full-back quickly became an integral part of Manchester City's first-team as they dominated the domestic circuit.

Now into his fourth season at the club, Walker made 154 appearances and scored four times for the Cityzens. During this period, Walker has won six trophies and is now one of the best players in the league in his position.

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Edited by Ritwik Kumar
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