While most footballers spend their careers at a few clubs, some become true journeymen, travelling the globe in search of new challenges. These players have worn more jerseys than most fans own, adapting to different leagues, styles, and cultures. Here’s a countdown of the top 10 footballers who played for the most clubs in their professional careers.
10. Jermain Defoe – 10 Clubs
English striker Jermain Defoe is admired for his clinical finishing and longevity, having played for 10 clubs during his career—earning him recognition among players with the most clubs in English football. He began at Charlton Athletic (youth) before moving to West Ham United, then went on to feature for Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Toronto FC, Sunderland, Rangers, and made returns to both Spurs and Bournemouth. Defoe scored over 300 goals across club and country and remained lethal in front of goal well into his late 30s. His professionalism and work ethic made him a valuable asset everywhere he played.
9. Christian Vieri – 11 Clubs
Italian forward Christian Vieri was once the world’s most expensive player, but his career spanned 11 different clubs. Known for his power and goal-scoring prowess, Vieri featured for Torino, Pisa, Ravenna, Venezia, Atalanta, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Monaco. His most iconic years were at Inter, where he netted over 100 goals. Despite frequent moves, Vieri consistently delivered and is remembered as one of Italy’s greatest ever centre-forwards.
8. Craig Bellamy – 11 Clubs
Craig Bellamy, the fiery Welsh forward, also played for 11 clubs across his career, making him one of the players with the most clubs changes among modern British footballers. His journey included stints at Norwich City, Coventry City, Newcastle United, Celtic (loan), Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, and Cardiff City (twice). Bellamy was quick, aggressive, and fiercely competitive, often returning to clubs like Liverpool for second spells. Despite his volatile temperament, his dedication and leadership stood out, especially in helping Cardiff reach the Premier League.
7. Andy Cole – 12 Clubs
Premier League legend Andy Cole played for 12 different clubs, despite being best known for his time at Manchester United. Starting at Arsenal, he went on to Bristol City, Newcastle United, Man United, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Sunderland, and ended with brief spells at Burnley and Nottingham Forest. Cole was a lethal striker, netting 187 Premier League goals, and even in his later years, he remained a valuable contributor at each stop.
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6. Nicolas Anelka – 12 Clubs
Nicolas Anelka, the enigmatic French striker, had an unpredictable career that took him through 12 clubs, placing him among the players with the most clubs in professional football history. He rose to fame with PSG and Arsenal, followed by high-profile moves to Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Fenerbahçe, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, Juventus, West Bromwich Albion, and Mumbai City FC. Despite his controversial reputation, Anelka consistently performed at top levels, winning league titles in England, France, and Turkey, and adapting to various playing environments worldwide.
5. Marcus Bent – 14 Clubs
English forward Marcus Bent played for an impressive 14 clubs during his journeyman career. Starting at Brentford, he moved on to Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Everton, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough (loan), QPR (loan), Wolves, and finished with Mitra Kukar (Indonesia). While never a prolific goal-scorer, Bent was appreciated for his experience and adaptability across the Premier League and Championship.
4. Rivaldo – 15 Clubs
Brazilian legend Rivaldo may be remembered for his time at Barcelona, but he played for 15 clubs in total, making him one of the top footballers with the most clubs in his career. His journey included Santa Cruz, Mogi Mirim, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Deportivo La Coruña, AC Milan, Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, AEK Athens, Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan), São Paulo, Kabuscorp (Angola), and a return to Mogi Mirim, where he even played alongside his son. Despite being a Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion, Rivaldo’s passion for football drove him to keep playing into his 40s across some of the world’s lesser-known leagues. His career is a shining example of both elite success and journeyman spirit.
3. Lutz Pfannenstiel – 25 Clubs
German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel is known not for fame but for his unique record of playing professionally on all six FIFA continents. He suited up for 25 clubs, including Notodden FK (Norway), Wimbledon (England), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Dunedin Technical (New Zealand), Bălți (Moldova), TPV (Finland), Ramblers FC (Namibia), and Hermann Aichinger (Brazil). Pfannenstiel’s career was more about exploration than trophies—his incredible journey even included a brief prison stint in Singapore, later becoming a scout and sporting director in Germany.
2. John Burridge – 29 Clubs
John Burridge, the English goalkeeper, had one of the longest and most unique careers in football history, playing for 29 different clubs over nearly 30 years. Known for featuring among players with the most clubs in professional football, Burridge suited up for teams like Blackpool, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, Southampton, and Notts County, among many others. He often filled emergency roles and earned a reputation for his eccentric personality and unmatched fitness levels. Burridge played professionally until the age of 45 ,cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s true journeymen with the most clubs on record for a goalkeeper.
1. Sebastián Abreu – 31 Clubs
Uruguayan striker Sebastián Abreu holds the world record for most professional clubs, having played for a staggering 31 teams. His incredible journey took him to Defensor, Nacional, Deportivo La Coruña, Tecos, San Lorenzo, Gremio, Cruz Azul, América, River Plate, AEK Athens, Rosario Central, Beitar Jerusalem, Botafogo, Aris Thessaloniki, Real Sociedad, and even Magallanes (Chile) and Santa Tecla (El Salvador). Known as “El Loco” for his fearless playing style, Abreu’s most iconic moment came with his Panenka penalty for Uruguay against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup. He finally retired in 2021, bringing an end to one of football’s most astonishing careers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who holds the record for most clubs played for in football?
A1: Sebastián Abreu, with 31 professional clubs across 11 countries holds the record for most clubs played.
Q2: Which goalkeeper played for the most clubs?
A2: John Burridge, becomes the goalkeeper with most clubs (29) in English football.
Q3: Did Rivaldo really play in Uzbekistan and Angola?
A3: Yes, he played for Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan and Kabuscorp in Angola late in his career.
Q4: Who played for clubs in every continent?
A4: Lutz Pfannenstiel is the only player to play on all six FIFA continents.
Q5: Which Premier League player had the most clubs?
A5: Marcus Bent, with 14 clubs, and Jermain Defoe with 10, are among the top English journeymen.