To me the most loyal players to their club so far have been 1) Del Piero Juve( almost 12 seasons) 2) Raul Real Madrid ( I think about 10 seasons)
Totti, considering all the crap going on around Roma, the bankruptcy, coming and going of coaches and good players. I heard that he helps pay some of the youth player's salaries.
Keith's Response: Lars Ricken has been with Borussia Dortmund since 1990. And he's a born and raised Dortmunder........
LENGHTY TENURESHIPS!!! Paolo Maldini (A.C.Milan) Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) LOYALTY (to me loyalty means giving up success to fight for your team even if team struggled) Gabriel Batistuta (FIORENTINA) they were, relegated, he stayed on! Steven Gerrard (LIVERPOOL) passed up money bags Chelsea, to stay at KOP Alan Shearer (NEWCASTLE) passed up many big time offers!
Cristiano Lucarelli of AS Livorno was born in the poor docks quarter of the city, has had a season card since he was 12, wears number 99 in honour of the Brigate Autonome Livorno - the big Livorno Ultra/supporter group which was born in '99 - and has the club logo tattooed on his arm. For some time he played for top clubs in Spain and Italy, during which he used to fly to Livorno to watch 4th league games of his beloved team when he was injured or suspended. In summer 2003 he played for AC Torino, earning lots of money with a good contract. But that season AS Livorno got promoted to Serie B, so he left Torino, leaving behind millions of $$$ and re-joined Livorno, where he became top scorer of the league and immediately brought them into Serie A.
You are joking? Since he signed for Newcastle (because he was too scared to join a big club), he hasn't had any serious opportunities to leave his cosy position. There has been some "speculation" but nothing concrete. How does that show any form of loyalty at all? Players who have only been with one club or stuck with the club through hard times are obvious choices. However, I would stick Solskjaer on the list. He was always available and despite not being a regular, he stuck with the club and refused chances to move on. That is loyalty in my eyes. He chose what was best for the club, as opposed to his career. Let's hope he is able to return from injury.
All the players everyone has said all play for clubs that are challanging for titles year in year out. The most loyal player is Mathew Le Teisswa (he's English). He played for Southhampton all his playing life. He was one of the best strikers in England for many years and many times bigger clubs tried to get him but he always said no.
Matthew Le Tissier - He scored some really great goals, but was more of a midfielder than a striker iirc. You should search for some of them. Pity about his face though...
i think there should be a stupidity award in football in which Totti would take hands down at the moment. Is it more important to be loyal to a club rather than forfill your potential and play the game you love at the highest level possible??? You answer this question.
Same applies to Shearer. Too scared to test himself with a great club. He wanted to be number one and get an easy wage. Newcastle gave him that. His "nearly" empty trophy cabinet is testament to that.
man utd have scholes, giggs and the nevilles who have played for them since they were all teenagers, figo is pretty loyal to.
Clealry this is the Paolo Maldini or Franco Baresi award. Maldini took a pay cut to stay with Milan, Baresi stayed when the club were relegated. Angelo Di Livio stayed at Fiorentina even when they were sent down 3 divisions, to help the youngsters and give something back to the game.