There’s something about seeing one of your club legends in a rival team’s kit that just makes you sick to the stomach, isn’t there?
Sir Bobby Charlton in a Liverpool shirt, Glen Hoddle in the red and white of Arsenal and… yep, I’ve thrown up in my mouth.
But, it’s not as uncommon as you might think to see players widely associated with one club pulling on the jersey of another.
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During the 1990s, Gazza was the man to turn to when it came to testimonials. Here he is celebrating a goal in a match for Foxes hero Steve Walsh in 1997.
Testimonials are the main reason why, and there have been some truly bizarre sights over the years, which are likely to have given plenty of football fans the creeps.
There’s just something so… unnatural about it!
Some, on the other hand, have been a brilliant surprise and it’s like we’ve been transported to some strange parallel universe – like when Ronaldinho was called up to the England team, sort of (if only that were true).
Paul Merson tells hilarious story of his penalty in a World Cup shootout
So, here at talkSPORT, we’ve gone through the archives to find the most shocking and strange pictures of players wearing shirts you’d never expect to see them wearing.
Check them out below!
When Jamie Carragher was a blue for the day
Liverpool fans went into a frenzy when Jamie Carragher was spotted wearing Everton training wear while interviewing Romelu Lukaku back in 2017.
Even though Carra was a boyhood Toffee, seeing the Reds legend in a blue kit was enough for many supporters to have a sudden urged to run to the bathroom.
Sir Bobby Charlton playing for Liverpool?
Look at his face, there’s no way he’s enjoying that, is he?
The Manchester United great pulled on the shirt of their bitter rivals Liverpool back in 1972, as he played in Tommy Lawton’s testimonial.
He also wore a Stoke shirt AGAINST the Red Devils in a benefit game for England teammate Gordon Banks just a year later.
Look at that picture. Madness.
Bob Thomas/Getty Images
Bobby Moore (left) and Bobby Charlton (right) in Liverpool kit, with Tommy Lawton and Joe Mercer
Getty – Contributor
Bobby Charlton makes a guest appearance in Stoke City colours, left, with Portuguese star Eusebio at Gordon Banks’ testimonial match
Diego Maradona signs for Tottenham
He didn’t, of course, but the Argentine wizard famously did play in a Spurs shirt in his compatriot Osvaldo Ardiles’ testimonial at White Hart Lane back in 1986.
The dream signing was close, though, as Teddy Sheringham has revealed Ardiles, when Tottenham boss, tried to sign Maradona permanently in the summer of 1994.
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Maradona and fellow Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles at White Hart Lane
Glenn Hoddle plays for Arsenal
Tottenham fans, look away now.
The Spurs great donned the red and white of their arch north London rivals in Paul Merson’s testimonial in 1996.
Getty Images – Getty
Glenn Hoddle made a rare (and unnatural appearance) for Arsenal in Paul Merson’s testimonial
When Gazza was a Gunner (for a day)
Spurs hero Paul Gascoigne also played in that game, giving Gooners more ammunition to goad Tottenham fans with.
Gazza and Hoddle played at Highbury against an International XI, which featured the likes of Ruud Gullit, Matt Le Tissier and Chris Waddle.
Gazza even scored FOUR goals, as he led Arsenal to an 8-5 victory.
Again, madness.
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A sight which may leave Tottenham fans devastated is one of their heroes wearing an Arsenal shirt.
When Ronaldinho played for England
It’s an alternate reality which David Seaman will wish had existed.
Instead, the only time Ronaldinho pulled on the shirt of the Three Lions was in a 2016 Soccer Aid match between England and the Rest of the World at Old Trafford.
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Ronaldinho made England fans’ dreams come true by donning a Three Lions shirt in 2016.
George Best kitted out for Chelsea, West Brom, and Ipswich
Well, he did get around…
Manchester United great once traded red for blue as he pulled on a Chelsea shirt for Peter Osgood’s testimonial in 1975, just a year after leaving Old Trafford.
A year later, he turned out in a West Brom shirt for Jeff Astle’s testimonial match at the Hawthorns.
And in 1979, he then appeared at Portman Road in an Ipswich kit for Sir Bobby Robson’s Football Benefit Match against an England XI.
Getty Images – Getty
Man United fans will not enjoy seeing Old Trafford hero George Best in a Chelsea shirt
Popperfoto – Getty
George Best made a surprise appearance for West Brom in Jeff Astle’s testimonial
Getty Images – Getty
George Best playing for Ipswich in Bobby Robson’s testimonial in 1979
Bobby Moore trades claret for the blue of Chelsea and Coventry
As well as being kitted out in a Liverpool kit (see the pic of Bobby Charlton above), the West Ham legend also moved across the capital to play for the Hammers’ London rivals Chelsea.
The World Cup-winning captain played alongside Portuguese icon Eusebio in Chelsea colours as part of John Dempsey’s testimonial in 1980.
He later also pulled on a Sky Blue shirt of Coventry in a celebrity match.
Rex Features
Bobby Moore and Eusebio in Chelsea kits for John Dempsey’s testimonial
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England and West Ham legend Moore appeared for the Sky Blues ahead of the 1987 FA Cup final between the Midlands side and Tottenham Hotspur. Daley Thompson’s cracking goal in the game is worth a watch on YouTube!
John Terry (begrudgingly by the looks of it) plays for West Ham
Okay, it’s not a proper Hammers kit, but Chelsea legend Terry turned out in this claret and blue number for Tony Carr’s testimonial in 2010.
He played alongside Frank Lampard and others on Carr’s ‘Academy All-Stars’ team, having spent time there in his youth.
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He doesn’t look thrilled, does he?
One-club man?
What’s this, Gary Neville in something over than a Manchester United shirt?
The Old Trafford legend of course spent his entire playing career with his boyhood club, but was pictured wearing a Feyenoord jersey after swapping shifts after the Red Devils’ 3-1 Champions League victory over the Dutch side in 1997.
Still looks weird though!
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It’s strange to see G Nev in anything other than the red of Manchester United
When Macca was a Hammer
When West Ham legend Alvin Martin had his testimonial at Upton Park in 1995, he invited Liverpool ace and fellow Scouser Steve McManaman to take part.
Macca was still one of Anfield’s Spice Boys at the time, but he would go on to make over 150 appearances for Real Madrid and win two Champions League titles.
Which probably makes him one of the most successful players to ever wear a West Ham shirt… right?
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Steve McManaman in West Ham kit. Weird.
John Obi Mikel jumps the gun
The transfer that never was. Future Chelsea star Mikel was allegedly pressured into signing for the Red Devils before the Blues overturned his transfer to Old Trafford and landed their man.
Man United did have the Nigerian long enough to get him in their shirt, though!
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At one stage it looked like Mikel was off to Man United
Vinnie Jones plays for Nottingham Forest
The ex-Wimbledon Crazy Gang member and Hollywood superstar took time out from squeezing testicles to star in at testimonial for Mark Crossley against Derby County in 2000.
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Vinnie Jones makes a one-off appearances in a Tricky Trees shirt
Diego Maradona moves to Germany
Again, not really, but the Argentina legend was obviously in high demand for testimonials.
In 2000, Maradona took to the field for Bayern Munich in Lothar Mattheus’ ‘abschiedsspiel’ – that’s ‘farewell game’ to English speakers.
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As well as Tottenham, Diego Maradona also had a run around in a Bayern Munich kit after hanging up his boots
Chelsea hero Zola moves across London
West Ham love a testimonial, don’t they?
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola swapped west London for east London in 2010 as he pulled on a Hammers kit, also for Tony Carr’s testimonial.
Blues fans should be able to forgive him, though, considering he was the manager at Upton Park at the time.
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Chelsea legend Zola was manager of West Ham from 2008 to 2010
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