10 stars to play for Chelsea and Tottenham - and which fanbase likes them most
It’s a London divide that few players have willingly crossed.
While Tottenham's rivalry with Arsenal is considered their most intense, and geographically Fulham are viewed as Chelsea's immediate derby rivals - the relationship between fans of Monday night's opponents is more notorious than it is harmonious. And just to spice things up a little, it will be former Spurs favourite Mauricio Pochettino managing matters from the away dugout.
From the infamous 'Battle of the Bridge' in 2016 to Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte getting physical last season, flashpoints have come as regularly as flamboyance. Therefore, any player to represent both clubs has inevitably risked the wrath of the supporters left behind. Mirror Football looks at 10 stars who dared to don white and blue, and whether they're still hailed at either club now.
Glen Hoddle
Not only did Hoddle grace both as clubs as a player, but he would later oversee both as a manager too. And yet there is little doubt where he is most revered. Considered one of the most mercurial midfielders to ever grace north London, he would make 490 appearances for Spurs and inspire them to two FA Cup wins.
His time at Chelsea came when his majestic best was beyond him, initially arriving as a player-manager at the age of 35 - but did lead them to an FA Cup final before taking the England job following Euro 96.
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Glen Hoddle was revered as a player at Tottenham (Allsport)HAVE YOUR SAY! Who will win on Monday night? Comment below.
When he then rocked up in the hot seat back at White Hart Lane in 2001, everyone from the tea lady to former players prematurely lauded a return to former glories. The fairytale return never materialised and Hoddle was sacked 18 months later, but his performances as a Tottenham player remain iconic.
Jimmy Greaves
Jimmy Greaves did not care which of the two famous London clubs he represented - he just scored goals regardless. A staggering 132 goals in 169 appearances in royal blue cemented his reputation as the country's most formidable goal-getter before heading to Italy and AC Milan.
That proved a short and ill-fated stint, and presented with the chance to return to Chelsea or instead join Spurs, he opted for the latter for a unique £99,999 fee.
A further 268 goals in 381 club games now have firmly in the conversation when discussing Tottenham's greatest ever, and that's despite the feats of Harry Kane. Prior to his death two years ago aged 81 it's fair to say both sets of fans fondly remembered Greaves - but it is perhaps with the north London club where he is hailed most.
Williams Gallas
From two graceful forward players to one maverick centre-back, and a controversial maverick at that. The Frenchman won two Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho before a very public spat with the 'Special One' saw him leave for Arsenal. But not before he allegedly threatened to score own goals if his desired move was blocked.
William Gallas played for Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal during his Premier League career (GETTY)So it says much for his reputation that later swapping Arsenal for fierce rivals Tottenham wasn't even considered his most dubious switch. He did make an impact under Harry Redknapp and shone in the Champions League, but injuries derailed him before his final career move to Perth Glory in Australia. To say he ended up more popular with Tottenham fans than Chelsea's is a little far-fetched. In reality, he was just less hated.
Colin Lee
Like Greaves, the midfielder excelled for both sides, albeit without the incredible goalscoring achievements of the former. He did however, help elevated both clubs back to the big time. He joined Tottenham in 1977 and scored four goals on debut in a 9-0 win over Bristol Rovers, en route to winning promotion from the second division that same season. Somewhat surprisingly, he chose to drop back down to the second tier in 1980 to represent Chelsea.
Colin Lee playing for Chelsea in 1984In a seven-year stint, he would prove influential in the club winning promotion, and the title, in 1985 and two years later struck a brace at Wembley as his new side won the Full Members Cup against Manchester City. While Lee may not be a household name at either club, his 36 goals in 185 games for Chelsea means it's that fanbase that remembers him best.
Terry Venables
'El Tel' never hit the individual heights that Hoddle did, but he can lay claim to helping both these big clubs to silverware. After graduating from the Chelsea Academy in 1960, he would play 237 times for them, scoring 31 goals, and finding the net as the club beat Leicester City in the 1964/65 League Cup final.
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Terry Venables won the FA Cup as a player and manager at SpursAn £80,000 move to Spurs would soon sour his relationship with his boyhood club though, with his debut season culminating in Bill Nicholson's side beating Chelsea in the 1966/67 FA Cup final.
Venables failed to impress the famous boss in the two seasons that followed though, and left for QPR. However, he did return to the White Hart Lane to lead the club to their eighth and to date, last FA Cup win in 1991 though, meaning it's the Lilywhites where his popularity is superior.
Gus Poyet
Flicking back to a more modern-day example, Gustavo Poyet could lay claim to being the greatest Uruguayan player to grace the Premier League - well at least until Luis Suarez came along. But given he signed for Chelsea on a free, he remains one of our top flight's greatest bargains. Between 1997 and 2001, he scored 49 goals in 145 games for the club and was pivotal in them winning the FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup.
Gus Poyet helped Chelsea to FA Cup glory in 2000 (Getty Images)Therefore, his subsequent move to Spurs broke hearts, even if his three-year stint was plagued by injuries. Time it seems, however, has proved a healer and there are few Chelsea fans who don't speak fondly of their former midfielder.
Graham Roberts
The England defender made his name at Tottenham and became a cult hero among fans. And with small wonder, between 1980 and 1986 he played more than 200 games for the club and more critically, helped them to back-to-back FA Cup wins as well as UEFA Cup glory.
His two-year stint with Chelsea would come later on in his career, but did include a second division title win. There were also trophies at Rangers in Scotland and six international caps. But his name remains most synonymous with Spurs.
Bobby Smith
When people talk about the great Tottenham strikers, few outside of the club will delve beyond the names of Jimmy Greaves or Harry Kane.
And yet back in the days when televisions remained in black and white, the name Bobby Smith was rightfully lauded. His total of 208 goals in 317 club games leaves him third on the club's all-time scoring list, behind you know who.
But equally as significantly, he helped fire Spurs to their historic league and FA Cup double in 1961/62, not to mention UEFA Cup Winners' Cup glory two years later. Smith had previously spent five years at Chelsea as a youngster but where was he most celebrated? No contest.
Micky Hazard
A good servant to both clubs, but a player that was considered more an unsung hero than he was an eye-catching star. The midfielder was at Tottenham between 1978 and 1985, winning an FA Cup and Uefa Cup - creating goals in both legs of the final against Anderlecht. Eyebrows were raised when he jaunted across London for a £300,000 fee, picking up second division and Full Members Cup honours in five seasons at Chelsea.
There appeared no ill feeling when he returned to his former club to end his career in 1993, via time with Portsmouth and Swindon. But the harsh reality is despite his success with both, while old-school fans may appreciate Hazard, his name isn't one to get either set of present-day supporters excited.
Scott Parker
Like with Carlo Cudicini, Neil Sullivan, or Eider Gudjohnsen, you could be forgiven for not realising Scott Parker played for both clubs. That's because after being bought by Chelsea in 2004 for £10million, part of the initial Roman Abramovich spending spree, he was sold to Newcastle barely a year later. His later stint at Spurs between 2011 and 2103 was better remembered, even if he failed to score in 63 appearances.
Parker can lay claim to a solid career that yielded 18 England caps. But you won't find fans of either of Monday's opponents vehemently claiming him to be one of their own.
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