Every player to have played for Man Utd and Man City including Jadon Sancho and legendary shot-stopper

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Manchester United and Manchester City have developed something of a fierce rivalry in recent seasons.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester City were never really a threat to Manchester United’s Premier League dominance.

As a result of this, Ferguson seemingly had no issues moving players on to their city rivals but in recent seasons, due to City’s dominance in the Premier League, this has become less and less frequent.

Here, United In Focus will detail all 15 players to have played for both Manchester United and Manchester City.

Denis Law

Manchester United legend Denis Law has played for both Manchester clubs and Law scored the goal that relegated the Red Devils from the old First Division back in 1974.

During the Scotsman’s time at Old Trafford, Law scored 221 times in 374 appearances for the Red Devils and was part of the Holy Trinity, alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton.

Law spent 11 years at United before moving to Manchester City in 1974 where he would eventually score nine goals in 24 games.

Brian Kidd

Brian Kidd came through United’s academy ranks and he was awarded his debut by Sir Matt Busby in 1967.

After a spell at Old Trafford, Kidd would move to Arsenal before returning to Manchester, this time at City.

Kidd would go on to play 128 times for the Citizens and rack up over 50 goals for the club; including three goals against his former side in their Manchester Derby clashes.

Terry Cooke

Sticking to the past now with former United academy graduate Terry Cooke, but the academy midfielder was not given a chance to impress at Old Trafford.

Cooke would head out on loan on multiple occasions including to Manchester City but the midfielder was hindered by injury problems throughout his career.

He would go on to make 37 appearances for the Sky Blues, scoring on eight occasions.

Peter Beardsley

Former United winger Peter Beardsley is in the unique camp of not only playing for United and City but also Liverpool.

Beardsley would only play for United for a year from 1982-1983 but he would eventually move to City on loan in 1998 but would go on to make just six appearances for the Citizens.

Peter Barnes

Another Peter who has played for both United and City was left-winger Peter Barnes, who came through the youth academy of the Citizens and spent five years at the club making 115 appearances.

He would then go on to be loaned to United from Leeds United, who are another one of the Red Devils’ rivals but he would make just 20 appearances for the club.

Wyn Davies

Welsh centre-forward Wyn Davies is another name who has played for both clubs. The Welshman made a name for himself at Newcastle United.

However, during the 1970s, Davies played at City for a year (1971-1972) and at United for another year (1972-73).

John Gidman

English right-back John Gidman is next on this list with the defender making 95 appearances for the Red Devils during the 1980s (1981-86).

Gidman then moved to City (186-88) where he made 53 appearances for the Citizens and scored on just one occasion.

Andrei Kanchelskis

Former United winger Andrei Kanchelskis was one of the first foreign imports into England during the early 1990s and he made a name for himself at Old Trafford.

Kanchelskis joined in 1991 but was eventually replaced in the squad by Ryan Giggs by the mid-90s but he would go on to make 123 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 28 times.

Then, in 2001, Kanchelskis moved on loan to Manchester City from Scottish side Rangers but made just 10 appearances for the club.

Sammy McIlroy

Northern Irish winger Sammy McIlroy proved to be Sir Matt Busby’s final signing for the Red Devils and he would go on to make 342 appearances for United.

Ironically, McIlroy made his debut for United as a 17-year-old against Manchester City but then moved to Maine Road during the 1985-86 season, where he made just 13 appearances.

Mark Robins

Current Coventry City manager Mark Robins made a name for himself coming through the United youth ranks, just a few years before the Class of ’92.

Robins played for United between 1988-1992 where he would make 48 appearances scoring 11 times. Similar to other names on this list, Robins would move on loan to City in 1999 where he made just two appearances.

Robins took charge of Coventry City against Erik ten Hag’s United last season.

Andy Cole

There is no doubt that United forward Andy Cole is a bonafide Old Trafford legend. Jaap Stam said Cole was a standout player for United and he scored goal after goal for the Red Devils.

Cole is one of the top Premier League goalscorers of all time and the Englishman netted on 93 occasions for the Red Devils and he was vital to the club winning the treble in 1999.

However, in the mid-2000s, Cole would eventually move to Manchester City as he approached the twilight of his career. He played just 22 times for City (2005-06 season) scoring nine times.

Peter Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel is United’s greatest-ever goalkeeper with the imperious Danish shot-stopper a fixture between the sticks during the 1990s.

Schmeichel was the cartwheeling goalkeeper on the night that United won the treble in 1999 but he decided to leave following that triumphant night in Barcelona.

Just three years later, Schmeichel would be playing for City, where he made 29 appearances for the club before retiring in 2003.

Owen Hargreaves

When United signed Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich in 2007, it promised to be an exciting addition to the team but the Canadian’s injury problems meant he never nailed down a position in the United first team.

His best moment for United was a late free-kick against Arsenal to win the Red Devils the game at Old Trafford in 2008.

Hargreaves departed in 2011 after making just 27 appearances and then signed for Roberto Mancini’s City but he made just one appearance.

Carlos Tevez

Perhaps the most controversial transfer on this list but Argentine forward Carlos Tevez seemed to fuel the simmering rivalry between United and City.

Tevez was a fan favourite at United due to his determination and his goalscoring ability but after a fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson, Tevez moved to the Etihad Stadium.

The Argentine eventually fell out with Mancini before the pair eventually patched up their differences and Tevez played a key role in helping City win the title.

Tevez has now admitted he learned a lot from Ferguson as he embarks on his own managerial journey but the pair’s strained relationship seemingly led to City becoming title winners.

Jadon Sancho

The most recent example of a player who has played for both sides is former United winger Jadon Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea.

Sancho came through City’s youth academy but never made a first-team appearance appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side. Sancho moved to Borussia Dortmund and excelled in the Bundesliga.

United then spent £73 million on Sancho which was one of the Red Devils’ most expensive transfer purchases. Sancho was a major flop for the Red Devils and it was certainly the right time to move the Englishman on.