Source: Daily_Mail
The List: Sportsmail's top 50 free transfers, Nos 50-41
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is your favourite free transfer? Sol Campbell, Henrik Larsson, Ruud Gullit and John Collins make the cut as we count down the 50 best free transfers in world football. We reckon we've nailed it but, as ever, we want to know what you think of Sportsmail's latest edition of The List. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK The best things in life are free - but don't tell Real Madrid.[LNB]The Spanish giants paid Manchester United a world record £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer but teams don't always have to break the bank to land a superstar.[LNB]At the other end of the scale we have the free transfers.[LNB]In the week that Arsenal legend Sol Campbell rejoined the Gunners, Sportsmail's team of experts have come up with their favourite freebies.[LNB]And, as always, we want to know what you think about The List.[LNB]50 Michael Owen (Newcastle to Manchester United) Stop looking so puzzled, his late winner against Manchester City and hishat-trick away at Wolfsburg provided proof that Owen can still cut it atthe top level after his nightmare with Newcastle. [LNB]He has boosted his England chances with seven goals for United so farthis season and as the fixtures pile up he is sure to be given moreopportunities by Sir Alex to help their push for a fourth successivetitle. [LNB] Derby delight: Owen celebrates his winner against Manchester City[LNB]Silky: Inter Milan are getting the best out of playmaker Pandev[LNB] 49 Goran Pandev (Lazio to Inter Milan) The Macedonia international was branded a 'rebel' by club presidentClaudio Lotito and frozen out of the squad, as well as being forced totrain separately from his former team-mates after handing in a transferrequest.[LNB] But the Italian League's contract dispute resolution chamberordered Pandev's release - much to Inter's benefit. [LNB]After turning down offers to move to the Premier League with Tottenhamand Arsenal, Pandev, 26, who was valued at £15m, has been in fine formsince joining up with Jose Mourinho's side. [LNB]48 Jari Litmanen (Barcelona to Liverpool) The Finnish goal machine was anything but finished after hisunsuccessful spell with Barcelona had come to an end following a spate ofinjuries.[LNB]He moved to Liverpool in 2001 and helped Gerard Houllier'sside to a treble of Worthington Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. [LNB]Unfortunately for Litmanen, further injuries hampered his time atAnfield and he departed to former club Ajax after making 43 appearancesand netting nine times for the Reds. [LNB] Flying Finn: Litmanen[LNB]Prolific: Dodds[LNB] 47 Billy Dodds (Rangers to Dundee United)It was his lack of first-team opportunities at Rangers under their newmanager Alex McLeish that persuaded Dodds to return to Dundee United in2003. [LNB]Dodds played the vast majority of his career as striker but, in aninspired move he was shifted to midfield where his performanceshelped United move away from relegation. [LNB]46 Fernando Hierro (Al Rayyan to Bolton) Sam Allardyce has a fine track record of eking a few more years out offootballers who appeared to be at the end of their careers and one of thefinest examples of this has to be the former Real Madrid centre-backHierro. [LNB]After leaving the Bernabeu, Hierro spent a season in Qatar with AlRayyan but Allardyce persuaded the three-time Champions League winnerto move to the Premier League in 2004. [LNB]In his one season at the Reebok, Bolton reached the League Cup finaland finished eighth in the table, at the time their highest finish inthe Premier League. [LNB] Solid: Hierro[LNB]Classy: Sheringham[LNB] 45 Teddy Sheringham (Man United to Tottenham) Sheringham made a welcome return to the club he supported as a boy(or was that West Ham, or Millwall, or ...) in 2001 and helped Spurs,who were being managed by another returning messiah, Glenn Hoddle, tothe Carling Cup final of 2002. [LNB]In all, he scored 15 goals in his first season back at White Hart Lane- a good return from the 36-year-old striker - as the north London clubfinished ninth in the Premier League, their highest finish in six years. [LNB]44 Geovanni (Man City to Hull) Hull City were a breath of fresh air when they arrived in the top flight for the first time and much of their success can be attributed to the right foot ofthe Brazilian who had arrived from Manchester City.[LNB]Stunning strikes against Arsenal and Tottenham helped the Tigers into aChampions League spot for the early part of the 2008-09 season andthe glut of points won in the early stages of the campaign were vital as Hull survived the drop by a single point.[LNB] Brazilliant: Geovanni[LNB]Tall order: Kanu[LNB] 43 Kanu (West Brom to Portsmouth) Kanu remains a hero with Arsenal fans for his frequent and oftenspectacular goals and although not prolific in his timeat Fratton Park, he has bagged some of the most crucial goals in the club'shistory. [LNB]Harry Redknapp brought the Nigeria international to the south coastin 2006 and in his second season at Portsmouth, the striker scoredin the FA Cup semi-final win over West Brom and in the 1-0 winin the final against Cardiff City to win Pompey's first major trophy in58 years. [LNB]42 Rod Wallace (Leeds to Rangers) Skipping past five Tottenham defenders and slotting the ball home, Wallace scored the goal of season in 1992-93, the yearafter he had won the title with Leeds United.[LNB] But his goal record forthe Yorkshire club was nothing compared to what he achieved after hisfree move north of the border to Rangers in 1998. [LNB]In his first season at Ibrox he won the domestic treble, finished astop scorer with 27 goals and netted the winner in the Scottish Cup final win over Celtic.[LNB]The following season he was part of thesquad that won the League and Cup double.[LNB] In total he made 122appearances and scored 56 goals. [LNB] Hot Rod: Wallace[LNB]Home comforts: Adriano[LNB] 41 Adriano (Inter Milan to Flamengo) A controversial figure whose career has been blighted by drama both on and off the field, Adriano, 27, has been given a lifeline to save his career with former club Flamengo in his native Brazil. [LNB]The questions over his somewhat fulsome size can be answered with his fine scoring record - last season he had 19 goals in 30 league appearances and he might even get a place in the squad for the World Cup in South Africa. [LNB] [LNB]The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail's top 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail's top 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroes [LNB]
