Top 10 players to play for both Chelsea and Leeds United

These players have played for both these clubs.

Chelsea and Leeds United are two of the most prominent football clubs in England, both with a rich history and loyal fan bases. The rivalry between these two clubs dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, when they were both vying for supremacy in English football.

During this time, Leeds United were one of the dominant forces in English football, winning multiple league titles, while Chelsea struggled in the lower divisions. This created a sense of envy and bitterness among Chelsea fans towards Leeds United.

Over the years, the rivalry has been fueled by a number of contentious incidents both on and off the pitch. These include heated encounters between players, controversial refereeing decisions, and clashes between fans. The rivalry reached its peak in the 1990s when both clubs were competing for the Premier League title.

Despite Chelsea's recent success in the Premier League, the rivalry between these two clubs remains strong, with both sets of fans eagerly anticipating their meetings on the pitch.

Let’s look at the top 10 players who have played for both these clubs.

10. David Rocastle (Leeds 1992-1993, Chelsea 1994-1998)

David Rocastle was a professional footballer who played for both Chelsea and Leeds United during his career. He began his professional career with Arsenal, where he won two league titles, before moving to Leeds United in 1992. He played for Leeds for almost two seasons before moving to Manchester City.

David Rocastle joined Chelsea in 1994, and his arrival was seen as a major coup for the club. However, injuries limited his appearances for the Blues, and he made just 37 appearances in four seasons.

9. Neil Sullivan (Chelsea 2003-2004, Leeds 2004-2007)

After Tottenham, Sullivan transferred to Chelsea in 2003. However Macho picked up a serious knee injury and Chelsea moved to replace him with Sullivan. Sullivan was to compete with Ambrosio for providing back up to Cudicini. However, he only featured in eight matches during his one season with the club.

In 2004, Leeds United's manager Kevin Blackwell recruited him to take over from the outgoing Paul Robinson, and despite competition from Scott Carson, Sullivan established himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper.

8. David Hopkin (Chelsea 1992-1995, Leeds  1997-2000)

David Hopkin began his footballing career at Greenock Morton before earning a transfer to Chelsea in 1992. Although he played for the club for three years, he was not a regular member of the team. He departed Chelsea in 1995 and moved to Crystal Palace. He made around 40 appearances during his time at Chelsea.

After spending two years at Palace, Hopkin transferred to Leeds United in 1997, making him one of the few players to have played for both Leeds and Chelsea. He played for the club for three seasons before moving to Bradford in 2000.

7. Jody Morris (Chelsea 1996-2003, Leeds 2003-2004)

Morris began his footballing journey at Chelsea's youth academy and made his senior debut for the club in 1996. He quickly established himself as a regular member of the team and was a key part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2000. Morris played for Chelsea for seven seasons.

In 2003, Morris left Chelsea and joined Leeds United, where he played for one season and made 16 appearances.

6. Michael Duberry  (Chelsea 1993-1999, Leeds 1999-2005)

Michael Duberry is a former professional footballer who played as a defender for both Chelsea and Leeds United during his career.Duberry began his footballing journey at Chelsea's youth academy and made his senior debut for the club in 1994. He quickly established himself as a regular member of the team and was a key part of the squad that won the League Cup in 1998. Duberry played for Chelsea for six seasons.

In 1999, Duberry transferred to Leeds United for a fee of £4.5 million, which was a record transfer fee for a British defender at the time. Duberry played for Leeds for four seasons.

5. Duncan McKenzie (Leeds 1974-1976, Chelsea 1978-1979)

Brian Clough, the then-manager of Leeds United, signed Duncan McKenzie for the club in 1974. McKenzie quickly gained the admiration of both fans and players with his exceptional goalscoring abilities. During the 1975/76 season, McKenzie finished as the top scorer for Leeds United. However, he eventually moved to Anderlecht, leaving behind a trail of disappointed supporters.

In September 1978, he joined Everton's Premier League rivals Chelsea. Unfortunately, his stay at the club was short-lived, as he left less than a year later after making only 16 appearances and scoring four goals.

4. Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea 1997-2000, Leeds 2007-2008)

Chelsea brought Tore Andre Flo to the club from Norwegian side Brann in 1997, as the relatively unknown forward excelled in English football. He scored an impressive 50 goals for the Blues before being sold to Scottish giants Rangers in 2000.

Towards the end of his career, Flo joined Leeds United in 2007. Despite scoring four goals in 24 appearances, he couldn't help the team avoid relegation to the third tier of English football.

3. Vinnie Jones (Leeds 1989-1990, Chelsea 1991-1992)

Jones move to Leeds United in 1989, proved to be a successful one as he played a pivotal role in the team's promotion to the First Division during the 1989/90 season. He quickly became a fan favourite at the club.

After leaving Leeds United in 1990, Jones joined Sheffield United before moving on to Chelsea in 1991 for a single season. During his time with the Chelsea he made 52 appearances across all competitions, showcasing his trademark physicality and tenacity on the pitch.

2. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds 1997-1999, Chelsea 2000-2004)

In 1997, Hasselbaink moved to the Premier League to join Leeds United. He quickly adapted to English football and became a fan favourite, scoring 34 goals in 69 appearances for the club. After two seasons with Leeds, Hasselbaink moved to Atletico Madrid. In 2000, he returned to the Premier League to join Chelsea.

Hasselbaink immediately made an impact at Chelsea, scoring 23 goals in his first season and helping the club finish third in the league. He went on to score some spectacular strikes and crucial goals in big games. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2000-2001 season.

1. Tony Dorigo (Chelsea 1987-1991, Leeds 1991-1997)

Dorigo joined Chelsea in 1987. He was a regular starter for the Blues. Dorigo was a key member of the Chelsea side that won the Second Division title in the 1988-89 season, earning promotion to the top flight. He also won the Full Members Cup in 1990. In 1991 he left the club and joined Leeds United.

Dorigo played for Leeds United for six seasons, helping the team win the last ever First Division title in the 1991/92 season before the Premier League was formed. Dorigo was part of the Leeds team that reached the Champions League semi-finals in the 2000/01 season. He left the club in 1997 and joined Torino.