30 MADDEST MOVES OF LEGENDS

Long before Lionel Messi headed to MLS, these stars also travelled the world - ending up in surprising places...

- Tom Hancock

30 DIXIE DEAN

One of the greatest goalscorers in England football history, Dean joined Ireland’s Sligo Rovers in 1939. Understandably, that sent the locals wild – Sligo’s railway station was overcome with hordes of people, desperately clamouring to catch a glimpse of the striker. HOW’D IT GO? Dean netted 10 times in just seven league outings, although he had his cup final runners-up medal stolen – it was returned to him years later.

29 PETER BEARDSLEY

A little-known youngster for Carlisle United, Northumberland-born Beardsley headed to Canada in the early 1980s – signing for NASL club Vancouver Whitecaps under manager Johnny Giles, the former Leeds United star. HOW’D IT GO? His goalscoring form helped to earn him a transfer to Manchester United – that didn’t go brilliantly, so he was soon back at Vancouver again, before making his name in England with Newcastle United.

28 LES FERDINAND

These days, everyone goes to Turkey – that wasn’t the case when QPR loaned a young Ferdinand to Besiktas in 1988. It was the only time that Sir Les played abroad – and it yielded one of his two major trophies, the Turkish Cup under English boss Gordon Milne. MOST NOTABLE MOMENT Being instructed to release a dove on the pitch – he threw it up into the air, but it plummeted like a stone and crashed to the ground. Oh…

27 TARIBO WEST