Played for both: Five stars who crossed the Manchester divide

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City (17/10 with Coral to triumph) will travel to Old Trafford hoping to secure a record fifth consecutive derby victory over Manchester United (8/5 to secure victory).

Ahead of the crucial top flight clash between the city’s big guns and fierce rivals, Coral football writers have picked five of the best players to have featured for both the red and blue half of Manchester.

Peter Schmeichel
Probably the greatest goalkeeper ever to play between the sticks at Old Trafford, though David De Gea will be hoping to snatch that accolade in the coming years, Schmeichel was simply, on his day, unstoppable.

The towering Danish stopper was a key component in Sir Alex Ferguson’s treble-winning side in 1999, with his domineering presence in goal striking fear into even the best forwards the Premier League had to offer.

Although, the intimidating stopper then broke many of the United faithful’s hearts, joining City to play just one season in 2002.

Schmeichel’s record in the Manchester derby is astonishing, in that he was never on the losing side in his career. During nine years at Old Trafford he never tasted defeat, while during his one-season stint at City he helped collect one win and a draw.

Watch Schmeichel make what has been described by fans and pundits as ‘the save of the decade’.

Carlos Tevez
The astute Argentine attacker is currently enjoying the most prolific campaign of his career at Juventus, though his time with the Red Devils was equally as successful. Tevez netted five times on United’s run to their 2008 Champions League triumph, while also coolly slotting in his penalty in the victorious penalty shoot-out.

Argentina’s ferocious forward switched allegiances in 2009, the first player to directly cross the divide at the time since Terry Cooke in 1999. Tevez went on help secure a famous Premier League coup in 2012 and, also lifted the FA Cup the previous season.

Watch highlights of the 2010 Manchester derby, including Tevez’s dispatched penalty.

Denis Law
Simply a scoring hero for United during 11 highly successful seasons, as the superb Scot struck an incredible 171 league goals in 309 appearances in red.

A clinical finisher that former Old Trafford boss Ferguson described as his favourite ever player, Law actually featured in blue first before switching to United in 1962, then returned to City in 1973. The prolific poacher famously netted the goal that seemingly relegated his former employers United from the top division, with the 1964 Ballon d’Or winner refusing to celebrate.

Watch Law score a back-heel which he thought had demoted his former club, with United having already gone down regardless.

Andy Cole
The deadly striker arrived at Old Trafford following a rampant rise to prominence at Newcastle United, as he went on to notch up an impressive tally of 121 strikes.

Cole enjoyed his best years at United, eventually joining City in 2005, where he netted 10 goals in just a single season.

Watch Cole linked up with former strike partner Dwight Yorke to strike against Barcelona.

Brian Kidd
With Manchester embedded deep in his history, Kidd played and managed both of the city’s two big clubs during his career.

The former forward fired in 52 league goals in over 200 domestic appearances in red, before slotting home 44 times in 98 outings in blue.

Watch Kidd clinically slot home United’s third goal in the 1968 European Cup final victory over Benfica.