The Definitive Journeymen in Football

Tiger Woods certainly understands the concept of switching clubs frequently – and so do these football players.

Some athletes appear to have a restless spirit, preferring not to remain with a single team for an extended period—sometimes not even in the same nation.

Here, we explore the football world’s greatest nomads, from celebrated figures in the English lower leagues to jet-setting stars from South America.

Chris O’Grady

A winner of promotions in both League One and League Two with Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale respectively, forward Chris O’Grady has represented 17 professional clubs in England, netting goals for 14 of them.

In 2022, he transitioned to non-League football with Ilkeston Town, subsequently joining Grantham Town as his 19th club the following year.

Ricardo Paez

Over a career reaching close to twenty years, Venezuelan midfielder Ricardo Paez suited up at clubs across 11 different countries over four continents.

Besides representing his home nation—where he earned 64 caps—he played in Belgium after joining Standard Liege in 1997, before moving to Argentina to play for Boca Juniors and Lanus, and then had stints in Mexico, the UAE, Ecuador, Colombia, Romania, Greece, Peru, and Spain.

Mohamed Kallon

A center-forward who represented Sierra Leone in 39 international matches, Mohamed Kallon was known for playing for an eclectic mix of clubs.

He gained notoriety at notable European sides like Inter Milan and Monaco, but also had experiences in Lebanon, Sweden, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Greece, the UAE, China, and India, in addition to returning to his native Sierra Leone, where he had two spells with his club, FC Kallon.

Ailton

Though he’s primarily recognized for his outstanding achievements at Werder Bremen—where he netted 88 goals in the Bundesliga and secured the 2003/04 German championship—Brazilian striker Ailton has played for over 20 clubs throughout his career.

His other notable affiliations include stints at Besiktas, Red Star Belgrade, UANL in Mexico, and Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic in China.

Kazuyoshi Miura

A remarkable individual, Japanese icon Kazuyoshi Miura continued playing professional football well into his 50s.

In addition to making a significant impact in Japan, where he scored 55 international goals, the forward also had spells with a variety of Brazilian clubs including Santos and Palmeiras, as well as European teams like Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb.

Nii Lamptey

Former Ghana midfielder Nii Lamptey had a diverse career, playing at 14 clubs in 12 different countries, starting with Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht, where he clinched two league titles, and concluding with Jomo Cosmos in South Africa.

He was a part of the 1991 U-17 World Cup-winning team and briefly played in the Premier League for Aston Villa and Coventry City.

Eduardo Hurtado

Recognized as one of Ecuador’s all-time greats, Eduardo Hurtado enjoyed a career lasting nearly two decades, turning out for over 20 clubs.

Known as ‘El Tanque’ (‘The Tank’), the powerful forward had several spells with LDU and Barcelona de Guayaquil, along with stints at Colo-Colo, LA Galaxy, and Hibernian abroad.

Trevor Benjamin

Often cited as a prime example of a journeyman, Trevor Benjamin wore the colors of 29 clubs over a span of 17 years.

The Jamaican forward, who earned two caps for his national team, played in the Premier League for Leicester but fell out of the professional circuit by his late 20s, finishing his career with various non-League teams including Gainsborough Trinity, Kidsgrove Athletic, and Morpeth Town.

Steve Claridge

Steve Claridge’s illustrious career spanned nearly 25 years, culminating in over 1,000 domestic appearances.

The former Leicester striker, who lifted the League Cup with the Foxes in the 1996/97 season, experienced a whirlwind period between 2004 and 2007, featuring for 10 different clubs, including a second of three stints at Weymouth, this time as player-manager.

Richard Pacquette

During the mid-2010s, striker Richard Pacquette’s itinerant career surpassed the 30-club milestone, marking a journey rich with experiences across England.

In a memorable moment in 2008, Pacquette, who began at QPR, scored for Havant & Waterlooville to take the lead against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round.

John Burridge

Goalkeeper John Burridge maintained a remarkable career, playing for nearly 30 years and defending for 29 different clubs.

A League Cup victor with Aston Villa in 1977, Burridge’s extensive career took him from Workington to Blyth Spartans, also featuring with Aberdeen and Manchester City—where, at 43, he was the oldest player to appear in the Premier League in 1995.

Sebastian Abreu

Alongside competing for Uruguay in two World Cups, Sebastian Abreu navigated his career through an impressive 32 clubs across 11 different countries.

The center-forward, who celebrated club successes in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and El Salvador, also showcased his talent in Europe, playing for Deportivo La Coruna in Spain and Aris in Greece.

Tulio Maravilha

Brazilian striker Tulio Maravilha’s career spanned over three decades, beginning and concluding in Brazil.

He recorded 13 goals in 15 international appearances between 1990 and 1995, playing for a multitude of clubs just within Brazil, as well as Sion in Switzerland, Ujpest in Hungary, Jorge Wilstermann in Bolivia, and Al-Shabab in the UAE.

Miodrag Andelkovic

Serbian forward Miodrag Andelkovic called time on his career in 2011, having played for more than 20 clubs around Europe, Asia, North America, and South America.

Outside of five tenures with OFK Belgrade, Andelkovic spent time at several clubs including Spain’s Espanyol and Almería, Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense, South Korea’s Incheon United, Japan’s Cerezo Osaka, Kazakhstan’s Irtysh Pavlodar, and the Canadian side Brantford Galaxy.

Jefferson Louis

As of the beginning of the 2024/25 season, Jefferson Louis had an incredible tally of 51 club changes since initiating his career with Risborough Rangers in 1996.

The striker, who earned a cap for Dominica, largely played for non-League clubs in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, and London, but also made several appearances in the EFL with Oxford United, Bristol Rovers, and Mansfield Town.

Lutz Pfannenstiel

And the accolade for Football’s Ultimate Journeyman goes to Lutz Pfannenstiel, the well-traveled German goalkeeper who has played on all six inhabited continents—he was actually the first player to achieve this feat.

The former Wimbledon, Nottingham Forest, Bradford Park Avenue, and Huddersfield Town star completed the global set when he signed with Brazilian team Atletico Hermann Aichinger in 2008, after previously playing in Asia for Penang (Malaysia); Africa for Orlando Pirates (South Africa); Oceania for Dunedin Technical (New Zealand); and North America for the Calgary Mustangs (Canada).