Steve McManaman, Sol Campbell and the 10 biggest Bosman transfers of all time

Updated 15/12/2015 at 14:37 GMT

Twenty years ago today the face of football changed as Jean-Marc Bosman won a court case allowing footballers to freely move at the end of their contract.

Steve McManaman joined Real Madrid on a bosman in 1999

Image credit: Reuters

As Bosman took his club, RC Liege, to court over his desire to join Dunkerque, in 1995, the EU ruled that out-of-contract footballers could leave their clubs without them receiving a transfer fee.

Here we look at 10 of the biggest Bosman transfers in the two decades since its introduction...

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Steve McManaman

The Liverpool No 7’s departure from Merseyside in 1999 was one of the first examples of the controversy that the Bosman ruling inspired. Fears that the mercurial winger was running down his contract were confirmed when he signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid having rejected numerous opportunities to extend his stay at his hometown club.

Reds fans felt aggrieved at missing out on a transfer for the England international, but his time in Spain proved unequivocally successful. Two Champions Leagues, a goal in the 3-0 victory over Valencia in Paris in 2000, two La Liga titles, a European Super Cup and the Club World Cup cemented his cult status in the Spanish capital.

Gary McAllister spent two trophy-laden years at Liverpool

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Gary McAllister

Eyebrows were raised when Gerard Houllier brought the 35-year-old Gary McAllister to Liverpool on a free transfer from Coventry in 2000. The Scottish veteran was one of six summer signings as the Frenchman looked to take the club into the Champions League and beyond.

After a quiet two-thirds of the season, McAllister came to the boil in stunning fashion as his 40-yard free kick winner against Everton sparked a vital six-goal spree in April and May as Liverpool charged to a cup treble and a third-place Premier League finish.

Sol Campbell emerges out of the White Hart Lane tunnel in 2001

Image credit: PA Photos

Sol Campbell

If McManaman’s move to Real Madrid felt controversial, it barely registered on the Richter scale when Sol Campbell swapped allegiances in North London. The Tottenham defender had been on the books for 12 years before he ran his contract down and took the unthinkable decision to join arch-rivals Arsenal for absolutely nothing.

A toxic atmosphere awaited Campbell on his return to White Hart Lane as the betrayed home fans greeted their former hero with Judas balloons and personal abuse raining down from the stands. The England centre-back enjoyed the last laugh as he went on to win two Premier League titles and three FA Cups in his five-year stay at Highbury.

Jay-Jay Okocha battles with Robbie Savage

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Jay-Jay Okocha

Nigerian star Jay-Jay Okocha’s move to Bolton Wanderers from Paris St Germain was as unexpected as it was an unqualified success, coming after a four-year stint in Ligue 1 following a big-money £14m move from Fenerbahce.

The idea that a player as talented and internationally renowned as Okocha could join Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers, who had only been in the Premier League for a year, was unthinkable. His tricks and skills lit up the league as he led Bolton to Premier League safety and European football.

Inter Milan's Cambiasso celebrates after the Champions League final

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Esteban Cambiasso

After a frustrating period on the sidelines at Real Madrid, Esteban Cambiasso joined Inter Milan on a free in 2004 and went on to make over 400 appearances in a 10-year stay in Serie A. The Argentine won four league titles in a row and was one of the outstanding performers in their treble season of 2010 as Jose Mourinho’s side triumphed in the Champions League final over Bayern Munich.

Barcelona's Henrik Larsson and second coach Ten Kate hold the Champions League Trophy during the team's celebrations at Nou Camp Stadium

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Henrik Larsson

In only two years with Barcelona, Swedish striker Henrik Larsson left an indelible print on the Spanish giants. Two La Liga titles, a Spanish Super Cup and a Champions League victory proved quite a bookend to the Celtic legend’s remarkable career.

The Swede was credited by many with swinging the 2006 Champions League final in Barcelona’s favour as they found themselves 1-0 down to Arsenal in the second half.

Michael Ballack after scoring against Manchester United

Image credit: Reuters

Michael Ballack

While Michael Ballack did not make the impact at Chelsea his reputation suggested he could, his signature felt like a significant coup for the Premier League champions in 2006. Revered across Europe from Manchester United to Real Madrid, Ballack formed part of a Blues backbone that proved indomitable in the mid-to-late noughties and was a significant player in their run to the Champions League final in 2008 and their domestic double success in 2010.

David Beckham spent five years with MLS side LA Galaxy

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David Beckham

David Beckham’s move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy in 2007 was a watershed moment for Major League Soccer and the development of the American game. Beckham was, and remains, a world icon in the sport and his move, at the relatively young age of 31, to the USA felt like a real coup for Galaxy.

Beckham’s success in Los Angeles, on both a commercial and competitive level – he twice won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012 – has paved the way for many more European greats to follow him across the pond in recent years.

Andrea Pirlo had a trophy-laden four year spell at Juventus

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Andrea Pirlo

When AC Milan decided against renewing Andrea Pirlo’s contract in 2011, it felt like the Italian World Cup winner ‘s career was winding down. At 32 his peak years looked well past, and his ability to compete in the midfield engine room was routinely questioned.

Pirlo responded with perhaps the best four-year spell of his career at Juventus, where four successive Serie A titles followed and a cult icon was born within those flowing locks and sculpted beard.

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski has been lethal since his free transfer in 2014

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Robert Lewandowski

It was the worst kept secret in football when Robert Lewandowski swapped Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich in 2014. The Polish superstar had developed a fearsome reputation during his four-year stay with the 2011 and 2012 Bundesliga champions before a move to the Bavarian giants took his game to the next level.

In only a season-and-a-half under Pep Guardiola the striker has scored 48 goals in 73 games and is well on his way to proving one of the best Bosman signings of all time.

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