10 players who played for both Sunderland and Newcastle United – Where are they now? | OneFootball

As far as rivalries in English football go the Tyne-Wear derby is among the fiercest.

Supporters from Newcastle United and Sunderland hold a bitter dislike for each other and that means that when the sides go head-to-head it often ends in fireworks.

While it’s been a few years now since the rivalry has been ignited with a competitive match, there’s no doubt that when the sides do face off it’ll be a very big deal.

Players are often synonymous with playing for one club or the other, but on the odd occasions we’ve seen players move across enemy lines.

There’s a fairly small list of players who can say that they’ve represented both Newcastle United and Sunderland, but who are the players and what are they doing now? Let’s take a look!

There’s no doubt that Shay Given is one of the best goalkeepers of the Premier League era.

After spending his youth career with Scottish giants Celtic he made the move to Blackburn Rovers where he got his first tastes of professional football.

While spending time with Swindon Town, it was his loan move to Sunderland in 1996 that really got his career going as he made 17 appearances for the club as they secured promotion from the First Division.

Those displays caught the eye of Kenny Dalglish who moved to sign Given for Newcastle United the following year, leading him to spend the next 12 years with the club as he made over 450 appearances for the club.

Since then Given has moved into coaching and is currently working as a first team coach under Wayne Rooney at Derby County.

The defender wasn’t the best in the world but enjoyed spells with both sides of the Tyne-Wear rivalry.

After coming through the youth set-up with Ipswich Town, Bramble made 48 appearances for the club at Portman Road before securing a £6million move to Newcastle United in 2002.

Bramble spent five years at St James’ Park before moving to Wigan Athletic in 2007.

Three years were spent with the Latics before he returned to the North East to join Sunderland for a fee of £1million, a club that he stayed with for three years as he made 51 appearances.

Now retired, Bramble works as an ambassador and lead coach for the Futurestars Charity.

The Stirling-born defender got his big break with the game after joining Newcastle United’s youth academy at the age of 14.

Caldwell was handed his first team debut by Bobby Robson in September 2000 and spent another four years with the club in which he made 37 appearances in between a number of loan spells before being released.

Controversially the centre-back made the decision to join Sunderland immediately after leaving St James’ Park and stayed on Wearside for two and a half years before leaving to join Burnley in January 2007.

Spells with the Clarets, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City followed before he moved to Canada to join Toronto FC.

Caldwell now works as assistant team coach for Canada’s men’s national soccer team.

The defender is regarded as one of the best in the Premier League right now, but you have forgotten that he’s played for both Newcastle United and Sunderland.

Van Aanholt joined Chelsea at the age of 17 and spent the next five years heading out on loan with the likes of Coventry City, Leicester City, Wigan Athletic and Vitesse Arnhem.

He also spent time with the Magpies on a one-month loan deal in 2010 where he played seven times in the Championship.

After leaving Chelsea the full-back completed a permanent move to Sunderland where he featured 95 times during a three-year career before moving to Crystal Palace.

Now 30 years of age, Van Aanholt is enjoying life in the Premier League.

The midfielder was in Wallsend, Newcastle and went on to live every Newcastle supporter’s dream after coming through the ranks at St James’ Park.

After coming through the academy Clark made 240 appearances for the Magpies during seven years in the first team set-up.

In 1997 he completed a move to bitter rivals Sunderland where he helped the club to secure promotion from the First Division during his two years at the club.

He then spent six years with Fulham before returning to Newcastle United at the end of his career.

Since then Clark has moved into management and is currently with Sudanese side Al-Merrikh after leaving Blyth Spartans last season.

A player who did the opposite of Lee Clark, who we just discussed.

Jack Colback grew up in Newcastle as a supporter of the club but found his route into the game after joining Sunderland’s youth academy.

The midfielder made his debut for the club in 2010 before spending time on loan with Ipswich Town.

Colback made 135 appearances for the Black Cats before completing a controversial move to Newcastle United in 2014, where he made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club.

Since then the 31-year-old has moved to Nottingham Forest but faces an uncertain future again as we move towards the summer transfer window.

An England favourite who also turned out for both clubs in the Tyne-Wear rivalry.

Waddle grew up in the East end of Newcastle and joined the club at the age of 19 in 1980, coincidentally after being rejected by Sunderland.

The midfielder spent five years on Tyneside before enjoying a wonderful 11-year spell with Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille and Sheffield Wednesday who he stayed with until 1996.

After spells with Falkirk and Bradford City, Waddle joined Sunderland for a short spell in 1997 where he made seven appearances and scored one goal for the club in the Premier League.

Since hanging up his boots Waddle is regularly heard on the airwaves after building a career as a co-commentator and pundit.

The striker is regarded as one of the best Premier League attackers in history.

After coming through the youth ranks with Arsenal, Cole joined Bristol City before getting his big break with Newcastle United in 1993.

Cole spent almost two years at St James’ Park and scored a stunning 68 goals in 84 appearances before moving to Manchester United.

It was an Old Trafford where he enjoyed his longest spell of success as he helped the club to a historic treble.

Spells with Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and Portsmouth followed before he moved to Sunderland in the 2007-08 season where he made just seven appearances for the Black Cats.

Now retired, Cole is often found on the punditry circuit.

The North Shields-born striker made his name after coming through the ranks with Sunderland.

After making 79 appearances for the Black Cats, Bridges was regarded as one of the hottest young prospects in the Premier League despite not being able to save his club from relegation.

He went on to play for Leeds United but struggled with injury during his time at Elland Road.

Bridges spent a short time on loan with Newcastle United in 2004 but failed to find the net in six appearances for the club.

His career fizzled out somewhat after leaving Leeds and is now looking for a job in management.

The striker grew up is Gosforth, Newcastle and joined the Toon Army’s youth academy at the age of 10.

After breaking into the first team set-up, Chopra made 31 appearances for the Magpies before moving to Cardiff City in 2006.

He spent a fruitful year in South Wales before moving back to the North East to join Sunderland in July 2007 after they secured promotion back to the Premier League.

Despite spending two years at the Stadium Of Light Chopra struggled to make a big impact at the club and headed back to Cardiff in 2009.

Now retired, Chopra is a football agent who is based in Amsterdam and was even linked with playing a role in a takeover of Newcastle United in 2020.