City vs. West Bromwich Albion | Five Familiar Faces
As City travel to the Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, we take a look at five players who have represented both clubs in recent years.
Jason Koumas
Former Wales international Koumas had two spells as a Bluebird, first joining on loan from the Baggies in 2005.
The attacking midfielder quickly became a hit with the City faithful, scoring on his debut when he came on as a substitute against Leeds United.
Koumas continued his fine form, scoring 12 league goals in 44 appearances, including a fine hat-trick at Luton Town, going on to earn the club’s Player of the Year Award.
He returned to the Welsh capital for a his second loan spell in the 2010/11 season, joining from Wigan Athletic. The midfielder's most memorable moment that season came against Doncaster Rovers with Koumas coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute and scoring two goals, including a superb free-kick, to earn the Bluebirds a fine victory.
The playmaker also made over a century of league appearances for the Baggies, netting on 23 occasions whilst wearing the navy blue and white stripes of Sunday’s opponents.
Danny Gabbidon
Prior to becoming a Bluebird back in 2000, Gabbidon came through the ranks at The Hawthorns.
The central defender completed a move to the Welsh capital and became a fans’ favourite at the heart of the City defence.
Also making his Wales debut whilst at the club, Gabbidon was a key part of the side that won the 2003 Second Division Play-Off Final to secure promotion.
The defender went on to make 193 league appearances for the club, before moving on to West Ham United in 2005.
The centre-back returned to Cardiff City Stadium in 2014, and enjoyed a brief spell as caretaker manager alongside fellow former Bluebird Scott Young.
Riccardo Scimeca
Another player to make the move directly to the Welsh capital from West Brom is Scimeca.
Having featured in 35 league games for the Baggies, Scimeca became a Bluebird in 2006, featuring frequently under Dave Jones in the 2006/07 campaign.
A versatile player who could operate in both defence and midfield, he developed both a positive relationship with the supporters and a goal-scoring touch during his time at the club.
Scimeca went on to make 69 league appearances for City, netting on six occasions.
Following a recurring groin injury, Riccy announced his retirement from the game in December 2009, ending his career as a Bluebird.
Robert Earnshaw
Club legend Earnshaw came through the ranks at City and went on to have an illustrious career.
Having broken into the first team as the Bluebirds’ Young Player of the Year on three occasions, Earnshaw’s standout year at the club was in the 2002/03 season.
As City gained promotion to Division One under Lennie Lawrence, Earnshaw scored a fantastic tally of 35 goals, breaking Stan Richards’ 56-year record of 30 league goals and the record of Hughie Ferguson of 32 goals in all competitions.
The striker made the move to Albion in 2004, going on to spend two seasons at the club, before moving on to Norwich City.
The former Wales international returned to South Wales in 2011 for a second spell as a Bluebird, and netted three league goals in 19 appearances.
Lee Peltier
The latest player to represent both City and the Baggies is Peltier.
The right-back spent five years at Cardiff City Stadium after joining the club from Huddersfield Town in 2015.
Peltier was a key part of the side that secured promotion back to the Premier League in the 2017/18 season.
The Liverpool-born defender went on to make 159 league appearances for the Bluebirds, leaving the club in January 2020.
Following his departure from City, Peltier had a brief spell at West Brom, making four appearances for the Baggies before joining his current club Middlesbrough.
