Larsson, Bergkamp and Cantona Voted The Best Ever Football Transfer Decisions In Major Poll

Sportingo Poll Highlights Top 10 Transfers According To 8,750 Fans

Sportingo, which empowers sports fans to become expert pundits through creating and sharing opinion, has announced that Henrik Larsson (Celtic), Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) and Eric Cantona (Manchester United) were the best transfers in British football history, according to more than 8,500 fans.

On the eve of the football transfer window, thousands of online supporters logged on to the Sportingo website to vote for the best ever signings. Celtic ace, Henrik Larsson topped the table, polling almost 2,500 votes following his move from Feyenoord in July 1997 for a fee of £650,000. The vast majority of the votes are likely to be a response to Larsson's successful time at Celtic, rather that his injury prone spell at Barcelona or his inspired and yet short lived career at Manchester United.

Former Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp came a close second with 2001 votes. Signed in June 1995 for just £7.5, Bergkamp etched his name into Arsenal folklore in his 11 year stint at the club and twice came third in the FIFA player of the year awards. That Bergkamp pipped Theirry Henry to the post suggests that there is still an element of bitterness amongst Arsenal fans following Henry's departure to Barcelona.

Manchester United talisman Eric Cantona was voted the third best transfer of all time for the time he spent at the club, winning four Premiership titles in five years, including two league and FA Cup doubles. Cantona may have polled even more votes were it not for the inclusion of Peter Schmeichel at number five with 522 votes - possibly a case of divided loyalties for United fans.

Sportingo is the world's largest platform for fans to write about sport with over 2,000 registered writers. Fans benefit by having their articles professionally edited and presented to a growing audience of punters who rank and comment on the articles. Sportingo also allows views to be put forward through various interactional exercises including a daily poll - providing the opportunity for fans to set the topical agenda for the sports world.

Ze'ev Rozov, Managing Director of Sportingo commented: "Sportingo is a unique platform for sports fans to express their feelings about past and present sporting issues, empowering the fans to lead the debate on key sporting issues. Our daily poll has been a particular success as it is quick and simple to use and highlights issues that are of interest to a huge audience - every team will have a fan's favourite transfer but some players reach such an iconic level that they are recognised by all football fans, regardless of club loyalties. The daily polls on Sportingo have proved of massive interest to the fans and have sparked some lively and topical debates, especially as the transfer window is now open".

The remaining votes were cast as follows:
- Ian Rush gained 911 votes following his move to Liverpool in April 1980 for a Chester City transfer record of £300,000.
- Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel polled 522 votes to claim fifth place in the poll.
- Jimmy Greaves move from AC Milan to Tottenham Hotspur in 1961, where he scored a club record of 266 goals in 379 matches was enough to claim sixth position in the poll with 468 votes
- Gianfranco Zola claimed seventh place with 297 votes for his move to Chelsea
- Missing out by one vote, in eighth position with a total of 296 votes was Paolo Di Canio for his move to West Ham from Sheffield Wednesday in January 1999.
- Manchester City and England legend Colin Bell claimed ninth position with 168 votes
- Sunderland sharp shooter Kevin Phillips claimed tenth spot with 55 votes following his move from Watford.

To comment on this article or for more information (including the worst ever transfer signings poll) please visit www.sportingo.com

For media information, please contact Philip Keightley at Punch Communications on 01858 545959 / 07765 243703 / Philip@punchcomms.com

-Ends-