As the Sky Blues get set to take on Rochdale this weekend, we look back at some of those players to have played for both sides.
Jamie Allen:
Rochdale born midfielder Jamie Allen came all the way through the ranks at Spotland, making his professional debut in 2013 as an 18-year-old. His early career in Greater Manchester saw him nominated for the League Two Apprentice of the Year award prior to making his league debut.
After four full seasons at Rochdale, including helping the club win promotion to League One in 2014, Allen was signed by Championship club Burton Albion ahead of the 2017/2018 season. He went on to feature 29 times during his first season in the second tier but was part of a squad that was narrowly related at the end of the campaign.
In the following season, Allen really demonstrated his quality and scored 8 goals in all competitions, including one against the Sky Blues at the Ricoh Arena.
Ahead of the current season, Allen joined up with the Sky Blues for an undisclosed fee after his impressive form for the Brewers caught the eye.
Allen didn’t make his debut for the Sky Blues until early December after an injury hit start to his time at the club. Since recovering from his injury, the midfielder has turned in some impressive performances and got off the mark in Sky Blue with the equaliser against Bristol Rovers last month.
Dele Adebola:
Born in Nigeria, Adebola moved to England as a child and began his football career in the prestigious Crewe Alexandra academy. He spent six years as a professional with the Railwaymen before First Division Birmingham City came calling in 1998, paying £1 million for the big striker’s services.
Adebola joined the Sky Blues in 2003 via one season at Crystal Palace. Early into his Sky Blues career he had loans at Burnley and Bradford, before establishing himself as a first team regular in 2005. Adebola spent five years as a Sly Blue as the club sustained themselves in the second tier. Famously, he scored a brace during the clubs first ever game at the brand-new Ricoh Arena in 2005.
During the twilight years of his career after spells with Bristol City, Forest and Hull, Adebola joined Rochdale on a one-year deal for the 2012/2013 season. The powerful frontman notched six goals in his solitary season in Greater Manchester as the club finished mid-table in League Two before being released at the end of his deal.
Peter Vincenti:
Midfielder Peter Vincenti first joined Rochdale in 2013 after spells after coming through the ranks at Millwall and spells in the lower leagues with Stevenage and Aldershot Town. In his first season at Spotland he helped the club to promotion to League One and was a mainstay in the team throughout.
The following season Vincenti had his most prolific in front of goal, scoring 16 times in all competitions as the Dale narrowly missed out on a play off place in the third tier. Vincenti remained at the club for a further two seasons, before dropping down to League Two to join recently relegated Coventry City.
Vincenti was a regular fixture in the side during the first half of the season, chipping in with three goals. Despite featuring sparingly in the second half of the season, Vincenti played his part as the Sky Blues were promoted back to League One at the first attempt.