Alan Smith has become the 10th player to make the hazardous journey across the Pennine hills that divide Leeds from Manchester United.

The England forward has been vilified by the Leeds fans for joining the club they hate the most and his previous devotion to the Whites' cause has not gone down well with the Old Trafford support either.

Yet the good news for Smith as he looks for a friend amid the recriminations is that most of his predecessors have prospered after their moves.

Johnny Giles and Gordon Strachan won league titles at Elland Road after quitting the Red Devils, while Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen played in FA Cup finals for United after being part of the Leeds 1970s glory days.

Most impressive of all though was Eric Cantona, whose shock arrival from West Yorkshire reverberated as strongly as Smith's will do.

The enigmatic Frenchman was the catalyst for United's era of dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning four league championships and two FA Cups before retiring in 1997.

Here, we look at the nine men who have previously switched directly between two of football's bitterest rivals.

Eric Cantona (Leeds Feb 92-Nov 92, Man Utd Nov 92-May 97).

Cantona famously sang 'I don't know why I love you but I do' as he celebrated Leeds' title triumph in 1992. Six months later he was on his way to Old Trafford as a result of a chance offer by Martin Edwards. Undoubtedly the catalyst for United's decade of dominance.

Rio Ferdinand (Leeds 2000-2002, Man Utd 2002-present)

Leeds smashed the British transfer record when they paid West Ham £18million for Ferdinand and it took £29.3million to take him to Old Trafford such were the defender's brilliant performances at Elland Road. Ferdinand did not impress in his first season with the Red Devils but had just found his form in the second when his missed drugs test led to an eight-month ban.

Johnny Giles (Man Utd 59-63, Leeds 63-75)

Giles won the FA Cup with the Old Trafford outfit in 1963 but his place in Matt Busby's side was never secure, so he became part of Don Revie's Leeds revolution. Went on to win virtually every honour in the game during his 12 years at Elland Road as Leeds rose and United fell.

Arthur Graham (Leeds 77-83, Man Utd 83-85)

Graham served Leeds with distinction for six years even though his time at the club coincided with their slide from European contenders into the old Division Two. Ron Atkinson snapped the Scot up for £45,000 in 1983 and he proved a useful wing weapon until he moved on two years later.

Brian Greenhoff (Man Utd 73-79, Leeds 79-83)

Won the Second Division title and played in two FA Cup Finals during his days at Old Trafford, when he also earned England honours at full, 'B' and Under-23 levels. Moved to Elland Road in 1979 but was part of the squad that suffered relegation under Allan Clarke.

Joe Jordan (Leeds 70-77, Man Utd 77-81)

The combative forward quickly became a cult hero at Leeds after moving south from humble Scottish outfit Greenock Morton. Played a part in the Yorkshire side's title success in 1974 and their run to the European Cup final the following year. His £350,000 move to Old Trafford two seasons later was a shock but he quickly established himself as a Red Devils favourite too, although his stay at United was a trophyless one.

Gordon McQueen (Leeds 72-78, Man Utd 78-85)

Accompanied good friend Jordan to Old Trafford in the summer of 1978 after enjoying similar success at Elland Road. While his Scotland team-mate left without adding to his trophy cabinet, marauding centre-half McQueen stayed an extra four seasons and twice lifted the FA Cup.

Gordon Strachan (Man Utd 84-89, Leeds 89-95)

Signed by Ron Atkinson, Strachan was part of the United side that looked destined for great things when it won the FA Cup in 1985. Eighteen months later, Atkinson had gone and the combustible relationship between Strachan and Sir Alex Ferguson was revived. It was destined not to last and how Leeds profited. Still in the Second Division when the diminutive Scot arrived, Strachan guided Leeds back into the top flight and then helped them win the league title, at United's expense, in 1992.