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memory lane

Where are they now? The Liverpool team that won the 2005 Champions League

It’s 10 years to the day since that incredible night in Istanbul – but what have the players been doing since?

SOME ARE STILL playing while others have retired and gone on to do jobs such as punditry, real estate, and becoming an ambassador.

Here’s what the 14 men that were involved on that magic night in Istanbul are up to now.

Jerzy Dudek

SOCCER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL Dudek made the crucial save in the penalty shootout in the 2005 final. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Following his Bruce Grobbelaar impersonation in Istanbul, Dudek moved onto Real Madrid two years later. Before leaving Liverpool he had his Champions League winners medal stolen from his house while he was on holiday but Merseyside police soon located it and returned it to him.

He managed two appearances for Los Blancos in four seasons before becoming an ambassador for Euro 2012 in Poland and has now returned home to settle in Warsaw.

Steve Finnan

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Liverpool v Wigan Athletic - Anfield Steve Finnan has laid low since his retirement. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

The Irish right back who declined his invitation to the anniversary dinner of the Istanbul triumph is seemingly a hard man to locate. He finished his career with Portsmouth in 2009 and is reportedly working in property development in London.

Jamie Carragher

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Barcelona v Manchester City - Camp Nou Carragher is a popular analyst on Sky Sports. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Having retired in 2013 following over 700 appearances in a 17-year Anfield career, Carragher turned to broadcasting. The popular analyst makes an ideal partner for former rival Gary Neville on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.

Sami Hyppiä

Soccer - Sky Bet Championship - Norwich City v Brighton and Hove Albion - Carrow Road Hyppia has a poor managerial record so far. Stephen Pond Stephen Pond

One of Liverpool’s greatest ever centre-backs, Hyppiä eventually left the Kop in 2009 to join Bayer Leverkusen. He went on to manage the German side for two years before going back to England and taking up the managerial post with Brighton. He stepped down after 26 games in charge following a run of one win in 18 games.

Djimi Traoré

FootballFanCast.com / YouTube

Possibly the biggest cult hero from the Champions League win and certainly the biggest figure of fun, Traoré retired from football last season. During his spell with Seattle Sounders, the French man scored the first league goal of his career that wasn’t an own goal.

When you’re more widely remembered for scoring an own goal than a 94th minute winning volley from 35 yards there is something wrong.

Xabi Alonso

Spain Soccer La Liga Alonso won a Champions League with Real Madrid. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The man that scored the goal that would ultimately bring the game to extra-time has had a fine career since he left Liverpool, winning a La Liga and Champions League medal with Real Madrid before heading to Bayern Munich where he claimed another league title this season.

Luis Garcia

India Super League Garcia, left, was well paid for his stint in India. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The man that scored the ‘ghost goal’ against Chelsea on the path to the 2005 final continued his journeyman career after he left Merseyside. He’s played for 12 different clubs, the last of which was Atlético Kolkata after he came out of retirement to join the Indian side and win the league, claiming the league’s most exciting player accolade.

Steven Gerrard

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Stoke City v Liverpool - Britannia Stadium Gerrard says goodbye to Liverpool fans. Dave Howarth Dave Howarth

He’s slipped and said goodbye to the ‘Pool since.

John Arne Riise

gtmthegreat / YouTube

A crowd favourite among the Liverpool faithful, Riise eventually left in 2008 despite many fans wanting him to stay on after Fábio Aurélio had taken his place in the starting side.

He took in spells at Roma, Fulham and now APOEL in Cyprus where he won the Cypriot Cup just last week, scoring in the final. He became the most capped Norwegian player of all time in 2012.

Harry Kewell

Soccer - Liverpool Istanbul Champions League Package Kewell's career was blighted by injury. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The perma-crocked former Leeds star retired last year after an injury hit 18 years of football saw him play just 381 club games.

Undoubtedly a fantastic footballer, Kewell was allowed to leave Liverpool in 2008 and go to Galatasaray where he spent three seasons, scoring 22 goals. He took in two spells in Australia with Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory either side of a stint with Al-Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League.

Milan Baroš

Soccer - FA Cup - Semi Final - West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth - Wembley Stadium Baros flopped at Portsmouth. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

The youngest member of the Liverpool starting team in Istanbul is now 33 and plying his trade with Baník Ostrava in his native Czech Republic.

After he left Liverpool in 2005 he played he flopped at Aston Villa and Portsmouth before joining Galatasaray where he showed some form. He scored 48 goals in 93 games for the Turkish giants.

Substitutes - Vladimír Smicer

Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers Smicer (right) with team-mate Florent Sinama-Pongolle. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The second goalscorer for Liverpool on the night is now 42 and out of the game for almost six years. He left Liverpool as a hero in 2005 before going to Bordeaux and then retiring at Slavia Prague.

Dietmar Hamman

Dietmar Hamman Hamman is a regular on RTÉ television now. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The midfield hardman who scored a penalty with a broken foot in the final is as popular among the Irish as he is among the Kop. He took a managerial job with Stockport County in 2011, guding them to three wins in 19 games before resigning. He is now a regular on RTÉ Sport.

Djibril Cissé

BRITAIN SOCCER Cissé went on to play for Sunderland. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

His career never really took off after showing such promising signs in Ligue 1 as a youngster, though injuries haven’t helped. He’s 33 now and playing with Bastia in France where he has scored two goals in 21 games.

Originally published at 16.31

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