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Memories

There will be a couple of familiar faces involved with Chelsea's opponents later tonight

Jordi Cruyff and Slavisa Jokanovic both have plenty of Premier League history.

CHELSEA PAY A visit to Tel Aviv this evening to face Maccabi and there are a couple of familiar faces involved with the Israeli club.

Their manager is Slavisa Jokanovic, who played at Stamford Bridge between 2000 and 2002 before going onto a hugely successful coaching career.

Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Manchester United v Chelsea Current Maccabi Tel Aviv coach and former Chelsea player Slavisa Jokanovic seen here battling for the ball with Manchester United's Juan Sebastian Veron in December 2001. Neal Simpson / EMPICS Sport Neal Simpson / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport

With Partizan Belgrade, he won two successive league and cup doubles in the two years he was there.

He spent a season in Thailand, winning another championship with Muangthong and following stints in Bulgaria and Spain, he arrived at Watford last season on a short-term deal.

While with the Hornets, he guided them to second place in the Championship and automatic promotion to the Premier League. But he left when talks over a new contract broke down after he asked for his salary to be trebled.

He’s been in Tel Aviv since June of this year, having been brought in by another former Premier League player.

SOCCER Man Utd Cele EMPICS Sports Photo Agency EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

Jordi Cruyff signed for Manchester United from Barcelona in the summer of 1996 but his time at Old Trafford was blighted by injuries and despite spending four years at the club and being a part of the 1996/97 title-winning squad, he only made 57 appearances.

Still, when he returned to Spain with Alaves, he enjoyed arguably the most consistent spell of his career, averaging more than 30 league appearances every season whole aldso leading the unfashionable side to the 2001 Uefa Cup final, where they lost 5-4 in an unforgettable battle with Liverpool.

The following season, he enjoyed another solid campaign with Espanyol before finishing his career in Ukraine and Malta.

Mideast Israel Cruyff Jordi Cruyff at his Maccabi Tel Aviv unveiling in 2012. Tsafrir Abayov / AP/Press Association Images Tsafrir Abayov / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

In 2010, he became the Director of Football at Cypriot club AEK Larnaca before taking on a similar role with Maccabi Tel Aviva, where he’s been since March 2012.

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