Arsenal’s run to the 2006 Champions League last stays probably the most memorable campaigns within the membership’s historical past.
Arsene Wenger’s aspect had reached the showpiece for the primary ever time, producing a exceptional defensive file alongside the way in which, however have been in the end felled by Barcelona in Paris. Regardless of opening the scoring by way of Sol Campbell, Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti’s second-half targets ensured the ultimate rating was 2-1
The crew contained a mix of skilled internationals with younger, rising expertise, lots of whom went on to get pleasure from lengthy and diverse careers throughout Europe and past.
20 years on, the beginning XI – and those that featured off the bench – have taken very totally different paths since leaving north London.
From teaching and punditry to enterprise ventures and private struggles, right here Each day Mail Sport takes a take a look at the place Arsenal’s 2006 Champions League finalists are actually…
Arsene Wenger ’s aspect had reached the showpiece for the primary ever time, producing a exceptional defensive file alongside the way in which, however have been in the end felled by Barcelona in Paris
Regardless of opening the scoring by way of Sol Campbell, Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti’s second-half targets ensured the ultimate rating was 2-1
Robert Pires (far proper) instructed Arsene Wenger he was leaving after the Champions League last in 2006, believing he was not within the boss’ plans after being sacrificed within the 18th minute
ARSENAL’S STARTING XI (4-4-2). Might 17, 2006.
GK Jens Lehmann (Germany)
The German was in his third season on the membership when Arsenal’s Invincibles reached the Champions League last for the primary time, and he was a key determine in that run, breaking the file for essentially the most consecutive clear sheets within the competitors that season (10).
After shifting to Stuttgart a few years later, he introduced he would retire on the German aspect in June 2010. Amid a goalkeeping harm disaster at Arsenal the next season, Lehmann returned and performed yet another recreation within the high flight, towards Blackpool, earlier than lastly hanging up his boots on the finish of the marketing campaign.
In 2020, he joined Hertha Berlin as a consultant on its supervisory board, however was sacked a yr later after sending Sky pundit Dennis Aogo a racially charged message. He has additionally labored as a supervisor within the six-a-side Baller League, whereas at present working as an analyst on German TV.
RB Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast)
Eboue departed Arsenal for Galatasaray in 2011, the place he spent three trophy-laden seasons with the perennial Turkish champions. He returned to England in 2016 when he signed a short-term contract with Sunderland, however was launched only a month later with out making an look after FIFA handed him a one-year ban over a dispute with a former agent.
Points in his private life adopted, together with a divorce from his spouse Aurelie, and he later described how he ‘misplaced the whole lot in my life in England’, together with his homes, vehicles and cash. This had a profound impression on his psychological well being, one thing he has since spoken overtly about to advertise openness within the recreation, in addition to encouraging younger gamers to hunt monetary recommendation.
His son Mathis, from whom he’s estranged, joined Chelsea’s academy in January final yr. Earlier this month, he appeared in a senior matchday squad for the primary time when the Blues confronted Liverpool at Anfield.
CB Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)
Toure left Arsenal for Manchester Metropolis in 2009 after 326 appearances for the membership. He was joined a yr later by his youthful brother Yaya, with the pair serving to Metropolis win their first league title in 44 years in 2012. After spells at Liverpool and Celtic, Toure retired in 2017 earlier than shifting into teaching virtually instantly, becoming a member of Brendan Rodgers’ employees and later following him to Leicester in 2019 as assistant supervisor.
His first senior managerial function at Wigan didn’t go notably nicely, lasting simply 9 matches earlier than his dismissal. In 2024, he returned to Manchester Metropolis’s academy set-up as an under-18 assistant coach earlier than being promoted to Pep Guardiola’s first-team employees a yr later. Metropolis introduced earlier this week that he can be leaving the membership following Guardiola’s departure.
Man Metropolis introduced earlier this week that Kolo Toure can be leaving the membership following Guardiola’s departure
CB Sol Campbell (England)
Regardless of scoring within the last, Campbell endured a troublesome last season at Arsenal amid harm points and a lack of kind, and left for Portsmouth in July 2006. After three years at Pompey and a quick spell at Notts County in 2009, he returned for a second stint at Arsenal, making 11 appearances. He completed his profession at Newcastle in 2011, formally retiring a yr later.
He tried to maneuver into politics however did not be shortlisted because the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London in 2016. He labored briefly with QPR, turned assistant supervisor of Trinidad and Tobago in 2017, and later held managerial roles at Macclesfield and Southend.
He has since mentioned he stepped away from pursuing administration roles as a result of a scarcity of honest alternatives. Campbell studied at Harvard Enterprise College, gaining a qualification in sport, media and enterprise, and has not too long ago spoken about creating a ‘digital coach’ and utilizing AI-led scouting and training platforms globally.
LB Ashley Cole (England)
Cole controversially left Arsenal for Chelsea in 2006, souring his relationship with followers. Nonetheless, he went on to get pleasure from main success at Stamford Bridge, profitable one other Premier League title, 4 FA Cups and the Champions League in 2012.
Since retiring in 2019 after spells with Roma, LA Galaxy and Derby County, Cole has constructed a training profession with Chelsea’s academy, Everton, Birmingham and England. Earlier this yr, he landed his first senior managerial function with Italian aspect Cesena in Serie B. Regardless of narrowly lacking out on the play-offs, he has been praised for bettering the crew.
Earlier this yr, Cole landed his first senior managerial function with Italian aspect Cesena in Serie B
RM Robert Pires (France)
Pires instructed Arsene Wenger he was leaving after the Champions League last in 2006, believing he was not within the supervisor’s plans after being sacrificed within the 18th minute for tactical causes following Lehmann’s purple card.
Pires went on to play for Villarreal and later Aston Villa, earlier than ending his profession with Indian Tremendous League aspect Goa in 2015. He returned to Arsenal in 2016 as a coach beneath Wenger, however departed the next yr.
He has since been concerned in Baller League tasks, in addition to commonly enterprise punditry duties discussing Arsenal and the Premier League.
CM Gilberto Silva (Brazil)
After leaving Arsenal in 2008, Silva performed for Panathinaikos in Greece, profitable the league and cup, earlier than returning to Brazil to complete his profession. He retired in 2015 after a brief spell with Atletico Mineiro. Since then, he has labored as a pundit, FIFA ambassador and Arsenal ambassador.
CM Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
Some of the necessary gamers of Arsenal’s post-final period, Fabregas developed into the membership’s captain earlier than becoming a member of Barcelona in 2011. He later returned to England with Chelsea, having fun with a extremely adorned spell that included two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Europa League trophy.
He later performed for Monaco earlier than ending his profession at Como in Italy. After retiring in 2023, he turned head coach later that yr. He guided them to promotion and, earlier this week, to Champions League qualification for the primary time.
After retiring in 2023, Cesc Fabregas turned head coach later that yr, guiding them to promotion and, earlier this week, to Champions League qualification for the primary ever time
LM Alexander Hleb (Belarus)
Hleb loved a nomadic profession after leaving Arsenal in 2008, making 14 subsequent strikes from north London, together with spells at Barcelona, Birmingham Metropolis and Wolfsburg. After retiring in 2019, he joined the Belarusian Soccer Federation as an govt committee member.
CF Freddie Ljungberg (Sweden)
After leaving Arsenal in 2007, Ljungberg had spells with West Ham, Seattle Sounders, Chicago Hearth, Celtic and Shimizu S-Pulse earlier than retiring in 2014.
He returned to Arsenal in 2016 in a training function, later turning into assistant to Unai Emery after which Mikel Arteta. Since leaving in 2020, he has stepped away from full-time teaching, specializing in smaller soccer tasks and occasional media work.
CF Thierry Henry (c) (France)
Maybe Arsenal’s most recognisable participant of the fashionable period, Henry went on to play for Barcelona and New York Crimson Bulls, together with a quick mortgage return to Arsenal, earlier than retiring in 2014.
He moved into teaching, working with Arsenal’s youth groups and Belgium’s nationwide aspect earlier than managerial stints at Monaco and CF Montreal. Extra not too long ago, he has labored with France’s youth groups, main them to a silver medal on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Henry now works primarily as a pundit for CBS Sports activities and has not too long ago joined FOX Sports activities as a lead analyst for the upcoming World Cup.
Regardless of lacking out on the Champions League with the Gunners, he did handle to raise the well-known ‘Massive Ears’ with Barca in 2009, beating Man United 2-0 in Rome.
Regardless of lacking out on the Champions League with the Gunners, he did handle to raise the well-known ‘Massive Ears’ three years later with Barca, beating Man United 2-0 in Rome.
Substitutes:
GK Manuel Almunia (Spain) retired from soccer in 2014 after a coronary heart situation and has largely stayed out of the general public soccer highlight.
DF Philippe Senderos (Switzerland) works beneath Arsene Wenger at FIFA as a youth expertise scout.
DF Gael Clichy (France) is at present the pinnacle coach of French third-tier aspect SM Caen.
MF Mathieu Flamini (France) turned a vastly profitable entrepreneur and co-founded a biochemical firm targeted on sustainable vitality. Accoding to Forbes, Flamini’s internet value has soared to £10billion.
FW Jose Antonio Reyes (Spain) tragically died in a automobile accident in 2019 on the age of 35.
FW Robin van Persie (Netherlands) turned a coach after retiring and is at present supervisor of Eredivisie membership Feyenoord.
