Some of you will have seen my Ajax post in the general sports section, and someone requested I put up my originally go at one of these, which was of our famous 2005 winning team.

Liverpool 2005

After winning the champions league final in 2005, many looked at Liverpools team and thought "how?". Many players, after winning the Champions league go onto having fantastic careers and being stars for many years. However, Liverpools Champions League winning team was different. After Istanbul, many of the players were never mentioned again. Let's have a look where they are!


The Liverpool Squad celebrating a famous victory
   
Jerzy Dudek
After a brilliant final, producing a miracle double save from Schevchenko, and recreating the famous spaghetti legs, Dudek lost his place to Jose Reina the next season. He is now the substitute goalie for Real Madrid. Despite not being picked for the interational team, Dudek is still hopefull of his chances of becoming first choice Poland Goalkeeper again.

Steve Finnan
Finnan has been injury plagued since the famous final. However, he was starting right back for the reds for a further 2 seasons, and played in his second Champions League final in the 2-1 defeat against Milan. However, when Alvaro Arbeloa replaced him, he was shipped off to Espanyol. This lasted just a year before he was released due to injury problems. He soon returned to the Premiership, signing a contract with troubled Portsmouth. They were relegated soon after though, and his contract was not renewed. Steve Finnan is currently unattached.
   
Jamie Carragher
A influential part of the team if you have ever seen one, Jamie Carragher is still the scouse heartbeat for Liverpools defence.    

Sami Hyypiä
Sami Hyypia left Liverpool in the summer of 2009, after a somewhat emotional final game at Anfield, Sami was given the captains arm band and at the final whistle hoisted onto the shoulders of Pepe Reina, and in tears, he was paraded around the pitch. He moved onto Bayer Leverkusen. Sami is currently a big part of the Leverkusen defence, and has been strongly linked with a move back to Liverpool after his retirement.


Djimi Traoré
Traore didn't have much success after his move from Liverpool. After a 2million pound move in 2006, Traore was sent off in his Charlton debut, and was shipped on for half the price, to Portsmouth half a season later. A few loan spells later, he is now coming towards the end of his contract at French club Monaco.

Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso is possibly the most succesfull of the squad. Becoming influential in the Liverpool midfield, and a massive part in thier 2nd place finish, Alonso moved to Real Madrid in 2009. He is now a regular for the Spanish first team, and has paid back his 30million price tag with some stunning performances for Real Madrid.

Luis García
The figure of one of the most popular songs amongst Liverpool fans, Luis Garcia's injuries meant he was unable to hold a first team spot for Liverpool, and returned to Spain in 2007 to Atletico, as part of the Fernando Torres deal. He is now playing for Panathanaikos in Greece.

Steven Gerrard
The skipper, and the man who, according to many, single handledly dragged Liverpool back into the game. Steven Gerrard is still playing for Liverpool, and is still captain.

John Arne Riise
Riise and his dynamite left foot went downhill after the 2005 final. His own goal vs Chelsea in 2008 saw Riise being turned on by a few fans, and eventually, Riise left to go to Roma, where he became first team, and is still featuring for the Italians.

Harry Kewell
Injury struck, he was never able to fulfill his potential at Liverpool, and Kewell left Liverpool in 2008, after turning down a contract. He has been able to reduce the injuries since, and has made a name for himself in the Turkish league, playing for Galatasaray. Now wearing the number 99, Kewell is still playing in Turkey.

Milan Baroš
Milan only last a few more months at Liverpool, moving to Aston Villa in the summer of 2005. He was not very succesful at any of his next 3 clubs after leaving Liverpool, until he moved to Galatasaray, alongside Harry Kewell. Baros currently has 50 goals in 74 league games, and has recently signed a new contract.

Subs

Scott Carson
Following many loan spells, Carson moved to West Bromich Albion in 2008, where he became first choice goalie. He saw WBA promoted, and was playing in the premiership until he was dropped to the bench due to poor form.
 
Josemi
Josemi was moved onto Villareal in January 2006. He made a good start, but failed to keep up the performances, and was eventually shipped off to Mallorca. After a couple of years there he is now playing for Greek club Iraklis Thessaloniki FC.

Dietmar Hamann
Something of a legend in Liverpool, 'Didi' was given alot of credit for the second half come back, and also slotting in his penalty with a fractured foot. However, in 2006, Didi decided it was time to move on, and signed a pre-contract with Bolton. After spending a day (yes a day) at Bolton, he decided it wasn't for him, and signed for Man City. He was released in 2009, and spent a year unattached until Milton Keynes Dons gave him a player-coach role. He has very recently joined Sven in a coaching role at Leicester City.   

Antonio Núńez
Nunez left Liverpool in summer 2005, and joined Celta in spain, where he made over 100 appearances. After a transfer to Murcia, Nunez bought out his contract in 2009, and moved to Cyprus' Apollon Limassol, where he still plays.

Igor Bišćan
Igor became a cult hero in the 2004/2005 season, but didn't last much longer, his contract was terminated, and he joined Panathinaikos. His contract once again ran down and he was left a free agent. Biscan signed for his youth team Dinamo Zagreb in 2007, and is still playing for them today.

Djibril Cissé
Cisse and his crazy hair styles went onto play for Marseille, and then back to England for Sunderland. He failed to impress though, and in 2009 signed a contract with greek club, yes you guessed it, Panathinaikos. In recent days, Cisse has insisted he will leave Greece due to racial abuse, as Olympiakos fans stormed the pitch after a derby game, and attacked him and some of his fellow team mates.   
   
Vladimír Šmicer
Vladi also left Liverpool in 2005, moving to French club Boreaux where he would make just 30 appearances. He then went to Slavia Prague where he would finish he career. He is currently in charge of the Czhech national team alongside Michal Bilek. He will always been known for that second goal in Istanbul, and was recently spotted in a pub with Liverpool fans before the game against Sparta Prague.

Manager:

Rafael Benítez
Winning the champions league in 2005 imprinted Rafa into Liverpool's history books. He then went onto a FA cup final win in 2006, and another Champions league final in 2007. Liverpools strongest push for the title in years came in 2008/2009, but he couldn't follow it up, and after a falling out with senior figures, Rafa left Liverpool in 2010. He went onto Inter Milan, where it didn't work out, and he parted with them after just half a season. Now living on Merseyside, Rafa is linked with every job avaliable in Europe.