Arsenal’s 2006 Champions League finalists- where are they now?

With the Gunners facing Barcelona on the 23rd of February and the ten year anniversary of the two sides meeting in the 2006 final approaching, I had a look at where the famous Gunners side that day are now.

It was the ultimate heartbreak for Arsenal fans, who found themselves down to ten-men very early on but still managed to take the lead. It wasn’t to be though, as Barcelona rallied late to win 2-1 and lift the famous trophy in Paris.

Since then, the closest Arsenal have got to returning to the final of Europe’s elite competition was a spot in the final four. As such, these former Gunners boast a claim that no-one else since has been able to.

Click the image below to see where these famous Gunners are now!

Jens Lehmann

The eccentric German keeper was famously red carded in the 20th minute of the Champions League final, but despite that, most Gooners remember him fondly as the man between the sticks during the invincible season and for providing solidity after the legendary David Seaman retired.

As he crept towards 40, he fell down the pecking order at the club and after leaving for a two-year spell at Stuttgart in 2008, he returned to the Gunners for a season to solve a keeping injury crisis before retiring in 2011.

Since then the 46-year-old has worked as a pundit, is doing his coaching badges and has even starred in a South African football movie.

Manuel Almunia (on after 20 mins)

Despite struggling in his early Gunners career, Almunia managed to become first choice keeper and one of the strongest in the league in the 2011/12 season.

As the years went on he lost his place to the likes of Lukas Fabianski and Wojciech Szcezsny and left the Gunners for spells at West Ham and Watford before sadly being was forced to retire in 2014 after a heart defect was picked up in a medical with Serie A side Cagliari.

Emmanuel Eboue

The Ivorian played 132 games for the Gunners over a six-year spell at the Gunners, however, fell out with the fans over some poor performances during our spell without silverware.

He left Arsenal in 2011 and has played for Turkish giants Galatasaray ever since, however, fell out of favour there too and was released in harsh circumstances at the end of last season.

He has been without a club since and recently issued a come and get me plea to English and French sides, making his love for the Gunners clear in the press who speculated he may arrive back at the Emirates after Debuchy’s loan move to Bordeaux.

Kolo Toure

Toure left the Emirates in 2009 to be one of the first of Man City’s big name signings under their wealthy owners.

The 34-year-old is currently at Liverpool and is a regular starter under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp this season.

Sol Campbell

The legendary centre-back scored a bullet header in the final and will regret everyday that it didn’t lead us to a victory.

He left the Gunners in 2006 for Portsmouth before spells at Notts County and Newcastle, with a brief return to the Emirates in between as emergency cover.

Since his retirement, he’s been active as a pundit and in politics, most recently being the unsuccessful Conservative candidate for London Mayor. (Probably for the best as he wouldn’t go down too well in Tottenham.)

Ashley Cole

Cole left Chelsea in 2014 after a forgetful spell at Roma where he left in January after barely playing. He moved to LA Galaxy in the last window to play alongside several other former Premier League superstars in the MLS.

Robert Pires

Another legend, Pires left the Gunners in 2006 after falling down the pecking order and moved to Spanish side Villareal.

He spent four years in Spain before a short, uneventful spell at Villa and then at the age of 40 moved to Indian side FC Goa.

He’s currently retired and living in London and is an ambassador for Grassroot Soccer, an international non-profit that uses the power of football to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to stop the spread of HIV.

Gilberto Silva

A superb servant to the club in central midfield, Gilberto moved to Greece in 2008 to play with Panathinaikos before short spells at Gremio and back to his hometown club Atletico Mineiro.

He retired in 2013 and is now a football consult.

Cesc Fabregas

Currently playing for Chelsea, Cesc has had a terrible season for the Blues as they drag themselves out of a relegation battle. He’s been attacked by Chelsea fans for his part in the sacking of Jose Mourinho and poor form which has seen him booed regularly.

Mathieu Flamini (on after 74 mins)

The Frenchman is the only player to play the final that day in 2006 that still plays for the club. Flamini was only 21 in the CL final was played and ten years later, with a five-year spell away at AC Milan in between, Flamini is now back in the first-team after a midfield injury crisis.

Alex Hleb

Now 34, the talented Belarus international’s career went downhill after his move to Barcelona 2008.

He’s played for ten clubs across Europe since he left the Gunners, but most recently he signed for Turkish Super-League side Gençlerbirliği in 2016.

Jose Reyes (on after 85 minutes)

After leaving the Gunners in 2007, Reyes has had a good career in Spain playing for Real Madrid, Atletico and now Sevilla and has been a solid striker in La Liga with a strong goal scoring record.

Freddie Ljungberg

The iconic Swedish star moved to West Ham in 2008 after falling down the pecking order at Arsenal and had spells in Scotland, China, the US and India before moving back home to London this year to take up a position coaching the Arsenal Under 15’s

Thierry Henry

The Gunners legend is heavily tipped for a managerial or coaching career at the club and is currently one of the top pundits in the UK, regularly on SKY and for European tournaments with the BBC.