There were quite a few comments on Twitter last week, from Pompey fans, about Lassana Diarra playing for Real Madrid against Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final.
The former Pompey player made a big impression in a short space of time on the South Coast and was a key member of the 2008 FA Cup winning team, he is fondly remembered.
I'm sure many Pompey fans would love to see Diarra grace the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley as well, although after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg to their Catalan rivals it would seem unlikely that Real Madrid will progress.
This got me thinking about other Pompey players who have played in the European end-of-season showpiece – either in its current guise or as the European Cup Final.
Extending the scope to include all those people associated with Pompey and the list becomes larger than you might initially think. Indeed if Diarra did get to the Final he would become the 22nd person with Pompey links to do so.
Summary
Twenty one people associated with Pompey have played in, been part of the matchday squad or managed a team in either a European Cup Final or a UEFA Champions League Final. They are:
Brian Kidd
Joe Jordan
Richard Money
Kenny Swain
Tony Barton
Paul Walsh
Terry Venables
Robert Prosinecki
Nwankwo Kanu
Teddy Sherringham
Andrew Cole
Boris Zivkovic
Pedro Mendes
Milan Baros
Steve Finnan
Djimi Traore
Sol Campbell
Jermaine Pennant
Peter Crouch
Avram Grant
Sulley Muntari
Two players – one still with the Club - have played in two finals: Nwanko Kanu and Steve Finnan.
Two former players played in the final after they left Pompey: Peter Crouch and Sulley Muntari. Of course Crouch re-joined Pompey after his appearance for Liverpool in 2007 before leaving again for Tottenham Hotspur.
One former coach managed a team in a final after leaving Pompey before returning as manager (Chelsea, Avram Grant) and one former player managed a team in a final after leaving (Aston Villa, Tony Barton).
Two former Pompey players and a former coach have scored in finals: Brian Kidd, Robert Prosinecki (in a penalty shoot out) and Teddy Sherringham.
There have been twelve people associated with Pompey who have been part of teams (or matchday squads) that won finals.
Details
Here's a list of people associated with Pompey who have played, been part of matchday squads, or managed in either The European Cup Final or The UEFA Champions League Final with a few details and a link to further information.
In the 1968 European Cup Final former Pompey coach Brian Kidd played for Manchester United in their 4-1 (aet) victory over Benfica at Wembley, London and scored! See 1968 European Cup Final
In the 1975 European Cup Final former Pompey coach Joe Jordan played for Leeds United in their 0-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in Paris. See 1975 European Cup Final
In the 1981 European Cup Final former Pompey player Richard Money was an unused substitute for Liverpool who beat Real Madrid 1-0 in Paris. See 1981 European Cup Final
In the 1982 European Cup Final former Pompey player Kenny Swain played for Aston Villa as they beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam. The team was managed by former Pompey player Tony Barton (who took over from another former player Ron Saunders). See 1982 European Cup Final
In the 1985 European Cup Final former Pompey player Paul Walsh played for Liverpool in their 0-1 defeat to Juventus in Brussels at The Heysell Stadium the scene of the tragic Heysell Disaster when 39 people lost their lives. See 1985 European Cup Final
In the 1986 European Cup Final former Pompey owner Terry Venables was the manager of Barcelona who lost to Steua Bucherest in Seville on penalties after a 0-0 draw. See 1986 European Cup Final
In the 1991 European Cup Final former Pompey player Robert Prosinecki played for Red Star Belgrade who beat Marseille on penalties after a 0-0 draw in Bari. Prosinecki scored the first penalty in the shoot out. See 1991 European Cup Final
In 1995 current Pompey player Nwankwo Kanu played in his first of two UEFA Champions League Finals for Ajax beating AC Milan in Vienna 1-0. Kanu came on as a second half substitute for Clarence Seedorf. See 1995 UEFA Champions League Final
In 1996 Kanu returned to the UEFA Champions League Final, this time in Rome, with Ajax losing to Juventus on penalties after the game ended all square at 1-1 (aet). See 1996 UEFA Champions League Final
In 1999 two former Pompey players – Teddy Sherringham and Andrew Cole – played for Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona. The score was 2-1 and second half substitute Sherringham drew the scores level in added time (91st minute) before fellow substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won the game poking home a Sherringham header (93rd minute). See 1999 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final former Pompey player Boris Zivkovic played for Bayer Leverkusen in their 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid at Hampden Park, Glasgow. See 2002 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final former Pompey player Pedro Mendes played for Porto who beat AS Monaco 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen. See 2004 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul three former Pompey players played for Liverpool who beat AC Milan on penalties after the game finished 3-3. The players were Milan Baros, Steve Finnan and Djimi Traore. Finnan was substituted at half-time and Baros was substituted late on in the normal time. See 2005 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final former Pompey player Sol Campbell played for Arsenal in their 1-2 defeat to Barcelona in Paris. See 2006 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final three former Pompey players played for Liverpool in their 1-2 defeat to AC Milan in Athens. They were: Steve Finnan (withdrawn late on), Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch (came on as second half substitute). See 2007 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final Chelsea, who lost to Manchester United on penalties in Moscow, were managed by former Pompey manager Avram Grant. See 2008 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final former Pompey player Sulley Muntari played for Inter Milan in their 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Madrid. He come on as a second half substitute. See 2010 UEFA Champions League Final
If I've made any errors or missed anyone out please let me know through @PompeyChicken at Twitter.com
Note May 1st 2011: following some excellent interaction on Twitter.Com it has been pointed out to me that Tony Barton also managed Pompey (thanks @BileysMullet).
Alain Perrin was offered up as someone who may have managed a team in the #UCL Final (I need to check, thanks @Matty_Audlez).
Note May 29th 2011: I've checked this out and Alain Perrin has not, to date, managed a team in the Uefa Champions League Final.
@Matty_Audlez has also suggested I include George Best in this list as someone who had a role at Pompey during the Milan Mandaric ownership. Good thinking Matt.
Note May 29th 2011: George Best played for Manchester United in the 1968 European Cup Final against Benfica, held at Wembley. See the comments above on Brian Kidd. I've done a bit more looking in to this and I can't remember if George did officially join Pompey in some capacity. The following link from 2004 suggests something was in the offing but did it ever happen? Does anyone recall? Let me know if you do.
George Best role at Pompey BBC article from 2004
Note May 29th 2011: Lassana Diarra didn't make the Final in 2011 with Real Madrid, losing in the Semi-Finals over two legs to eventual Uefa Champions League Final winners Barcelona. Maybe next year?
It was also suggested that we extend the scope and look at all European Finals - I'll add to my to do list (thanks @PompeyGoat)! Thanks to everyone who responded.
BlueThruAndThru
