What happened next? Hodgson’s Fulham team that beat Juventus en route to the Europa League final
It might seem like a lifetime ago now, but it’s only been 13 years since Roy Hodgson guided Fulham all the way to the Europa League final.
They were heartbreakingly defeated in extra-time by Atletico Madrid, but what a journey they undertook nevertheless.
On the road to that match, Fulham had to get past one of Europe’s greats in Juventus, and it seemed it wouldn’t happen after a 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Turin.
But, despite going further behind in the opening two minutes at Craven Cottage, Fulham fought back and claimed a 4-1 result that astonishingly sent them through at the expense of the Old Lady.
But what has happened to those players since?
Fulham
Goalkeeper: Mark Schwarzer
Age: 50
Fulham appearances: 220
Current Club: Retired
Many thought the experienced shot-stopper was closing in on the end of his career after helping Fulham to the Europa League final, but Schwarzer would play for another six years.
The Australian was released by Fulham in 2013 and joined up with Chelsea as their new back-up, playing 12 times across two seasons. The goalkeeper spent a year with Leicester, sitting on the bench as they won the league before his release in 2016, and quietly retired soon after.
Right-back: Stephen Kelly
Age: 39
Fulham appearances: 71
Current Club: Retired
Kelly was Fulham’s first signing in the season they took on the Europa League and the right-back was on their books for four years. He was eventually permitted to leave in 2013, joining Reading.
A lack of regular football saw Kelly turn down a new deal with the Royals and the Irishman linked up with Rotherham, making 35 appearances across two seasons before leaving the club at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Centre-back: Brede Hangeland
Age: 41
Fulham appearances: 270
Current Club: Retired
Hangeland’s form with Fulham often saw the imposing centre-back linked with big-money moves to the likes of Arsenal, but the Norwegian spent seven years with the Cottagers.
It all ended sadly for Hangeland — who was born in Texas — at Fulham amid reports of a bizarre relationship with Felix Magath, and a statement from him that indicated the club released him via email. A two-year stint with Crystal Palace followed before he opted to retire, after being released.
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Centre-back: Aaron Hughes
Age: 43
Fulham appearances: 250
Current Club: Retired
After seven years on the books with Fulham, Hughes eventually left the club in January 2014 for QPR. He was released just six months later, however, and signed for Brighton.
Only a season later and another move took Hughes to Melbourne City, before he was announced as Indian side Kerala Blasters’s marquee signing. Hughes joined Hearts in January 2017, spending 18 months in Scotland before retiring.
Left-back: Paul Konchesky
Age: 41
Fulham appearances: 122
Current Club: Retired
Konchesky did well during his time at Fulham but there’s still some raised eyebrows at the fact that he got a move to Liverpool in 2010, following Roy Hodgson to the Merseyside club.
A loan spell to Nottingham Forest followed and then Konchesky moved to Leicester City. He failed to feature too often and went on loan to QPR in 2015, before leaving the Foxes for League One Gillingham.
Konchesky had a brief spell playing for Billericay in the Isthmian League, where he would take up an assistant manager role for a brief time following his retirement, while also running his East-End cafe, Konch’s Kafe.
He’s since hung up his boots and is now the manager of West Ham United Women.
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Right-midfielder: Damien Duff
Age: 43
Fulham appearances: 173
Current Club: Retired
Having moved to Fulham in 2009, Duff was later part of the contingent allowed to leave when the club were relegated in 2014. The winger spent one season in Australia with Melbourne City.
Duff would then move to Shamrock Rovers and donated all his wages to charity while at the club, before retiring from football in December 2015.
He’s since transitioned into coaching and has thus far worked with Celtic and the Republic of Ireland national team, while he is now the manager of Shelbourne in the Irish top flight.
Central midfielder: Chris Baird
Age: 41
Fulham appearances: 172
Current Club: Retired
Like Hangeland, Baird spent his best years at Fulham and was with the club for six seasons, and a regular for them in all of those campaigns.
The defender was released in 2013 and opted to move to Reading, but only spent six months at the club before moving to Burnley. The Clarets were eager to retain him but Baird then got a move to West Brom in the summer of 2014.
A year later and the Baggies released Baird to Derby County, although the player did return to Fulham for a brief loan spell, eventually retiring in 2019.
Central midfielder: Dickson Etuhu
Age: 40
Fulham appearances: 127
Current Club: Retired
Dickson Etuhu spent four years on the books at Fulham but was permitted to leave in 2012 to join Blackburn Rovers. The midfielder spent just two seasons with the Championship club though with his time there plagued by injuries.
Etuhu would get a move to Swedish side AIK before relocating to IFK Rossjoholm and eventually retiring in 2017.
Left-midfielder: Simon Davies
Age: 43
Fulham appearances: 168
Current Club: Retired
Davies was a part of the 12-man cull by Fulham in 2013 with the experienced midfielder sort of falling off the map when the Cottagers let him go.
The Welshman, instead of remaining in professional football, returned home to Solva and has reportedly played for the team, paying £3 per game in subs for the honour. He was most recently the head coach of Peterborough United U23s.
Attacking midfielder: Zoltan Gera
Age: 43
Fulham appearances: 120
Current Club: Retired
Fulham’s two-goal hero from the match with Juventus, Gera was allowed to leave in 2011 and was reunited with Roy Hodgson back at former club West Brom.
After leaving the Baggies in 2014 Gera went back to Ferencvaros and helped the club to win the Hungarian league in 2016. Two years later the 97-time capped international called time on his playing career. He is now the manager of the Hungary U21s.
Striker: Bobby Zamora
Age: 42
Fulham appearances: 134
Current Club: Retired
Twice capped by England, both of Zamora’s national side outings came while on the books at Fulham but the striker eventually left for QPR in 2012. He scored the vital goal to return them to the Premier League in 2014 but was released in 2015.
Zamora returned to former club Brighton for a season but was allowed to go in 2016, and retired from football in December that year.
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Substitutes:
Bjorn Helge Riise
Age: 39
Fulham appearances: 19
Current Club: Retired
John Arne Riise’s little brother was in his first season with Fulham when they defeated Juventus, but that was about the peak of his spell as loans with Sheffield United and Portsmouth followed.
Riise moved to Lillestrom in 2012 and then was transferred again in 2015, and played for Aalesund before moving to Sogndal IL until retiring.
Clint Dempsey
Age: 39
Fulham appearances: 232
Current Club: Retired
Clint Dempsey’s excellent form for Fulham saw the American earn a big money move to Tottenham in 2012, but the forward only lasted one season at White Hart Lane.
The attacker was sold to MLS side Seattle Sounders a year later, but he did return to Fulham for a brief loan spell before the start of the 2014 American season. Dempsey retired in 2018 with MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and US Open Cup titles under his belt with the Sounders.
Juventus
Goalkeeper: Antonio Chimenti
Age: 52
Juventus appearances: 18
Current Club: Retired
Juventus’ third-choice goalkeeper, Chimenti retired from football at the end of 2010 after 22 years as a professional player. He is now SPAL’s goalkeeping coach.
Right-back: Hasan Salihamidzic
Age: 46
Juventus appearances: 73
Current Club: Bayern Munich (Sporting Director)
Salihamidzic was allowed to leave Juventus in 2011 and the Bosnian switched back to Germany with Wolfsburg. A broken arm saw him last just one season though, and Salihamidzic retired not long after his release in 2012.
Since then he’s been named sporting director of his former club Bayern Munich.
Centre-back: Jonathan Zebina
Age: 44
Juventus appearances: 116
Current Club: Retired
Zebina left Juventus in 2010 after he was released from the club and signed for Brescia the same day. Spells with Brest, Toulouse and Arles-Avignon would follow before his retirement in 2014.
Centre-back: Fabio Cannavaro
Age: 47
Juventus appearances: 127
Current Club: Most recently managed Benevento
One of the finest defenders of the 2000s, Cannavaro came to the end of his second spell with Juventus in 2010, after being shown a red card vs Fulham. He spent a year with Al-Ahli Dubai before retiring and moving into management. He has had stints in the Chinese Super League with Tianjin Quanjian and Guangzhou, as well as managing the China national team in 2019. His most recent spell came as head coach of Serie B side Benevento, where he was sacked last month.
Left-back: Fabio Grosso
Age: 45
Juventus appearances: 47
Current Club: Frosinone (manager)
Grosso only moved to Juventus in 2009 but the left-back opted to retire from football at the expiration of his contract in 2012.
In 2013 he was offered a coaching role with the club and in 2014 he became the Juventus Under-20s manager.
Since leaving the Old Lady he’s coached Bari, Hellas Verona, Brescia and Swiss side Sion. He is now the manager of Frosinone, who are currently leading the way in Serie B.
Defensive midfielder: Felipe Melo
Age: 39
Juventus appearances: 78
Current Club: Fluminense
One of the few Juventus players still playing, Melo spent two years at the Old Lady before going to Galatasaray, initially on loan. A permanent deal followed before a transfer back to Italy with Inter Milan in 2015.
Melo went on loan to Brazilian side Palmeiras in January 2017, before joining them permanently that summer. He captained Palmeiras and helped the club win back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles in 2020 and 2021, before recently moving to Fluminense.
Defensive midfielder: Mohamed Sissoko
Age: 38
Juventus appearances: 100
Current Club: Retired
Sissoko joined Juventus from Liverpool but left in 2013 for PSG. The midfielder has bounced from club to club since then, falling down the footballing pyramid.
In January 2020 Sissoko ended his 18-year playing career after most recently turning out for FC Sochaux.
Right-midfielder: Mauro Camoranesi
Age: 46
Juventus appearances: 285
Current Club: Retired
2010 signalled the end of an eight-year spell with Juventus for Camoranesi with the Italian moving to Stuttgart. A year later he transferred to Lanus before ending his career at Racing Club.
Camoranesi would subsequently move into management, starting at Mexican side Coras de Nayarit, before joining Argentine club Club Atlético Tigre. He returned to Mexico with Cafetaleros de Chiapas until joining Slovenian team NK Tabor Sezana in January 2020. His most recent job was in charge of Slovenian side Maribor, though Camoranesi lasted just 21 games in the role.
Attacking midfielder: Diego
Age: 37
Juventus appearances: 47
Current Club: Retired
Once one of Brazil’s most highly-rated talents, Diego failed to really get going at Juventus and moved to Wolfsburg in 2010. The playmaker then was loaned to Atletico Madrid, before joining them permanently a couple of years later.
A two-year stint with Fenerbahce followed before Diego finally moved to Flamengo, returning to Brazilian football, and in 2019 and 2022 he lifted the Copa Libertadores. A sitting way to bow out, Diego ended his illustrious playing career in November.
Left-midfielder: Antonio Candreva
Age: 36
Juventus appearances: 20
Current Club: Salernitana (on loan from Sampdoria)
Candreva spent the 2009/10 season on loan at Juventus and the winger has turned into a crucial part of the Italian set up since then.
The 36-year-old can currently be found at Salernitana, having moved to the club on loan from Sampdoria following a spell with Lazio and Inter.
Striker: David Trezeguet
Age: 45
Juventus appearances: 318
Current Club: Retired
One of the finest strikers this century, the 2009-2010 season turned out to be Trezeguet’s last at Juventus which ended a 10-year association with the Italian club.
Trezeguet played for Hercules, Baniyas, River Plate, Newell’s Old Boys and Pune City before retiring in January 2015.
Substitutes:
Zdenek Grygera
Age: 42
Juventus appearances: 87
Current Club: Retired
Grygera left Juventus for their conquerors Fulham in 2011, but only played a handful of games before retiring due to fitness issues in December 2012.
Paolo De Ceglie
Age: 36
Juventus appearances: 124
Current Club: Retired
After spending a number of spells away on loan, De Ceglie finally left Juventus at the end of the 2016/17 season. He joined Swiss second-tier side Servette FC in January 2018 before leaving two years later. De Ceglie’s most recent club spell was with Miami Beach FC in the United States, where he also works with the club’s academy and has taken up a director role.
Alessandro Del Piero
Age: 48
Juventus appearances: 705
Current Club: Retired
The Juventus legend himself. Del Piero didn’t start this match and finally left the club of his dreams in 2012. Brief spells with Sydney FC and Delhi Dynamos followed before his retirement in 2014.
