CHELSEA first got close to winning the Champions League in 2008 but fell short to rivals Manchester United.
The two Premier League sides met in Moscow and the game was forced into extra-time and then penalties after Frank Lampard cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s first half opener.
Man Utd held their nerve and netted six of their seven spot-kicks.
Whereas misses from captain John Terry and Nicolas Anelka sealed the Blues’ fate.
Chelsea’s fortunes might have been different had star striker Didier Drogba remained on the pitch.
The forward was sent off just minutes before the penalty shootout for his part in a shoving match.
Drogba took a little swipe at United centre-back Nemanja Vidic, which was seen as enough by referee Lubos Michel to send him off.
But what happened to Chelsea’s 2008 Champions League final team?
Petr Cech
Former Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech is now working at the club as technical director.
The Czech’s role is to tie together the Club’s sporting vision.
Cech works closely with both the first-team and the academy, as well as the recruitment department.
And he got his hands on the Champions League in 2012 alongside some of his 2008 team-mates.
Cech alongside Lampard in 2019 after the Blues legend was appointed manager
Michael Essien
Midfield maestro Michael Essien played at right-back for Chelsea on the night.
And now the Ghanaian is a coach at Danish side FC Nordsjaelland.
The Club aren’t having the best of seasons as they’re sat tenth in the top flight.
Farum-based Nordsjaelland have only won four of their 19 league games played so far this season.
Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho started in the heart of the defence in Moscow.
The centre-back was highly decorated in a Blues shirt and at the time was widely regarded as one of the best defenders around.
After his playing days, he had a stint as Andre Villas Boas’ assistant at Marseille.
Carvalho left alongside the manager at the start of last year following Villas Boas’ dispute with the Club over the signing of Olivier Ntcham.
John Terry
Captain Terry is back at Chelsea working in the Club’s youth ranks.
Terry also had a spell as Dean Smith’s assistant at Aston Villa, but left before the start of this season in case a managerial job came up.
The Blues legend didn’t want to leave mid-season as it could have possibly unsettled the team.
Terry insists he’s ready for a managerial role though.
He said: “I’m ready to go into management and had been approached while I was at Villa, but those jobs wasn’t right for me, I was always honest with the gaffer, I didn’t want to start the season if a job come up.”
He continued: “I’m ready [for management], I’m waiting but there’s a lot of things that need to be right, I’m in no rush, just patiently waiting, if the right one comes along I’m also comfortable with that.”
Terry alongside Cech at the Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi
Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole is now a part of former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard’s coaching staff at Everton.
The left-back was delighted to join his pal at the Toffees.
He said: “I was thrilled when Frank asked me to join him at Everton. This is a brilliant opportunity with a fantastic club and I am coming here to work hard and try to help bring success to Everton.
“The chance to link up again with Frank was another huge draw. He is an excellent manager and leader.
“With the rest of the staff here, we have everything in place for what we want to achieve together.”
Claude Makelele
Claude Makelele, like Terry, is back at Chelsea but he is working behind the scenes.
The Frenchman is a youth coach and technical mentor.
And he is said to have played a key role in Trevoh Chalobah’s development.
Chalobah had a loan spell in France at Lorient, and since returning he has made an impact in the Blues first-team.
He even started on Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool.
Michael Ballack
German midfielder Michael Ballack has moved into punditry work in his post-playing days.
You could catch Ballack on UK TV working for BT Sport.
Ballack tragically lost his son Emilio quad bike crash last year.
Frank Lampard
Lampard went on to manage Derby and Chelsea after retiring from professional football.
Lampard’s spell at Chelsea started well but he was sacked in his second season in charge.
The former England midfielder now manages Everton and works with former Blues team-mate Ashley Cole.
On working with the old Chelsea left-back, Lampard said: “I’m delighted to add Ashley into my backroom team. Everyone knows about his superb playing career and what he has achieved in the game.
“He is now a well-respected coach which has been recognised by his work with England Under-21s. He’ll bring a wealth of enthusiasm, game-play experience and is a very good young coach who adds strength to our coaching staff.”
The Toffees are currently one point above the relegation zone with 14 games left to play.
Lampard manages Prem strugglers Everton
Joe Cole
Joe Cole returned to Chelsea after retiring and worked in the youth ranks.
But you can mainly catch the former tricky midfielder on the tele.
Cole is a regular pundit for BT Sport as is often involved in their coverage of Premier League and Champions League games.
Didier Drogba
Drogba got his redemption four years on from his red card in the 2008 final.
He scored the equaliser and winning penalty in Chelsea’s first Champions League triumph in 2012.
Now, Drogba partially owns US-based team Phoenix Rising.
The team currently play in the Western Conference of the USL Championship.
Drogba has also ditched his iconic hair for a shaved look.
Drogba alongside Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku
Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda moved into coaching after his playing days.
The Frenchman became a coach at Swiss side Zurich but left after just two months in 2019.
Manager: Avram Grant
Chelsea 2008 manager was Avram Grant.
The Israeli had a long career in management after his time at the west London club.
Grant’s last job was for NorthEast United in India.
However, a string of high profile women accused Grant, 67, of exposing himself at the start of this year.
