All-star XI of players to have won the Champions League with multiple clubs

Some of the world's finest footballers have won the Champions League trophy with multiple clubs in their career
Some of the world's finest footballers have won the Champions League trophy with multiple clubs in their career

The UEFA Champions League is the biggest stage in club football where top clubs battle to be the best club in Europe. Previously referred to as the 'European Cup', the Champions League remains one of the most significant tournaments in football history.

The Champions League trophy is a matter of pride and achievement for clubs and players

Notably, football's finest take part in the Champions League every year in order to create history with their clubs. While some of the all-time greats have missed out on the biggest trophy in club football, there have also been stars who have won the Champions League with multiple clubs.

On that note, here is the All-star XI of players to have won the Champions League multiple clubs since the competition's rebranding in 1992.


Goalkeeper - Edwin van der Sar

Chelsea v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final
Chelsea v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final

Edwin van der Sar is renowned as one of the best in the business of his generation, leaving a lasting legacy for both Ajax and Manchester United.

The Dutchman's first Champions League triumph came with Ajax since 1995, when the club defeated Juventus 1-0 in the final. Van der Sar had to wait thirteen years for his second, winning the title for Manchester United against Chelsea in 2008.

Van der Sar was a hero against their Premier League rivals, saving Nicolas Anelka's spot-kick to help the Red Devils clinch victory.


Centre-back - Marcel Desailly

Marcel Desailly and Andriy Shevchenko
Marcel Desailly and Andriy Shevchenko

Marcel Desailly has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest French defenders following his superb career for club and country. The famed centre-back got his hands on the Champions League for Marseille in 1993 before winning it again with Milan in 1994.

Desailly led Marseille to a Champions League triumph against Milan, narrowly defeating the Italian giants in the final. However, he moved to Milan the following season and helped the Serie A side win 4-0 against Barcelona while getting his name on the scoresheet.

Desailly remains the first player in the history of the Champions League to win it with multiple clubs consecutively.


Centre-back - Ronaldo Koeman

FC Barcelona v Valencia CF - LaLiga Santander
FC Barcelona v Valencia CF - LaLiga Santander

Ronald Koeman left an incredible mark in the Champions League during his illustrious career.

Koeman was a pivotal player for the PSV side which went on to win their only Champions League title in their history. The centre-back helped the Dutch giants lift the title on penalties after the final against Benfica ended 0-0.

Koeman then led Barcelona to win the Champions League, scoring the decisive goal against Sampordia in the 1992 Champions League final.

Centre-back - Gerard Pique

FC Barcelona v Dynamo Kyiv: Group E - UEFA Champions League
FC Barcelona v Dynamo Kyiv: Group E - UEFA Champions League

Gerard Pique was part of Manchester United's famous Champions League-winning squad in 2008 despite not being a regular at the club.

Following his move to Barcelona, Pique formed a formidable pair with Carles Puyol under Pep Guardiola's tutelage. The centre-back helped the Catalan giants defeat his former club twice in the Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011.

Pique's fourth Champions League title came in 2015 when Barcelona achieved a continental treble with Luis Enrique in-charge of the team.

Right wing-back - Jose Bosingwa

FC Bayern Muenchen v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League Final
FC Bayern Muenchen v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League Final

Jose Bosingwa might not be a celebrated name in Champions League history, but the right-back had some stellar campaigns back in the days. The Portuguese was on the Champions League winning team twice, once with Porto and another with Chelsea.

Bosingwa was part of the Porto side which made history in the Champions League under Jose Mourinho's tutelage. The right-back did not feature in the final for Porto but played a significant role for Chelsea in 2012 as the Blues defeated Bayern Munich on penalties.

Left wing-back - Paulo Ferreira

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea - Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea - Premier League

Paulo Ferreira followed the same career trajectory as Jose Bosingwa, winning the Champions League twice. The Portuguese spent the vast majority of his career at Porto and Chelsea.

Ferreira was a pivotal player under Jose Mourinho, proving himself to be a mainstay in the defense when Porto won the Champions League. The left-back followed Mourinho to Chelsea but he was a fringe player when the Blues became European Champions in 2012.

Central midfielder - Frank Rijkaard

The Best FIFA Football Awards
The Best FIFA Football Awards

Frank Rijkaard cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in Dutch history with his exploits for AC Milan and Ajax.

Rijkaard played a pivotal role for Arrigo Sacchi’s famous AC Milan, who were crowned European Champions twice in 1989 and 1990. The Dutchman had a goal in the final when Milan defeated Benfica by the narrowest of margins.

Rijkaard's third title came with Ajax in 1995, helping the Dutch side beat his former team AC Milan 1-0 in the final.


Central midfielder - Toni Kroos

Real Madrid v FC Internazionale: Group D - UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid v FC Internazionale: Group D - UEFA Champions League

Toni Kroos is a serial winner of the Champions League, having played a major role for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in his esteemed career. Widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of the current generation, Kroos has won the Champions League four times, among other notable accolades.

Kroos was a young prodigy when Bayern Munich became kings of Europe by defeating rivals Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final.

Following his move to Real Madrid a year later, Kroos played a key role in the Los Blancos side which won the Champions League an unprecedented three times in a row. The midfielder remains a key player for Real Madrid even now.

Central midfielder - Clarence Seedorf

AC Milan v D.C. United
AC Milan v D.C. United

Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Clarence Seedorf was another key member of Louis van Gaal's famous Ajax side. The midfielder remains the only player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs - Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Seedorf was a Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995, playing a crucial role under Van Gaal's tutelage. The Dutch midfielder followed up with another win three years later for Real Madrid before joining AC Milan.

Seedorf managed to get his hands on the Champions League trophy twice with Milan, finishing his career with four Champions League medals.

Striker - Samuel Eto'o

FC Internazionale Milano v Lecce - Serie A
FC Internazionale Milano v Lecce - Serie A

Samuel Eto'o was part of two Champions League-winning teams at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola and Frank Rijkaard. The striker is renowned for being a prolific goalscorer, scoring goals in both Champions League finals for Blaugrana.

Widely considered the greatest African player of all time, Eto'o bagged 130 goals for Barcelona across a five-year spell. The Cameroonian was undoubtedly a pivotal striker for Blaugrana when they achieved the first continental treble in their history.

After a fallout with Pep Guardiola, Eto'o moved to Inter Milan and became a threat to be reckoned with for the Serie A giants. The sharpshooter was the talisman of the Inter side which won a continental treble in the 2009/10 campaign under the guidance of Jose Mourinho.

Eto'o remains the only player in football history to have won the treble in two consecutive years with multiple clubs. The four-time African Player of the Year retired with over 400 goals scored for club and country, cementing his legacy as one of the finest goalscorers of his generation.

Striker - Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

When it comes to the Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player in the competition. The Portuguese icon has made the Champions League his own, winning the competition more times than anyone else while being the undisputed top scorer in the tournament's rich history.

Ronaldo proved himself to be one of the best wingers in the Premier League since arriving at Manchester United in 2003. The Portuguese icon especially enjoyed his peak during the last three years of his first stint at Old Trafford.

United won three consecutive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009 and a Champions League title in 2008, which was Ronaldo's first taste at European glory.

Ronaldo won his first Champions League title with Manchester United under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson. But the Portuguese was a class apart during his tenure at Real Madrid, becoming the undisputed talisman for Los Blancos and leading them to four Champions League titles.

During his nine-year tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo bagged 450 goals in 438 games for Los Blancos by surpassing the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Raul.

With a plethora of records to his name, the 36-year old keeps making history in the Champions League. Ronaldo has made a sensational return to his former club in the summer and has netted six goals in five Champions League games so far this campaign.

Quick Links