Chelsea’s 2013 Europa League Winning Team: Where do the stars of that campaign find themselves now?

Chelsea won the 2013 Europa League by defeating Benfica 2-1 in the final
Chelsea won the 2013 Europa League by defeating Benfica 2-1 in the final

Defence

Ivanovic was the match winner on the night
Ivanovic was the match winner on the night

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

The man who guarded the posts on a famous night in Amsterdam looks in all likelihood to stand in the way of Hazard & Chelsea’s hopes of lifting the trophy once again in Azerbaijan.

Petr Cech will be playing his last game in an Arsenal shirt and there will be no better way to bid adieu to the game than to lift the European trophy once more. Cech left Stamford Bridge in 2015 after losing his place to Thibaut Courtois and joined Arsenal in the following summer.

After four years with the Gunners, the legendary goalkeeper has decided to draw the curtains on his illustrious career at the end of this season.

Right Back: Cesar Azpilicueta

Chelsea’s Mr Consistent looks likely to start once more in the Blues backline (this time as the captain though) as they harbor hopes of winning the Europa League trophy once again.

The 29-year old, who joined the club from Marseille in 2012 has remained a constant in the Chelsea backline for the past seven years despite the constant chopping and changing of managers.

Centre Backs: Branislav Ivanovic & Gary Cahill

The centre-back pairing on that night, Ivanovic and Cahill were a solid duo in those days. With John Terry absent due to an injury problem, it was Ivanovic who decided the fate of the match by scoring the winning header in the 93rd minute to crown Chelsea as the European Champions.

The Serbian international currently plies his trade in Russia with Zenit, having made the move back in 2017. Ivanovic is a regular starter for the club and recently won the 2018/19 Russian Premier League.

The Serbian’s partner in crime, Gary Cahill still finds himself at Chelsea. The Englishman has served the club well during his 7-year spell but after being demoted to the bench by Sarri this season, Cahill is most likely to depart Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Left Back: Ashley Cole

One of England’s finest full-backs of all-time, Ashley Cole left Chelsea in 2014 to experience the Serie A with Roma. After a less than a successful spell in the Italian capital, Cole landed in the States in 2016 as he signed for the LA Galaxy.

After his spell in the MLS, Cole returned to England on a temporary basis to join Derby County under the stewardship of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. After the heart-breaking loss to Aston Villa in the playoff final, Cole might just have played his last ever game.

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