'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
5) Stephen Ireland
A product of the youth system at Manchester City, Ireland had established himself as a regular in the playing XI before the takeover by ADUG. While the club attempted to bring in high-profile players to raise the quality of the squad, Ireland – with the club having taken note of his potential - was tipped to continue to be part of the City’s scheme of things.
Trending
What happened next?
Despite the arrival of big-name signings in the summer of 2008 with the Abu Dhabi money, Ireland continued to be a key member of the side, and was named the club’s Player of the Year for 2008-09 season for his excellent performances.
But, similar to others mentioned in this piece, Ireland soon found his opportunities in the first-team limited due to competition from the high-profile incoming players. He joined Aston Villa in the summer of 2010 as part of an exchange deal which saw James Milner move the other way. Currently Ireland is at Stoke City (whom he joined in 2014), but has had limited game-time due to injuries.
