The 25th of May 2005 is a date etched into every Liverpool supporter. It was a night like no other.
Rafael Benitez' side had overcome the odds in the face of adversity numerous times throughout the competition, against the likes of Olympiakos, Juventus and Premier League champions-elect Chelsea - but not like this.
At half-time of the UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul, AC Milan were primed to claim the trophy again - leading 3-0 thanks to Paulo Maldini's 36 second opener and Hernan Crespo's excellent double.
The Reds, unsurprisingly, were written off against Carlo Ancelotti's side - which in hindsight could arguably go down as one of the strongest in a generation.
The Rossoneri had done everything right, but that did not mean Liverpool were giving in. The famous story says that the Liverpool team who were almost down and out could hear the 45,000 supporters throughout the ground singing You'll Never Walk Alone.
It was a rousing battle cry of emotion and pride, that though the Reds were losing comprehensively - Benitez had helped put them back on the map again, 21 years after their last European Cup final.
But six magical minutes after half-time changed everything,
Steven Gerrard's header inspired some hope, Vladimir Smicer's 20-yard effort ignited genuine belief, and Xabi Alonso's rebound after a missed penalty completed a mesmerising, and unforgettable, few minutes.
Milan would go on to control the remaining 20 minutes of normal time, as well as extra-time - with every Liverpool player on their last legs, Carragher and Gerrard overcoming cramp to keep their side level.
Jerzy Dudek miraculously kept out Andriy Shevchenko from just a few yards out, and there and then - it looked as though it would be Liverpool's night.
It would be. Dudek was the hero again in the shoot-out, keeping out Shevchenko's spot-kick to give the Reds a 3-2 win on penalties.
It was a night where history truly was made, as the Reds won the European Cup for the fifth time in their history to retain the famous trophy - but 10 years on, what ever happened to the squad that was responsible?
Jerzy Dudek:
Steve Finnan:
An unspectacular but reliably solid defender, Finnan's talents were never fully appreciated until after he'd left. He signed for Liverpool at the age of 27, having played for Welling United, Birmingham City, Notts County on loan and then at Fulham, spending five successful years at the club. He went on to make 217 appearances in those years, making himself a firm fans' favourite and a first-choice right-back. Finnan started the UEFA Champions League Final on the right side, but sustained an injury which forced him to come off at half-time to be replaced by Didi Hamann. The Irishman recently maintained that his substitution was the best thing that could have happened to Liverpool that night, as Hamann's presence completely changed the Reds' game. Finnan went on to play for Rafael Benitez' side for a few more years, until Alvaro Arbeola began to edge him out of the first-team. Finnan still played in the 2007 Champions League final when AC Milan gained revenge for Istanbul, this time in Athens, but in summer of 2008, but after the arrival of fullback Philipp Degen at the club from Borussia Dortmund - Finnan departed for Espanyol. There, he stayed only a season after injuries limited his impact in the side and in July of 2009, the club and Finnan agreed to terminate his contract. After plenty of links throughout his year in Spain, he returned to Portsmouth and played out his final days for Pompey in their last year in the Premier League. His final game, the 2010 FA Cup final when Chelsea narrowly beat Avram Grant's men. To this day, Finnan remains the only player to have played in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, all four levels of English league football and the Football Conference, scoring in all five levels of English football. Since hanging up his boots, the now 39-year-old is working in property development and living a rather quiet life in London.
Djimi Traore:
Ah yes, Djimi Traore. The only man as famous for an own-goal as Andres Escobar, Peter Enckelman and Lee Dixon. The man signed from hometown club Laval spent a year on-loan at Lens the following season, but began to impress on Merseyside when installed as a centre-back. He fell out of favour under Gerard Houllier in his final year, becoming reserve team captain before almost leaving for bitter city rivals Everton on transfer deadline day. Nevertheless, he remained at Anfield and became a regular figure under Benitez at left-back. But his most famous moment came in the FA Cup Third Round - when he managed to roulette the ball back over his own goal-line in a miraculous own goal, as Liverpool fell to a 1-0 defeat to Championship Burnley. Unfortunately, Djimi became something as a figure of fun after that - even though he maintained his place in the side. In fact, on the night of Istanbul - Traore was influential as any other, clearing Shevchenko's almost certain goal off the line to keep the Reds level. The next year, he found game time hard to come by and was sold to Charlton Athletic for £2 million in August 2006, but his stay at the Valley was short. He was sent off his debut and he gave away a cheap penalty against his former side Liverpool, before being moved on to Portsmouth after Alan Pardew took over the Addicks. After a three-month emergency loan spell at Birmingham, where he made just three appearances due to injury - Traore was on the move again. He switched back to his homeland of France, playing first for Monaco and then for Marseille in a three-year stay - but after making just 18 appearances in his final two years was moved on. After the end of 2011-12, Traore made the move to the United States to play in the MLS when his contract expired. There he played for Seattle Sounders, after a successful trial, and he continued on at the MLS side - his major highlight coming via a sensational long-range goal and his first ever league goal in his career, a year latere. The first, against Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter finals, Traore struck a magnificent 30-yard volley off the underside of the bar, allowing the Sounders to become the first MLS club to eliminate a Mexican side from the competition. He added his first ever league goal in May 2013, a match-winning volley in the 94th minute, but the much-maligned defender finally announced his retirement at the end of the 2014 season.
Sami Hyypia:
In recent years, Liverpool have developed an unenviable tendency to overspend on players - but one of the biggest bargains in the club's history and the history of the Premier League was a £2.5 million outlay on a young Finnish defender called Sami Hyypia. Arriving in 1999, Hyypia served under Houllier and Benitez to great acclaim. A great towering presence of a man, Hyypia was also a terrific defender and a born leader - but he also made contributions up the other end of the pitch, helping thrust Liverpool into the 2005 final with a goal against Juventus in the last eight, a sweetly-struck volley which is arguably is best ever in a red shirt. He was absolutely key on that night in Istanbul, helping ensure the Reds stayed strong at the back after the break to force extra-time and then penalties. Despite having had to give up his captaincy to a young Gerrard back in the day, Hyypia remained equally as important throughout his years at Anfield, shining alongside Jamie Carragher. He stayed at the club until 2008-09, where he bid an emotional goodbye to Anfield after an incredibly successful 10-year spell on Merseyside. He bid adieu for Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, where he spent two final years playing, making 59 appearances, before becoming manager at the club. His first-season was incredibly successful as he lead Bayer alongside Sacha Lewandowski to within a point of second-placed Borussia Dortmund. He continued in charge until April 2014, where his fourth-placed side had gone 12 games with only one win. The Finland defender, who won 105 caps for his country, returned back to England afterwards - taking charge at Brighton & Hove Albion, but he eventually resigned just a few months into the job after only one win in 18 league games. He currently remains without a club but Hyypia, who was a huge part of Liverpool's successes - including the historic treble, Istanbul 2005 and more, will always be regarded as one of those who shook the Kop in his 464 appearances in a decade-long stay at Anfield, and he'd be welcomed back any time.
Jamie Carragher:
Liverpool Football Club's fans have always had an unsurprising fondness for local lads, especially the likes of Jamie Carragher. After all, though he grew up an Everton fan, he summed up the supporters through and through. A hard-working defender who grafted and grafted, though he may never have been blessed with natural ability - Istanbul was his finest hour. In one of the best defensive displays the club has ever seen, Carra threw himself in front of everything even though his body pleaded with him to give in. Right through 1997 to 2003 - Carragher was a superb servant for Liverpool, making an incredible 737 appearances - though he scored more own goals than he did goals for Liverpool, scoring eight in his own net and putting five in the opponents goal throughout his career. Nevertheless, Carragher was a revered figure amongst the Liverpool supporters because of his passion, leadership, determination and versatility. It was centre-back where Carragher made his name, becoming a stalwart in the back-four for many years. In fact, his appearance number only dipped once below 50-a-season for Houllier just the once - after he broke his leg. But he was equally as pivotal under Benitez, who made him the scouse spine of his side behind Gerrard. In Rafa's first two seasons, he made 56 and 57 appearances as his commitment to the cause never ceased. Eventually, his body tired of his constant tackling, intercepting and blocking - but he enjoyed a good spell in the first-team in the second-half of Brendan Rodgers' first year in charge, replacing the injured Daniel Agger. In February of 2012-13, he announced he would be retiring at the end of the campaign and he almost bowed out in emotional style - as his 35-yard volley, so uncharacteristic of Carra, smacked back off the woodwork in his farewell game at Anfield against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season. Carragher capped off his one-club career at Liverpool having overtaken club legends Emlyn Hughes and Ray Clemence in the all-time appearances list - second only to Ian Callaghan's 857 - a number never likely to be beaten. Since giving in his playing days, Carragher has taken up punditry for Sky Sports - where he has joined ex-rival Gary Neville in a successful duo for Monday Night Football. Now 37, Jamie will be hoping his son James follows in his footsteps - with the promising 11-year-old currently in the Reds' Academy ranks. If he's even half as committed and passionate as his dad, Liverpool fans will be in for a treat.
John Arne Riise:
If it not for Liverpool matching the £4 million fee Fulham offered Monaco for John Arne Riise, the Norwegian left-back's career could have been much different. As it turns out, they did - and Riise arrived at Liverpool in 2001 a tremendous success. He scored in his debut game, a victory over Bayern Munich in the 2001 European Super Cup, and never looked back. His first year was full of highlights as he endeared himself to the Liverpool crowd with memorable goals away at Goodison Park vs. Everton and an otherworldly 70mph free-kick at home to Manchester United, a shot which rocketed over the underside of the bar and over the line for one of the best goals the famous stadium has ever, ever witnessed. He continued as the club's first-choice on the left-hand side for a number of years, scoring a sensational volley just a minute into the League Cup final loss to Chelsea and providing the assist for Gerrard's header in Istanbul with a well-timed cross. He actually went on to miss his penalty in the shoot-out, becoming the only Liverpool player to do so on the night - but it did not matter in the end, as Dudek produced the heroics. He made amends a year later in the FA Cup final, scoring from the spot as the Reds won another trophy in dramatic circumstances. Unfortunately, Riise's Liverpool career went out in undesirable circumstances despite the fact he had made 339 appearances and scored an impressive 30 goals from a left-back position. Riise put into his own net in the 95th minute of a first-leg Champions League semi-final against Chelsea at Anfield, a goal which eventually meant the Blues went on to reach the final of the competition - losing to Manchester United. Riise then moved on from the club that summer, joining AS Roma in Serie A on a four-year deal. He soon became a fan favourite in Italy too, thanks to his lungbusting runs from deep and he made his name with a number of hugely important goals in big games against the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus. After a three-year stay, Riise returned to England to play for Fulham - joining his brother at Craven Cottage. There, the Norwegian international gave three years of service in the top-flight and in the Championship before being released in May of last year. He found a new club just a few months later, joining Cyprus' APOEL Nicosia - where has has continued to play in the Champions League at the age of 34. In his first year at the club, he has helped APOEL to Cypriot Cup - as he scored a trademark thunderbolt free-kick in the final. He has yet to retire, and could continue for a number more years after insisting he feels as fit as ever on his personal blog, but from the joy on his face at Anfield when he returned for the All-Star Charity match recently, a game in which so many former Liverpool stars took to the Anfield turf one last time - Merseyside will always have a special place in Riise's heart.
Steven Gerrard:
The most glittering name in Liverpool's squad that day, Steven Gerrard has gone on to enjoy a 17-year career in the Reds' first-team. The Huyton-born Reds talisman's contributions on that night were there for all to see, as Gerrard - then just 24 and club captain - headed in Liverpool's first of three with a beautifully angled header into the far corner, getting the Miracle of Istanbul well underway. The captain famously almost left the club the following summer, as Chelsea came calling in the summer of 2005 - but after much debate, he finally decided to stick on Anfield. The following year, he single-handedly helped Liverpool to an FA Cup triumph under Benitez, scoring twice and adding an assist as the Reds came from behind in remarkable circumstances. Gerrard hit one of the best goals the competition has ever seen, striking a 35-yard effort on the volley to force extra-time, before the club beat West Ham United on penalties. Gerrard's achievements led him to become one of the most highly-regarded England internationals of his generation, as well as being named as one of Liverpool's best ever players. Gerrard went on to captain his country and add another League Cup victory, plus a European Super Cup and a Community Shield to his trophy cabinet - as well as being at the heart of two Liverpool sides, one under Benitez and the other under Brendan Rodgers in 2013-14, to fall agonisingly short of ending Liverpool's long-wait for an English title. Now at 34-years-old, Gerrard's game-time at his beloved club has decreased and on January 1st 2015, he announced his decision to leave for the MLS at the end of the remaining season. Unfortunately for the skipper, the opportunity to play out his final ever Liverpool game in the FA Cup final on his 35th birthday was ruined by Aston Villa, who beat the Reds at Wembley in the semi-final - after his side's top-four chances had already been all but ended. Gerrard saw out his final few games for Liverpool, netting in an emotional late header to lift the Reds to a 2-1 win over QPR in his penultimate game at Anfield. He went on to score again the next week, heading his side level in a 1-1 draw against champions Chelsea. In his final game at Anfield, Crystal Palace spoiled the story by beating Rodgers' side 3-1 on L4 - but Gerrard was given a fitting send-off by the home crowd and though things got bad to worse for the team as a whole, losing 6-1 to Stoke City on the final day of the campaign - Gerrard added one last goal to take his total tally to 710 appearances and 186 goals in a red shirt. Add that to his 114 England appearances and 21 goals and Gerrard leaves Liverpool Football Club as a figure that will never be forgotten, though he sadly decided to see out his days for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS. But as the man said himself, Istanbul will always be the pinnacle of his career.
Luis Garcia:
He came from Barca to bring us joy, even if it was never true that he drank Sangria. Luis Garcia, from start to finish, was another one of the golden boys of Benitez' reign on Merseyside. Arriving from Barcelona, he joined former boss Rafa and proved an instant hit even in his first 12 months. He will always be held in heroic status after hitting five crucial goals past Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea in that 2005 Champions League campaign which Liverpool eventually proved winners. The one against the Italians was a special half-volley from range, but it was his infamous ghost goal - one which Jose Mourinho has not forgotten about to this day - which put him in the history books. Was it or wasn't it? We may never know and the debate will always rumble on, but the fact was it sent Anfield into absolute raptures and carried the Reds to Istanbul. The little Spaniard was a little more inconsistent in his second year, though he retained his appetite for the big game - scoring another sensational semi-final goal against Chelsea to lift them to the FA Cup final, another trophy they ended up the winners of. Garcia added another 11 goals in his second year, after his tally of 13 in his debut year in England but he missed the FA Cup final through suspension. A serious anterior cruciate ligament injury halted the second of his third and final season at the Reds in 2007, as he never fully recovered on Merseyside at least. As a result, he returned to Spain but never failed to make himself a regular at Atletico Madrid after a decent first year. He moved on to Racing de Santander at 31, but made just 15 games in their relegation dogfight. Garcia continued on his travels, joining Panathinaikos on a free - but he struggled to hit it off there either, playing less than half of the club's games. He then travelled to Mexico to play first for Puebla for a year, scoring 14 goals in 33 games, before switching to Pumas de la UNAM where he scored only eight goals in 47 games in all competitions over a two-year stay. The Spaniard announced his retirement at the age of 35 in January 2014, but he returned back to football in July the same year - announcing that he would play for Indian Super League side Atlético de Kolkata, joining former Reds' teammate Josemi. He helped Kolkata reach the final, which they won in Mumbai and though he did not come off the bench - he was named the tournament's player of the season. To this day, Garcia is a much-loved figure in Liverpool and his famous song can be heard on the terraces on matchday even now. "Luuuuiss Gaaarciaaa..."
Xabi Alonso:
Another well-known name nowadays, Alonso was a fresh-faced midfielder in his first year at the club on the night of Istanbul. He made an instant impact until breaking his ankle on New Years' Day of 2005. He would go on to recover and return for the two-legged clash with Juventus, but he would miss the second-leg of the semi-final at Anfield after Eidur Gudjohnsen saw him yellow-carded at Stamford Bridge. His teammates got the job done without him and Alonso returned to the starting line-up for the final, where he scored the goal that brought Liverpool level after six magical minutes. His penalty was initially saved by Dida, but thankfully he put the rebound into the roof of the net to level the scores at 3-3. The Spanish midfielder would go on to become one of the favourites of the Benitez era, becoming an integral part of the side alongside Gerrard. Known his excellent range of passing, his set-piece delivery and his knack for scoring goals from inside his own half - Alonso was adored amonst the Anfield faithful. Despite a number of injury setbacks, the ex-Real Sociedad man went on to play a crucial part for Spain in their Euro 2008 success as his stock began to rise, after which rumours linked Benitez with a move for Gareth Barry of Aston Villa. But Barry's move never came to fruition, and Alonso went on to have his best ever Liverpool season - scoring five goals in 47 appearances as the Reds came close to the title in 2008-09. Benitez' willingness to cash in on his talents meant that Alonso fell out with the Spaniard and return to his home to play for Real Madrid after a £30 million transfer. There he would be an equally important cog in the midfield, though he played under a number of different managers. He played at the Bernabeu for five years, making 236 appearances and scoring four goals as he helped Madrid to a La Liga triumph in 2011-12 and their 10th Champions League triumph in 2013-14, amongst other honours. Last summer, he traded Madrid for Munich - moving to Pep Guardiola's all-reigning Bundesliga side. Alonso famously missed out on the chance to return to Anfield with Madrid, who were drawn with the Reds in the Champions League for 2014-15 as he was having his medical with Bayern on the day of the draw. In his first year in Germany, even at the age of 32 (now 33) he has pulled the strings from the heart of midfield - making 40 appearances and scoring a number of vital goals as Guardiola's men lifted their 25th German title and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. Xabi has now won a World Cup, the Euros, Liverpool's fifth European Cup, Real Madrid's tenth and a title in Spain and Germany after a lucrative career - but he has no plans of packing it in just yet. He even got the opportunity to say goodbye to Anfield in an All-Star Charity Match a few months ago, as the crowd welcomed him back with open arms. Alonso will always be a Liverpool fans' favourite, no matter what happens in his final years.
Harry Kewell:
Harry Kewell's tremendous potential was ruined my injuries, and that was no different on May 25th 10 years ago. Having been a major figure in the Leeds United team that reached the 2000-01 Champions League semi-finals, Kewell rejected moves from the likes of AC Milan, Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona in favour of Liverpool in 2003 - but things never worked out for him on Merseyside. He scored 11 goals in his first-season, including a fine volley versus rivals Everton and a number of UEFA Cup strikes, but the following year meant he scored just one goal in 31 appearances. His luck was out and though he became the first-Australian player to win the Champions League, he only played 23 minutes after pulling up through injury mid-way through the first-half. He was booed off by the Liverpool supporters who believed that he had been feigning an injury. Nevertheless, the following season Kewell began to prove his worth, but he could not sustain it for long enough despite a string of fine performances. He helped the Reds reach the 2006 FA Cup Final, another of which he was forced off through injury as Liverpool went on to win in his absence and he did not return until April 2007 and he went on to come off the bench to play against AC Milan in another Champions League final that year, though Benitez and co. fell to a 2-1 defeat. Injuries struck again for the start of the 2007-08 season and a lack of fitness meant he never signed a new contract at the club come the end of the campaign, as he moved to Galatasaray on a free. He enjoyed a three-year spell in the Turkish Super Lig, scoring 18 goals in 91 appearances, as he found the fitness he desperately lacked at Anfield - but he returned to Australia in 2011 to play for Melbourne Victory. After just a year, Kewell returned to Europe to be closer to his mother–in–law as she battled cancer, before returning to football to play for Qatar's Al-Gharafa for the second-half of the 2012-13 season. But after just three appearances, Kewell switched back to the Heart to play out a final year in 2013-14 before retiring at 35 having never really fulfilled his tremendous early potential. What could have been.
Milan Baros:
The final man from the starting eleven, Baros had enjoyed an inconsistent few years at Liverpool before Istanbul - His first full season wielded 12 goals in 42 games, but an ankle injury halted his progress and though he returned in good form, Houllier's departure left him on the fringes of the first-team. As it happens, Istanbul happened to be his last ever Liverpool game as he was sold in August to fellow Premier League side Aston Villa after a return of 27 goals in 108 total appearances. He never quite worked out in the Midlands, scoring a disappointing 14 goals in 51 games and he reunited with Houllier in January 2007, when he joined Lyon. With just four goals in 14 appearances in his first season, he made only 15 games in his second year at the club - adding only three more goals as he made just six starts under new manager Alain Perrin and he returned to England on loan, after failing to get on with the Lyon boss. He joined Portsmouth from January until the end of the campaign, playing a role as Harry Redknapp's men reached the 2008 FA Cup Final and won - a game in which Baros appeared as a late substitute. But he failed to score a single goal, and move again as he became a nomadic figure. His next stay would be at Galatasaray, where he would enjoy the best form of his career. His first campaign saw him score a sensational 25 goals in 40 games, what would turn out to be his best ever return, and he added 35 more across three more years in the Turkish Super Lig. Eventually, he was frozen out of the side as he grew older and Fatih Terim gave him permission to move on. In February 2013, Baros returned to where it all started - Czech club Baník Ostrava on an 18-month contract, but he lasted only 12 games despite scoring five goals, including a hat-trick, his first in the top-flight of his homeland. Baros moved back to Turkey again, this time for Antalyaspor but after an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December, he spent nearly a year out of football - before returning back to Ostrava for his third spell at the club, where he resides now. After just nine appearances at the age of 33, it remains to be seen as to whether he will continue at the Czech side but he will always be remembered on Merseyside and in his homeland, given that his tally of 41 goals for the Czech Republic is second behind only the famous Jan Koller.
Substitutes:
Vladimir Smicer (Kewell 23'): Smicer, otherwise regarded as one of the kindest people you could ever meet back in the day, will never be forgotten for the role he played on that night. The Czech Republic international, who arrived from Lens - never really made a huge impact in his early years. Of the 184 matches he played he was substitute on 74 occasions and he ended up being taken off in 83 of the 110 matches he actually started in. Nevertheless, 'Vladi' was always known for his last-minute winner against Chelsea in 2002 and a tremendous volley against Borussia Dortmund in 2003. But injuries had blighted much of his Liverpool career, and they continued to do so. Nevertheless, Smicer began to feature again under Benitez - particularly in the run-up to the 2005 final. But the midfielder, who was a Liverpool fan as a boy, had been told prior to the big game that he would not be given a renewed contract at the club - so Istanbul would be his last. Though he was not given a start, clearly the footballing gods have some sympathy for the well-loved midfielder. Smicer replaced the injured Kewell after 23 minutes, but made his most famous contribution in the 56th minute - picking up the ball and smashing a low effort between Dida's outstretched arm and the far post to put Liverpool's comeback dreams truly in sight. Smicer, always known for his terrific endeavour, played the rest of normal time and extra-time, before putting himself down as one of the first five to take a penalty. With the Reds boasting a narrow lead in the shoot-out, the Czech slammed home his penalty and kissed the Liverpool badge upon his chest to the club's supporters. Not long later, Shevchenko missed his penalty and Smicer, and his contributions in his last ever game for the Reds, went into the history books forever. Smicer left Anfield for Bordeaux, where his stay was ravaged by injuries. As such, the Czech was denied a return to L4 when the Ligue 1 side were drawn with Liverpool in the 2006-07 Champions League. Things got so bad that Smicer admitted afterwards he had felt like retiring, as a knee injury kept him out for a year and he eventually left the French side in 2007 after making 28 appearances and scoring three goals. From there on, he returned to Slavia Prague, signing a one year contract. Though injuries prevented him having a major impact, he won two league titles in his time and was honoured with a friendly match between Slavia and Sparta Prague in 2010 - a game 15,000 fans went to watch. Since retiring in November 2009, Smicer has gone on to be involved with Czech Republic national team, serving as assistant and sports manager and Smicer was known to enjoy an occasional game with local team Dolni Chabry, in the Czech Republic's sixth division. More recently, the ex-Liverpool man stood for minor Czech party VIZE 2014 in the European Parliament election, but on Merseyside - it is his goal on that night that will mean he is never forgotten.
Did Hamann (Finnan 46'): Another substitute who made his mark on that night in Turkey, the German midfield enforcer was another fans' favourite in Liverpool. Hamann had arrived in 1999 and ended his career winning everything but the league in a seven-year stay with the club, including being an ever-present in the treble-winning year of 2001. Consistent and reliable, Hamann's introduction at half-time in Istanbul allowed the Reds to gain vital control in the centre of the park and sitting alongside Xabi Alonso also saw Gerrard pushed further upfield, which saw him head in the first of Liverpool's three. The Kaiser went on to feature in the 2006 season, including played in the FA Cup final - but would eventually depart for Manchester City, just a day after he had initially looked to sign for Bolton Wanderers. He spent three years at City, making 51 league appearances and scoring a single goal - before an incredibly brief stint with Milton Keynes Dons, where he made 12 appearances in the third tier. 'The Kaiser' has since taken up a prominent role in the media, featuring regularly on the likes of Match of the Day 2, LFCTV and Sky Sports, as well as being known for being a regular columnist. But Hamann, after retiring as a player-coach at MK Dons also became known for his managerial stints. He left the then-League One side in February 2011 to become first-team coach at Leicester City, before accepting the job at Stockport County in May the same year. His tenure there was relatively unsuccessful and he resigned in November, with his side 17th in the Conference Premier - just three wins from 19 games. Hamann swapped the hot seat for the media job, which he still uses today - but his connection with Liverpool FC will never be broken.
Djibril Cisse (Baros 85'): Arriving with a hot reputation from Auxerre, Cisse was hardly helped by the fact that compatriot Houllier left just two weeks after signing - but it's fair to say he won over Benitez in his time at the club. Unfortunately, in just his 15th game for the club, the Frenchman suffered a horrific fracture of the tibia and fibula against Blackburn Rovers and was forced to sit out for six months. He eventually returned, in the second leg of the quarter-finals against Juventus, but appeared as a substitute in nine of the final ten games of the season - including on that night in Istanbul, coming on late for striker Milan Baros to play in extra-time before eventually convering the second penalty for the Reds in the shoot-out. The following year, Cisse began to make a real impression at Anfield - scoring two goals in the UEFA Super Cup and notching 19 goals in 57 appearances overall, including one in the 2006 FA Cup final. Scoring seven goals in his final 10 games of the campaign, Cisse engaged in transfer discussions with a number of clubs before suffered another freak double fracture of the tibia and fibula, this time in his right leg, in an international friendly. As a result, he was loaned to Marseille for a year as he recovered from the injury. After 15 goals in 25 games, he moved to Marseille permanently for £6 million and scored 22 goals in 50 matches - but longed for a move back to England to live with his wife. He made the move to Sunderland on loan from the Ligue 1 side, scoring 11 goals in 38 games for the Teesiders - but the Black Cats let him go after a poor second-half of the season. Becoming somewhat of a journeyman, Cisse made a £6.8 million switch to Panathinaikos, where he helped the Greek side to the league title with 29 goals in 46 games, before adding 26 goals in 43 games the following year. After which, he moved to Lazio for half-a-season, where he fell out of form and then switched to Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League. There, in just eight games, Cisse certainly made an impact in West London. He scored on his debut before being sent off in the next game, and he also scored against his former employers Liverpool being again being sent off at another ex-club, Sunderland, the next week. The R's were eventually relegated, though he scored a goal in the infamous game made famous by Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time league-winning goal at the Etihad. After an eight-game spell in which he had either scored or been sent off, he stayed with QPR the following year until being loaned out half-way through the campaign to Qatar side Al-Gharafa, the fifth country he had played in professionally. After returning from his loan, he left England on a free agent and joined Russian side Kuban Krasnodar - but then signed an 18-month deal with French side Bastia SC on New Years' Day of 2014. With six goals in 25 games across two seasons, Cisse has taken his total career goal tally to 248 in 576 games and at the age of 33, may have a few games left for him to reach that mark. So far he has played for an astounding 10 different clubs, but there's no saying he might not make that 11 or even 12 in his final days.
Unused substitutes:
Scott Carson: Despite the Miracle of Istanbul having been a decade ago, Carson - at just 29 - is still very much in his playing days. The goalkeeper arrived from Leeds United in January of 2005 as a highly-rated young shot-stopper and a potential replacement for Dudek, but found playing-time limited. Carson did replace the Pole in nets against Juventus as the Reds won 2-0 at Anfield, but was sent out on loan spells to Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa before eventually making the permanent switch away from Liverpool in 2008 - where he made a £3.25 million move to West Bromwich Albion. The England international spent three successful years at the Hawthorns as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, before moving to Turkey to play for Bursaspor in 2011. Carson enjoyed another successful spell as a first-team keeper, this time in the Turkish Süper Lig - but he returned back to England after two years. He is now Wigan Athletic's regular first-choice, having seen his international career fall apart after a high-profile error against Croatia - as Steve McLaren's side missed out on the European Championships in 2008.
Josemi: Rafael Benitez' first ever signing as Liverpool FC manager, Spanish defender Josemi was perhaps never expected to be a world-beater, and he wasn't. Poor form and injuries meant he was always second-best to the ever-reliable Finnan and he returned to Spain just a year and a half after leaving, having made just 35 appearances in all competitions. After playing just one game for Villarreal upon his return to La Liga, Josemi signed for RCD Mallorca where he would make 59 appearances across two seasons. As his age wore on, the Spanish defender opted to switch his homeland for the Greek leagues. Iraklis Thessaloniki FC was his first destination for a year, before a return to FC Cartagena in Segunda División in Spain for two years. Josemi then opted to return back to Greece to play for Levadiakos F.C. and Skoda Xanthi F.C. respectively. Still going strong, Josemi was a third-round draft pick for Atlético de Kolkata in the first-ever draft and season for the Indian Super League. He joined Luis Garcia amongst their ranks and was captain in his ex-Liverpool teammate's absence in the final win over the Kerala Blasters. At the age of 35, Josemi has still not yet retired - but he remains without a club as it stands.
Antonio Nunez: Brought to Liverpool in part-exchange for Michael Owen from Real Madrid, Nunez' stay at Anfield was defined by the fact he suffered a serious knee injury on his first day of training with the club - leaving him out for three months. Unfortunately for the midfielder, things never really improved from there on out. He did score in the Carling Cup final loss to Chelsea, as the Reds fell 3-2 to Jose Mourinho's men in Cardiff after extra-time - but Nunez was not much more than peripheral figure, though he made 27 appearances in his first season - most of which were from the bench. The Spaniard was moved on after a year with the club, moving to Celta Vigo for three years. He made 106 appearances for the Spanish side in La Liga and Segunda División - where he would spend a majority of the rest of his playing days. Nunez played a year for Real Murcia, before buying out the rest of his contract to move to Cyprus' Apollon Limassol. After a three year spell, in which he scored seven goals in 64 games - Nunez returned to the Segunda División, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract with SD Huesca before a final year with Deportivo la Coruna in 2013-14. He nows plays for Recreativo de Huelvaas a right midfielder, but they were recently relegated to Spain's third-tier after an unsuccessful 2014-15 campaign.
Igor Biscan: The Croatian, signed back in 2000 under Gerard Houllier, never quite lived up to expectations at Anfield - leaving the club shortly after the 2005 final. Biscan's last appearance in a red shirt was against Aston Villa, ten days before Istanbul, but the £5.5 million midfielder will always be remembered for his contributions in the journey to the final. Biscan left for Greek outfit Panathinaikos after Merseyside, where he plied his trade for two years - making 47 appearances and scoring three goals in all competitions. During his second year in Athens, Biscan's form dropped rapidly and the club eventually allowed him to leave as a free agent. It took him six months to return to football, where he was eventually persuaded to return to Dinamo Zagreb - replacing Luka Modric as captain. There he won the Croatian league five successive times, as well as winning four back-to-back Croatian Cups and one Croatian Super Cup, though injuries restricted him to just 61 league appearances in five years. Biscan continued to play after a potentially career-threatening operation, but terminated his contract in April 2012 and officially retired. To this day, the Croat remains a cult hero from his playing days for Liverpool, with a splendid revival in his final year at the club after three torrid seasons.
Manager
Rafael Benitez:
After winning the Champions League, Rafa went on to lead Liverpool to the FA Cup the following year, thanks in large part to his captain Steven Gerrard, having already taken the European Super Cup with a win over CSKA Moscow. The Spanish manager won the Community Shield in 2006 and then almost led the Reds to their first Premier League title in 2008-09, but an unsuccessful campaign in 2010 - in which the Reds ended 7th and fell out of the Champions League in the group stages, saw him leave via mutual consent. From there, Benitez went on to Inter Milan, replacing Jose Mourinho. At the Nerazzurri, he won the Italian Super Cup just a few months in - but Inter's form suffered in Serie A and despite lifting the FIFA Club World Cup in December, Benitez was sacked later the same month. Still revered on Merseyside, there were calls for Benitez to return - but though he would eventually return to England after two years out of a job, it would be as an interim manager for league rivals Chelsea. An unpopular appointment given his history with the Reds, the club's fans never really took to Rafa - but he did give the club their first ever UEFA Cup (now known as the Europa League) as the Blues beat Benfica, as well as managing a third place finish domestically. Only two weeks after leaving Chelsea, Benitez was announced as the new manager of Napoli - where he remains to this day. In his first season, Benitez led the Italian club to a Coppa Italia and finished third in the league to qualify for the Champions League - but Benitez' side have had a below-par campaign in 2014-15, being knocked out in the CL group stages before losing out to Europa League finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the final four. His side take on Lazio this weekend with the Gli Azzurri looking to finish 3rd in the league to qualify for the Champions League but the Spaniard looks primed to claim the job of Ancelotti - AC Milan manager in Istanbul - at Real Madrid this summer after the 55-year-old failed to win anything this season just a year after leading the club to La Decima. Whatever his future holds, Benitez will never be forgotten by Liverpool fans - especially for that night in Istanbul in which his rousing half-time team talk, and his tactical switch to bring on Hamann at half-time for Finnan, will always go down as huge factors in one of the greatest Champions League finals of all time.