Real Madrid’s 1999-2000 UCL Winning Squad: Where are they now?

24th May 2000: Stade de France, Saint Denis, Paris, France

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Valencia

Real Madrid were just crowned European champions for the 8th time in their history against fellow La Liga rivals, Valencia. They had a fantastic squad with the likes of an upcoming icons, Iker Casillas and Raul as well as many other veterans such as, Steve McManaman and Roberto Carlos. So, where are all the players who lead Real Madrid to no.8?

1) Bodo Illgner (#1)

The German stopper was an unused substitute in the final with the likes of Iker Casillas in goal. He was the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup final after West Germany’s 1-0 win over a Maradona lead Argentina in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The 2000 Champions League would be his last trophy as a footballer before retiring in 2001. Following his retirement, he went on to work as a pundit for a German broadcasting station called Sky Deutschland and is now an English language broadcaster for BeIN Sports.

2) Míchel Salgado (#2)

Salgado was a vital player for Madrid during the 1999-00 season and he even started the match and got subbed of in the 85th minute for Fernando Hierro. Following the final, Salgado won 4 La Ligas, 3 Supercopa De Españas, 1 Super Cup and Club World Cup and another Champions League in 2002 before leaving for Blackburn Rovers in 2009 before retiring in 2012. He was previously the assistant manager of the Egyptian national team back in 2018. He is now the director of football for Cypriot side, Pafos

3) Roberto Carlos (#3)

Roberto Carlos is probably regarded as the best left back in the world due to his style of play and many honors. He played the full match in the win in Paris. He went on to win 3 La Liga titles, 2 Supercopa de Españas, 1 Super Cup and Club World Cup and even another Champions League in 2002 before leaving Real in 2007. He went to join Fenerbahçe in Turkey for 2 years before returning to Brazil in 2010 to play for Corinthians for one season. He then joined Russian side, Anzhi Makhachkala for a year before announcing his retirement. He came back a player-manager for a few games in 2015 for Indian side, Delhi Dynamos but eventually stopped from managing. He now is spending his retirement in Brazil and often goes to different sport broadcasting stations.

4) Fernando Hierro (#4)

Fernando Hierro is another iconic player for Real Madrid and Spain. He was the vice captain for Real Madrid in their Champions League success. He came on as a substitute for Míchel Salgado in the 85th minute. Following the final in Paris, Hierro won 2 La Ligas, 1 Supercopa, 1 Champions League, 1 Super Cup and 1 Club World Cup. In 2003, Hierro left Real Madrid and joined Qatar side, Al Rayyan before returning to European football playing for Bolton Wanderers in England. In 2005, he retired from football and nearly 10 years later, returned to Real Madrid as the assistant manager for Carlo Ancelotti before becoming the manager for Spanish second division side Oviedo for the 2016-17 season. He even took charge of the Spanish national team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but stepped down after a Round of 16 elimination to the hosts. He is currently the sporting director of Mexican team, C.D Guadalajara.

5) Manolo Sanchís (#5)

Sanchís was the captain of the Real but didn’t start the match in favor of Ivan Helguera. He was subbed on the 80th minute for Nicolás Anelka. Following the Parisian showdown, Manolo won only 1 La Liga before eventually retiring in 2001. He is currently spending retirement in Spain.

6) Fernando Redondo (#6)

The Argentinian midfielder was the starting captain for Los Blancos and played the full match. He was the 3rd captain for the team but started as captain over other captain and vice captain Manolo Sanchís and Fernando Hierro. After captaining Real to victory, he left in the summer and joined AC Milan in Italy. During his time at the club, he won the Champions League in 2003 as well as domestic trophies in 2003 and 2004 before retiring in 2004. He doesn’t have any managerial experience.

7) Raúl (#7)

In 2000, Raúl was a rising talent for Real Madrid and Spain and was on his way to becoming a Real Madrid icon. He was regarded as one of the best attackers in Europe and Real Madrid’s history. He scored the third goal to seal the deal for Real in the final. Following the Champions League final win, 4 La Ligas, 3 Supercopas, 1 Super Cup and Club World Cup as well as another Champions League in 2002. In 2010, Raúl left Real as their top scorer in the Champions League and joined Bundesliga side, Schalke 04 and won the DFB Pokal in 2011. He joined Qatari side, Al Sadd for 2 years before eventually retiring in 2015 with MLS side, New York Cosmos. He is currently the manager of Real Madrid’s B team.

8) Steve McManaman (#8)

McManaman was the first English player to win the European Cup with a non-British team following the win in Paris. His involvement in the game came with a sumptuous volley to make it 2-0. Following the game, McManaman won another Champions League title with Real Madrid in 2002, as well as many other players from this 2000 squad. He won 2 league titles and 1 Super Cup and Supercopa before signing for Manchester City in 2003. He retired in 2005 and doesn’t have any to do with football right now.

9) Fernando Morientes (#9)

Fernando was another exceptional player for this Real Madrid side as he went on to be one of the most prolific strikers for Real Madrid. His contributions in Paris including scoring the opening goal in the game following a header from a previously taken free kick. Since Paris, Fernando won another Champions League title in 2002 as well as 2 more La Liga titles, 1 Supercopa de España and 1 Super Cup. He joined Monaco on a season long loan for the 2003-04 season and made another Champions League final only to fall short to José Mourinho’s Porto. Eventually, he left Real Madrid and joined Liverpool in 2005 where he won an FA Cup and another UEFA Super Cup. He rejoined Spanish football in 2006, playing for Valencia for 3 seasons where he won the 2007-08 Copa Del Ray. He joined Marseille in 2009 for a year and eventually retired at the end of his contract. He was recently the manager for Spanish third division side, CF Fuenlabrada back in 2016. He doesn’t currently manage anyone.

10) Savio (#11)

Savio wasn’t much of a noticeable player for Real Madrid’s Champions League success in 2000 but he did make an appearance in the final coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute. Since winning the Champions League in 2000, Savio won another 1 La Liga, Supercopa and Super Cup before leaving for Real Zaragoza in January 2003. During his time at Zaragoza, Savio won another Supercopa title and a Copa Del Ray in 2004. In 2006, he returned to Flamengo before returning to Spanish football in 2007 to play for Real Sociedad and Levante. He then returned to play for his boyhood club, Desportiva Ferroviária and eventually retired before joining Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta.

11) Ivan Campo (#12)

Ivan was an instrumental player in defense for Real’s road to success in 2000. He played the full match in Paris. After the success in Paris, he won 1 La Liga in 2001 and another Champions League in 2002. He went on a season long loan in 2002 at Bolton Wanderers before extending his contract for 5 more years. After his time at Bolton, he joined Ipswich Town for a year before eventually retiring at Cypriot club, AEK Larnaca in 2010.

12) Ivan Helguera (#15)

Helguera was also a very influential player in Real Madrid’s defense leading up to the final in Paris. He played the full match as a sweeper. Following the match, he won 3 La Liga titles, 1 Supercopa, Super Cup and Club World Cup as well as another Champions League in 2002. He left Madrid in 2007 and joined Valencia for one season where he won the Copa Del Ray alongside fellow former teammate Fernando Morientes. He retired in 2008 and was recently the manager of Las Rozas back in 2020.

13) Aitor Karanka (#18)

Karanka started the match in Paris and played the full 90 minutes. Following the match in Paris, he won 1 La Liga, 1 Supercopa and 1 Champions League. He then left Madrid in 2002 and joined Athletic Bilbao for 4 seasons before retiring in 2006 in the MLS with the Colorado Rapids. He has a wide range of managerial experience in England for Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City, Spain with Granada and Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He is currently without a managerial position.

14) Nicolás Anelka (#19)

Anelka was a versatile player for Real Madrid and even started the match as a center forward alongside Fernando Morientes. He then left Real Madrid in the summer and rejoined boyhood club, Paris Saint Germain for two seasons. However, in 2001, he was sent on a season long loan to Liverpool. In 2002, he ended his second spell with the Parisians and joined Manchester City for 3 seasons for what was then a club record fee. In 2005, he left England and joined Fenerbahçe for a season and then returned to English football to play for Bolton Wanderers for a season and a half. He joined Chelsea in January 2008 and made the Champions League final that season, only to lose to Manchester United on penalties. He left Chelsea in January 2012, having won the Premier League and two FA Cups. He then moved to China to play for Shanghai Shenhuai and played for them for 6 months before returning to Europe to play for Juventus for the 2012-13 season, in which he won Serie A. Following his loan, he spent his fifth spell in England with West Bromwich Albion for the 2013-14 season. After his time at West Bromwich, he joined Mumbai City in 2014 and eventually retired in 2015. He is now the manager of Lille’s youth academy.

15) Elvir Baljić (#20)

Elvir was an unused substitute for the final in Paris. After the Champions League final win, he spent loan spells with Fenerbahçe and Rayo Vallecano between 2000 and 2002. He permanently left Real Madrid and spent the next 6 years in Turkey playing for Galatasaray, Konyaspor, Anlacaragücü and Istanbulspor. He was recently the manager of Bosnian team, Tuzla City between 2019 to 2020.

16) Geremi (#21)

Geremi was also an unused substitute for the Champions League final. That same year, he won gold at the 2000 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia for Cameroon. He spent another two seasons at Real Madrid winning a La Liga and another Champions League before spending a loan-season at Middlesbrough. Following the loan, he joined Chelsea for four seasons, winning two Premier Leagues. He left Chelsea and joined Newcastle in 2007 where he spent two seasons. He then moved to Turkey to play for Ankaragücü in 2010 for the rest of the 2009-10 season. He then finished his career with Greek side, AEL before retiring in 2011.

17) Christian Karembeu (#22)

Christian was also an unused substitute for the final. Following the final, Karembeu left Real that summer and joined Middlesbrough for one season before spending the next three seasons with Olympiacos in Greece winning the Greek League title twice. He then joined Servette in Switzerland in 2004 and then joined French Ligue 2 side, Bastia, before retiring in 2006. He is currently the sporting director of Olympiacos.

18) Iker Casillas (#27)

Iker Casillas is a one of a kind footballer and widely is regarded as the greatest goalkeeper of his generation and of Real Madrid and Spain. He started the match in Paris and played the full game. Since the final, Casillas won a series of trophies both club and internationally. Since 2000, he won 5 La Liga titles, 2 Copa Del Rays, 4 Supercopas, 2 Super Cups and 2 Club World Cups and 2 more Champions Leagues in 2002 and 2014. He was appointed club captain in 2010, following club legend, Raul’s departure. He left Real Madrid in 2015, following many successful years in Madrid, starting at the club when he was just a boy. He then joined Porto in Portugal and spent 5 seasons there until his retirement in 2020. He also captained his national team, Spain to their first World Cup victory in 2010 in South Africa as well as back to back UEFA European Championships between 2008 and 2012. He retired from the national team in 2016. He is currently a commentator.

19) Vincent Del Bosque (Manager)

Del Bosque was regarded as not only one of the greatest managers of Real Madrid and Spain history, but also one of the best managers in the world. He managed Real Madrid all the way to victory in Paris and did it again in 2002 in Glasgow, Scotland. He also won 2 more La Liga titles as well as 1 Supercopa, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 1 Club World Cup. He then left Real Madrid in 2003 and returned to the managerial world in 2004, managing Besiktas in Turkey. In 2005, he stopped managing and returned in 2008, to manage the Spanish national team, following the departure of the late Luis Aragonés. He managed Spain to World Cup glory in 2010 in South Africa and European Championship victory in 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. He retired from coaching after Spain’s round of 16 loss in EURO 2016 in France.

Search This Blog

The Champions Blog

Champions League Where Are The Now?: Real Madrid 1999-2000