More than 16 years have passed since one of the most epic Champions League finals and there was still nothing like it. Chelsea-Bayern Munich were quite close in 2012 or both between Real Madrid-Atlético Madrid, but that of 2005 in Turkey is far from equal. Liverpool achieved the unthinkable against an unstoppable Milan: they raised a devastating 0-3, forced extra time and won it on penalties for a heroic night and for history.
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The paths of both were arduous and complex, but the survival of the fittest reigned and they reached the very end. Rossonero was the clear favorite: he was the leader of a group where Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic were, he beat Manchester United 2-0 in the second round, beat and thrashed 5-0 at his classic rival, Inter, and had to suffer a bit against PSV, going through the away goal after 3-3 on aggregate.
Crespo could not celebrate in the final. AP.
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On the other side, the Reds suffered a bit more. They started in the qualifying phase, losing 1-0 to Austrian Grazer AK! but he recovered with a 2-0 thanks to Steven Gerrard. And he almost left in the groups: he was second with 10 points, like Olympiacos, but the goal difference prevailed and he got among the 16 best. First they beat Bayer Leverkusen well 6-2, then Juventus 2-1 and a tight 1-0 against Chelsea.
Gerrard carrying the Orejona. AP.
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It was May 25, 2005, 69,600 people packed the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. And with a luxury spectator: Diego Armando Maradona. Dida; Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini; Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Kaká; Andriy Shevchenko and Hernán Crespo for Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan. Jerzy Dudek, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypiä, Djimi Traoré; Xabi Alonso, Luis García, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise; Harry Kewell and Milan Baroš, chosen by Rafa Benítez in Liverpool.
The champion’s caravan. AP.
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At the touch of starting, Maldini made it 1-0 for Milan, which met the expectations of the previous one. Before closing the first half, the Italians were already 3-0 due to a double by Valdanito and in the Reds there was no longer Kewell, injured. In his place came Vladimir Smicer, key to the final result. The ST was something else: Gerrard discounted, Smicer narrowed the gap and Xabi Alonso finished the tie.
Maldini, scorer of a goal, without a trophy. AP.
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The rest is known history. Serginho, Pirlo and Schevchenko missed their penalties and Liverpool achieved the feat: The Miracle of Istanbul. Olé gives you a review of the life of the 11 gladiators who jumped on the Atatürk and took the best anecdote to tell their children.
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THE LIVERPOOL CHAMPIONS
Jerzy Dudek: It was Schevchenko’s nightmare taking him one-on-one near the end and blocking the last penalty of the shootout. For the next season, Liverpool brought in Pepe Reina and he was relegated. In mid-2007 he left for Real Madrid, but he did not have continuity either and ended up retiring in 2011. In 2014 he was a driver in the Volkswagen Castrol Cup and is currently still linked to football and playing golf, his other passion.
Dudek was a figure that night. AP.
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Steve Finnan: The Irishman remained a Red until 2008, then he went to Espanyol for a season until he reached Portsmouth, where he retired in 2010. Since then he has dedicated himself to the real estate business, But it did not go very well and in 2020 he was forced to sell the medal of that Champions League along with a large part of his showcase after declaring bankruptcy and accumulating a debt of almost four million euros.
Carragher became a legend. EFE.
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Jamie Carragher: an eminence within Merseyside. He continued in Liverpool until 2013, when he retired, reaching 737 appearances, the second with the most games played after Ian Callaghan. Today he is still linked to football as an analyst on the British network Sky Sports and maintains his podcast The Greatest Game.
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Sami Hyypia: the Finn continued until 2009, when he moved to Bayer Leverkusen for two seasons. There he retired and began to practice as DT. He also managed Brighton and FC Zurich, until 2016. Since then he has been free and focuses his life on motocross, his hobby of the moment.
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Djimi Traore: he left Liverpool in 2006 and started a tour of several teams, with short steps: Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth, Monaco, Olympique Marseille and Seattle Sounders, where he retired. He is currently an assistant on the Washington City team.
Xabi Alonso, in his last stage. REUTER.
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Xabi Alonso: one of the most emblematic. He was in charge of kicking the penalty and subsequent rebound at 3-3, and then he went up. He was in Liverpool until 2009, went to Real Madrid for five years, won everything, and closed with three seasons at Bayern Munich, winning even more. Not to mention that he crowned two Euro Cups and the 2010 World Cup with Spain. After retirement, he returned to Real Sociedad, the club where he was born, to act as the subsidiary’s coach.
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Luis Garcia: ex Barcelona, he left England in 2007 and returned to his Spain. He went through Atlético Madrid and Racing Santander, he entered the Greek Panathinaikos, in Mexico with Puebla and Pumas and even in India with Atlético de Kolkata. He had a first retirement in 2014 and returned for six months in 2016 to play for Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.
Orejona in hand and celebrate. AFP.
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Steven Gerrard: another emblem of the Reds. He played until 2015, became an idol, figure and captain. That year he went to the Los Angeles Galaxy, until his retirement in 2016. Since 2018 he has directed the Scottish Rangers. After several runners-up, he became the Premiership champion, undefeated! with 32 wins and six draws.
John Arne Riise: Norwegian crack, he stayed until 2008, to go to Rome. He stayed there for three years until he returned to England, precisely to Fulham. Then, he went to various exotic destinations: Cyprus with the APOEL Nicosia, India in the Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyin, where he retired. Before that, he returned to Aalesunds in his native Norway to play 10 games.
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Harry Kewell: Australian talents for export. Perhaps one of the best in Oceania, but bothered by injuries. In fact, he was beaten in the final. He left in 2008 with almost no action, passing through Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory and Al-Gharafa of Qatar. He retired in 2014 at the Melbourne Heart. Today, he is coach of Oldham Athletic in England and fulfills duties as an ambassador for a faun protector program in Australia.
Kewell became a coach. EFE.
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Milan Baros: he left for Aston Villa as soon as the season ended. He was in Lyon, where he was champion of Ligue 1, Portsmouth, Galatasaray and several clubs from the Czech Republic. The last one was Baník Ostrava, where he retired last year! at age 38.
Rafa is now from the Toffees.
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Rafa Benitez: stayed until 2010, making history with Liverpool. He then made great strides for Inter, Chelsea and Napoli, winning a Europa League, Club World Cup and the Italian Cup. Days ago he crossed paths in Merseyside and signed for Everton.
