Where are they now? The Porto team that won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho

AN UNLIKELY CHAMPIONS League win for Porto this season would arguably be no more surprising than it was in 2004.

Despite having claimed the UEFA Cup the previous season, the financial power of teams such as Real Madrid and Man United was expected to prove too much for the Portuguese side to overcome.

Yet against the odds, Jose Mourinho’s men prevailed, beating Man United and Lyon along the way, before overcoming Monaco 3-0 in the final.

Here are the men who made the achievement possible…

Vitor Baia: A veteran even by the time of the final, Baia went on to play for Porto for three more years before retiring at the age of 37 in 2007. He subsequently became director of international relations at Porto.

Paulo Ferreira: Left to join Chelsea with Mourinho after the Champions League success, he made over 100 appearances for the Londoners before retiring in 2013. He is now studying for his UEFA coaching qualifications.

Jorge Costa (c): Another player who was approaching veteran status even by 2004, he had been recalled to the side by Mourinho after being sent out on loan to Charlton among other sides under the previous management. Costa played a further season at Standard Liege before retiring from football in 2006. He has since coached a number of teams and is currently manager of Gabon.

Ricardo Carvalho: Another who followed Mourinho to Chelsea more or less immediately, Carvalho spent six successful years at Stamford Bridge before signing for Real Madrid. Now 36, he continues to be an important player for Monaco.

Nuno Valente: Joined Everton in 2005, playing 45 times for the Toffees before retiring in 2009. He has since worked as a scout with Everton and as a coach for Sporting.

Costinha: Had short spells at Dynamo Moscow, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta after leaving Porto in 2005, but never had the same level of success outside of Portugal thereafter. Post-retirement, he has managed Portuguese sides Beira-Mar and Paços Ferreira.

Pedro Mendes: The player who, while playing for Tottenham, famously caught Man United’s Roy Carroll off his line only to be denied by the officials’ error. That memorable moment aside, he had a disappointing spell at Spurs as his game time at White Hart Lane was somewhat limited. He then played for Portsmouth, Rangers, Sporting CP and Vitoria Guimaraes, before retiring in 2012, keeping a relatively low profile ever since.

Maniche: Played for a number of clubs, including Chelsea, Dynamo Moscow and Atletico Madrid, before retiring at Sporting in 2011. After finishing in a playing capacity, he became assistant boss at Paços Ferreira, when his teammate Costinha was hired as manager.

Deco: The closest thing to an out-and-out star in what was a predominantly workmanlike side, Deco went on to bigger and arguably better things at Barcelona and then Chelsea, before retiring following three years at Fluminese. Since then, he has continued to work at the soccer school he set up in his native Brazil.

Carlos Alberto: The scorer of the first goal against Monaco, it was a clear highlight of his year with Porto. Just 19 at the time of the final, Carlos Alberto was given a big vote of confidence by Mourinho as he was selected in attack ahead of the more established Benni McCarthy. Now 30, he plays for Al Dhafra in UAE — the player has sadly never really settled anywhere though, as highlighted by the fact that he has played for 11 clubs (including loans) in the 10 years since leaving Porto.

Derlei: Featured for Dynamo Moscow, Benfica (loan) and Sporting after leaving Porto in 2005, before two brief, uneventful spells at Vitoria and Madureuira. He is a rare example of someone who has represented all of Portugal’s big three clubs.

Subs

Nuno: Never really became a first-choice goalkeeper anywhere, despite spells at Dynamo Moscow, Aves and a return to Porto, having initially left them in 2005. He is the current manager of Valencia however, having previously coached Portuguese side Rio Ave.

Ricardo Costa: One of the more unlikely success stories of this side, Costa has had an excellent career, spending three years at Wolfsburg in Germany and four with Valencia in La Liga. He now plays for Greek club PAOK.

Jose Bosingwa: Only 21 at the time, Bosingwa eventually left Porto for Chelsea in 2008. He then had a disappointing season at QPR, before leaving to join Turkish side Trabzonspor, with whom he currently plays.

Pedro Emanuel: One of the few squad members to stay with Porto for the long haul after their Champions League triumph, he retired having made over 100 appearances for the club in 2009, and now manages FC Arouca in Portugal.

Dmitri Alenichev: The Russian international who came off the bench to score the third goal in the final, Alenichev left Porto at the end of that season to join Spartak Moscow, before retiring in 2006, after he was ostracised from the side following severe criticism of their coach in an interview. He now manages FC Arsenal Tula in the Russian Premier League.

Edgaras Jankauskas: Played for several clubs, including FBK Kauanas, Skonto Riga and New England Revolution before ending his football career in 2011. He has since served as assistant boss for Hearts and is now manager of FK Trakai in his native Lithuania.

Benni McCarthy: Featured in the Premier League with both Blackburn and West Ham, before returning to his native South Africa to join Orlando Pirates. In 2013, he made a guest appearance at Scottish side Whitehill Welfare FC, and aside from that, he has been busy doing his coaching badges and saying he wants to be the new Jose Mourinho.

Manager

Jose Mourinho: Arguably the biggest and undoubtedly the most high-profile beneficiary from this triumph, Mourinho went on to manage Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid thereafter, and has enjoyed plenty more success as a coach since.

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