Everton’s 1998 FA Youth Cup winners: Where are they now?

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We catch up with Everton’s FA Youth Cup winning side.

In 1998, Everton’s under-18s overcame Blackburn Rovers 5-3 on aggregate to lift the FA Youth Cup trophy.

19 years later, let’s find out what happened to these promising youngsters:

Goalkeeper Dean Delaney still has his playing boots on. The 36-year-old is in his third spell with Irish First Division side Shelbourne, who currently sit 3^rd in the table. Delaney recently featured in their 1-0 away win over Cabinteely.

Tony Hibbert is the only other member of this team to continue playing. After ending his 26-year association with Everton in the summer, the right-back joined South Lancashire League side Hares FC last month. He suffered a 1-0 defeat to Clay Brow in his debut, bringing the Hares nine-game unbeaten run to an end.

Leon Osman also enjoyed memorable spell at Everton after making his way through the academy. The midfielder, who made over 350 appearances for the Toffees, is now doing media work following his retirement in the summer.

Former Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne was another player from this team to forge a career in the top flight of English football. He spent time with Manchester City and Aston Villa before calling time on his playing days following relegation with Queens Park Rangers in 2015. Like Osman, he does media and punditry work.

Striker Danny Cadamarteri is among those Toffee FA Youth cup winners who have transitioned into coaching. He hung up his playing boots in 2014 and is now under-18s coach for Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Likewise, Jamie Milligan is under-16s coach for League Two club Blackpool. He also runs Orange Soccer Group with former England international Trevor Sinclair.

Francis Jeffers and Phil Jevons are both back with Everton in a coaching capacity.

Jeffers played for 11 teams in his post-Toffees career, including Australian side Newcastle United Jets and Maltese club Floriana. The ‘fox in the box’ now works as a specialist striker coach for the academy. Jevons, who retired with Stockport County in 2014, is an academy coach.

Michael O’Brien had a spell coaching the Toffees’ academy before leaving in 2013.

David Poppleton, Carl Regan, Adam Eaton and Adam Farley all appear to be out of the game. Poppleton is Director at Inspired Property Management and Eaton works as a mortgage adviser in Liverpool.