We catch up with Arsenal’s 2001 FA Youth Cup winning side.
In 2001, Arsenal’s under-18 side completed a 6-3 aggregate win over Blackburn Rovers to seal the FA Youth Cup trophy.
Sixteen years later, let’s find out what happened to some of these Arsenal youngsters:
Steve Sidwell could be lining up against Arsenal again next season with Brighton and Hove Albion. The 34-year-old is an important member of Chris Hughton’s automatic promotion pushing side, although he has found himself on the bench since the Seagulls 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last month. Sidwell could well win Goal of the Season for his effort against Bristol City in November.
Jermaine Pennant and Jerome Thomas are now playing in English football’s third tier.
Pennant has been well travelled since leaving Arsenal in 2005. The winger had stints in Spain, India and Singapore before joining League One strugglers Bury in January. He has made five substitute appearances and two starts for Lee Clark’s side.
Thomas’ Port Vale are also looking to avoid relegation to League Two. The former West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace man has featured 21 times this season, scoring the winner against Chesterfield United back in December.
Goalkeeper Craig Holloway currently captains non-league side Greenwich Borough – the same team Arsenal favourite Ian Wright started his career with. Holloway also works as a coach for the team sitting 3rd in the Isthmian South table.
Likewise, Alex Bailey and Nicky Nicolau spent time in non-league football. Bailey has since retired, while Nicolau last played for Bishop’s Stortford in 2015.
Jeremie Aliadiere is back in French football after a two-year spell in the Qatar Stars League with Muaither and Umm-Salal. The forward has made nine appearances for Ligue 1 side Lorient, netting his only goal of the season in the 1-0 win over LOSC Lille in February.
Danish Midfielder Sebastian Svard is looking for a new club following his departure from Icelandic club Throttur in January. Svard had spells in Dutch, German, Swedish and Thai football after leaving the Gunners in 2006.
Rohan Ricketts also took his talents across the globe. The attacking midfielder played for 17 different teams in his post-Arsenal career, which included stints in the Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian and Moldavian leagues. In a recent interview with Vice Sports, Ricketts revealed he is currently coaching in Toronto, Canada and looking to put his fluent Spanish language skills to the test by coaching in Columbia or Mexico.
Two members of this FA Youth Cup winning side who have returned to Arsenal are Ryan Garry and Moritz Volz.
Garry battled with injuries for most of his playing career before hanging up his boots with AFC Bournemouth in 2011. He now works as Head foundation phase coach for the Gunners after joining in 2013.
Volz will always be remembered for scoring the 1,5000th Premier League goal for Fulham against Chelsea.
After finishing his career with TSV 1860 Munchen two years ago, he now does scouting work for Arsenal. Volz was recently – as reported by Austrian outlet LAOLA – sent to watch the World Cup Qualifying fixture between Moldova and Austria.
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