Liverpool, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham are just a few of the current homes for Portsmouth’s 2008 FA Cup winners.
They may just have been relegated to League One, but that should not stop us reminiscing about Portsmouth’s 2008 FA Cup winning side. Where are they now?
David James
James carried on with Portsmouth until their relegation, traveling with England to World Cup 2010. After that he signed with Bristol City where he has spent two seasons, but has been unable to help the club clinch promotion as he would have liked, and has since been released. He has confirmed he intends not to retire and instead find a new club.
Glen Johnson
Johnson signed for Liverpool where he remains a fixture at right-back. He was also part of England’s World Cup squad and hopes to be selected for Euro 2012.
Sol Campbell
After leaving Portsmouth, Sol Campbell enjoyed a real mixed bag. He signed for Notts County in League Two, where he played just one game, before being surprisingly recalled by Arsenal. He went onto sign for Newcastle, but could not prove his fitness, and last week confirmed his retirement from the game.
Sylvain Distin
The French defender went to Everton where he has enjoyed the continuation of a steady career. He was hoping to replicate his FA Cup success with Everton but his individual error led to the club’s elimination.
Hermann Hreidarsson
The Icelandic defender continues to battle on in the football league, but his bad luck with relegation continued this season. Not only has he been relegated five times from the Premier League, he was relegated from the Championship with Coventry City this season.
Papa Bouba Diop
The man Fulham fans nicknamed ‘The Wardrobe’ plays in the Championship with West Ham, and is on the verge of a Premier League return. The club are in the play-off final and only Blackpool stand in their way.
Lassana Diarra
Diarra has enjoyed the best career of any of his teammates, being signed by Real Madrid. Despite winning a La Liga medal finally, he has fallen out of favour at the club and has been linked with a Premier League return this summer.
Sulley Muntari
Another midfielder to go onto play abroad, Sulley Muntari was signed by Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan. He failed to live up to his ‘next Essien’ billing given by his manager, and wa loaned to Sunderland last season, and more glamourously, AC Milan this season, but his future remains up in the air.
John Utaka
Portsmouth’s £7 million signing was offloaded to French side Montpellier last January where he has enjoyed success. Aged 30, he is a first team regular for the Ligue One challengers, playing 37 games and scoring five goals.
Niko Kranjcar
The Croat was snapped up by Harry Redknapp after his own move to Tottenham, but has struggled to hold down a first team place. He has shown his talent in brief showings, but may look for an exit from White Hart Lane this summer for first team football.
Nwankwo Kanu
Amazingly Kanu is only 35, and is the only remaining member of the 2008 team still to remain at Portsmouth. He will hold a special place in the fans hearts after scoring the winner, but his time may soon be coming to an end. He was dropped midway through the season and after their relegation to League One, he may be among several players to be moved on.
Harry Redknapp
Manager Harry Redknapp is never off the back pages, but taking Portsmouth to the FA Cup remains his finest moment as a manager. He was hoping to go onto manage England, but a poor end to the season with Tottenham has put paid to that.
image: © joncandy
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