The 7 Inter Milan subs for the 2010 Champions League final: Where are they now?

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It seemed inevitable that Inter Milan would win the 2010 Champions League final after their victory over Barcelona in the semis.

Going into the final, both Bayern Munich and Inter Milan knew that victory would see them secure a league, domestic and European treble – something that had never been achieved by a German or Italian club before. In the end, it was Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan who pulled off the historic feat. The likes of Sneijder, Eto’o and Milito were the stars, but today we take a look at those waiting in the wings.

Here are the 7 Inter Milan subs for the 2010 Champions League final: Where are they now?

7. Francesco Toldo – Retired

Kicking us off in seventh place, the 2010 Champions League final was actually the final game of Francesco Toldo’s career. Underrated outside of Italy, Toldo was an outstanding goalkeeper for both Fiorentina and Inter Milan, but he played second fiddle to Julio Cesar in the final chapter of his career. Toldo was an excellent shot stopper with world class reflexes, and he would have won far more than his 28 caps for Italy were it not for the brilliance of Gianluigi Buffon. Now aged 46, Toldo has worked as a Director at Inter Milan, and as a coach with the Italian national team since hanging up his gloves.

6. Ivan Cordoba – Retired

Retired Colombian footballer Ivan Cordoba shows a group position in the official draw of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 football tournament in Abu Dhabi on October 9, 2017.

Despite interest from Real Madrid, Inter Milan were the only European club that Ivan Cordoba ever played for. Markedly short for a centre-back – standing at just 5’8” – Cordoba was a dogged, determined and very quick footballer. FIFA players will remember him as a ridiculously over-powered central defender with about 90 pace. He spent 12 years at the San Siro, racking up more than 450 appearances and often captaining the Nerazzurri. He was benched for the Champions League final, with Lucio and Walter Samuel preferred as the starting centre-backs. After retiring in 2012, Cordoba also became a director at Inter Milan, but he departed on mutual terms in 2014, and hasn’t held a role within the game since.

5. Marco Materazzi – Manager (Unattached)

If there was one position where Jose Mourinho’s 2010 Inter side were stacked, then it was centre-back. Alongside Cordoba on the bench was World Cup winning centre-half Marco Materazzi, who was actually introduced in place of match-winner Diego Milito as an injury time substitute in the final. A physical and aggressive footballer, Materazzi is perhaps best known outside of Italy as the man who was headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. He retired in 2011, becoming an ambassador for Inter Milan, but stepped back onto the pitch as player-manager of Indian Super League outfit Chennaiyin in 2014. He played only 7 matches, but managed the team for 2 years, winning one league title.

4. Dejan Stankovic – Manager (Unattached)

Club Manager Dejan Stankovic of Internazionale Milano during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale Milano at Stadio San Paolo on November 30, 2015 in Naples, Italy.

In fourth place it’s Dejan Stankovic. An excellent passer of the ball with a famed long shot, Stankovic joined Inter from Lazio in 2004. He went on to spend almost a decade with the club, before hanging up his boots in 2013. Inter seem to be very forthcoming with post-playing roles for their stars of 2010, and Stankovic began working as a scout upon his retirement. That job lasted just a few months, but in 2015 he returned to the club after a spell as assistant manager at Udinese. Stankovic was named as First Team Club Manager under head coach Roberto Mancini, a role he held for one season.

3. Sulley Muntari – Deportivo La Coruna

A converted left-back who became a powerhouse of a central midfielder, Muntari has a cannon of a left foot, and has scored some really memorable strikes over the course of his career. The former Portsmouth man’s career has really tailed off since peaking in 2010 though, and at the age of 30 he found himself playing his club football in Saudi Arabia. The Ghanaian returned to Europe in 2017, and since February of this year, he has been playing for La Liga outfit Deportivo La Coruna, under former AC Milan teammate Clarence Seedorf.

2. McDonald Mariga – Real Oviedo

McDonald Mariga of Parma celebrates after scoring his opening goal during the Serie A match between Parma FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on March 31, 2012 in Parma, Italy.

Another African international formerly of Inter Milan but now playing in Spain, McDonald Mariga has been with Spanish Segunda Division outfit Real Oviedo since the start of the season. He only joined Inter Milan a few months before the Champions League final, and played only 18 minutes of football in that Champions League campaign. A strong, hard working and tough tackling holding or central midfielder, Mariga has won 40 caps for Kenya. Fun fact: Mariga’s full name is McDonald Mariga Wanyama, meaning he has the same surname as international teammate Victor Wanyama.

1. Mario Balotelli – Nice

The last man on the Inter Milan bench for their 2010 Champions League final against Bayern Munich was the mercurial talented Mario Balotelli. Then aged only 19, it would be his final season at Inter Milan, before following former boss Roberto Mancini to Manchester City. Balotelli is a talented footballer, who is strong, technical and composed in front of goal. Sadly, he hasn’t reached the heights a more driven player would have with his attributes. Capped 33 times by Italy, Balotelli is currently playing for Nice in Ligue 1, where he has scored 39 goals in 61 games. It’s not too late for Balotelli to make good on his undoubted potential, but you’d forgive us for having our doubts about him becoming a truly world class, consistent centre-forward.