During a New Year clear out we stumbled across this Match magazine from 2002…
We thought we’d taker a closer look at the careers of the 2002-03 ‘wonderkids’!
A thread… 🧵👇
We thought we’d taker a closer look at the careers of the 2002-03 ‘wonderkids’!
A thread… 🧵👇
1. Michael Chopra - Newcastle United
Chopra never quite made it at Newcastle, scoring just one league goal in 21 appearances. However, he enjoyed a very successful stint at Cardiff City in the years that followed. Chopra would finish his career in 2016 in the Indian League with Kerala Blasters!
Chopra never quite made it at Newcastle, scoring just one league goal in 21 appearances. However, he enjoyed a very successful stint at Cardiff City in the years that followed. Chopra would finish his career in 2016 in the Indian League with Kerala Blasters!
2. Liam Ridgewell - Aston Villa
Ridgewell remained at Villa until 2007 before signing for rivals Birmingham City. There, he would win a League Cup in 2011. Perhaps his best form came in the MLS with Portland Timbers as he captained them to the MLS Cup in 2015…
Ridgewell remained at Villa until 2007 before signing for rivals Birmingham City. There, he would win a League Cup in 2011. Perhaps his best form came in the MLS with Portland Timbers as he captained them to the MLS Cup in 2015…
Luke Wilkshire - Middlesbrough
Australian defender Wilkshire would only make 22 league appearances for Boro but would enjoy success at Bristol City, Twente and Dynamo Moscow. Wilkshire would also play 80 times for Australia including two World Cups…
Australian defender Wilkshire would only make 22 league appearances for Boro but would enjoy success at Bristol City, Twente and Dynamo Moscow. Wilkshire would also play 80 times for Australia including two World Cups…
4. Jeremie Aliadiere - Arsenal
Aliadiere remained at Arsenal for 6 years despite only registering 9 goals in 51 games for the Gunners. It would be at French club Lorient where he enjoyed his greatest success before retiring in 2017…
Aliadiere remained at Arsenal for 6 years despite only registering 9 goals in 51 games for the Gunners. It would be at French club Lorient where he enjoyed his greatest success before retiring in 2017…
5. Chris Shuker - Man City
After failing to make a name for himself at Man City, Shuker’s career would be spent in the lower leagues. However, the midfielder would make over 100 league appearances for both Barnsley and Tranmere before retiring in 2015…
After failing to make a name for himself at Man City, Shuker’s career would be spent in the lower leagues. However, the midfielder would make over 100 league appearances for both Barnsley and Tranmere before retiring in 2015…
6. Darren Carter - Birmingham City
Carter would make over 50 appearances for local club Birmingham before spending the rest of his long career at 8 different clubs. Carter would retire in 2021 following 4 seasons with Solihull Moors. Currently, he is the head coach of Birmingham City Women…
Carter would make over 50 appearances for local club Birmingham before spending the rest of his long career at 8 different clubs. Carter would retire in 2021 following 4 seasons with Solihull Moors. Currently, he is the head coach of Birmingham City Women…
7. Kieran Richardson - Man United
United youngster Richardson was a real prospect for the Red Devils but never quite broke into the first-team. However, he would play 8 times for England and even score twice against the USA. Richardson’s greatest success would be found at Sunderland before ending his career at Cardiff in 2016…
United youngster Richardson was a real prospect for the Red Devils but never quite broke into the first-team. However, he would play 8 times for England and even score twice against the USA. Richardson’s greatest success would be found at Sunderland before ending his career at Cardiff in 2016…
8. Filipe Oliveira - Chelsea
Signed by Chelsea at just 16, Oliveira would struggle to make an impact in West London before enjoying a journeyman career at 9 different clubs across 6 countries. His most appearances would be for Hungarian side, Videoton…
Signed by Chelsea at just 16, Oliveira would struggle to make an impact in West London before enjoying a journeyman career at 9 different clubs across 6 countries. His most appearances would be for Hungarian side, Videoton…
9. Hugo Viana - Newcastle United
Viana arrived at St James’ Park with a large price tag and a growing reputation. The Portuguese midfielder played over 50 times for the Magpies but struggled to find his way into the first team amidst top class competition for places. However, he would be capped 29 times internationally between 2001-2012…
Viana arrived at St James’ Park with a large price tag and a growing reputation. The Portuguese midfielder played over 50 times for the Magpies but struggled to find his way into the first team amidst top class competition for places. However, he would be capped 29 times internationally between 2001-2012…
10. Milan Baros - Liverpool
Not to be confused with Bruno Cheyrou 😂, Baros would win the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool following his golden boot at Euro 2004. However, upon leaving Anfield, he would never hit such heights again. Only a 5 year goal-laden stint with Galatasaray provided genuine success…
Not to be confused with Bruno Cheyrou 😂, Baros would win the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool following his golden boot at Euro 2004. However, upon leaving Anfield, he would never hit such heights again. Only a 5 year goal-laden stint with Galatasaray provided genuine success…
11. Stefan Moore - Aston Villa
Moore could never quite crack the Premier League and following stints at a number of clubs, he would drop into the non-league in the his mid-20s. However, he would prove prolific at that level scoring over 150 goals for a range of sides…
Moore could never quite crack the Premier League and following stints at a number of clubs, he would drop into the non-league in the his mid-20s. However, he would prove prolific at that level scoring over 150 goals for a range of sides…
12. John O’Shea - Man United
Perhaps one of the best careers for the 2002 wonderkids - O’Shea would make almost 400 appearances for United in a trophy-laden spell. After leaving Old Trafford in 2011, the Irishman would play over 250 times for Sunderland and gain a century of caps for Ireland…
Perhaps one of the best careers for the 2002 wonderkids - O’Shea would make almost 400 appearances for United in a trophy-laden spell. After leaving Old Trafford in 2011, the Irishman would play over 250 times for Sunderland and gain a century of caps for Ireland…
13. Vicente Vuoso - Man City
The striker never made a league appearance for City but would enjoy a successful career in his native Mexico. Playing for sides like Santos Laguna, América and Cruz Azul, his performances earned him 15 caps for his country…
The striker never made a league appearance for City but would enjoy a successful career in his native Mexico. Playing for sides like Santos Laguna, América and Cruz Azul, his performances earned him 15 caps for his country…
14. Carlton Cole - Chelsea
Cole’s career at Chelsea was short but his time at West Ham showed him to be an excellent professional. Playing almost 300 games, he was never a prolific forward but a key cog in the Hammers’ side. He would retire in 2017 with Indonesia club, Persib Bandung…
Cole’s career at Chelsea was short but his time at West Ham showed him to be an excellent professional. Playing almost 300 games, he was never a prolific forward but a key cog in the Hammers’ side. He would retire in 2017 with Indonesia club, Persib Bandung…
15. Jermaine Pennant - Arsenal
Pennant made his Arsenal debut aged just 16 but couldn’t quite breakthrough in North London. However, excellent performances for Birmingham City earned him a move to Liverpool where he was the club’s MOTM in the 2007 UCL Final. 8 different clubs followed before retiring at Billericay Town in 2017…
Pennant made his Arsenal debut aged just 16 but couldn’t quite breakthrough in North London. However, excellent performances for Birmingham City earned him a move to Liverpool where he was the club’s MOTM in the 2007 UCL Final. 8 different clubs followed before retiring at Billericay Town in 2017…
Grant Leadbitter - Sunderland
Leadbitter’s selection came a year before his debut in 2003. However, the midfielder would make over 100 apps for Sunderland before moving to Ipswich and later Middlesbrough where he became an ever-present in the side. He retired, back at Sunderland, in 2021…
Leadbitter’s selection came a year before his debut in 2003. However, the midfielder would make over 100 apps for Sunderland before moving to Ipswich and later Middlesbrough where he became an ever-present in the side. He retired, back at Sunderland, in 2021…
17. Adam Chambers - West Brom
Chambers struggled for game time at newly promoted West Brom and would leave the club in 2004 to join Kidderminster Harriers. Following a lengthy injury he would go on to play over 500 times for Leyton Orient and Walsall…
Chambers struggled for game time at newly promoted West Brom and would leave the club in 2004 to join Kidderminster Harriers. Following a lengthy injury he would go on to play over 500 times for Leyton Orient and Walsall…
18. Kolo Toure - Arsenal
Comfortably one of the best careers from the players on this list, Toure was an ‘invincible’ at the Gunners and holds the record for the most Prem appearances by an African player. After leaving Arsenal in 2009, he would play for Man City, Liverpool and Celtic…
Comfortably one of the best careers from the players on this list, Toure was an ‘invincible’ at the Gunners and holds the record for the most Prem appearances by an African player. After leaving Arsenal in 2009, he would play for Man City, Liverpool and Celtic…
19. Thomas Butler - Sunderland
After playing sporadically at the Stadium of Light, Butler intended to quit football aged just 24 in 2005. However, he changed his mind and became an ever-present for Swansea City as they earned promotion to the Premier League in 2011. He retired soon after…
After playing sporadically at the Stadium of Light, Butler intended to quit football aged just 24 in 2005. However, he changed his mind and became an ever-present for Swansea City as they earned promotion to the Premier League in 2011. He retired soon after…
20. Wayne Rooney - Everton
Finally, Match’s best prediction - Everton youngster Wayne Rooney had not scored THAT screamer against Arsenal yet but his potential was there for all to see. A brilliant career would see the striker score over 300 goals and become England’s all-time top goal scorer!
Finally, Match’s best prediction - Everton youngster Wayne Rooney had not scored THAT screamer against Arsenal yet but his potential was there for all to see. A brilliant career would see the striker score over 300 goals and become England’s all-time top goal scorer!
End of thread! 🧵
If you enjoyed our look through Match (2002) please like and RT the thread! Thanks!!
Would you like to see us retrospectively look back through other football magazines?
If you enjoyed our look through Match (2002) please like and RT the thread! Thanks!!
Would you like to see us retrospectively look back through other football magazines?
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