Goalkeeper: Julen Lopetegui (Real Madrid)
Lopetegui made a solitary appearance for the team he now coaches before spending three years with Logroñés, where his displays won him a single cap for Spain. Played five times for Madrid’s rivals Barcelona before ending his career with five seasons at Rayo Vallecano.
Centre-back: Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham)
A tough-tackling central defender, Pochettino played briefly with the legendary Diego Maradona during his five years with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. Had spells in Europe with Espanyol – where he won a Copa del Rey – Paris and Bordeaux. Capped 20 times by Argentina.
Centre-back: Fatih Terim (Galatasaray)
Came through the youth ranks at hometown club Adana Demirspor, skippering them for three of his five seasons in the first team. Eleven years and three Turkish Cup triumphs at Galatasaray followed while he was captain of Turkey in 35 of his 51 international appearances – both records at the time.
Centre-back: Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Started his career as a forward but made his name as a defender at Mainz between 1990 and 2001. Those striking instincts never left him, however, as he scored an impressive 52 goals in 325 appearances for the club he would go on to manage for seven years after retiring from playing.
Right wing-back: Sérgio Conceição (Porto)
Sérgio Conceição racked up two league titles with Porto before moving to Lazio, where he won a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a Coppa Italia and a Serie A title. Scored 12 goals in 56 Portugal games, including a hat-trick against Germany at UEFA EURO 2000.
Left wing-back: Eusebio Di Francesco (Roma)
A versatile servant to Empoli, Lucchese and Piacenza early in his career, Di Francesco’s best football came at the club he now coaches. He scored 14 goals in 101 games for the Giallorossi and won all 12 of his Italy caps while there before a second stint at Piacenza and spells with Ancona and Perugia.
Central midfielder: Josep Guardiola (Manchester City)
A classy operator, Guardiola came through Barcelona’s youth ranks to win six Spanish titles, one European Cup, a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and two Copa del Rey trophies. Also had spells with Brescia, Roma, al-Ahly in Doha and Mexico’s Dorados de Sinola. Won 40 caps and Olympic gold with Spain.
Central midfielder: Diego Simeone (Atlético)
At one stage Argentina’s most-capped player, Simeone was a fierce competitor whose most notable spells came at Lazio, Inter, Atlético and Sevilla. Honours included a UEFA Cup with Inter, a UEFA Super Cup with Lazio and a Spanish Liga title with the Rojiblancos.
Central midfielder: Mark van Bommel (PSV)
Van Bommel won four league championships and a Dutch Cup at PSV and was named Dutch Footballer of the Year twice. The combative midfielder with an eye for goal then scooped titles with Barcelona, Bayern and Milan, also tasting UEFA Champions League glory with the former in 2006.
Attacking midfielder: Carlo Ancelotti (Napoli)
Started his career at Parma, playing behind the front man for Cesare Maldini’s side, before excelling at Roma and Milan. Capped 26 times by Italy, he won Serie A and four Coppa Italias in the capital while his two European Cup triumphs at Milan were sandwiched between two more Italian league titles.
Striker: Ernesto Valverde (Barcelona)
Known as ‘Txingurri’ (worker ant) as a player, Valverde scored 44 goals in 170 appearances over a six-year stay with Athletic Club. Had previously helped Espanyol to the 1988 UEFA Cup final, which they lost on penalties to Bayer Leverkusen. Also had brief stints at Barcelona and Mallorca.
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