Members of the Stoke City squad from 2015/16 are responsible for an incredible stat that emerged following Real Madrid and Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final.
Mark Hughes' side, nicknamed “Stokealona” for obvious reasons, finished ninth in the Premier League that season after making some solid signings in the summer window.
They broke their transfer record with a £12 million move for Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri and Spanish striker Joselu was brought in from Hannover for just £5.75 million.
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Ibrahim Afellay also joined from Barcelona, who had already sold three players to Stoke [Marca Muniesa, Bojan and Moha El Ouriachi], while Glen Johnson and Shay Given arrived on free transfers.
So what has this got to do with tonight's pulsating Champions League action? Well, the previously mentioned Joselu scored twice to give Real Madrid a 2-1 win on the night and 4-3 triumph on aggregate.
And as relayed by Independent football correspondent Richard Jolly, the Spaniard's appearance in Munich meant the 2015/16 Stoke squad had footballers who played in the Champions League semi-finals in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2019 and 2024.
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Here's a list of the players who have featured in those Champions League semi-finals:
2004: Glen Johnson [Chelsea]
2005: Glen Johnson [Chelsea]; Ibrahim Afellay [PSV Eindhoven]
2007: Peter Crouch [Liverpool]
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2008: Bojan [Barcelona]; Peter Crouch [Liverpool]
2009: Bojan [Barcelona]
2010: Bojan [Barcelona]
2011: Ibrahim Afellay [Barcelona]
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2013: Xherdan Shaqiri [Bayern Munich]
2019: Xherdan Shaqiri [Liverpool]
2024: Joselu [Real Madrid]
Here's how fans on social media reacted to the statistic.
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One said: "This stat once again tells me that the difference between the very top level of pro footballers is really so marginal - all you need is often that correct team culture, position or coach for your game and you fly."
A second wrote: "Can’t believe some of the disrespect I’m seeing to a this Stoke side in the comments and quote tweets. They finished above Klopp’s Liverpool that season."
A third commented: "This is the kind of stat I live for not this xG nonsense," while a fourth said: "What a stat. Looking at the players though I honestly have absolutely zero recollection of Shaqiri ever playing for Stoke."
A fifth added: "Almost certainly my favourite ever football stat."
Joselu, who spent a season at Stoke before joining Newcastle United in 2017, recently opened up on his time in Staffordshire.
“Those were good times,” he told The Guardian. "It is true that everyone hated playing at Stoke. It was a test. It was always windy – the corners are open. Boxing Day, freezing … no one wanted to come.
"That was a good year: we finished ninth, beat City and United and reached the [League] Cup semi-final, only losing on penalties at Anfield … I played with good footballers: Crouch, [Marko] Arnautovic and Jonny Walters."
Featured Image Credit: Getty ImagesTopics: Champions League, Stoke City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
