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Where are they now: The first Chelsea XI of the Abramovich era

 El Cashico? El Plastico? Take your pick, for Chelsea vs Manchester City ties have earned so...



Where are they now: The first...
Soccer

Where are they now: The first Chelsea XI of the Abramovich era

 El Cashico? El Plastico? Take your pick, for Chelsea vs Manchester City ties have earned some cruel monikers since the roubles and "petrodollars" rolled into their respective accounts.

On Wednesday night, the latest installment takes place at Stamford Bridge with Premier League leaders Chelsea looking to make sure that their Saturday loss to Crystal Palace is only a blip, while Pep Guardiola will look to continue the battle to pick up his first Manchester City trophy: The unofficial and non-existent Arsene Wenger Top Four Cup.

Chelsea were the first to gain sudden wealth back in 2003 when Roman Abramovich took over that summer.

And the club has undergone a massive sea change since then in terms of transfer window clout and trophies won.

But back in 2003-04, Claudio Ranieri was still manager in that first Abramovich season and Arsenal's Invincibles ruled the roost and Man City would finish 16th in their debut season away from Maine Road. 

So who was in the starting lineup in the first Premier League fixture of the Abramovich era? Liverpool were the opposition and Chelsea would win 2-1 at Anfield on August 17th 2003...

Carlo Cudicini

The Italian goalkeeper would lose his No 1 status to now Arsenal keeper Petr Cech after the 2003-04 season. However, he would remain at Chelsea all the way until 2009 as No 2 before leaving for Tottenham. 

In 2015, he briefly joined the Ireland under-21 coaching staff as a goalkeeping coach. He now serves in a similar role with Chelsea under compatriot Antonio Conte.

Glen Johnson

The former England right back would later go on to play for the opponents on August 17th 2003, Liverpool. And he is still in the Premier League, plying his trade at Stoke City. 

John Terry

The only remaining player from this team to still be part of the first team squad at Chelsea, the club captain and one-club man could well depart at the end of the season as this season has been one in which he has only had a bit-part role. 

Chelsea's Wayne Bridge (right) battles with Liverpool's Harry Kewell for the ball, during their FA Premiership match at Liverpool's Anfield ground Sunday August 17 2003. Martin Rickett/PA Archive/PA Images

Marcel Desailly

The French World Cup winner retired in 2006 and since then has regularly appeared as a pundit on British TV channels. Last summer ahead of Euro 2016, he was in Dublin to speak to Newstalk. 

Wayne Bridge

The former England, Southampton and Manchester City left back also appeared when we looked at the Southampton 2003 FA Cup final team. 

Jesper Gronkjaer

Just months earlier, the former Denmark winger had scored one of the most important goals in Chelsea history in a 2-1 win over Liverpool on the 2002-03 final day to seal Champions League football at the expense of the Reds.

The 39 year old retired as a player in 2011, and has been involved in punditry in his homeland.

Geremi Njitap

A set piece expert, the former Cameroon right sided player also retired in 2011, like Gronkjaer, and would go on to become a special adviser in the National Union of Cameroonian Footballers president. He would later go on to become the president of that Players' Union.

Juan Sebastian Veron

Probably unfairly deemed a flop during his time at Manchester United, he never set the world alight at Chelsea.

The Argentine central midfielder would eventually return to his homeland to play for his father's former club Estudiantes.

And at 42, Veron is still playing at his boyhood club, having come out of retirement recently after fans fulfilled a promise to buy 65% of the executive boxes at Estudiantes' new stadium.

And that's not all... he's also the club chairman!

Frank Lampard

The Chelsea legend ended his playing career last summer, having finished his career at New York City FC in MLS. He has done a bit of punditry work since.

Liverpool's Harry Kewell (left) holds off Damien Duff of Chelsea for the ball during their FA Premiership match at Liverpool's Anfield ground, Liverpool, Sunday August 17 2003. Phil Noble/PA Archive/PA Images

Damien Duff

The Ireland great has been keeping busy since he ended his playing career and is back in Ireland, serving in a coaching role with Shamrock Rovers.

And he is a regular on our screens as a pundit on Champions League nights. 

Eidur Gudjohnsen 

The Iceland native had a fairytale 2016. Having never played at a major tournament prior to Euro 2016, at the age of 37 he made it into the Iceland squad for the tournament and even made sporadic appearances as the Nordic nation stunned Europe by reaching the quarter finals.

His last club had been Pune City but he missed the Indian Soccer League due to injury. 

Gudjohnsen plays a bit of Fantasy Football as well: 

His father Arnor spoke to Newstalk just before Euro 2016. 

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