logo
logo

Where are they now? The Monaco XI that reached the 2017 UCL semis

Planet Football •

It was one of the most thrilling underdog runs seen in the Champions League for quite some time as Leanardo Jardim’s Monaco battered their way to the semi-finals in 2016-17. 

Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund were two of the big names to fall victim to Monaco’s perfect blend of wily experience and youthful exuberance – and they ended up pipping PSG to the Ligue 1 title. But it is a side that would inevitably be torn apart soon after their semi-final defeat to Juventus.

In the summer of 2017, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and, of course, Kylian Mbappe were all sold. But what happened to the side that beat Dortmund in their quarter-final second leg six years ago? We take a look at where they are now.

GK: Danijel Subasic

Subasic spent a further three years on the French Riviera before packing his bags in the summer of 2020.

A year after the club’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, the goalkeeper went one better on the international stage, reaching the World Cup final with Croatia, only to be undone by Mbappe and co. in Moscow.

The veteran spent a year out of the game as a free agent before rejoining Hajduk Split – whom Monaco signed him from back in 2012 – in 2021.

At the age of 38, he’s now very much a backup ‘keeper and has yet to play a minute this season. Although he has picked up a booking, which is impressive going.

RB: Almamy Toure

Toure was a bit-part player for much of his time at the Stade Louis II but managed to make it into the side that played Dortmund thanks to the absence of Djibril Sidibe.

The youth graduate spent four seasons in the first team before seeking a fresh challenge, plumping for a move to Eintracht Frankfurt where he remains today.

CB: Kamil Glik

The Poland legend was a rock at the back for Jardim’s side in his first season. Joining in the summer of 2016, he became an ever-present, appearing in all 36 Ligue 1 games, and 13 of the club’s European ones.

He left in 2020 to join Serie A side Benevento and he remains there today, having spent the last couple of years turning out for the club in the Italian second tier.

CB: Jemerson

Once a first-choice centre-back in Monaco’s Champions League campaign, Jemerson hasn’t quite sustained those heights.

Jardim snapped him up from Atletico Mineiro in January 2016 and he played in 15 matches en-route to the semi-final the following season. October 2020 saw his contract terminated by mutual consent so he could return to Brazil with Corinthians, but he was released after less than a year with the club.

After a brief stint with Metz he’s now back in Brazil once again, turning out for boyhood club Atletico Madrid.

LB: Benjamin Mendy

His form for Monaco earned a move to Pep Guardiola’s Man City.

Mendy went on to make 50 Premier League appearances for City and remains contracted at the club, but he hasn’t an appearance since 2021. Man City suspended him pending a trial after he was charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.

In January he was found not guilty of six counts, but a further two charges will be retried in the summer.

RW: Thomas Lemar

Lemar lived in Mbappe’s shadow somewhat throughout the 2016-17 season but that did not stop the speculation machine from going into overdrive.

The Frenchman scored 14 goals in all competitions that season but still decided to wait for the right transfer. In the summer of 2018, Atletico Madrid splashed €70million on the winger.

He’s had his moments since moving to the Spanish capital but hasn’t shown consistency. At least has a La Liga winners medal to show for his efforts.

DM: Tiemoue Bakayoko

Definitely one of the less inspiring success stories from this golden squad. After impressing at the heart of Monaco’s midfield, Chelsea snapped him up for £36million.

It is safe to say it was not worth that money. With just 43 appearances to his name in four seasons, it means Chelsea have paid around £800,000 for each appearance the Frenchman made.

He actually remains on their books today, but has been perenially loaned out – Milan, back to Monaco, Napoli and Milan once again.

Funnily enough, Bakayoko now finds himself a Champions League semi-finalist once again, although he hasn’t featured for the Rossoneri in Europe this season and has played just 38 minutes in Serie A.

DM: Joao Moutinho

Fabinho – now at Liverpool, of course – likely would have featured for Monaco in the Dortmund quarter-final but was suspended.

Another member of the side’s experienced spine, Moutinho waited until 2018 before also fleeing the Monaco nest, joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s Portuguese revolution at Wolves.

The midfield maestro was an essential cog in Jardim’s machine, playing in all but one of their Champions League matches.

Moutinho is now into his fifth season at Molineux but time finally appears to be catching up with him at the age of 36, stepping back into more of a fringe substitute role since the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.

 

LW: Bernardo Silva

One of the club’s standout creative forces in the 2016-17 campaign, Silva’s electric performances in their last-16 clash with Manchester City clearly impressed Pep Guardiola.

That summer, City splashed £45million on the attacking midfielder and his impact at the Etihad was immediate, directly contributing to 20 goals in 53 appearances as Pep won his first of three Premier League titles.

If anything, Silva has just got better and better over the years at the Etihad with his influence rarely waning. It’s curious that he’s constantly linked with moves away because he looks like a vital cog in Guardiola’s all-conquering juggernaut.

READ: Bernardo Silva made the Champions League his playground with THREE filthy nutmegs

ST: Kylian Mbappe

A meeting with Unai Emery in the summer of 2017 persuaded Mbappe and his family to choose the PSG path. Six years, lots of drama, and 203 goals later he remains at the Parc des Princes.

Already PSG’s all-time top scorer at the age of 24. As big-money signings go, that’s not bad going.

ST: Radamel Falcao

After being battered by injuries shortly after moving to Monaco, Falcao endured two terrible loan spells with Manchester United and Chelsea. But after returning to the Stade Louis II, he rediscovered his form.

He struck seven goals in 10 Champions League appearances as Les Rouges et Blancs made it to the semi-finals, including an outstanding chipped finish against Manchester City.

The 37-year-old Colombian now finds himself on the periphery at La Liga club Rayo Vallecano. Seeing him link up with Bebe was a joy.

READ NEXT: A tribute to Ludovic Giuly, the magic elf who couldn’t help but make an impact

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every Champions League final goalscorer since 2000?

Kylian Mbappe Quick Reads Monaco