Where are they now? John Arne Riise remembers Liverpool's 'crazy' 2005 UEFA Champions League final comeback win against AC Milan in Istanbul
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Published 29/05/2025 at 16:03 GMT+1
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It's now 20 years since one of the most unforgettable UEFA Champions League finals of all-time. The showpiece match in Istanbul paired AC Milan with Liverpool and saw the Italians race into a 3-0 half-time lead. However, their grip on the trophy was pried loose as The Reds staged a remarkable fightback, eventually winning on penalties. John Arne Riise was among those involved on a special night.
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"I think the moment he saved the penalty, things were just crazy because you can't plan how to celebrate."
Former Liverpool star John Arne Riise recalls the moment Jerzy Dudek denied Andriy Shevchenko to crown The Reds champions of Europe in 2005, following arguably the most dramatic final in the history of the competition.
Seemingly dead and buried, Liverpool somehow clawed themselves back from 3-0 down at half time against a star-studded AC Milan side to force the shootout from which they ultimately triumphed.
Marking 20 years since that incredible match, TNT Sports re-lives the evening in a special feature documentary – The Miracle of Istanbul: Liverpool 2005, available on discovery+.
Riise, who features on the programme, also spoke to TNT Sports about his memories of the night and the key protagonists involved.
"We knew that we weren’t favourites going into the game," The Norwegian admitted, as Liverpool fell behind inside the first minute to a Paolo Maldini header.
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"We knew how good they were individually, one by one, they are better than us. We know we went to the final because we were a team.
"We were like a more collective brand. But when they scored so early, I think that doubt came in."
An early injury to Harry Kewell and a brace for Hernan Crespo threatened a rout for the Serie A side in the first half, and while Riise says the team knew they wanted to salvage some pride after the break, thoughts of a comeback weren’t necessarily at the forefront of their minds.
He continued: "Rafa [Benitez] said something like, change the system, go out there and not lose the second half.
"We heard the ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ song, Stevie G started [speaking] and I just felt that the energy and the belief came more and more back towards the second half starting.
"I don't think any of us believed that we could win the game itself, but we wanted to go out and have a go and at least show that we deserve to be in the final - that was the main idea of the team talk and for the second half."
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'The first time I really thought we can actually do this'
The belief proved to be stronger than Riise imagined as Gerrard quickly reduced the deficit before Vladimir Smicer rifled in a stunning second from long distance.
The Czech wasn’t a regular on the score-sheet during his time at Anfield, but this rare strike hinted that things were turning in their favour.
"I hadn't seen that often, that he could shoot like that," remarked Riise. "But it's just one of those times where you think, it’s our day."
He added: "We started seeing that they started shouting at each other. They're starting to get a little nervous. We got energy. The fans are behind us.
"That's when I knew at 3-2, ‘okay, we can do this’. That's the first time I really thought we can actually do this."
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Six mad minutes on from Gerrard's goal, they were soon level as Xabi Alonso scored from a rebound after seeing his penalty saved, and a further sign it was in fact Liverpool’s day came in extra time courtesy of a stunning double save from Dudek to deny Shevchenko.
Dudek was then the hero in the shoot-out, stopping the Ukrainian again with the final kick, sparking pandemonium in the Liverpool ranks.
"I just ran off jumping around like a little kid," Riise says. "But it was more like a ‘What happened?’ kind of feeling. Like you couldn't believe it".
"It had been an up-and-down evening with so many things happening in that game and myself missing the penalty as well was disappointing.
"But then seeing Shevchenko almost froze when he was going to take his penalty and then Dudek saved it… it was a feeling I never thought I would experience."
AC Milan XI
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AC Milan starting XI ahead of 2005 UCL final
Image credit: Getty Images
Goalkeeper - Dida
The Brazilian stopper remained at Milan until 2010 and was part of the side that gained a measure of revenge against The Reds in the 2007 Champions League final.
After two years out of the game, he returned to his home country in 2012 for spells at Portuguesa, Gremio, and Internacional before retiring in 2016 and trying his hand at coaching.
Right-back - Cafu
Another Brazilian icon, Cafu also featured in Milan’s 2006/07 winning team before calling time on his career in 2008.
Post-retirement, he entered the charity sector, opening his own foundation, which closed in 2019.
Centre-back - Jaap Stam
As an ex-Manchester United man, defeat would have been particularly painful for the Dutch defender.
Stam rejoined former club Ajax the following year before retiring in 2007.
Since entering management, he has held posts at PEC Zwolle, Ajax reserves, Reading, Feyenoord, FC Cincinnati, and is currently at DOS Kampen in the Dutch lower leagues.
Centre-back - Alessandro Nesta
The Italian defender remained with Milan until 2012 before heading to Canada and MLS side Montreal Impact for two seasons before retiring.
He made a brief return to action for Indian Super League side Chennaiyin before managerial spells with Miami, Perugia, Frosinone, Reggiana, and Monza, where he is currently in his second spell.
Left-back - Paolo Maldini
The one-club Milan legend who opened the scoring on the night eventually retired in 2009 after 25 years, 902 appearances, seven Serie A titles, and five Champions League titles, with the club retiring his No. 3 shirt for good measure.
Rather than going into coaching, Maldini switched sports after hanging up his boots, taking up tennis and even competing on the ATP Challenger Tour in the doubles.
He returned to Milan in 2018 in a technical director role, departing in 2023.
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Maldini celebrates giving Milan the lead
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Centre-midfield - Andrea Pirlo
Another who starred during Milan’s revenge mission two years later, Pirlo eventually left San Siro in 2011 for rivals Juventus, winning four successive league titles and leaving in 2015 following defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
Also part of the Italy 2006 World Cup winning team, he then spent three years at New York City FC in MLS before retiring and returning to Juve as manager in 2020.
Pirlo would only last one season but picked up the Coppa Italia during his time in charge. He has since had spells at Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey, and Sampdoria.
Centre-midfield - Gennaro Gattuso
"At 3-2, he had this face where he's really angry," said Riise of Gattuso’s reaction to the fightback, suggesting this is when he knew Milan were rattled.
"He was more shouting and screaming. And that's when I knew that we got into their minds.
"Italians do this kind of body language when they seem like they're arguing all the time, but now we could see they were really arguing and he started almost pointing fingers. That's when I knew that we have to keep going."
Talented but temperamental, 2006 World Cup winner Gattuso remained with Milan until 2012 before moving to Swiss side Sion for a year, where he would briefly work as manager in 2013 after retiring.
His new career in the dugout has also seen him take charge of Palermo, OFI Crete, Pisa, a return to Milan, a spell at Napoli where he won the Coppa Italia in 2020, Fiorentina, Valencia, Marseille, and is currently at Hajduk Split.
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Centre-midfield - Clarence Seedorf
The Dutch midfield maestro already had the distinction of winning three Champions League titles with three different clubs, and eventually added his fourth in total and second with Milan two years later.
He left the club in 2012 for two seasons in Brazil with Botafogo before returning to manage Milan in 2014.
However, he only lasted four months and had further short spells at Shenzhen, Deportivo La Coruna, and the Cameroon national team.
Attacking-midfield - Kaka
The Brazilian produced an unforgettable assist that would have been worthy of winning the match itself, for Crespo to score Milan’s third, but was ultimately left devastated that it was all in vain.
He would, however, put his pain aside in Istanbul to not only help Milan reign in 2007, but also claimed that year’s Ballon d’Or award.
A big-money move to Real Madrid came in 2009, although injuries impacted his time at the Bernabeu and he never quite recaptured the form that earned him the transfer, returning to Milan in 2013 for a year.
In 2014, he moved to MLS with Orlando City, and after an impressive three-year stint, retired in 2017.
Striker - Andriy Shevchenko
"I think Shevchenko knew that he should have won the game for them with that chance he had in extra time. Then he's walking up to the penalty knowing that he had to score," explained Riise.
"I think all that kind of pressure and expectation got to him a little bit. I think it came to the stage he was almost doubting himself going to take the penalty and when you start doubting yourself in that situation you tend to do things that you normally don't do.
"Everyone knows Shevchenko scores nine out of 10 penalties, but I think the occasion got to him."
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Dudek saves from Shevchenko
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Despite a forgettable night for the Ukrainian striker, ‘Sheva’ continued to impress for Milan until a 2006 move to Chelsea. His three years in London weren’t especially fruitful, and included a loan back to Milan before leaving for former club Dynamo Kyiv in 2009.
In 2012, he played his last games for club and country, scoring for Ukraine on home soil at the European Championship before hanging up his boots.
Shevchenko dabbled in politics in his home country but returned to football to manage his nation to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. He most recently managed Genoa in Serie A.
Striker - Hernan Crespo
To score twice in a final and lose is virtually unheard of, so spare a thought for the on-loan Chelsea striker on this particular evening.
He would return to London to help The Blues win the Premier League the following season, but was back in Milan with previous club Inter soon afterwards, first on loan, then permanently, before leaving for Genoa and a romantic return to Parma ahead of his retirement in 2012.
He has since ventured into management, with roles at Modena, Banfield, Defensa y Justicia, Sao Paulo, Al-Duhail and Al Ain.
Subs: Abbiati, Rui Costa, Tomasson, Serginho, Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Despite the drama of the occasion, defeat did almost no damage to the reputation of Milan nor their manager, who eventually picked up his second Champions League title with the club after beating Liverpool two years later, adding to the one they won in 2003.
Ancelotti moved to Chelsea in 2009, winning the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first campaign before Ligue 1 success with Paris Saint-Germain, and another Champions League crown, with Real Madrid this time, in 2014.
A season with Bayern Munich brought Bundesliga success, before stints with Napoli and Liverpool’s rivals Everton, ahead of a return to Madrid.
There he lifted two La Liga titles and two more Champions League crowns - beating Liverpool once more in the 2022 final - taking his personal total to five.
He is set to join Brazil as their national team manager this summer.
Liverpool XI
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Liverpool starting XI ahead of 2005 UCL final
Image credit: Getty Images
Goalkeeper - Jerzy Dudek
One of the standout heroes of the night actually lost his place to Pepe Reina the following season, before joining Real Madrid as back-up to Iker Casillas in 2007 and retiring in 2012.
His post-football career saw him venture into the world of motor racing, competing in several races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Right-back - Steve Finnan
The Irish defender was part of the tactical switch which ultimately turned the game on its head when he was replaced by Dietmar Hamann at half-time.
Finnan moved to Espanyol in 2008 for a year before joining Portsmouth.
He moved into property development after calling time on his career.
Centre-back - Jamie Carragher
Club legend Carragher remained at Anfield for the entirety of his career, playing a total of 737 games.
He further added to his trophy collection with the FA Cup and League Cup, before retiring in 2013.
Since hanging up his boots, Carragher has forged a hugely successful career as a pundit.
Centre-back - Sami Hyypia
The popular Finnish defender completed a decade at the club by the time of his 2009 departure, joining Bayer Leverkusen for two years before retiring and taking up a coaching role with both the Bundesliga club and his national side.
Hyypia took on the top job with Leverkusen until 2014 before spells with Brighton & Hove Albion and Zurich. He is now back at Anfield as a club ambassador.
Left-back - Djimi Traore
"He stepped up really good in the second half and did a goal-line clearance and did some really good tackling," Riise said in praise of the unsung hero of The Reds' defence that night.
"He was told at half time to go take a shower. He was in the shower changing. Then he was told to get back on again, because Steve Finnan was struggling.
"So all the emotions were really up and down for him. To be able to turn around and to put in that second-half performance was really, really good."
A year after his Istanbul heroics, Traore left the club but remained in the Premier League playing for Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth before moving to France with Monaco and then Marseille.
His final club was Seattle Sounders, and he began his coaching career with the MLS club, before returning to Europe, where he is currently a coach at Monaco.
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Liverpool celebrate with the trophy
Image credit: Getty Images
Centre-midfield - Xabi Alonso
The Spaniard levelled the tie on the night from a rebounded penalty to establish his hero status among the Anfield faithful having joined the previous year.
After a successful five years, he would leave for Real Madrid in 2009. At the Bernabeu, he lifted his second Champions League crown in 2014 before moving to Bayern Munich and helping the Bavarians to three Bundesliga titles.
Alonso was also an integral part of the Spain team which won two European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012.
Moving into management after retiring, Alonso first took charge of Real Sociedad’s B team before moving to Bayer Leverkusen, completing an unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga season as he led the club to the title and DFB Pokal double.
This week, he became Real Madrid manager.
Centre-midfield - Luis Garcia
Scorer of the infamous ‘ghost goal’ that took Liverpool to the final itself, Garcia left the club in 2007 for Atletico Madrid.
He then moved to Racing Santander, Panathinaikos, Puebla, UNAM, Atletico Kolkata, and finally, Central Coast Mariners. Garcia is currently working as a TV pundit.
Centre-midfield - Steven Gerrard
Credited as being the catalyst behind the recovery, Gerrard’s heroics went even beyond scoring the first goal and winning the penalty for the third.
"Stevie was unbelievable," gushed Riise. "He was everywhere, and rightly so, deservedly so, he gets the credit."
Gerrard was inspirational again a year later when Liverpool won the FA Cup following another 3-3 comeback draw and shootout victory. The captain went on to make 710 appearances and score 186 goals for The Reds before leaving the club in 2017.
He would wind down his career with a season in MLS with LA Galaxy before moving into management.
After a spell with the Liverpool academy, Gerrard took over at Rangers, leading them to the 2021 SPL title, before moving to Aston Villa, with his most recent role being with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
Left-midfield - John Arne Riise
After this success with Liverpool, Risse eventually left the club in 2008 for Serie A side Roma, before a return to England with Fulham.
After leaving the Whites in 2014, he would finish his career with spells at APOEL, Dehli Dynamos and Aalesund.
His first managerial role was with Flint Tonsberg from 2019 to 2021, before taking up a role at Avaldsnes, leaving in 2023.
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John Arne Riise on 'Miracle of Istanbul: Liverpool 2005' documentary
Image credit: Getty Images
Right-midfield - Harry Kewell
Having limped off in this match, injuries would continue to hamper the rest of his time at Anfield until his eventual departure in 2008 for Galatasaray.
The Aussie midfielder fared better in Turkey, starring for three years ahead of a move back down under to Melbourne Victory in 2011.
He ended his playing career with spells at Al-Gharafa in Qatar and Melbourne Heart in his homeland.
As a manager, Kewell returned to England, taking up roles with Crawley Town, Oldham Athletic and Barnet, before an assistant role under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.
His most recent job was as manager of Yokohama F. Marinos in the J-League.
Striker - Milan Baros
In the aftermath of the match, reports circulated that Baros dropped the trophy, leaving a dent in the handle during the understandably exuberant celebrations, but the player himself has since denied this.
If true, it would be the last major impression he would leave at the club, departing a year later for Aston Villa, and then Lyon after two seasons.
He returned to England with Portsmouth on loan in 2008 – helping them win the FA Cup – before moving to Galatasaray until 2012.
Returning to his homeland, three spells at his first club Banik Ostrava were spliced with moves to Antalyaspor, Mlada Boleslav and Slovan Liberec before hanging up his boots in 2020.
Subs: Carson, Cisse, Smicer, Hamann, Josemi, Nunez, Biscan
"Dietmar Hamman came in and changed the game for us," said Riise. "I think he was really. really, really important for the whole calmness and and got us back into game when it came to compactness."
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Manager: Rafael Benitez
The Spaniard remained at Liverpool until 2010, leaving to join then-European champions Inter but left after just six months.
He was back in England for his next job as interim manager of Chelsea, winning the UEFA Europa League before joining Napoli, where he lifted the Coppa Italia.
A brief spell at Real Madrid followed before taking the reins at relegation-threatened Newcastle in the spring of 2016.
Although unable to keep The Magpies up, he led them to the Championship title and promotion the following year but left the club in 2019, moving to Chinese Super League club Dalian.
In 2021, he made the shock move to Liverpool’s arch-rivals Everton but didn’t even see out a season at Goodison Park. His last job was with Celta Vigo back in La Liga.
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The Miracle of Istanbul: Liverpool 2005 is available to watch on-demand via discovery+
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