Where are they now? How Didier Drogba heroics helped patched-up underdogs Chelsea conquer Munich to win UEFA Champions League
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Published 16/09/2025 at 16:03 GMT+1
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Chelsea return to the scene of the club's greatest success in their first match of the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League as they take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. The Blues stunned the German giants on their own patch to famously win the UEFA Champions League in 2012. And here, we look back on the team of underdogs who triumphed on that spring night 13 years ago.
UCL Rewind: The moment Drogba secured Chelsea’s first Champions League triumph
Video credit: TNT Sports
Manchester United and Liverpool fans will forever debate which of their respective UEFA Champions League wins in 1999 and 2005 was the more memorable; however, those of a Chelsea persuasion will staunchly argue their case that what occurred on May 19, 2012 was every bit as dramatic.
The Blues, who had just finished sixth in the Premier League under caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo, arrived at the final as underdogs.
Not only were they facing Bundesliga juggernaut Bayern Munich, but the match was also being held at the German side’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena.  Â
Few gave the struggling Blues a prayer, but having impressively edged past an all-conquering Barcelona in the semi-finals, they retained the smallest belief they could achieve the impossible. And beating Liverpool to win the FA Cup two weeks before certainly helped to give them some confidence.
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Their task was unfortunately made more difficult due to the fact their captain and "leader", John Terry, got himself sent off in the second leg against Barcelona, meaning he would miss his side’s date with destiny.
This setback seemed to fuel the players however, as a robust rearguard display mostly kept Bayern at bay.
Their resolve was finally broken as Thomas Muller scored in the 83rd minute to seemingly set his side on course for victory.
But Chelsea refused to be beaten and a stunning Didier Drogba header with two minutes left on the clock levelled the game and forced a period of extra-time.
The Ivorian almost turned from hero to villain as his foul on Franck Ribery gifted Bayern a penalty in the extended period of the match, but former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben saw his spot-kick saved by Petr Cech.
The stars were aligning and as match went to a shoot-out, two more vital saves from Cech meant that Drogba was able to take centre stage with the decisive fifth Chelsea kick.
There was little doubt about the outcome as he fired home to write his, and Chelsea's name, into the history books.
But what was to become of that famous Chelsea team ahead of their return to Munich in this season's blockbuster opening league phase match?
Here’s what happened next for each player who started on that glorious night in Germany.
Chelsea XI
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Chelsea's starting XI at the 2012 UEFA Champions League final in Munich
Image credit: Getty Images
Petr Cech - Goalkeeper
The legendary Czech stopper remained at Stamford Bridge for a further three years, signing off in 2015 after 11 years at the club in which he won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Champions League and then the UEFA Europa one year on from his Munich heroics.
He made the surprise move to Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal where he added another FA Cup before retiring in 2019.
His post-football career saw him return to Chelsea as a technical director but more interestingly dabble in ice hockey and playing drums in a rock band.
Jose Bosingwa - Right back
The Portuguese full-back left Chelsea a month after the Munich triumph but stayed in west London, joining QPR for a season. He then played for three years at Trabzonspor, before retiring.
Bosingwa played 27 times for his country too, appearing at UEFA Euro 2008.
David Luiz - Centre back
The Brazilian, who scored his own penalty in the shootout to end his first season in style, left Chelsea in 2014 for Paris Saint-Germain before returning to Stamford Bridge in 2016.
After helping Chelsea beat Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final, Luiz then joined the Gunners that summer spending two years in north London - winning the FA Cup in 2020 when there - before moving to Flamengo in his native Brazil and then Fortaleza, before resuming his European career with Pafos in Cyprus.
At international level, he received 57 caps for his country but also famously captained the side in their nightmare 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil in the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Luiz purchased an Italian restaurant with teammate Willian in London’s swanky Mayfair area.
Gary Cahill - Centre back
Having arrived from Bolton in January 2012, Cahill spent a further seven years at Stamford Bridge, helping the club to Premier League titles in 2014/15 and 2016/17. He left in 2019 as club captain for spells at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth before retiring.
He also earned 61 caps for England, representing his country at two World Cups and a European Championship.
Cahill returned to Chelsea as a club ambassador after hanging up his boots.
Ashley Cole - Left back
Cole left Chelsea in 2014 with one league title, four FA Cups, one League Cup, the 2012 Champions League win and Europa League success the following year.
Spells at Roma, LA Galaxy and Derby County followed before moving into coaching, taking on roles at Derby, Chelsea, Everton, Birmingham City and England, both at under-21 and senior levels.
Cole also earned 107 caps for his country, playing at World Cup finals in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
John Obi Mikel - Central midfield
The Nigerian midfield powerhouse remained at the club until 2018 before short stints with Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, Stoke City, and Kuwait SC.
He also featured at two World Cups for his country and captained the Super Eagles at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where they won bronze.
Mikel currently spends most of his time doing media work, including hosting his own podcast, "The Obi One".
Frank Lampard - Central midfield
Arguably the club’s greatest ever player, Lampard went on to become Chelsea's all-time top scorer before leaving after 13 years.
He joined Manchester City for a year before moving to the club’s City Football Group affiliate New York City FC and retiring in 2017.
Moving into management, Lampard has been in charge of Derby County, Chelsea, Everton and is currently the boss at Coventry City.
Salomon Kalou - Right midfield
The Ivorian also departed London that summer, moving to Lille before joining Hertha in 2014.
After leaving Germany in 2020, he spent two years at Botafogo in Brazil before joining Arta/Solar7 in the Djibouti Premier League.
After retiring, he set up the Kalou Foundation charity and more recently, launched a chocolate business in his native Ivory Coast.
Juan Mata - Central midfield
After leaving Chelsea in 2014, Mata remained in the Premier League with Manchester United where he spent eight years.
With United, he won the FA Cup in 2016 - scoring a crucial equaliser in the final against Crystal Palace - and both the League Cup and UEFA Europa League in 2017.
Mata eventually left for Galatasaray in 2022. After making just one appearance for J-League side Vissel Kobe, Mata moved to Australia joining Western Sydney Wanderers in 2024 and he has stayed in Australia, most recently moving to Melbourne Victory.
After winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, more success came in 2012 as he helped Spain with the European Championship, scoring their fourth goal in the 4-0 win over Italy in the final.
Away from playing, he is currently part of the ownership group for MLS side San Diego FC.
Ryan Bertrand - Left midfield
The shock selection on the day, Bertrand was famously making his first ever UEFA Champions League appearance in the final in Munich.
Despite this incredible achievement, he struggled to break into the first team and left in 2014 for Southampton, initially on loan and then making the move permanent in 2015. He spent seven seasons on the south coast ahead of finishing his career at Leicester.
Having previously founded a fintech company Silicon Markets with his business partner, the pair also set up a player agency representing current Chelsea star Levi Colwill among others.
Bertrand’s 18-year-old son, Marcell Washington, recently penned a professional contract with Arsenal.
Didier Drogba - Stiker
Drogba secured his legendary status at Stamford Bridge with his heroics in Munich, leaving the club on a high the following month.
The striker moved to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, but left within six months to join Galatasaray.
He made an emotional return to Chelsea in 2014 and lifted a fourth league title with the club that season before moving to MLS with Montreal Impact and then Pheonix Rising before hanging up his boots.
Drogba won 105 caps with Ivory Coast, scoring 65 goals and appearing in World Cup finals in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Off the pitch, Drogba is famed for his charity work in Africa, including his own foundation, and was named a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
This year, he returned to Chelsea as tactical analyst.
Subs: Ross Turnbull, Paulo Ferreira, Michael Essien, Oriol Romeu, Florent Malouda, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge.
Manager: Roberto Di Matteo
It’s safe to say that the Italian’s managerial career peaked in Munich, with only short spells at Schalke and Aston Villa to boast of following his sacking less than six months after winning the trophy.
He was appointed as a technical advisor at South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2023.
What happened next at Bayern?
After what must have felt like the most heartbreaking of defeats, Bayern instantly bounced back, winning the following year’s competition as part of a treble alongside the Bundesliga and German Cup.
Arjen Robben would make up for his penalty miss by scoring the winning goal against fellow German side Borussia Dortmund at Wembley 12 months on to exorcise the demons of the loss to Chelsea.
The club has also won 12 of the next 13 league titles and added another UEFA Champions League title in 2020 - beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final - so have done their best to try to make up for what happened in 2012.
How to watch Bayern Munich v Chelsea live on TNT Sport and discovery+
How to watch Bayern Munich v Chelsea
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