The UEFA Champions League was the one club trophy that evaded Robin van Persie during his glorious career, but he got his hands on a deserved Premier League winners' medal. The iconic Dutch striker debuted in Europe's elite club competition with boyhood club Feyenoord and went on to make the semi-finals with Arsenal and the last 16 with Manchester United.
There's no telling how far an in-form United side would have gone in the 2012-13 campaign if Real Madrid hadn't knocked them out in controversial fashion after Luis Nani's red card. Van Persie thrived in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge and was the missing piece for the Scot in a star-studded Red Devils team.
Seven of Van Persie's former teammates at Old Trafford made a dream XI of players he linked up with while playing in the Champions League. That may be a surprise, given he spent three years with them compared to eight at Arsenal, but it's a team given an interview with Amazon Prime Video that is brimming with class.
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
Club: Manchester United
David de Gea likewise never won the Champions League, as he joined United at the tail end of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford. But the Spanish goalkeeper was excellent on European duty, producing several outstanding displays, including a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid in 2013.
The former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper's performances were so impressive that Florentino Perez was keen to bring him to the Spanish capital. If it weren't for a faulty fax machine, he likely would have made the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu. He instead surpassed Peter Schmeichel with the most clean sheets in the Red Devils' history (190).
"It's a tough choice between Jens Lehmann and David de Gea. Lehmann has a slightly different style but De Gea was amazing."
David de Gea's UEFA Champions League Career
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Right-back: Bacary Sagna
Club: Arsenal
According to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Bacary Sagna was 'a very reliable defender'. His defensive nous blended with a pacey and strong profile at right-back. The Frenchman didn't win the Champions League, but he was an important member of the Gunners side that made it to the semi-finals in 2009.
Sagna left the Emirates after Van Persie, joining Manchester City as a free agent and became Pep Guardiola's first-choice right-back at the Etihad. He played every minute of all but one game during the 2015-16 campaign when City crashed out to Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Bacary Sagna's UEFA Champions League Career
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Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand
Club: Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand's presence at the back for Sir Alex Ferguson's United side was crucial in his side's dominance for over a decade. He was an elegant ball-playing centre-back with incredible leadership qualities and an astute reading of the game.
The Red Devils were eager to bring Ferdinand to Old Trafford and broke the British transfer record to sign him from Leeds United in the summer of 2002. It took time but he became a European champion in 2008 when Ferguson's troops reigned supreme in Moscow with a win over Chelsea in the final.
Rio Ferdinand's UEFA Champions League Career
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Centre-back: Nemanja Vidic
Club: Manchester United
There perhaps hasn't been a better partnership in English football than the one forged between Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. Van Persie experienced it up close but during the latter stages of the defensive duo's careers.
"The partnership between those two was great. The way they communicated and worked together was great to see" - Van Persie
Vidic was a monster for the Red Devils, embodying a never-say-die attitude that translated into his defending, putting his head quite literally on the line. He was twice named in FIFA's FIFPro Team of the Year, and the legendary Serbian continues to be mentioned in debates over Europe's all-time great centre-backs.
Nemanja Vidic's UEFA Champions League Career
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Left-back: Ashley Cole / Patrice Evra
Club: Arsenal / Manchester United
Van Persie initially opted for Ashley Cole at left-back before he was reminded about Patrice Evra. He came up with a plan to keep both of them happy:
"I will go with Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra and rotate every game"
Cole was possibly the better defender of the two. With his pace and pressing, he gave some of the best forwards Europe has ever seen a hard time. Cristiano Ronaldo always hated coming up against the former England international because he often had his number, although he couldn't prevent him from netting the opener in the 2008 final.
A controversial move from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006 resembles Van Persie's United transfer in 2012. But there's no denying it was a good decision on the trophy front, as the Englishman was one of the Blues' standout performers in their unlikely Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich in the Germans' own backyard.
Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra's UEFA Champions League Careers
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Evra was energy personified, racing up and down the left channel to either put out fires or help United attack. He was strong in the tackle and also boasted a lethal left-footed strike, as seen when he fired past Manuel Neuer at the Allianz Arena in 2014.
The Frenchman did well against Joe Cole in the Red Devils' 2008 Champions League final win over Chelsea. He was an ever-present for Ferguson and became a captain because of his teamwork and loud voice in the dressing room.
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Central Midfield: Cesc Fabregas
Club: Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas and Van Persie lit up the Emirates when it opened in 2006, taking over Arsenal's talismanic responsibilities from Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. The Spanish playmaker could find the deadly Dutchman with an exquisite ball, which was usually met with a volley into the top corner.
Fabregas returned to his homeland and joined Barcelona in 2011, but he didn't win the Champions League with the Catalans, Arsenal, or Chelsea, the latter of whom he eventually joined three years later. The Spaniard urged Van Persie to stay at the Emirates when speculation grew over his future in 2012.
Cesc Fabregas' UEFA Champions League Career
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Central Midfield: Paul Scholes
Club: Manchester United
Paul Scholes was a member of the Manchester United team that claimed an unprecedented treble and he's usually mentioned in the same breath as Champions League midfield greats Xavi and Andres Iniesta. He was a magician who showcased his untouchable footballing IQ after coming out of retirement.
"I was able to play with him for just over a year. He had retired but then he came back and I played with him for a year. At that time, he was 38, but he did things during training that I had never seen before. He would make passes that were so unbelievable that you would ask yourself how his brain could work so fast. That was Paul Scholes."
Scholes relished a European night at Old Trafford, as seen when he thumped home a glorious winner against Barcelona in the 2008 semi-finals. His goal was the reason the Red Devils went through and claimed a second Champions League trophy.
Paul Scholes' UEFA Champions League Career
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Attacking Midfield: Dennis Bergkamp
Club: Arsenal
Van Persie stepped into Dennis Bergkamp's shoes when he joined Arsenal in 2004, tasked with being as potent as the 'Non-flying Dutchman'. Bergkamp was a veteran when the transfer occurred but he'd already left his mark at Highbury with stunning showings despite never claiming a Champions League winners' medal.
"In the number 10 position I would have Dennis Bergkamp without a doubt. Dennis was so so good. It is quite funny when I tell people just how good Dennis Bergkamp really was. He had such control on the ball that it was unreal just how good he was. You would ask yourself how he could be so good on the ball and still be so fit because he was around 36, 37 years old by then. He did such special things, things that I had never seen before."
Bergkamp was a man of many trades, so he could slot right into a number 10 role in Van Persie's dream team. He was one of the most technically gifted footballers to arrive in the Premier League and a joy to watch with the ball at his feet.
Dennis Bergkamp's UEFA Champions League Career
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Striker: Thierry Henry
Club: Arsenal
Thierry Henry has been telling stories of his playing career to American fans as a pundit on CBS. Whenever a current player is interviewed and asked to name their favourite, they usually opt for the Arsenal icon. His jaw-dropping speed, sublime touch, effortless goalscoring prowess, and unique aura are why fans fall in love with the sport.
"He was also a player who did some really special things. What springs to mind when I think about him are those moments during training such as the very distinctive way he would take penalties. You would think he was going to strike the ball with his right, but then he would step over the ball and shoot with his left, sending the ball diagonally into the corner of the goal.
And then everyone would go and try and do the same, but nobody would be able to pull it off. He had a certain trick, a certain way of standing, one fluid way of moving and there you go the ball is in the back of the net again. There was nobody who could do it."
Henry in the Champions League was a match made in heaven, and he produced classic moments such as his outrageous strike in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Real Madrid in 2006. He failed to win the European title with the Gunners but did so in Barcelona colours and deservedly so.
Thierry Henry's UEFA Champions League Career
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Left-wing: Ryan Giggs
Club: Manchester United
Ryan Giggs was Mr Longevity, having carved out a 22-year playing career at Manchester United. The Welsh winger didn't know when to call it quits, which is why he ranks 11th in the Champions League's all-time appearance list. He first claimed the trophy as part of the 1999 treble, playing on the right in the famous 2-1 final win over Bayern Munich.
The biggest compliment Giggs received was perhaps that from Van Persie when he started coaching after finally hanging up his boots (via Daily Echo):
"I witnessed two team meetings as I came in a bit late. The one from the last game against Sunderland, and Tuesday's game, were incredible. They were Sir Alex-esque."
Giggs wasn't just a leader; he was a team player who could play on the right, left, and central midfield. He was adaptable but a sublime playmaking gem whose crossing abilities were a huge asset for Ferguson.
Ryan Giggs' UEFA Champions League Career
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Right-wing: Nani
Club: Manchester United
Nani is perhaps the biggest surprise in Van Persie's XI, but the pacey winger's impact at Manchester United sometimes goes under the radar. Cristiano Ronaldo stole the headlines as the Red Devils' Portuguese hero but his younger compatriot could conjure up brilliance at any given moment.
"Nani was also the type of player who on his day, could do absolutely anything and if that was the case then he would go and run rings around everybody."
The ex-Sporting CP attacker was on target in United's shootout win over Chelsea in the 2008 final, showing nerves of steel with a terrific spot kick. He had to score to keep the Red Devils in the final and it was one of several moments he came up trumps.
Luis Nani's UEFA Champions League Career
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All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt- correct as of 28/03/2025.
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