Champions League: The Last Dortmund Squad to Play in A Final, Where Are They Now?

• German giants Borussia Dortmund are set to play in their first Champions League final since 2013
• The 2013 edition was an all-German affair in which Dortmund lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium
• Only two players from that Borussia Dortmund squad that lost in the 2013 final are still at the club

The heartbreak from the 2013 Champions League final is still fresh in Borussia Dortmund fans’ minds.

The die Schwarzgelben are in their first final of Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 11 years, with the chance to make amends for the 2013 disappointment.

Winning the trophy will not come easy, however, as the most successful club in Champions League history in Dortmund's way.

The showdown at Wembley on Saturday, June 1 promises to be a cracker, with some interesting subplots for two Dortmund players, who were at the club when Bayern beat them 2-1 in 2013, as per the UEFA website.

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Sports Brief explores the last Dortmund squad to play in the Champions League final in 2013 and their current situation.

Dortmund's Champions League starting XI, 2013

Goalkeeper:Roman Weidenfeller

Roman Weidenfeller spent 16 years at Dortmund before announcing his retirement from the game in 2018.

He continues to represent the club as an international ambassador to date.

Right back: Łukasz Piszczek

The Poland international joined Dortmund in 2010 on a free transfer from Zagłębie Lubin.

After the 2013 Champions League final, Piszczek played for Dortmund for eight more years before leaving in 2021. He returned to his native Poland, where he plays for Goczałkowice-Zdrój, aged 38.

Centre back: Neven Subotić

Neven Subotic spent 10 years at Dortmund before leaving the club in 2018.

Now retired, the Bosnia international had stints with Saint Etienne in France, Union Berlin in Germany, Turkish side Denizlispor and Austria Bundesliga side Rheindorf Altach before announcing his retirement in 2022.

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Centre back: Mats Hummels

At 35, Mats Hummels is still going strong as a Borussia Dortmund player.

He joined the club in 2009 and spent seven years at the Signa Iduna Park before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2016.

After three years with the Bavarians, Hummels returned to Dortmund in 2019.

Left-back: Marcel Schmelzer

Marcel Schmelzer started his professional career at Dortmund and spent 17 seasons with the club before hanging his boots in 2022.

Before that, he struggled with injuries, which kept him out of the entire .2020–21 season. The only reason his contract was renewed in 2021 was so he could have medical insurance cover for a stubborn knee injury rather than game time.

Central midfielder: Sven Bender

Sven Bender was a hybrid of a defensive midfielder and a central defender.

He made his Bundesliga debut in 2009 with Borussia Dortmund and played for the club for eight years before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen in 2017.

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Bender played for Leverkusen until the end of the 2020-2021 season and announced his retirement soon after.

Central midfielder: İlkay Gündoğan

İlkay Gündoğan was not a household name when he featured in the 2013 Champions League final aged 23.

The VfL Bochum academy graduate joined Dortmund in 2011, playing for the club for five seasons before joining Manchester City in 2016.

After seven years with The Citizens, Gundogan joined Barcelona in the summer of 2023.

Right winger: Jakub Błaszczykowski

Known as “Kuba” in his native Poland, Jakub Błaszczykowski joined Dortmund in 2007, according to Transfermarkt.

After 197 appearances for the German club, he left in 2016. He initially joined Fiorentina on loan before securing a permanent move to Wolfsburg.

On the eve of the 2023–24 season, he announced his retirement from football, aged 37, after a four-year stint with Polish giants Wisła Kraków.

Attacking midfielder: Marco Reus

After re-signing for Borussia Dortmund in 2012, Marco Reus has established himself as a legend at the club.

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He is one of two people still with the club from the 2013 squad that lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, although he recently announced the game against Real Madrid will be the 35-year-old’s last for the club.

Left winger: Kevin Großkreutz

Kevin Großkreutz only played two more seasons at Dortmund after the 2013 Champions League final.

After leaving the German giants, he joined Galatasaray in 2016 and had stints with Stuttgart, Darmstadt 98, KFC Uerdingen and TuS Bövinghausen.

The 35-year-old currently has a sporadic role with fifth-tier German side TuS Bövinghausen.

Central striker: Robert Lewandowski

Regarded as one of the best strikers of the modern era, Robert Lewandowski spent four years at Borussia Dortmund before leaving in 2014 to secure a controversial move to Bayern Munich.

After eight trophy-laden seasons with the Bavarians, the Poland international joined Barcelona in 2022, where he is still playing at the time of this article's publication.

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Most loyal players in Europe’s top 5 leagues

Sports Brief also reported on the most loyal players in Europe’s top five leagues.

Marco Reus, who is set to leave Dortmund after 12 years with the club, is among the top 30 players who served the longest time for a single club.

The list is topped by Koke, who spent 15 years and 10 months at Atletico Madrid.