20 players MATCH magazine tipped for stardom in 2002 and how their careers panned out

First issued in 1979, MATCH has provided the British youth with footballing insight, quizzes, interviews, and more, for decades. The football-mad favourite shot to prominence during the mid-1990s, becoming the biggest-selling title of its kind in Britain, and is still in production to this day.

In 2002, the magazine comprised a list of its top-20 phenoms who were just starting to strut their stuff in the Premier League - and who MATCH believed would go on to be world beaters. From a pair of Arsenal Invincibles to one of the top-flight's all-time top goalscorers, Express Sport takes a look back at the MATCH’s '20 Premiership Wonderkids who are red-hot prospects' and what the players tipped to be stars of tomorrow ended up achieving on the field.

Beginning MATCH’s list at No. 20 was then-Newcastle starlet Michael Chopra. The Magpies youth prospect was attempting to pave a path for himself at St. James’s Park, but he would never quite clasp onto a first-team berth. Instead, Chopra would find joy with Cardiff City, across two PFA Team of the Year spells, as well as a successful time with Ipswich Town before his career tailed off. Yet, as of 2022, Chopra, who first retired in 2016, is thought to be back playing with local side West Allotment Celtic.

At No. 19 was young Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell. The ex-West Ham youth showed promise as a centre-half at Villa Park and made a slew of appearances before a permanent move to Birmingham City in 2007. There, Ridgewell flourished into a stalwart and aided his side to a League Cup win in 2011. A couple of campaigns with West Brom came and went before a move to the MLS and Portland Timbers, where the 40-year-old is now a coach, having retired in 2020.

Australian Luke Wilkshire came in at No. 18, and he never broke through as a defensive prospect at Middlesbrough, instead finding success with Bristol City and, later, Dynamo Moscow before hanging up his boots in 2018. The right-back earned 80 caps for his country.

Up at No. 17 was Arsenal’s Invincible youngster Jeremie Aliadiere. The Frenchman signed for the Gunners at 16, and slowly made inroads into the first team under Arsene Wenger, claiming two Premier League medals and an FA Cup in the process. After some loan spells away, the striker eventually departed, signing for Middlesbrough in a deal worth £2.5million. His time on Teeside wasn’t a hit, and after moves to France and Qatar, he retired in 2018.

Englishman Chris Shuker was listed No. 16, having shown promise at Manchester City. However, the nippy midfield ace never got going in sky blue, leaving in 2004 and carving out a stellar career across the EFL for the likes of Barnsley, Tranmere, and Port Vale before becoming a coach.

Another promising Birmingham City prospect came in at No. 15 in the form of midfielder Darren Carter. Carter enjoyed a virtuous playing career with the Blues, Preston North End, and West Brom - among others - starring in over 300 Premier League and EFL matches. He played out a consistent tail-end to his career with Solihull Moors before his retirement in 2021.

Former England star Kieran Richardson was up at No. 14. The versatile ex-Manchester United academy ace played out the best years of his career at Sunderland, where he became renowned for his tenacity and engine. He earned eight Three Lions caps and called it quits in 2017 after also playing for Fulham, Aston Villa, and Cardiff City.

Chelsea’s Portuguese starlet Filipe Oliveira was listed No. 13, and the right-sided midfielder couldn’t quite find a landing spot during his playing days. He departed Stamford Bridge in 2006, having played scarcely, and spent time in Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Cyprus, and Romania before his time was up.

Having joined Newcastle for £8.5m in 2002, hopes were high for No. 12 on the list, another Portuguese ace, Hugo Viana. However, things never quite worked out for the midfield star, and after spells with Valencia and Braga, the former Young European Footballer of the Year retired in 2016 at age 33. He has stayed in the game, though, and is now director of football at Manchester City.

No. 11, striker Milan Baros, joined Liverpool as one of Europe’s finest prospects. The Czech ace, though he never quite lived up to the potential he arrived on Merseyside with, did aid in the Reds’ historic 205 Champions League win. He departed Liverpool in 2005 for £6.5m to join Aston Villa. There, he found goals hard to come by, and Baros called it quits aged 38 in 2020 after spending some time back in his homeland.

Striker Stefan Moore sat at No. 10, and though the striker looked like he had a top-flight future at Aston Villa, by his mid-twenties, he was a non-league marksman. Moore was most prolific with teams such as Halesown Town and St Neots Town, and his time as a semi-professional ended in 2018.

More of a success story was tipped at No. 9 in the form of Irish defender John O’Shea. Though he was never always the first name on the teamsheet for Manchester United during his early tenure, O’Shea managed to make nearly 400 appearances for the Red Devils in over a decade with the club. He has 14 winners’ medals - including five league titles and a Champions League - to his name, and transitioned into coaching in 2020 as one of Ireland’s most decorated players of all time.

Argentina-born marksman Vicente Vuoso was tipped at No. 8, though he never ended up playing a single league clash for Manchester City – who signed him from Independiente in 2002. Vuoso would leave English football after just 12 months, moving to Mexico with Santos Laguna, and he would stay in Liga MX, across spells with multiple clubs, for well over a decade, earning Mexican citizenship in the process, and earning 15 caps for the nation. He retired in 2017.

Then with Chelsea, imposing striker Carlton Cole was listed at No. 7 – and he didn't disappoint. Though he never found success with the Blues, upon moving to West Ham in 2006, he carved out a career that has made him a revered modern icon. Cole played 293 times in Claret and Blue, scoring 68 goals and earning seven England caps. He left the Hammers in 2015 for Celtic, and brief spells in America and Indonesia followed before his retirement in 2018.

Another English starlet comes in at No. 6, Jermaine Pennant. The talented but ultimately troubled ex-Arsenal winger was perhaps better known for his off-field antics than his time on the pitch. His big-money move to Liverpool in 2006 was perhaps where the best of Pennant was seen, though he slowly dwindled from contention and chopped and changed clubs. Another notable spell with Stoke City showed a glimmer of hope, though Pennant eventually retired in 2017, last playing for non-league Billericay Town.

Sunderland youth Grant Leadbitter was highly regarded at No. 5, and though he never ascended to dizzying heights, he did carve out a solid career in the North East. The enforcer of a midfielder played nearly 250 times for Middlesbrough, over 200 times for Sunderland, and also had a notable stint with Ipswich Town. He went out on a bang after a return to the Stadium of Light in 2019, winning the EFL trophy in 2021 before retiring and becoming a coach with the Black Cats.

At No. 4 was young West Brom midfielder Adam Chambers. Touted for big things, Chambers could never stamp down a first-team place at the Hawthorns, and he moved to Leyton Orient in 2006. There, he played almost 200 times before joining Walsall in 2011 and establishing himself as a modern stalwart, appearing over 300 times before a 2019 retirement.

Kicking off the top trio at No. 3 was Arsenal defender Kolo Toure. The Ivorian is another on the list who aided the Gunners in their Invincibles season, often taking over from veteran Martin Keown alongside Sol Campbell. He left behind a solid legacy at the Emirates in 2009 when joining Manchester City, where he would eventually play with brother Yaya, and enjoyed moves to Liverpool and Celtic before retiring in 2017.

Irishman Thomas Butler comes in at No. 2, and though in his youth the winger looked to be a world beater, he didn't quite live up to such a reputation. After making his Sunderland debut, Butler played scarcely for the Black Cats and left them in 2004. He would find playing time at Hartlepool United and Swansea City before injuries cut his career short.

The player who was listed at No. 1 and takes the top spot needs very little introduction. Wayne Rooney – then one of the most likely-looking talents English football had ever seen with Everton – would, of course, go on to achieve great things at Manchester United. Five Premier League titles, a Champions League and FA Cup, 559 appearances and 253 goals later, Rooney returned to Goodison Park. Time with D.C. United would follow, as would Derby County, and Rooney ended his 120 England-capped career in 2021 to become a manager, last taking charge of Plymouth Argyle.