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Football has seen rapid evolution ever since the inception of the Premier League back in '92. With the advancement in tactics and analysis, teams have found a way to stay a step or two ahead of the others. One such way - which has worked tremendously well in the past - is to increase the size and depth of the squads.
Jose Mourinho and Roman Abrahamovic had started the trend of investing a lot of money into bettering the quality and the numbers in the squad, which provided relief when the eventual injuries did start to plague the side, mid-way through the season.
Mourinho went on to prove the efficiency of his methods - buying second string players who were actually top quality - with other teams, especially at Madrid. As a result more and more teams have invested in replacements who come into the side due to injuries or look to provide energy by coming off the bench.
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Therefore, we compiled a list of 5 such players who were never meant to contest for the starting spots in the team and were supposed to only come on late-on in games to look to change things or to consolidate a lead, but by providing stellar performances whenever called upon, put themselves in contention for a starting spot in the squad.
#5 Casemiro
Casemiro was brought in from Sao Paolo after a decent string of results on loan with the B-team. He was meant to provide defensive cover for the illustrious midfield of the Los Blancos. With the likes of Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso in the side, the Brazilian didn't even manage to get a look-in throughout the season and was therefore loaned out to FC Porto the following season.
With Toni Kroos coming in for the departing Xabi Alonso,the dye looked cast against Casemiro who would've thought that his shot at making it in Madrid was all but over. At the end of the loan move to Porto (where he did a decent job) Casemiro would've mentally prepared himself to be seated on the bench for a majority of the season, till his fortunes changed.
In came Rafael Benitez, who is often criticised for his defensive approach towards football - looking to stifle opponents rather than being the aggressor - and Casemiro had his break. The only thing that Real Madrid fans will give the Spaniard credit for, grudgingly, is that he gave the Brazilian his first proper break at Madrid.
In the short spell of seven months under Benitez, the defensive midfielder was involved in 12 of the 17 games that he managed. A surprising stat, considering Casemiro was on the fringes of the squad, let alone the first team.
So when Benitez got the boot and in came the flamboyant Zinedine Zidane, everyone expected the Brazilian to fill the empty spaces on the bench. But the level of performances put in by the player made him simply un-benchable, even for Zizou, who looks to employ a much more free-flowing brand of football.
And the defensive aspect to his game isn't the only thing that is keeping the Brazilian firmly in the plans of the Frenchman. To add to his grit and determination to win the ball back for his team or from preventing the opposition to gain a foothold in midfield, the former Porto man has found his feet further up the pitch as well making him a constant in the Madrid line-up.
He has started getting involved regularly in creating chances for the team and also finishing off quite a few. His ability to strike the ball from distance has seen him find his name on the score-sheet on a number of occasions, impressive for a defensive midfielder only meant to thwart the opponents attacks.
He has scored really important goals for Madrid in their two consecutive triumphant Champions League campaigns including this one to give Madrid the lead in last year's final.
#4 Sergi Roberto
Barcelona has been blessed with some of the best, in the middle of the park, with the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquests all gracing the pitch at the Nou Camp. Therefore, youth products of the likes of Rafinha and Sergi Roberto were put at a disadvantage when it came to starting for the side.
The limited opportunities that the youngsters got were not enough to prove their worth as they were deemed not good enough for the side from Catalonia. Soon enough, both were pushed further down the pecking order with Andre Gomes and Ivan Rakitic coming into the side. Even the stylish Thiago Alcantara was moved on to Bayern, so what chance did the others have.
This saw Rafinha move onto Inter Milan this season, but the story of the Spaniard has unfolded quite differently.
The Spaniard was looked down upon as substitute or as cover for the starters in midfield for Barcelona. The initial opportunities he got at right-back didn't work out for him as he failed to adapt to the demands of the full back position. He often looked out of place on the flank and lost the ball in tight-spaces. Not great for a footballer looking to make a name for himself in the Catalan side.
It was current Manchester City manager who noticed the potential in Roberto and handed him his first senior start for Barcelona but the Spaniard failed to make a real impression only going on to play a total of 11 matches in the next season.
It wasn't until Gerardo Martino took over as head coach that sergi Roberto started getting a regular run-in with the side. He was involved in 17 League games under the coach who also used the Barca youth product in Cup competitions and the Champions League.
He fell out of favour with Luis Enrique when he initially came in, who looked for a more permanent full back on the right flank, as he brought in the likes of Alex Vidal and Lucas Digne to the Camp Nou. For all the world, it looked like Roberto would have to look to kick-start his career elsewhere.
However, with the new entrants failing to make an impression, the midfielder slotted into the position - which Dani Alves made his own for so many years - and he started delivering.
What followed is common knowledge. Roberto put in consistent performances and looked to find a way to mould himself into a right-back with the skill set of a midfielder (which he possessed). His ability to carry the ball forward has helped out his team on so many occasions, relieving pressure on the back-line and countering on the break.
Roberto has linked up beautifully with Luis Suarez all season long, providing the same number of assists that Jodi Alba has for Lionel Messi. He is now a constant feature in the Barcelona starting line-up and memorably came on in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 to overturn a 4 goal deficit to provide the all important 6th goal in the 95th minute of the game.
Since that particular performance the Spaniard has become almost untouchable in the first team.
#3 Edin Dzeko
When Edin Dzeko was brought in from Wolfsburg following the 2011 January transfer window - after the Bosnian had managed to score 85 and assist another 35 for the German side in 142 appearances - he was meant as a foil for City's main talisman at the time, Mario Balotelli.
The former Wolfsburg man never really made a starting spot in the City squad his own despite being provided with plenty of opportunities to partner the Italian upfield from the start. Failing to find the net as regularly as he did back in Germany, the Bosnian became a back-up for Balotelli.
In the following season, Dzeko started on the bench in 21 of the 37 games he was in the squad. And when City decided to bring in their current top-scorer of all time, Sergio Aguero the signs were ominous for the Bosnian who was predicted to spend most of his time at the Etihad, on the bench. The addition of Jovetic and Negredo to the squad signalled to the Bosnian that he would've had to be satisfied playing the substitute role.
But the proficient striker had other ideas.
He was never going to be satisfied playing second fiddle to anyone, let alone to three strikers and he forced his move to AS Roma at the end of the '14/15 season, where he has revelled under the pressure of being their main man up front.
Stats like this one will only endear him to the Roma faithful, who appreciate the Bosnian's attributes apart from his ability to find space in the box, and finish with either foot and his head.
You would've thought that Dzeko had a pretty forgettable time in England, but in his time with the Manchester out-fit he has been involved in over a 100 goals in 189 appearances. Not to mention, the first title that City ever won came during his second season with the team.
Yet somehow, the Roma man has managed to find another gear in the Serie A. The former City striker has provided almost the same number of goals and assists he managed with City in just over a 120 games.
Edin Dzeko is a man who was never going to be satisfied being a substitute and his performances with Roma only further his claim.
#2 Kieran Trippier
For the longest time, all the noise coming out of White Hart Lane was that they had an equally good right-back in Kieran Trippier, if Kyle Walker did decide to jump ship.
This assertion was met with skepticism from the rest of the footballing world which insisted that Tottenham would hang onto the English international who'd become a vital cog in the Pochettino machine. But Tottenham put their money where their mouth is and decided to unload Walker to Manchester City when the latter tabled a bid for £50 million pounds.
It was time for Kieran Trippier to prove his mettle to the world. And to be fair to the lad, he hasn't really disappointed thus far.
This stat tells us that he isn't just keeping up with the rest of the team but has challenged status-quo. It's surprisingly delightful to see English talent flourish under Pochettino. Where it is happening though, erks me deeply.
Moving on quickly.
The Englishman has also been solid at the back for Tottenham and is involved in the most economical back-line in the Premier League, save the two Manchester sides. They also have 15 clean sheets this season, bettered only by United.
Good on you, Kieran!
#1 Ole Gunnar Solskjær
As I'm prone to flying off the handle on every last slider I write, I have again, not disappointed you. Number 1 on this list isn't exactly someone who you can claim wasn't a substitute.
Was he 'just' a substitute though? Heck no.
Ole Gunnar was the super-substitute! The man with the golden touch finish.
In his time with United, the Norwegian came off the bench to score 28 goals, of which 17 came in the league - a record only recently equalled by Olivier Giroud - who himself could've been on this list, as he moved to Chelsea seeking to no longer be 'just' a sub, but his fate seems to not have altered since.
But the real essence of Solskjær is how important his goals turned out to be. The Red Devils need no reminding.
Solskjær spent over a decade at Old Trafford yet was never able to hold down a regular place in the starting XI. Instead of sulking and looking for pastures anew, he buckled-up to come on as a substitute and always had an immediate impact on the team’s fortunes.
Not blessed with the natural attributes of supreme pace and skill seen in prolific strikers, he had an instinctive finishing ability that was probably the best in the league.
Solskjær still holds the Premier League record for the most goals scored as a substitute when he bagged four goals coming off the bench against Nottingham Forest in 1999. However, the crowning moment of his career still remains the winning goal he scored in the Champions League final (also in '99) which won Manchester United an unprecedented treble.
