With Euro 2016 just around the corner, teams are doing their utmost to figure out their best combination. The best thing to happen for a national side is to have most of its players playing for the same club as it helps them bond quicker on the international setup as well.
A plethora of players from some of the very top clubs are going to be playing the Euros this year. Some of them play for the same clubs. Strangely, one of the club that jointly leads the charts of having most players in Euro 2016 aren’t going to be playing in Europe next season (not giving spoilers just yet).
Keeping all this in mind, here are the top 7 clubs with the most players at the Euros this year…
#5.a Shakhtar Donetsk – 9
Shakhtar might not be among the super-giants in club football, but when it comes to their players representing the national team, they fare better than even (spoiler alert) Real Madrid. The Ukranian giants have no fewer than 9 players in the tournament, jointly sitting at number 5 with two more teams.
Their players include…
Andriy Pyatov (Ukraine), Vyacheslav Shevchuk (Ukraine), Oleksandr Kucher (Ukraine), Yaroslav Rakitskiy (Ukraine), Bohdan Butko (Ukraine), Taras Stepanenko (Ukraine), Viktor Kovalenko (Ukraine), Yevhen Seleznyov (Ukraine), Darijo Srna (Croatia)
#5.b Barcelona – 9
Obviously, they had to be in the top 5 given how they dominate world football with their world class players. The Blaugranas, just like Fenerbahce, have 9 representatives at the Euro 2016—and we expect them to show us why they are the mighty Barcelona players in the first place.
Their players include…
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany), Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia), Arda Turan (Turkey), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Marc Bartra (Spain), Jordi Alba (Spain), Gerard Pique (Spain)
#5.c Bayern Munich – 9
The last team that jointly sits at number 5 on this list with Barca and Fenerbahce is none other than Bayern Munich. It is no surprise to find them here since Bavarian players dominate the German squad like no other team. In fact, there are only a very few German internationals that haven’t played for Bayern Munich.
Their players include…
David Alaba (Austria), Thiago Alcantara (Spain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Mario Gotze (Germany), Jerome Boateng (Germany), Thomas Muller (Germany), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Kingsley Coman (France)
#4 Manchester United – 10
The Red Devils might not be performing to expectations, but they are still among the top-ranked teams in the world when it comes to their players representing them at Euros. With 10 players playing in Europe’s premier international competition, the Old Trafford team lie at number 4 on this list.
Their players include…
Chris Smalling (England), Wayne Rooney (England), Marcus Rashford (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland), David De Gea (Spain), Marouane Fellaini (Belgium), Matteo Darmian (Italy), Anthony Martial (France), Morgan Schneiderlin (France)
#3 Tottenham Hotspur – 11
Despite ending below Arsenal on the very last match-day, Tottenham Hotspurs had a season to remember as they once again find themselves playing in the Champions League next season. This is the first time since the 2010-11 season when Spurs will play in the Champions League. Hence, it is no surprising to see their players dominating this slideshow with 11 representatives at the Euros.
Their players include…
Toby Alderweireld (Belgium), Jan Vertonghen (Belgium), Mousa Dembele (Belgium), Kevin Wimmer (Austria), Ben Davies (Wales), Dele Alli (England), Eric Dier (England), Harry Kane (England), Danny Rose (England), Kyle Walker (England), Hugo Lloris (France)
#1.a Liverpool – 12
Liverpool are not going to play in any European competition next season. Yet, that doesn’t stop them from having the joint-most representatives in Euro 2016. With a wide variety players from different nations, Liverpool have 12 players in France preparing for the competition.
The players include…
Christian Benteke (Belgium), Divock Origi (Belgium), Simon Mignolet (Belgium), Emre Can (Germany), Martin Skrtel (Slovakia), Joe Allen (Wales), Danny Ward (Wales), Daniel Sturridge (England), Jordan Henderson (England), Nathaniel Clyne (England), Adam Lallana (England), James Milner (England)
#1.b Juventus – 12
And finally, along with Liverpool, the Old Lady has the most players playing on behalf of them. Most of the players in the Italian team play for Juventus and hence it is not surprising to see them lead this list with 12 players.
The players include…
Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Andrea Barzagli (Italy), Stefano Sturaro (Italy), Simone Zaza (Italy), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Mario Mandzukic (Croatia), Alvaro Morata (Spain), Sami Khedira (Germany), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Switzerland), Paul Pogba (France), Patrice Evra (France)