We profile the five players our in-house social media team have selected to make up the iconic Stoke City side from the 2015/16 season.
Stoke City (2015/16)
Led by Mark Hughes, Stoke City reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and secured a third-successive ninth place finish in the Premier League.
The Potters went toe-to-toe with some of England’s finest sides during the campaign, defeating both Manchester City and Manchester United in the league in December, before heartbreakingly bowing out of the League Cup against Liverpool on penalties, after a 1-0 win at Anfield levelled the tie up.
Jack Butland (GK)
After Asmir Begovic’s departure, Jack Butland was given the number one jersey and he seized the opportunity.
He quickly endeared himself to the ST4 faithful with his penalty save against Eden Hazard before making his full England debut, where he picked up an ankle fracture that ruled him out of the remainder of the campaign.
Despite picking the injury up in March, Butland was named Stoke City Player of the Year at the end of the season.
Philipp Wollscheid (DF)
A key member of Mark Hughes’ squad, Philipp Wollscheid played 39 times for Stoke City in the 2015/16 campaign, impressing with his all-round natural ability.
The German international established himself in the team and even had the Potters fans claiming he was "better than Zidane” as part of a terrace chant.
Xherdan Shaqiri (MF)
A £12m club-record signing from Inter Milan, Xherdan Shaqiri produced moments of magic during his first season at the club.
From a majestic performance against Manchester City to a Boxing Day worldie against Everton, the Swiss international quickly cemented himself as a fan-favourite.
Bojan Krkic (MF)
After a stellar debut campaign, Bojan returned from an ACL injury in September 2015 and picked up where he left off.
Mark Hughes deployed the Spaniard as a false nine and he flourished in an attack alongside Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri – the birth of ‘Stokealona’.
Marko Arnautovic (FW)
The goal at White Hart Lane.
The bicycle kick winner against José Mourinho’s Chelsea.
The brace against Manchester City.
The screamer against Manchester United.
The winner at Goodison Park.
The League Cup semi-final strike at Anfield.
Marko Arnautović’s 2015/16 campaign for Stoke City was simply unforgettable!
