Where are Manchester United's 2017 Europa League winners?

Back in 2016, the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford initially felt like Manchester United were turning a corner.

The appointment of David Moyes was misguided, while Louis van Gaal’s best days as a manager were behind him, and United looked miles off getting back to the pinnacle of English football.

Although United fans may not have realised it at the time, Mourinho’s best days were behind him, too, but he did still have a couple of cards to play.

United would finish sixth in Mourinho’s first season, but did win the EFL Cup and the Europa League, securing UEFA Champions League qualification via the back door, beating Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm.

Below, we look at United’s starters from that night and look at where they ended up.

GK – Sergio Romero

Remarkably, 20% of Sergio Romero’s games as a professional came for Argentina, owing to the better part of a decade he spent as a backup.

Nevertheless, he was Jose Mourinho’s cup goalkeeper on the way to the Europa League final, keeping a clean sheet against Ajax.

Romero made just 33 more appearances at Old Trafford over the next four years before joining Venezia, finishing his career at Boca Juniors.

RB – Antonio Valencia

Being converted from a right-winger to a right-back, Antonio Valencia spent two more years at Manchester United before returning to Ecuador, joining LDU Qutio.

Valencia spent a couple of years back in his home country before finishing his playing career with a season at Liga MX side Queretaro.

CB – Chris Smalling

Despite struggling with injury for much of the campaign, Chris Smalling was one of Jose Mourinho’s most trusted deputies, often taking the armband.

Deemed surplus to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s requirements after Mourinho’s sacking, Smaling was loaned to Roma, making the move permanent the following year where he’d go on to work with Mourinho again, winning the Conference League.

Smalling now plies his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Fayha.

CB – Daley Blind

His lack of pace and height but left-footedness and wonderful ability on the ball made it difficult for Daley Blind to carve out a niche for himself as Old Trafford, being deployed at centre-back, left-back and as a defensive midfielder.

Starting the Europa League final in defence, Blind would spent one more year on the fringes of the first team at Old Trafford, returning to Ajax where he’d spend five successful years.

Blind enjoyed a brief stint on loan with Bayern Munich before moving to Girona, where he’s featured as a regular for the last two years.

LB – Matteo Darmian

One of several Louis van Gaal signings who never quite fit the bill at Old Trafford, Matteo Darmin spent two more years at Old Trafford before returning to Italy with Parma.

A move to Inter followed, where he’d go on to make more than 200 appearances, playing in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final.

DM – Ander Herrera

Signed as a technical, creative midfielder, Ander Herrera was converted into an industrious, midfielder destroyer by Jose Mourinho. Herrera spent one more season at Old Trafford before leaving on a free transfer, joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Spending three years in the French capital, Herrera returned to Athletic club for three more years, and now represents Boca Juniors in Argentina.

CM – Marouane Fellaini

Struggling to win over many Manchester United fans, Marouane Fellaini was used by David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho in a number of roles across his six years at Old Trafford.

Fellaini spent two more years at Old Trafford after the Europa League final before joining Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan where he played for five years, winning the Chinese Super League title in 2021.

CM – Paul Pogba

One of the most enigmatic players to wear the red shirt of Manchester United, Paul Pogba was one of the few genuinely world class players to play for United after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure and scored the opening goal in the final.

A phenomenally gifted footballer, Pogba’s time at Old Trafford was hampered by injury. The Frenchman left in 2022 to return to Juventus on a free transfer, but his time there was beset by further injuries and disciplinary issues, receiving a four-year doping ban, later reduced to 18 months.

Pogba, still only 32 years old, remains a free agent.

RW – Juan Mata

Gradually receiving fewer minutes as the years went on, Juan Mata left Old Trafford at the end of the 2021/22 season, joining Galatasaray. After a year in Turkey, Mata re-united with former Spain team-mate Andres Iniesta at Vissel Kobe in Japan, playing just once.

Mata then moved to Australian’s Wester Sydney Wanderers, where he still plays.

LW – Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan struggled to adjust to life at Old Trafford after arriving with a lofty reputation from his time at Borussia Dortmund.

Despite starting the final and scoring the game’s second goal, Mkhitaryan would be shipped out to Arsenal after 18 months.

Mkhitaryan only turned out 59 times for the Gunners before moving to Roma where he enjoyed a resurgence.

After three years in the Italian capital, Mkhitaryan moved to Inter, where he played in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final and still turns out regularly for the Nerazzurri.

CF – Marcus Rashford

Enjoying his first full season after his breakthrough the previous term, Marcus Rashford was trusted to lead the line for United at the age of 19.

After almost 10 years at the club, Rashford’s time at Old Trafford looks to have come to an acrimonious end, currently on loan at Aston Villa and seeking a permanent summer departure.