Where Are They Now? The Rangers Side That Made it to the UEFA Cup Final in 2008

Despite their rich, trophy-laden history, Scotland's most decorated club - Rangers - have won just one piece of European silverware.

36 years after their 1972 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph, the Light Blues once again found themselves fighting for a trophy on the continent, facing off against another surprise finalist, Zenit Saint Petersburg, in 2008.

Having dropped into the UEFA Cup from the Champions League, Rangers' ridiculously defensive approach saw them edge inch by inch towards the final in unspectacular fashion. In fact, the Gers scored just five goals in nine games and somehow ended up finishing the competition as runners-up.

But sh**housery can only get you so far, with Walter Smith's underdogs slumping to an only fair 2-0 defeat in the final in Manchester. Channelling the luck of the Scottish, Rangers left England empty-handed courtesy of an Andrey Arshavin masterclass, losing at the hands of former boss Dick Advocaat.

With the defeat came more or less complete anonymity for many of Rangers' European trailblazers, so let's take a trip down memory lane to see what came next for the Light Blues' nearly men...

The Starting XI

GK - Neil Alexander

Having only joined Rangers in January 2008, Alexander would go on to play for the Light Blues for five more years, racking up 94 appearances for the club. Following their demotion to the fourth tier, the Scottish goalkeeper made his move to Crystal Palace, but made just one appearance for the Eagles.

A return to Scotland soon followed with the shot-stopper signing for Hearts, Aberdeen and Livingston in the final years of his career.

RB - Kirk Broadfoot

Rangers' financial problems saw a horde of players leave the club in the summer of 2012, with Broadfoot one of the many to move on to 'bigger' things.

After long stints with Rotherham United and Blackpool south of the border, the right-back would eventually return to Scotland, enjoying two spells with Kilmarnock and a brief period with his first senior club St Mirren.

CB - David Weir

Shrugging off the disappointment of the UEFA Cup final, Weir would go on to win six more domestic trophies with the Gers, including three successive league titles in the subsequent years.

The Scotsman retired with the Light Blues in 2012, being inducted into the club's Hall of Fame shortly before he hung up his boots. Weir eventually began his coaching career at Sheffield United in 2013, but has never been forgotten north of the border.

CB - Carlos Cuellar

Aston Villa, Sunderland and Norwich fans will likely remember the Spanish defender, who enjoyed seven years in English football with the three aforementioned clubs.

Following a brief return to Spain with Almeria, Cuellar finished his career in Israel, playing for four different Israeli teams before calling time on his playing days.

LB - Sasa Papac

Much like Weir, the 39-cap Bosnian international went on to win six trophies for the Gers following UEFA Cup heartbreak, becoming a firm fan favourite at Ibrox along the way.

Making a total of 227 appearances for Rangers, the left-back finished his career in Scotland, eventually hanging up his boots after persistent injuries kept him off the pitch.

DM - Brahim Hemdani

Not only did Hemdani make his final Rangers appearance during the UEFA Cup final, it also turned out to be the Algerian's last ever game at club level.

Having only been voted Rangers' Player of the Year by fans in 2007, the decision was more than a little surprising, but the midfielder did go on to make his only two appearances for Algeria after the UEFA Cup final.

RM - Steven Whittaker

Despite being a right-back, Smith decided to use Whittaker as a makeshift winger during the UEFA Cup final. Unsurprisingly, it didn't pay dividends.

The Scotsman also left Rangers in 2012 like many of his teammates, going on to spend five years with Norwich. The 35-year-old returned to first club Hibernian in 2017 and is still going strong at Easter Road today.

CM - Barry Ferguson

The UEFA Cup final captain, Ferguson made his 400th Rangers appearance against Zenit. Another member of the club's Hall of Fame, the midfielder eventually brought his ten years with the Light Blues to an end in 2009.

Having moved to Premier League Birmingham, the wheels quickly fell off Ferguson's career, with the Scotsman going on to endure some tough times in the lower tiers of English football.

CM - Kevin Thomson

Eventually moving to Middlesbrough in 2010, Thomson's persistent injury problems wreaked havoc on his career in English football.

Having struggled for game time in the Championship, the midfielder returned to Scotland for Hibs and Dundee.

LM - Steven Davis

Having thoroughly impressed at Ibrox, Davis returned to the Premier League with Southampton in 2012, spending seven hit and miss years with the Saints.

With age catching up with the Northern Irishman, the 35-year-old has found comfort back in Glasgow, having made 42 appearances for the Light Blues since moving back to Scotland.

ST - Jean-Claude Darcheville

A surprise inclusion in the starting lineup for the final, Darcheville's Rangers career was short and not very sweet.

After having consistently proved his inconsistency, the forward went on to return to France with Nantes in 2009, before moving to Greece and back to French Guiana.

Substitutes

Graeme Smith (GK) - Having made just one senior appearance ever for the Gers, Smith moved around Scotland and is currently without a club at 37.

Christian Dailly (CB) - A versatile defender, Dailly made 67 appearances for Scotland. After leaving Rangers in 2009, the centre-back eventually retired in 2012 after a short spell with Southend United.

Charlie Adam (CM) - Eventually finding varied success in the Premier League with Blackpool, Liverpool and Stoke, Adam is now playing for Championship Reading.

Lee McCulloch (CM) - McCulloch became a club legend after sticking with the Gers during the dark days of demotion, eventually leaving in 2015.

Amdy Faye (CM) - The midfielder was only ever on loan at Rangers, eventually ending up at Stoke and Leeds towards the end of his career.

Nacho Novo (ST) - After leaving the Gers in 2010 as a cult hero, Novo's career took a downward turn. The Spaniard played for the likes of Glentoran, Greenock Morton and Carlisle as he edged towards retirement.

Kris Boyd (ST) - Leaving in 2010, the prolific goalscorer returned for a brief spell at Ibrox in 2014/15, before moving back to Kilmarnock.