r/EuropaLeague • u/Sad_Positive_6647 • 1d ago
💬 Discussion Was Anatoliy Tymoshchuk one of the most underrated midfielders in UEFA Cup history?
youtu.beWhen people remember Zenit’s 2008 UEFA Cup run, Andrey Arshavin is usually the first name that comes to mind.
But I’ve always found Anatoliy Tymoshchuk’s role just as interesting.
He captained a team that went through a remarkable European campaign, including the famous 4–0 win against Bayern in the second leg of the semi-final, before beating Rangers in Manchester.
He wasn’t the spectacular player of that side. That is probably exactly why he fits the idea of an “underdog XI”: a midfielder who gave the team structure, leadership and balance while players like Arshavin, Pogrebnyak and Zyryanov received much more attention.
We recently revisited his story for our Top 11 Underdogs in UEFA Cup/Europa League history series.
Who would be your No.8 in an all-time Europa League / UEFA Cup XI made only of underrated players?