Sports Mole look at some notable forgotten Euro 2024 players to have featured in the Premier League.
There are many ex Premier League players at Euro 2024 hoping to lift the trophy, as the tournament commences in Germany on June 14th.
As such, we have made a list of notable forgotten players to have featured in England’s top flight, which should bring some light-hearted nostalgia to fans as they wait for the Euros to begin.
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Undav is in Germany’s 27-man provisional squad for Euro 2024, as the hosts aim to win silverware on their own turf. The striker has enjoyed a wonderful season with Stuttgart, as he scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists in the Bundesliga, helping them finish in second ahead of traditional powerhouses Bayern Munich.
Before his move, Undav spent one season at Brighton and Hove Albion, and was below the pecking order. Indeed, he only made 22 appearances in the Premier League, scoring five goals, and will be hoping to break his duck for his country at the Euros.
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Not many fans outside of Liverpool will recall Gulacsi being a Premier League player. He did not make any appearances in the competition, but was named in several matchday squads.
Nonetheless, Gulacsi is far more of a household name in his native Hungary and should be first-choice in goal for his country at the Euros. The RB Leipzig goalkeeper has won 53 senior caps for the national team and will be hoping to keep as many clean sheets as possible to help them advance to the knockouts.
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Merino has largely played his football in his home country of Spain, and currently stars in centre-midfield for Real Sociedad. However, Newcastle supporters will remember the loan spell he had at St. James’ Park in the 2017-18 campaign.
Indeed, Merino made 24 Premier League appearances, scoring once and supplying one assist, and the Magpies bought him on a permanent deal the following summer. However, in a strange scenario, they then sold him to Sociedad almost straight away for a small profit, and he has been impressing in Spain ever since.
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Staying in Group B, Croatia’s Vlasic has had two previous spells in the Premier League – at Everton and West Ham United. He was bought for a considerable amount of money by the latter, but it never really worked out at either club.
Indeed, he only made 31 appearances in the top flight for them combined, scoring just once and providing no assists. His international form is better, as Vlasic has netted eight times in 55 senior caps for Croatia.
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Onto Group C is where we find Kristensen, who spent one season in the Premier League at Leeds United, before they were relegated in 2022-23. The full-back spent this term on loan at AS Roma in Serie A, and after Leeds failed to gain promotion back up to the top flight, he will surely be looking for a permanent move this summer.
Kristensen plays his international football for Denmark and has been named in their final squad for Euro 2024. He has earned 20 senior caps for his country, and will be searching for his first-ever international goal.
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Grosicki’s 36th birthday is coming up later this week, but the veteran has still been selected for Group D Poland’s provisional 29-man squad regardless. He is only one of four squad members currently playing their club football in their native country of Poland.
In his long career, Grosicki also had two spells in the Premier League – one at Hull City and the other at West Bromwich Albion. Both clubs are now in the Championship, and will be hoping to make a return to the top flight soon.
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Another Turkish former Premier League player to keep an eye on is Tosun, who had a rather forgettable spell in the top flight. Signed for fairly big money from Everton in January 2018, he also spent half a season on loan at Crystal Palace. Tosun only managed 10 Premier League goals in 55 appearances, but the striker could lead the line for Turkey given his experience.
He has scored 20 goals in 50 senior caps for his country and will be looking to add to his tally.
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Our last forgotten ex Premier League player comes in the form of Vitinha, who is one of many Portuguese players to have featured for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The midfielder spent the 2020-21 term on loan at Molineux, where he managed no goals and just one assist in 19 top-flight appearances. Vitinha has also never scored for Portugal and will be hoping to change that at the Euros after an impressive campaign with Paris Saint-Germain.
Indeed, he scored nine times and supplied five assists in 46 games over all competitions, helping PSG win a domestic treble.
