The Champions League semi finals are well underway now with the first legs of both ties already being complete. But there is a pretty insane stat that not enough people are talking about.

Stoke City's 2015/16 squad looking back on it was pretty insane. Seven of the players in that squad have featured in UCL Semi Finals.

Today we are going to look at all of them and prove just how crazy of a team this Stoke side was.

Glen Johnson

The first player on this list Johnson was the first signing of the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea.

Johnson would go on to be a part of the Claudio Ranieri side that knocked Arsenal's invincibles out of the cup only to lose in the semi finals against runners up Monaco.

Not only that but he also helped Chelsea to a clean sheet in the first leg of the semi final against Liverpool the following year.

Although he didn't won the competition Johnson did play a key part. A veteran of the English game he retired at Stoke in 2018.

Peter Crouch

Known to many as the most famous tall man in football Crouch is next on the list.

Crouch of course played for Liverpool under Rafa Benitez and even managed to score six goals on their way to the final in 2006/07. Featuring in the final defeat to AC Milan.

The big man would go on to sign for Stoke where he made the most appearances in his career (and scored the majority of his career goals).

“You’re bang average players in a fantastic system 🤣

Peter Crouch sits down with Joe Cole to recall his time at Stoke and playing under Tony Pulis #SCFC #TBPTVpic.twitter.com/MLJAI9BtrX

— The Bear Pit TV (@TheBearPitTV) September 2, 2022

Bojan Kirkic

Although he didn't get on too well with Pep Guardiola Bojan was a part of a decent number of Champions League semis while at Barca.

After becoming the youngest player to feature in La Liga for Barcelona, Lionel Messi's cousin made his first appearance in a semi final in 2007-08 against Manchester United. A game that ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Lucky enough for Bojan though he would go on to feature in the following two seasons for them. Before signing for Stoke where he spent five seasons.

Marko Arnautovic

OK we may be cheating a little bit here.

Arnautovic has technically never featured in a Champions League semi final however he was a key part of Mourinho's treble winning Inter Milan side.

That side would defeat Guardiola and Barcelona in the semi before winning historically in the final.

A somewhat controversial star at times Arnautovic would later sign for Stoke making over 100 appearances for the club. He would leave for West Ham and then to China before going to Bologna - almost being signed by Manchester United - and then returned to Inter Milan.

Watching Marko Arnautovic score on Champions League nights whilst Stoke City sit 19th in the Championship is so depressing... pic.twitter.com/k8wDbtCje3

— george (@StokeyyG2) February 20, 2024

A very up and down career for Arnautovic.

Ibrahim Afellay

Here's a player I can almost guarantee you forgot existed.

Afellay made just 55 appearances for Stoke but before that he was a pretty decent Barcelona player.

Not only did he play in the Champions League semi final victory against Real Madrid in 2010/11 but he played a massive part. Two assists for Messi in the game helping guide them to the final at Wembley.

A game that they would go on to win.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Swiss international, Shaqiri is actually the only player on this list to feature in a UCL Semi final both before and after his time at Stoke.

As a part of the Bayern Munich squad that will the treble back in 2009-10. This included a 4-0 win against Barcelona in the semi finals. And to top it all off 6 years later, he was involved in another 4-0 smashing of Barcelona this time with Liverpool.

Barcelona just don't like coming up against Shaqiri in the champions league semis.

One of the craziest stats you'll ever see...

2004: Glen Johnson
2005: Johnson; Ibrahim Afellay
2007: Peter Crouch
2008: Bojan; Crouch
2009: Bojan
2010: Bojan; Marko Arnautovic
2011: Afellay
2013: Xherdan Shaqiri
2019: Shaqiri
2024: Joselu

🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZZD3rJ9SKs

— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) May 1, 2024

Joselu

The final player on the list and of course the most recent.

Joselu is a part of Real Madrid's current squad having made it to the semi finals this season after beating Manchester City on penalties.

As of current he is having a quite underrated season playing a major part in Madrid's success and to think it all falls back to scoring 11 goals in 79 games for the potters.

A 2-2 draw in the opening leg against Bayern Munich… who knows maybe Joselu will be vital to getting Madrid into the Wembley final.

🚨 At Valdebebas, it is a given that Joselu will stay at the club. @relevo #rmalive pic.twitter.com/EBsJZdWW7o

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 3, 2024

And he may even win it?