Expatriate Football Players Dominate Champions League

Expatriate players dominated the 2008-9 season in the Champions League, according to data from www.eurofootplayers.org. Expatriates made up 55.9 per cent of all players, 2.1 per cent more than last season. They also played just under 60 per cent of all minutes played. The club that used the most expatriate players was Arsenal with 82.8 per cent in the squad and 92.7 per cent on the pitch. As in last season, the North London club was also the club with the youngest players, 22.7 years on average.

Expatriate players dominated the 2008-9 season in the Champions League, according to data from www.eurofootplayers.org. Expatriates made up 55.9 per cent of all players, 2.1 per cent more than last season. They also played just under 60 per cent of all minutes played. The club that used the most expatriate players was Arsenal with 82.8 per cent in the squad and 92.7 per cent on the pitch. As in last season, the North London club was also the club with the youngest players, 22.7 years on average. With 90 players, Brazil was the most strongly represented country, but the number of Brazilians was 17 down on last season. France, Spain and Italy, followed by Argentina, were next in the rankings. England was represented by only 30 players, positioning it 7th in the ranking, just ahead of Germany. The club that played the most home grown players (46.7 per cent) was also the winner, Barcelona.