Spanish football in the 90s was a very different place.
All of the best players belonged to either Real Madrid or Barcelona, and the two clubs were constantly locked in a two-way battle for the title, to the exclusion of all other – comparatively cash-starved – teams.
OK, so things haven’t changed all that much (and yes, Atletico have in the last couple of years turned Spain’s traditional two-horse race into a three-piece), but anyone who watched football in the 90s knows that things just felt different. You had characters, mavericks… outright lunatics in some cases.
In Spain, you also had some world-class players, like Guardiola, Laudrup, Figo, Koeman, Romario. So many, in fact, that a few of the lesser known stars they played alongside have been forgotten to history.
To help jog your memory, we’ve put together a list of the 90s La Liga stars you might have missed.
Gheorghe Popescu
Tottenham fans were beginning to like the look of Popescu when Barca snatched him from them in 1995. Image source: Twitter
Finidi George
After lifing the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, the powerful Nigerian winger went onto become a Betis legend in Spain.
Image source: Twitter
Jordi Cruyff
Admittedly, Jordi didn't reach the same heights of his dad, but managed a few seasons on the books of Barca (and then United, too). Image source: Twitter
Kily Gonzalez
Former Valencia man Kily won over 50 caps for Argentina, yet has been largely forgotten amongst the endless cadre of "New Maradonas". Image source: Twitter
Lionel Scaloni
In England, he's known for a nothing loan spell at West Ham, but in Spain? Nearly a decade with Deportivo, starting in 1998.
Image source: Twitter
Michael Reiziger
A forgettable spell at Boro was the extent of his career in England, but before that Reiziger was a key figure in van Gaal's Barca project. Image source: Twitter
Robert Jarni
Part of Croatia's nearlymen in 1998, Jarni spent three years at Betis and one at Real - with a (very) brief spell at Coventry sandwiched in between.
Image source: Twitter
Jacques Songo’o
The Cameroon shot-stopper became known as one of La Liga's most reliable goalkeepers during his stint at Deportivo.
Image source: Twitter
Robert Prosinecki
The one-time Pompey showman spent the better part of his career in La Liga, turning out for Real, Barca and Sevilla. Image source: Twitter
Sonny Anderson
More famed for his time at Lyon, but the striker did manage 16 goals in 47 games for the Barca boys.
Image Source: Twitter
Christian Karembeu
Karembu, part of the French squad that won the World Cup in home soil in 98, spent three years as a rotation option at Real Madrid. Image source: Twitter
Carles Busquets
Who knew that Sergio was the second Busquets to play for Barca? Dad Carles was the team's back up goalie for nearly a decade.
Image source: Twitter
Carlos Valderrama
Valderrama is mainly known for that epic hair of his, but he could play too - and did, for one season, at Real Valladolid. Image source: Twitter
SEE ALSO: Real Madrid’s past and present Galacticos
Whilst La Liga wouldn’t had the same appeal without Cruyff’s all-conquering Dream Team, or the star-studded Real side that triumphed under Fabio Capello, no league, or club, is complete without its support cast. And we think forgotten stars like the ones on this list deserve a shout out too.
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