Big In Japan

The World Cup is the perfect stage for a player to really make a name for himself.  But some players manage to make a name for themselves and then seemingly disappear into oblivion.  We look at some of the players who lit up the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea before going on to do very little else.

Nicky Butt - England

It may not sounded as exotic as 'Makelele', but if Nicky Butt had continued his rich vein of World Cup form the holding midfield position might have been universally known as the 'Butt role'. Finding himself at the heart of England's World Cup campaign purely by attrition, but was singled out by Pele (wrongly, it has to be said) as the player of the tournament. On his return from the Far East, Butt found himself increasingly on the fringes at Old Trafford. He made a £4 million move to Newcastle United in 2004 in search of more first team action, but his first season at St James' Park was ruined by injury. The signing of Scott Parker meant Butt was again out of the picture. He has spent the 2005-06 season on loan at Birmingham City, but has even struggled to hold down a place in the team with the relegation-threatened Blues. A row with manager Steve Bruce has done little to improve his prospects, and international honours are now an increasingly distant prospect.

Ahn Jung-Hwan - South Korea

Ahn Jung-Hwan was already South Korea's pin-up boy when he scored his country's golden goal winner against Italy in the 2002 World Cup.  Ahn had moved to Perugia in Italy in 2000, but had largely been restricted to substitute appearances.  In a petty move, the Perugia President Luciano Gaucci tried to sack Ahn for his crimes against Italian football.  Eventually his contract was cancelled and Ahn was left to find a new club.  Early interest from Premiership clubs passed and Ahn ended up playing in Japan.  He briefly joined France's FC Metz in 2005 and was due to have a trial at Blackburn Rovers earlier this year before he pulled out.  Ahn is by no means certain of a place in the South Korea World Cup squad for Germany, although he is already in the country having recently signed for Duisberg.  Former South Korea coach Jo Bonfrere had been openly very critical of Ahn, although he has found himself back in favour under former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat.

Junichi Inamoto - Japan

Arsenal fans were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief when they realised their ambassador to the Far East replica shirt sales market could actually play a bit too.  Inamoto seemed to find another gear for a World Cup in his own country.  He has yet to reproduce that form for either Fulham or West Brom.  A broken leg hampered his arrival at The Hawthorns in 2004 and his form has been patchy ever since.  Another good World Cup performance will have Baggies supporters wondering why they have seen so little of the Inamoto who turns up for Japan's games.

Claudio Reyna - USA

Bizarrely picked in the FIFA team of the tournament in 2002, presumably in a bid to promote "soccer" to the Yanks, Reyna has been blighted by injury ever since.  Relegated with Sunderland the season after the World Cup, Reyna jumped ship to Manchester City but his luck did not improve.  Reyna mustered just 17 appearances last season and has managed only 17 matches so far this season.

Rob Parker