The West Ham FA Cup youth side of 1999 came together earlier today for a re-match against Coventry to mark the twentieth anniversary but what happened to the fabled youth team and where are they now.

Michael Carrick was sold to Spurs for £3.5m then bought by Manchester United for £18m who he went on to play for 463 times winning 34 England caps. He retired from football last year and remains a first-team coach for Manchester United.

Joe Cole was sold to Chelsea for £6.6m later moving to Liverpool on a free transfer before returning to West Ham, he later moved onto Aston Villa then Coventry before moving to US to play for Tampa Bay Rowdies. He retired from professional football in 2018 and has since joined Chelsea’s coaching staff as well as a pundit on BT Sports. 

Stephen Bywater left West Ham for Derby for £255,000 later playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Doncaster Rovers before a move to India to play for Kerala Blasters FC. He joined Burton Albion in 2016 and remains there aged 38 as their third-choice keeper.

Terrell Forbes went on to play for QPR 114 times before joining Grimbsy, Oldham, Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, Chesterfield, Aldershot Town, Dover Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet, Hemel Hempstead Town, Farnborough, Grays Athletic finishing at Whyteleafe when he hung up his boots in 2018 age 37. He has since taken up coaching youngsters.

Bertie Brayley left West Ham for QPR later playing for over 30 different clubs mostly non-league and is still playing for Hullbridge Sports FC. He has a successful business selling high-end cars often to football players.

Adam Newton was released by West Ham joining Peterborough hen Brentford then Luton Town and Woking. He retired from football in 2016 and is now a London Taxi driver after completing the knowledge. He occasionally plays Sunday league football for Hackney team Downs.

Sam Taylor remains at West Ham as the Academy learning Academy manager and he holds a UEFA B coaching license.

Izzy Iriekpen was released by West Ham later joining Swansea City, Scunthorpe United, Cristol City then Hamilton Academical. He was jailed in 2016 for three years and three months after being found guilty of a glassing incident with a bouncer in a night club in Notting Hill.

Stevland Angus went on to play for Cambridge United displaying 135 times then Grays Athletic followed by Torquay, Barnet, Fisher Athletic and Bishop’s Stortford. After hanging up his boots he now runs the Sports department at Brooke House Sixth form college in Upper Clapton, London

Michael Ferrante went on to have a spell in Italy with Comprensorio Stabia and Serie C side Benevento Calcio before returning to Australia in 2004. He played fro Fawkner Blues, Melbourne Victory, Wellington Phoenix, Richmond and Pascoe Vale down under. In 2010 he returned home to Melbourne, signing for local club Richmond Eagles and then Pascoe Vale managed by his brother. Michael is still listed a member of the 2019/2020 squad.

Richard Garcia went on to play for Colchester United, Hull City before returning to Australia to play for Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC. He moved to the US to play for Minnesota United FC before returning down under to Perth Glory where he is now the assistant coach for the first team and head coach of the youth team.

Anwar Uddin moved to Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol Rovers, Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet, Sutton United and Eastbourne Borough. In 2011 he started his football management career at Barnet followed by Maldon & Tiptree, Sports Benhgal United, Ware and Glebe. He is now the assistant manager at Aldershot Town.

Louis Riddle went on to Stevenage, Braintree then Cambridge City, Bishops Stortford and Harlow Town. He is now a recruitment consultant and director of London based company Nuco Solutions Limited.