10 players who revitalized their careers in 2015
The 2015-16 campaign in Europe's top five leagues has been littered with restored and reinvigorated performances by players who were once discounted and overlooked. Whether forgotten, unwanted, or considered too old to play top-flight football, several players have reemerged this season to recapture prior form.
Here's a look at 10 players who have recreated once promising careers this season:
Premier League
Robert Huth (Leicester City) - Five years detached from his last German international cap, towering centre-back Huth, 31, has been a vital part of table-toppers Leicester City's exploits this season. Paired with Wes Morgan for every Premier League match before yellow card accumulation kept him out of a 3-2 victory at Everton two Saturdays ago, Huth has been a leader among Claudio Ranieri's motley crew of overlooked footballers.
Honourable mention
Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) - Perpetually unfit and seemingly off the pace no longer, Austrian international Arnautovic has replicated his form for country with the Potters this season. Stoke City's leading scorer with six, his place on the left wing has proved vital for a side flirting with a Europa League spot. Arnautovic is but one of several at the Britannia to reinvigorate their careers this season, alongside Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan Krkic, and Ibrahim Afellay.
La Liga
Roberto Soldado (Villarreal) - To the surprise of Tottenham supporters, Villarreal forward Soldado is actually a talented footballer. Lost and lambasted while at White Hart Lane, the 30-year-old striker has recreated his career at Estadio El Madrigal. Paired with six-goal Cedric Bakambu up top for the Yellow Submarine, Soldado has three goals and five assists in the league coupled with two of each in the Europa League, transforming from a fox in the box goal-poaching attacker to a playmaker.
Honourable mention
Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) - Aspas has seven goals and an assist in 15 La Liga matches. For a player that once looked off the pace at Liverpool, gifting fourth-place Celta Vigo a lethal tandem when paired with eight-goal man Nolito.
Ligue 1
Lassana Diarra (Marseille) - A year removed from languishing in the Russian top-flight for Lokomotiv Moscow and playing five-a-side in his hometown of Paris, Diarra, 30, has become the midfield lynchpin for a youthful Marseille side. Candidate for player of the year at the Ligue 1 midway point, DIarra's comeback has been nothing short of amazing.
Honourable mention
Hatem Ben Arfa (Nice) - Few comebacks have been as surprising as Ben Arfa's. The 28-year-old attacking midfielder has seven goals and two assists on the campaign to give Nice one of Ligue 1's most promising attacking cores. Out of favour at Newcastle and forced to sit out last season for suiting up with three clubs, Ben Arfa's reemergence has resulted in his recall to Didier Deschamp's French squad for next summer's Euro 2016.
Bundesliga
Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen) - Among many that were surplus to requirements with Louis van Gaal at Manchester United, Mexican international Hernandez has been on a torrid pace for Bayer Leverkusen this season. The 27-year-old Chicharito has 11 goals in 14 Bundesliga matches coupled with five in the Champions League and three in the DFB-Pokal. Paired up top with last season's darling, Stefan Kiessling, to lead the North-Rhine Westhphalians to fourth in the table.
Honourable mention
Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin) - Four years removed from a trophy-laden career with Chelsea, an oft-forgotten Ivorian international Kalou, 30, has revitalized his status in a second season with Hertha Berlin. Eight goals in 15 league matches paired with three in the DFB-Pokal has led Hertha to a surprise fourth-place standing in the German top-flight. His seven away goals leads the Bundesliga ahead of Borussia Dortmund goal-machine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng.
Serie A
Marek Hamsik (Napoli) - Slovakian international Hamsik was once one of Europe's most coveted talents when playing alongside Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani at Napoli. Comparisons between he and Juventus legend Pavel Nedved have all but died down, though I Ciucciarelli's third-place standing is as much about Hamsik as it is anyone, with the 28-year-old playing the best football of his career in the 10 hole behind Gonzalo Higuain.
Honourable mention
Stevan Jovetic (Inter Milan) - From fourth in the forward pecking order at Manchester City to playing a meaningful role for Inter Milan, Montenegrin international Jovetic, 26, has recreated his career at the San Siro. Four goals and two assists in 12 matches alongside Mauro Icardi has helped I Nerazzurri surprisingly climb atop the Serie A standings.