| DANIELE | And 26 Across. 1996-2002 AC Milan and 2004-2008 Bologna defender; Derby loanee in 2001 (7,5) |
| DAINO | 1996-2002 AC Milan and 2004-2008 Bologna defender; Derby loanee in 2001 (7,5) |
| STEVEBURNS | Original host of 12-Across (1996-2002) who returns to the series for the first time in 21 years on Friday with a new mystery |
| OKAYO | Margaret ..... , 2002 Milan and 2004 London Marathon winner (5) |
| EDMILSON | 2000-2007 Brazil and 2004-2008 Barcelona defender/midfielder; 2002 Fifa World Cup Final winner (8) |
| PEARCE | Lan _ 1993-1997 Blackburn, 1997-2004 West Ham and 2004- 2008 Fulham defender (6) |
| PIQUE | Gerard ___, 2009-2018 Spain, 2008-2022 Barcelona and 2004-2008 Manchester United defender (5) |
| NGONGE | Cyril ___, Belgium and Napoli winger, Espanyol loanee in 2025-2026; son of 1995-2001 DR Congo, 1998-2000 Watford, 2000-2001 QPR and 2001-2002 Kilmarnock attacker Felix-Michel ___ (6) |
| ALBRECHTSEN | Martin ___, 2001-2006 Denmark and 2004-2008 West Bromwich Albion defender (11) |
| SONKO | 2008 Senegal and 2004-2008 Reading defender |
| BROMBY | Leigh ___, 1998-2004 Sheffield Wednesday and 2004-2008 Sheffield United defender (6) |
| DESAILLY | Marcel ........ , 1993-2004 France, 1993-98 AC Milan and 1998-2004 Chelsea defender sent off in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final against Brazil (8) |
| GALLI | Filippo ___, 1982-1996 AC Milan and 2001-2002 Watford defender (5) |
| DECO | 2003-2010 Portugal, 1999-2004 Porto and 2004-2008 Barcelona midfielder (4) |
| YEPES | Mario ___, 1999-2014 Colombia and 2004-2008 PSG defender (5) |
| EDDS | Gareth ___, 2003-2004 Bradford City and 2004-2008 MK Dons midfielder (4) |
| KONJIC | Muhamed _, 1995-2006 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1997-1999 Monaco, 1999-2004 Coventry aid 2004-2008 Derby defender (6) |
| ERANIO | Stefano ...... , 1990-97 Italy, 1984-92 Genoa, 1992-97 AC Milan and 1997-2001 Derby midfielder (6) |
| REKIK | Omar, Tunisia and 2021-24 Arsenal defender; Wigan and Servette loanee in 2023-24 (5) |
| POSCH | Stefan ___, Austria and Bologna defender; Atalanta loanee since February (5) |
