Champions League - European Team of the Season

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Jun 15:03:00 2009

The domestic European season has finished, and it is time to select the elite performers from across the continent in our Team of the Season.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Barcelona Manchester Messi - 0

Our team selection is based on all club performances in domestic and European competitions. The side lines up in a fashionable 4-3-3 formation, allowing the brilliant Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery to play wide in front of a three-man midfield.

There might not be too many tacklers in there, but the inclusion of Nemanja Vidic at the back should ensure opposition attacks are thwarted by fair means or foul.

Seven divisions are represented, with recognition for the surprise league titles won by Wolfsburg, Bordeaux and AZ Alkmaar.

We are sure you will have your own ideas, so feel free to leave your Team of the Season at the bottom of the page!

TEAM OF THE SEASON

Goalkeeper: Shay Given (Newcastle United/Manchester City)

If he had stayed at St James' Park in January, Newcastle would still be a Premier League side. His phenomenal shot-stopping gave City some much-needed security.

Right-back: Maicon (Internazionale)

The marauding Brazilian just edges Barcelona's Dani Alves as he is a slightly better defender. A key part of Inter's Serie A title-winning effort.

Centre-back: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

Uncharacteristic nightmares against Liverpool and Barcelona aside, Vidic hardly put a foot wrong all season. Strong, brave and uncompromising - every team needs a Vidic.

Centre-back: Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar)

Louis van Gaal's Alkmaar side conceded just 22 goals on their way to a first Eredivisie title since 1981, with the old hand Jaliens playing a major role.

Left-back: Aly Cissokho (Vitoria/FC Porto)

The Frenchman arrived at Porto in January and immediately made a stunning impact as his new side won a domestic double and impressed in the Champions League.

Midfield: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

The inspirational Anfield skipper continues to get better. He scored a career-best 24 goals, and it seemed half of those were stoppage time screamers.

Midfield: Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)

Countless players have been called the 'new Zidane', but in Gourcuff's case the comparison might just be right. Starred as Bordeaux knocked Lyon off their perch.

Midfield: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

His performance in the Champions League final alone might have been worth a place, but the Spain midfielder sparkled throughout Barcelona's treble campaign.

Right wing: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Outshone Cristiano Ronaldo in Rome and will probably be elected the world's best player. Messi's astonishing dribbling ability makes him a joy to watch.

Centre-forward: Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg)

The giant Bosnian went from obscurity to stardom with a superb 26-goal campaign in tandem with strike partner Grafite, as Wolfsburg won their first league title.

Left wing: Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Lit up an otherwise disappointing season for Bayern and might retain his player of the season award. Wanted by Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Eurosport

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i will make 2 best teams from europe for this­ year
    ____________julio ­ cizar____________
    alves____vidic____puyol____a.cole
    ___­ ___________gerard______________
    messi______gorckuf_____­ __iniesta
    ________eto'o______forlan_________
    team­ 2
    ____________van..sar______________
    maicon___pique__te­ rry___sisoko
    ______________xavi________________
    ronaldo­ _____lampard______ribery
    ________roney___ibrahimovic___­ __
    both teams are equaly balanced
    this 2 teams are the­ true team of the year
    i didn't find place for the­ names eurosport have putten most are 2nd divission­ players

    From getachew44, on Tue 2 Jun 10:11AM
  2. some say bundisliga is the best
    i will leave this­ question to readers
    if in la liga there are this­ strikers
    forlan eto villa henry aguero rossi kanoute­ fabiano raul vanisterlroy huntelar silva messi and­ robben
    and in bundisliga the strikers are
    gdzeko­ grafeti toni klose pizaro almeda olich vorinin petrich­ guarerro korani and gomez
    which one is better?
    uefa­ have putten
    la liga 4 place in CL
    serie A 4
    EPL ­ 4
    while
    legue un(france) 3
    bundisliga 3
    priemera­ leaga(portuges) 3
    static this year
    in last 16 there was­ 4 la liga teams and only bayern was there to represent­ bundisliga before they lose teribly against barca

    From getachew44, on Tue 2 Jun 9:24AM
  3. Not in agreement with 3 positions.

    Manuel Almunia­ Arsenal Goalie to replace Shay Given.
    Poyool to­ replace Vidic.
    Xavi (Barcelona) to replace Yoann­ Gourcuff.

    From SKill, on Tue 2 Jun 9:21AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Vidic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From michael s, on Tue 2 Jun 9:01AM
  5. klose 13 and dgzeko 26 ???
    forlan 32 and eto'o 30­ ???

    From getachew44, on Tue 2 Jun 8:42AM
  6. Well done, enjoy it while it last.. because I know Man­ U made a mistake and hunger for REVENGE! Next Season,­ Revenge of the Fallen is coming!

    From Angelos, on Tue 2 Jun 7:56AM
  7. Stevie G is certainly the skipper of this team

    From Thomas, on Tue 2 Jun 7:10AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with long­ legs, blond hairs and blue stunning eyes. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From , on Tue 2 Jun 6:58AM
  9. dzeko is the best striker
    bundes liga is bether then­ la liga in the last few years only barsa can play­ against
    big england taem real is sucks forlan and eto­ score 32/30 bat howmany from penalty
    dzeko have not­ score from penalty

    From bdrhmnvc, on Tue 2 Jun 5:31AM
  10. totally agree with getachew44........
    Wonderful­ analysis, if i was hiring for a football analyst­ position i would call you up...
    only in our teams are­ stevie G for Lampard....
    otherwise spot on.....­ don't get me wrong i like Lampard better but­ objectively stevie G is Liverpool, if he struggles­ Liverpool struggles very instrumental...
    Bench:­ Akinfeev; dani alves, Terry, Puyol, Ashley Cole;­ C.Ronaldo, Lampard, Gourcuff, Lucho Gonzalez; Zlatan,­ Villa

    From subomi, on Tue 2 Jun 5:10AM
  11. c'est tres bien

    From Zahrah H, on Tue 2 Jun 4:08AM
  12. THAT TEAM WOULDN'T MAKE THE CHAMPIONS LEGUE­ SEMI-FINALS

    From Vítor, on Tue 2 Jun 3:40AM
  13. ibrahimovic scored 25 goals.not 23.

    From jabir, on Tue 2 Jun 2:25AM
  14. bundis liga have the highest goal scoring rate in­ europe but doesnt have best strikers in world
    they have­ the worst diffence
    top teams have on their net more­ than 45 and 50 goals
    let us face the fact
    dzecko with­ 26 goals in bundisliga
    is better than forlan and eto­ with 62 goal together in la liga
    32 + 30
    the answer is­ easy if you know football
    even villa with 28 goals and­ ibrahimovic with 23 goals are better atleast they play­ in top leagues

    From getachew44, on Tue 2 Jun 12:31AM
  15. bundis liga have the highest goal scoring in europe but­ doesnt have best strikers in world
    they have the worst­ diffence
    top teams have on their net more than 45 and­ 50 goals
    let us face the fact
    dzecko with 26 goals in­ bundisliga
    is better than forlan and eto with 62 goal­ together in la liga
    the answer is easy if you know­ football
    even villa with 28 goals and ibrahimovic with­ 23 goals are better atleast they play in top leagues

    From getachew44, on Tue 2 Jun 12:29AM
  16. so redicules
    look at the facts
    dzeko 26 goals in poor­ league
    closa 13 goals in poor league
    while
    forlan the­ top scorer 32 goals
    eto 30 goals
    xavi was better than­ iniesta
    iniesta got injured twice and was out for 4­ months
    this is the true team of the­ year
    _____________julio­ cisar_____________
    maicon___pique____vidic___sissoko
    __­ _______________xavi_______________
    messi________lampard­ ________ribery
    ____________eto________forlan_______
    loo­ k this is based on the performance of the whole­ season
    some may think i make mistake not to put alot of­ players like
    gerrard, gorcuf, ibrahimovic, iniesta,­ dgzeko, klosa, torres, kaka, ronaldo, tevez, casillas­ and roney
    all are great players yes but not enough.­ why?
    i will take one by one the reasons
    julio­ cisar
    very fantastic and was the most important to his­ team to win serie A
    maicon was the best diffender in­ country known by best diffence football
    pique
    he was­ the outstanding player the vital for barca's­ dif
    what make him important is that all barca­ diffenders were injure in different time he the one who­ plays the whole season
    vidic
    man united win many­ matches in EPL and CL without reciving a goal, he was­ one of the reason
    sissocko
    he help porto to win their­ league and to lead their group in CL and were almost to­ pass united
    xavi
    if i say man of the year, i­ wouldn't be making mistake
    if barca has scored more­ than 155 goals this season it is with help of xavi
    62­ assist but 27 only were scored
    he is king of­ assist
    messi
    (?) he was good but i don't like this­ gay
    lampard
    if we want to know the secret how chelsea­ was till the end in 3 compititione the answer is­ lampard and hidinck
    ribery
    if 5 european gaint clubs­ want this man that was because he has brilliant­ season
    eto'o
    if the is a person know as goal­ scoring machine it is eto
    30 la liga goals 6 european­ goals
    forlan
    if i won't put this man that would be­ the bigest mistake
    32 goals european golden boot

    From getachew44, on Tue 2 Jun 12:15AM
  17. I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with­ s---exual a--ttraction and big b---oobs. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From , on Mon 1 Jun 11:32PM
  18. guys you are saying dzeko
    y cuz he has scored 26 goals­ in a league like bundes liga
    then wht about forlan­ europes golden boot i cant see his name i watched his­ game and he is like any other normal striker my freinds

    From navid 1, on Mon 1 Jun 11:27PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I agree with all, but rooney should be in this team

    From shandu_93, on Mon 1 Jun 11:04PM
  20. This is a joke...

    From jonesnikolas, on Mon 1 Jun 10:55PM
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