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.
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.
Comment 91 - 110 of 130
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
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
Not in agreement with 3 positions.
Manuel Almunia Arsenal Goalie to replace Shay Given.
Poyool to replace Vidic.
Xavi (Barcelona) to replace Yoann Gourcuff.
Vidic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
klose 13 and dgzeko 26 ???
forlan 32 and eto'o 30 ???
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!
Stevie G is certainly the skipper of this team
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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
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
c'est tres bien
THAT TEAM WOULDN'T MAKE THE CHAMPIONS LEGUE SEMI-FINALS
ibrahimovic scored 25 goals.not 23.
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
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
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
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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
I agree with all, but rooney should be in this team
This is a joke...
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