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. mehdi y - just because you've never heard of dzeko­ doesn't make him a bad player. all that means is­ that you don't watch enough football. and yet you­ are very quick to comment - not knowing what the hell­ you're talking about. he's been quite­ impressive.

    From the_smiths_rule, on Mon 1 Jun 10:39PM

  2. mehdi y.... just because he hasnt done a ton in the­ last years.. doesnt make him bad.... if that was so­ then NO1 WOULD EVER BECOME GOOD EVER AGAIN!! he was­ amazing in the german league.. but u dont watch it so u­ wouldnt know.. ur a perfect example of some1 who is­ clearly inexpiriences at finding good players... find­ out bout the player/ team before talking @#$% bout them

    From RIchard, on Mon 1 Jun 10:33PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Are we serious????? Dzeko?? who the hell is he? or we­ just wanna pick anyone from other not known clubs. his­ club won for sure the german league but that's­ because it is a week league....what about the­ champion's league best strikers: what about Eto,­ where is Tevez or Rooney....Ibra...those are at least­ two times better than some one name dzeko...for crying­ out loud

    From mehdi y, on Mon 1 Jun 10:24PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Maybe Forlan instead up front.
    GIVEN? ARE YOU SERIOUS?­ IT WAS VAN DER SAAR!

    From Joel H, on Mon 1 Jun 10:12PM

  5. Comment 78: Your lucky Pique isnt there instead of him.­ You should have none.

    From thenry1886, on Mon 1 Jun 9:52PM

  6. scott s there are many examples of drogba going down­ WITHOUT getting touched, i was mearly giving an example­ of how bad drogba is, he struts around with his chest­ puffed out yet goes down easier than jenna jameson at a­ film shoot. I agree Gerrard is terrible but The Sun and­ The Star etc etc will never give him abuse as they like­ to point out how bad "foreigners" are, and of­ course he's an english hardman isnt he? Not that im­ implying they have racist undertones in there­ reporting, or do they?

    From ronaldiniwho, on Mon 1 Jun 9:43PM

  7. ronaldiniwho, you are saying drogba is the worst diver­ ever yet your example is he barely got touched.­ "barely" got touched, so he was touched then­ so it wasnt a dive. gerrard is worst diver in the­ league.

    who said tevez was best player in the league?­ hahahaha

    From yip, on Mon 1 Jun 9:15PM

  8. its good that its not all engish but I could have bet­ everything I had gerrard would get put in even if he­ had been injured the full season.

    the people who made­ this joke of a team have chosen players based on midia­ time basically. putting some players in to try sound­ like they know anything about the player, or the team­ or league they play in.

    well done again yahoo. I dont­ know the last time you put up anything worthwhile

    From yip, on Mon 1 Jun 9:12PM

  9. 1 wrong there is 2 better man united goalies than him­ try looking at stats before hand and as for the­ middlefield without a defensive midfielder like essien­ that team is easy to beat gerard can only play in­ liverpool kit anyway

    Centre-back: Kew Jaliens (AZ­ Alkmaar)
    Left-back: Aly Cissokho (Vitoria/FC­ Porto)
    Midfield: Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)- the new­ zidane we got him pigonholed already the sure sign of a­ small thinker
    Centre-forward: Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg) ­

    question marks are over all of these players

    who­ ever did this could not pick a fruit never mind a team

    From , on Mon 1 Jun 9:01PM

  10. webisan1, it does say European team of the Season, not­ English team of the season...

    From andres4790, on Mon 1 Jun 8:56PM

  11. haha PAUL H i agree :L

    From hardy.lfc92, on Mon 1 Jun 8:39PM

  12. com on no casilias or cris and ebra or tores?

    From dariush.p, on Mon 1 Jun 8:38PM

  13. Xavi? Yes, maybe he should've been in the­ team.

    Ronaldo? NO.

    From the_smiths_rule, on Mon 1 Jun 8:28PM

  14. Paul H you accuse Ronaldo and Xavi of diving when­ you've got Drogba the biggest pu$$y every to step­ foot in the premier league. I went to a game against­ chel$ki andi have never heard a man scream so loud when­ he got tackled, saw the replay on tv later and he­ barley got touched. Also you really seem to have some­ anger issues, i think some schools have counsellors now­ a days, i suggest you go and see one before you get­ grounded for breaking your mummys computer.

    From ronaldiniwho, on Mon 1 Jun 8:16PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I would love to be playing against Ronaldo just now. i­ wouls risk a fine and a lengthy ban just to force my­ studs into his knee and make him retire. and i would­ say to him "do ya stepovers now boy"

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:55PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Guardiola should be arrested and sent to prison for­ teaching his players how to dive. Henry is a useless­ frog freak. who looks like a muppet by the way.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:53PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Xavi and Ronaldo are probably getting their entire­ bodies waxed. cause that's what girls do. diving­ turds.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:51PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    All Chelsea players should be there simply for having­ the good taste to play for Chelsea.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:48PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Where's Xavi? Ronaldo? @#$%

    From Toluwanimi, on Mon 1 Jun 7:46PM

  20. Man u. don't make me laugh. Ferdinand looks like a­ muppet, Rooney is Shrek. Ferguson lives his life­ according to the rules of the Bells whisky bottle.
    You­ pay all that money for Berbatov(who is a lazy, @#$%­ player) but you won't pay for Tevez. who is one of­ the best in the PL. crazy, crazy Man u.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:33PM
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