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 73, yes, lampard should be there but essien­ hasnt played enough games to prove himself this season,­ cech has had an awful campaign by his standards, terry­ has been one of the top defenders but not to merit one­ of the top four in the world, and Anelka may have­ scored 19 league goals but he dissapeared from November­ till March, when he was good he was very good but when­ he was bad h was non-existant.

    From alextheodossiadis, on Mon 1 Jun 7:32PM

  2. how does the 2nd best team in Europe (Man U) only have­ 1 player in?

    From Nimalan D, on Mon 1 Jun 7:30PM

  3. DZEKO
    DZEKO
    DZEKO
    DZEKO
    DZEKO
    DIJAMANTU­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    THE­ BEST PLAYAA !!!!!

    From dzuni_heco, on Mon 1 Jun 7:29PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Arsenal. Arshavin looks weird. he plays like he's­ got the runs.
    Wenger has lost the plot. to win the PL­ you need to spend big. you gooners will be in the­ wilderness for a while yet. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha­ ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,­ and bloody ha.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:29PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Liverpool...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.­ and that's an understatement. gutty Benitez has­ been with you for at least 5 yrs, but still no success.­ Hicks and Gillete...learn from this. he is a greasy­ loser with a passion for idiotic remarks, and always­ blaming others.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:26PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Mate, you left out Essien, and that will never do.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:21PM

  7. I did'nt put J. Cole because he has'nt played.­ but if your blue like me, then good luck to you.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:20PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Whats happened to Lampard, Terry ,Essien Chec, and­ Anelka, who are these other foreigners??

    From webisan1, on Mon 1 Jun 7:18PM

  9. ARSENE S----Comment 58!

    Comments like yours give­ Africans a bad name, there are 3 black players in there­ but even so this list is someones opinion on best­ players and has nothing to do with colour!! Your an­ idiot! Drogba's only been in the side for half of­ the season anyway!

    Possibly the most idiotic comment­ ive seen on here, worse than Paul Parkers dross!!

    From paulsheridan, on Mon 1 Jun 7:18PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Team of the Season mark­ 2

    Chec
    Alex
    Terry
    Cole
    /Boswinga
    Lampard
    Ballack
    Anelk­ a
    Drogba
    Malouda
    J Cole

    From webisan1, on Mon 1 Jun 7:17PM

  11. Raimz99 i know cassilas is best goalkeeper in the­ world, but its not about who is best, but who has done­ the best this season, baring in mind, defence­ (newcastle, probably worst in english football!,­ Compared to Real Madrid's World class defence!)

    From r.burgess02, on Mon 1 Jun 7:15PM

  12. Whats happened to Lampard, Terry ,Essien Chec, and­ Anelka, who are these other foreigners??

    From webisan1, on Mon 1 Jun 7:15PM

  13. Whats happened to Lampard, Terry ,Essien Chec, and­ Anelka, who are these other foreigners??

    From webisan1, on Mon 1 Jun 7:15PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Team of the season:
    Cech
    Bosingwa
    Alex­
    Terry
    Cole
    Essien
    Lampard
    Ballack
    Malouda­
    Drogba
    Anelka
    Everyone else is turd scum, and they­ live in dreamland.
    Barcelona are probably the most­ overated team ever.
    Arsenal fans have nothing to say,­ because they are nothing.
    Liverpool won nothing AGAIN­ under fat gut.
    Like Barca. Man u are so overated. red­ faced rat bag Fergie should retire. and who is that­ shrek lookalike Phelan. what an ugly team. Gerrard is­ inbred for sure.

    From PAUL H, on Mon 1 Jun 7:14PM

  15. Shay Given are you on LSD no offense but if Casillas­ had a defense like Man U he wouldn't have to save­ the more embarrassment his team gives him don't­ forget 4-0 to Liverpool would have been 7or 8­ goals.....

    And to add Insult Where is Eto 30 goals in­ La Liga?Forlan Golden boot winner?Puyol the heart of­ the defense for Barcelona not to mention how he shut­ down both Rooney AND Ronaldo...

    From carlos c, on Mon 1 Jun 7:13PM

  16. Dzekooooo :D the best player, especially because­ he's from Bosnia and guess what? you'll hear­ from us when we beat Spain in qualifications. he­ deserved his spot in this team. :)

    From aida_pandur, on Mon 1 Jun 7:03PM

  17. where is eto'o and xavi?

    if messi weren't at­ barca, havi would been best player of europe

    and­ eto'o is eto'o

    From Alin, on Mon 1 Jun 6:50PM

  18. @#$% where is eto'o and c.ronaldo??

    From de varens, on Mon 1 Jun 6:42PM

  19. Arsene S - then what is Aly Cissokho? Purple?

    From d2lt, on Mon 1 Jun 6:34PM

  20. i chose my team as ronaldo an messi is in every1s team­ so i went for something different out wide.

    From mezza16, on Mon 1 Jun 6:33PM
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