Showing posts with label sir alex ferguson. Show all posts

World XI: Team of the 21st Century


World XI: Team of the 21st Century

Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo & Lionel Messi have all lit up the world stage since 2000

The 21st Century is still in its premature years, but we have seen some of the best footballers play in this short period of time

Some may have started their career in the 20th Century, but shook the world in the 21st.

 Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson :Sir Alex surely deserves this accolade with much of his success coming during the 21st Century. Winning the treble just before the 21st Century began, Ferguson has won numerous league titles and a Champions League since 2000.      Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson 
21st Century World XI (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Iker Casilla The Spaniard has achieved a lot for club and country during the 21st Century, making him arguably the most decorated keeper since 2000. He has won 17 trophies with club and country and captained Spain to two European titles and a World Cup. He has won the Golden Glove award and has been included in the FIFA World XI an incredible five times. 
Right-back: Cafu
Most of his contributions were in the 20th Century for Brazil but his success at club level came in the 21st Century with AC Milan. He captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 and also won the Champions League with Milan. 
Centre-back: Fabio Cannavaro
The only defender to win the Ballon d'Or, Cannavaro truly deserves to be regarded as a footballing great. With many Team of the Year inclusions in 2006, Cannavaro also won the Ballon d'Or the same year, along with other major individual awards. He has been in the FIFA World XI twice in the 21st Century and captained Italy to a 2006 World Cup triumph. 
Centre-back: Carles Puyol
Puyol has captained Barcelona for most of the 21st Century and been incredibly successful with them, too. Twenty-one trophies for club and country, Puyol is one of the most decorated players in modern times. He has been included in the UEFA Team of the Year on six occasions, proving why he has been so successful this century.
Left-back: Paolo Maldini
Most of Maldini's success came before the 21st Century, but he still won a lot of trophies with club and country since the turn of the new century. Maldini won the Champions League twice since 2000, proving why he was so vital for Milan over so many years. Named Serie A's best defender in 2004, Maldini has appeared in the FIFA World XI once. 
Central-midfielder: Xavi
One of the best midfielders of his generation, Xavi seems to be getting better with age. Xavi's passing skills are second to none, making him arguably one of the best Spanish midfielders ever. He has won many individual awards for his composed style of play and has also been part of the FIFA World XI for four years in a row now. 
Central-midfielder: Zinedine Zidane
One of the greats in the game, Zidane's career ended on a sour note, losing the World Cup after being sent off in the 2006 final.
He may have won the Ballon d'Or before the 21st Century but he has been instrumental in shaping the history of Real Madrid since the start of 2000. Scoring a belter in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen, Zidane helped Real Madrid lift their ninth European Cup. He was honored with the Golden Ball for his performances at the 2006 World Cup.
Right-wing: Ronaldinho
The dazzling Brazilian has a huge fan base due to his skills and trickery, which are a real treat to the eye. A legend at Barcelona, Ronaldinho has achieved a lot for club and country. Ronaldinho won the Ballon d'Or and also lifted the World Cup in the 21st Century. His inclusion in the FIFA World XI has occurred three times. 
Attacking-midfielder: Lionel Messi
Messi has achieved so much in so little time in the world of football. He can already be considered an all-time great while he still has a decade of football ahead of him. He has already won the Ballon d'Or four times and has broken many goalscoring records since his debut in 2004. He has been included in the FIFA World XI for six years in a row now. 
Left-wing: Cristiano Ronaldo
The only player who can challenge Messi's goalscoring exploits, Ronaldo has enjoyed a successful 21st Century. Ronaldo has his fair share of individual honours, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2008 and also winning league titles for Manchester United and Real Madrid. Like Messi, Ronaldo has featured in the FIFA World XI for six years in a row. 
Striker: Ronaldo
Often considered, the 'real' Ronaldo, this Brazilian was one of the deadliest strikers on the planet during his peak years. FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003, Ronaldo is also the all-time top scorer in the World Cup. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and his exploits for Real Madrid made him a deserved member of the club's hall of fame. 
Substitutes' bench:
Gianluigi BuffonJavier ZanettiJohn TerryAndrea PirloPaul ScholesThierry HenryAlan Shearer

Fergie, Moyes prepare to say farewell

Sir Alex Fergerson to step into Old Trafford for the last 

time as the manager of Man Utd



 All eyes will be on Old Trafford and Goodison Park on Sunday as Alex Ferguson and David Moyes say their emotional farewells at the end of one of the most dramatic weeks in the history of the Premier League.
At the start of this week it was hard to imagine that Manchester United's apparently meaningless final home game of the season against Swansea and Everton's relatively mundane Goodison Park fixture against West Ham would captivate millions across the globe rather than just the supporters of the respective clubs.
But Ferguson's sensational announcement on Wednesday that he will retire as United manager at the end of the season after 26-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford and the subsequent appointment of Everton boss Moyes as his replacement on Thursday changed all that.
Now the world will be watching as Ferguson takes charge of United at Old Trafford for the last time, while Moyes will also be under the microscope ahead of his official move to Manchester on July 1.
There will be more than a few tears as the 71-year-old Ferguson bids farewell, but the overriding emotion should be joyous celebration of his incredible achievements at United.
It is fitting that the Scot will depart with one last piece of silverware officially installed in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet on Sunday when United will be presented with the Premier League trophy.
This season's title triumph was the 13th of Ferguson's reign and the 38th trophy won by United during his reign.
And United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that haul should offer reassurance to Moyes that the foundations are in place to extend the club's remarkable run of success.
"It's great to see the new manager coming in, we've never had a problem with him here at United, he's a very honest man from the players you speak to and he's done a fantastic job at his previous club Everton," Ferdinand said.
"I'm sure he'll be very, very open and sympathetic to the traditions of the club and try and continue that and not come in and try and make crazy changes in terms of the whole characteristics of the club."
While Moyes has effectively been hand-picked by Ferguson, who recommended the Scot to United owners, the Glazer family, the 50-year-old has never had to face the scrutiny he will be under at Old Trafford.
His 11-year reign at Everton has rightly earned him plenty of respect for his ability to construct a highly competitive team on a relatively limited budget.
But the lack of a single piece of major silverware and absence of Champions League experience are significant blots on his CV.
The Cheshire-cat grin on Moyes' face when he was photographed leaving the office of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright shortly before his appointment at United was confirmed suggested even he can't quite believe his luck.
Even so, his last home match as Everton manager gives fans a chance to thank Moyes for his lengthy service and defender Phil Jagielka made it clear he will be sorely missed.
"Like the rest of the squad I have nothing but the highest regard for David Moyes," Jagielka said.
"He is a first-class operator on and off the training ground and on behalf of the players I would like to place on record my thanks for the work he has done improving the team."
While the football world keeps tabs on Ferguson and Moyes, there are other important issues in the Premier League this weekend.
Tottenham can't afford to drop points at Stoke as Andre Villas-Boas's fifth placed side try to keep the pressure on Chelsea and fourth placed Arsenal, who don't play this weekend due to Wigan's involvement in the FA Cup final.
Newcastle, three points above the bottom three, travel to already-relegated QPR in dire need of a win.
Norwich, at home to West Bromwich Albion, and Sunderland, who host Southampton, are level on points with Newcastle and equally desperate for three points.

Life after Sir Alex at Manchester United


Gill: New boss needs experience

David Gill has stressed the need for Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement at Manchester United to have the 'requisite European experience'.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Retiring as Manchester United manager

After confirming Ferguson's exit on Wednesday morning, it is thought United wish to announce the 71-year-old's replacement by the end of the week.
Although Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been tipped to take over in some quarters, Everton boss Moyes is the firm favourite to land what Gill describes as a "dream job".
"The qualities are the ones that have been inherent at Manchester United for many years," United's outgoing chief executive told MUTV.
"Our two most successful eras were with managers who got involved with all aspects of the club, from the youth team to the first team, to get that degree of loyalty and understanding of the football club.
"Clearly he has to have the requisite football experience, both in terms of domestic and European experience.
"It is a small pool."
Moyes' European experience is not extensive. He has only guided Everton through four European campaigns and never gone beyond the last 16 phase in any competition.
However, Ferguson has never had any doubts his fellow Scot was capable of managing at the very highest level.
And Gill confirmed Ferguson, and Sir Bobby Charlton - who has previously suggested Mourinho was not the type of character would sit easily at Old Trafford - would be asked for their input.
"No-one knows what managing Manchester United is about more than him," Gill said.
"The board will take his counsel and that of Sir Bobby Charlton in order to get the right person to take it forward."
Charlton would be acutely aware of the problems it caused - first for Wilf McGuiness, then Frank O'Farrell - when Sir Matt Busby remained active at Old Trafford following his retirement as manager.
The spectre of Ferguson is going to hang over Old Trafford for a long time.
But Gill is confident the Scot will not be a negative presence.
"Sir Alex will be a great asset to the club," Gill said.
"He will know when he should and should not be involving himself.
"Everyone can rest assured the new manager can get the space and opportunity to do his job without interference.
"Alex will not make that mistake. Of that we can be certain."
As Gill is also departing in the summer, it represents a significant test for new chief executive Ed Woodward.
"Ed Woodward has the opportunity to develop a relationship with the new manager," Gill said.
"I am sure he is capable of doing that for the betterment of Manchester United.
"Alex and I will still be there but on the football club board.
"It is a new era but I am confident the structure we have in place gives a great foundation for that relationship to happen."
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Blogger Template by Clairvo