2003 European Team of the Year

[Guinness]

Thursday, 18 December 2003
uefa.com Team of 2003 nominee Henrik Larsson of Celtic FC selects his own Team of the Year.

Here are my selections from the uefa.com shortlist:
Goalkeeper: Francesco Toldo
It's important that you have complete confidence in your keeper and Toldo inspires that in the players in front of him. He's strong in every department and brave as well.

Right-back: Lilian Thuram
The best right-back of the last ten years. He has a great awareness of the game around him and is always calm under pressure. He's a player who links well and he doesn't give attackers any space to operate in.

Left-back: Roberto Carlos
He's a fantastic player, with amazing skill, and does things at left-back that no other player in that position would contemplate.

Centre-backs: Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini
As a striker the AC Milan duo are the players that I would hate to have to face in any game. They obviously work brilliantly together and know each other's game inside out. These two players are the best example of exactly what you want in central defence. They don't panic under pressure, they can deal with threats in the air, and are both very strong in the tackle.

Right Midfield: Luís Figo
He is a great passer of the ball, can cross well, and does all the simple things really well - you rarely see him waste a ball. He can play a solid, unspectacular game, or do something special and that makes him a wonderful player.

Central Midfield: Edgar Davids
I love his creativity and eye for the killer ball. Davids is a very strong player who doesn't get knocked off the ball easily and can score goals himself.

Attacking Midfield: Zinedine Zidane
Zidane has all the skill in the world on the ball, he's technically very gifted but also unselfish. If there are players in a better position than he is he will find them. He can take defenders on and score goals from just about anywhere.

Left Midfield: Ryan Giggs
Giggs has a great football brain and is a joy to watch. He is another player who can run with the ball, beat defenders, pass, cross and score goals himself. He shows amazing skill in tight situations and does the simple things well.

Forwards: Thierry Henry and Ronaldo
It would be really interesting to see Henry and Ronaldo playing together in the same team. In my view Henry has shown over the last few years that he is one of the best strikers in the world - you can't give him an inch or he will punish you. He's the sort of forward that it is almost impossible to defend against because he has so much variety in his game. Ronaldo continues to be a decisive finisher for Madrid and is a player for the big occasions. He is lethal around the box, with amazing balance and awareness for where the goal is.

Coach: Marcello Lippi
Obviously here at Celtic we have a great coach in Martin O'Neill, but I think I shouldn't be biased so I'll go for Lippi of Juventus [FC]. If you have the best players in your team you need the coach that has the experience to bring them together. I think Lippi is the man who could do that.

[Guinness]

GK - Toldo (best keeper on PK's and strong presence)
D - Carlos (speed & skills to burn, still never seems out of position)
D - Ferdinand (gaining experience & drug abuser)
D - Maldini (ageless player who can mark anyone in the game)
M - Beckham (loads of hype, but still the best dead ball striker in football)
M - Zidane (wizard with the ball, no one has better vision)
M - Scholes (underated goal scorer from attacking mid. position)
M - Ballack (zzGerman can play at both ends of the pitch)
F - Henry (skill, pace & arrogance)
F - Van Nistelrooy (unstopable)
F - Raul (gifted spaniard, seems to always get in the right position to score)

Manager - Sir Alex (more trophies than hot suppers)

[zenga]

GK- Buffon(Best GK in the world well after me )
RB- Javier Zanetti (Most underated player in Europe)
CB- Maldini/Nesta (Both simply the best)
LB- Carlos (If the above three are there enough to cover him)
RM- Becks (Best crosser of the ball)
CDM- Taccinardi (Some steel is needed with all this attack)
CAM- Zidane (nuff said)
LM- Giggs (So good for so long, amazing talent)
Half Striker- Totti (How he goes Italy will go this summer)
St- Van Nistlerooy (Deadly Finisher)

Subs-
GK- Toldo
Def-Cannavaro
Md- Nedved
ST- VIERI, Henry

Manger- Lippi

[Dapotayto]

GK-HOS, obviously
RB-Thuram
CB-Maldini & Nesta (following the crowd)
LB-Carlos (either him or Phil Neville )
RM-Figo
CM-Zidane & Viera
LM-Nedved
ST-Raul & Henry

Subs-Ronaldo, Ronaldhino, Ballack, Van Nistelrooy, Davids

Manager: Gazza

[club_i_champ]

GK - G Buffon
D - G Neville
D - R Carlos
D - R Ferdinand
D - P Maldini
M - D Beckham
M - Z Zidane
M - P Nedved
M - P Scholes
F - T Henry
F - Ronaldo

Subs - R Van Nistelroy, A Nesta, P Viera, M Owen, P Gascoigne

Manager - A Ferguson

[termatofylakas]

GK- Buffon
RB- Thuram
CB's- Nesta and Maldini
LB- Zambrotta
RM- Van Der Mayde
CM- Nedved
CM- Zidane
LM- Giggs
ST- Raul
ST- Van Nistelrooy

Subs
GK- Hildebrand (Stutgart goalie)
D- Cannavaro, G Neville
M- Rui Costa, Ballack
F- Shevchenko, Makaay

Coach
Marcello Lippi

[Guinness]

Giggsy
I've resisted the temptation to name any of my Manchester United colleagues in my UEFA Team of the Year, but I still believe every player involved deserves his place. This team would be almost impossible to beat I reckon. Except against United of course!
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
Right-back: Javier Zanetti
Left-back: Roberto Carlos
Centre-back: Paolo Maldini
Centre-back: Jaap Stam
Right Midfield: Luís Figo
Centre Midfield: Claude Makelele
Attacking Midfield: Zinedine Zidane
Left Midfield: Pavel Nedved
Forward: Ronaldo
Forward: Thierry Henry
Coach: Marcello Lippi

Carlos:
I'm feeling very happy and proud knowing that uefa.com has chosen my name for the Team of the Year shortlist. At Madrid, I believe we have the best players in the world so it may come as no surprise that my team of 2003 is full of Madrid players.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
Right-back: Míchel Salgado
Left-back: Bixente Lizarazu
Centre-back: Iván Helguera
Centre-back: Paolo Maldini
Right Midfield: Luís Figo
Centre Midfield: David Beckham
Attacking Midfield: Zinedine Zidane
Left Midfield: Ryan Giggs
Forward: Ronaldo
Forward: Raúl González
Coach: Marcello Lippi


Interesting Giggs didn't pick any his mates and Carlos picked all his!?!?!

[CDK]

Howard

Lizarazu
Kovac
Cannavaro

Ronaldo
Zidane
Nedved
Viera
Pires

Raul
Henry