Goalkeeper
Iker Casillas
The Spanish shot stopper made his debut for Real Madrid when he was just 16 in the Champions league and by the time he was 19, he was the youngest goalkeeper to win the coveted crown when he helped his side defeat Valencia 3-0. Despite interest from big spending Manchester City recently, Casillas has stated his desire to finish his career at the Bernabau and it will be hard to lure the 28 year old away from Madrid. The agile goalkeeper was also the captain of the Spanish team when they were crowned Champions of Europe in 2008.
Defender
John Terry
JT became ever so close of moving to Manchester City in the summer, but the Chelsea and England captain stayed loyal with the Blues. After the revolution of Roman Abramovich, Terry has enjoyed much success with Chelsea. JT, as he is known as, became the first Chelsea captain in 50 years in 2005 to win the league title. He is also the first captain to lift the FA Cup in the new Wembley in 2007. On top of that, he is the first England captain and first international goalscorer in the new Wembley during their 1-1 draw with Brazil. Other achievements include the PFA Player’s Player of the Year in 2005 and UEFA Champions League Defender of the Year in 2005 and 2008. Despite all this success, it has not all been sweet for JT, in 2008, Terry had the chance to win the Champions League for Chelsea but he slipped while taking his penalty in the shoot out and eventually Man United won it. In that season Chelsea finished second in the League and the Carling Cup aswell. His Chelsea further suffered disappointment the following season when an injury time goal denied them a place in the Champions League Final. Let’s see if JT can now be the first Englishman to lift the World Cup since 1966.
Gary Neville
There is always great pride in a club having a captain from their own city, and Manchester United are lucky to have Gary Neville on board. The United skipper has been known for his passion for the club, and Man City manager Mark Hughes even highlighted it when he said his club needs more players like Neville. Having won 16 medals from 6 different competitions in his Old Trafford career, it’s easy to see why he hasn’t left his boyhood club. Having been in the PFA Team of the Year in 5 different occasions, Neville was once regarded as one of the best full backs in the world. Now 34, the exit to his career does seem very close but he could reflect back on his career with no regrets.
Jamie Carragher
Despite being an Everton fan as a young boy, Carragher has gone on to play more than 400 games for Liverpool. Jamie has been the rock of the Liverpool defence throughout this decade and has been among the best defenders in England. Despite this, he hasn’t been able to cement a place in the Three Lions first 11 and his frustration caused him to retire from international football in 2007. That has certainly been welcoming for Liverpool as their top defender can now concentrate at further building his club career. His excellent display in the 2005/06 season was rewarded with a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Carles Poyul
The Catalan hard man has played as a goalkeeper, midfielder and a striker as a youngster though he has been a defender all his professional career. After starting of as a right back, on his day, Carles Poyul is one of the best centre backs in the world. After the retirement of Luis Enrique in 2004, Poyul was named club captain and despite many players arriving and departing since then, Puyol has cemented his place at the heart of the Barcelona defence. Having been captain for 2 of Barcelona’s 3 Champions League triumphs, Puyol has certainly stamped his mark in the Nou Camp folklore.
Midfielder
Steven Gerrard
Despite various offers from Chelsea in the past, Liverpool’s charismatic captain has stayed loyal to the club and it now looks like he will end his career at The Kop. Stevie G has been the heart and sole of Liverpool in recent years and dramatic moments like the 2005 Champions League Final and the last minute equalizer against the Hammers in the 2006 FA Cup Final has made him a Liverpool Legend. Voted second in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, a poll by Liverpool F.C supporters, life without Gerrard would certainly be unthinkable for Liverpool supporters. Despite having won most of the team honours at club level, the elusive Premier League title is one that Gerrard would like to put his hands on one day and it would certainly put the icing on the cake on a glittering career.
Ryan Giggs
Giggs’ name has been synonymous with success ever since he started his Man Utd career in 1991 at the age of 17. The Welsh wizard has been around long enough to win 11 Premier League titles,4 FA Cups, 3 League Cup and 2 Champions League titles. Despite such a gliterring career, Giggs received his solitary PFA Player of the Year Award only in the 2008/09 season when he yet again led the Red Devils to the title. These achievements alone should be enough to say why Giggsy has devoted his entire playing career with United, though there had been rumours of him leaving in the past. In 2003, rumours surrounded that Giggsy will be moving to Inter Milan in the summer but Sir Alex rubbished those rumours. There was another case in 2005 when Giggs demanded for a new 2 year contract rather than just a year or he leaves, United offered a two year deal and Giggs admitted there was no way he saw himself playing for another club. Despite all the success at club level, Giggs never played in a major international tournament for Wales.
Paul Scholes
Another United old boy not to have left the club since school boy days, Scholes has been crucial to United’s success for the past decade. His vision and thunderous shots has made a menace for the opponents, though his clumsy tackling doesn’t seem to be improving. In 2004, Scholes retired from international football to concentrate on his club career and his decision has paid off as he is still enjoying top flight football at the age of 35. Despite being an asthmatic, Scholes was regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world during the peak of his career and like teammate Ryan Giggs, has won just about everything there is to offer in club football.
Xavi Hernandez
Xavi, who hails from the famous Barcelona youth system, has been at the club since 11 and has had a glittering career with the Catalans. Among the highlight of his club career was winning the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League Treble in 2009. Xavi has also enjoyed success with the Spanish national team, winning Euro 2008 and bagging the player of the tournament award. His excellent form this year was rewarded with a third place finish of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award which was won by his club colleague Lionel Messi. Despite a rather mediocre start to his football career, over the years, Xavi has become among the best players in the world.
Striker
Francesco Totti
The Roma legend has just signed a new contract that will keep him at the club till 2014, and the Italian World Cup winner will be 38 at that time. The Roma captain will now certainly finish his playing days with the Romans, and will join the team’s coaching staff once he hangs up his boots. Totti’s story is certainly one of the best of club loyalties. Despite Roma not achieving as much success as other Italian sides, Totti has not been tempted of leaving the club for better chances of silverware. Despite being in the club during its financial turmoil’s, there has only been one place called home for Francesco Totti.
Raul Gonzalez Blanco
There is many records that comes along when we mention the name Raul Gonzalez Blanco. Among them are the most number of goals in the Champions League, highest number of goals for Spain and Real Madrid and the youngest player to debut for Real Madrid. Despite Real being frequently active in the transfer market, Raul has managed to hold his place in the Real team for the past 15 years or so. Despite winning three Champions League titles and scoring in two finals, Raul has never won the Copa del Rey in his entire career. Though he has been an icon of Real in recent years, Raul has not been selected for the national side since 2006. Raul has not officially retired from international football and Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque has said there is still a chance of him making the team for the 2010 World Cup despite critics saying the current Spain team looks better without their record goal scorer.
