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As the sun set on an eventful 2015 calendar year, there were many incredible stories that came out from the footballing year. From Chelsea’s Premier League win to their incredible downfall; to Barcelona’s incredible trophy-laden year; to Leicester City’s stunning rise to the top of the Premier League table, it’s been an action-packed year.However, what makes football tick at it’s very heart is the player, and there have been many stunning individual performances this year, that have included some incredible displays of goal-scoring, defensive nous and even leadership, culminating in a year that has seen many long-standing record tumble.While football celebrates the individual with awards like the Ballon d’Or, it must be remembered that it’s a team game – and with that in mind we pick a team that had the best performers of the year in each position, to form a formidable force, albeit hypothetical.Without further ado, here is Sportskeeda’s Football Team of the Year.
#1 Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
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The man who has come to combine the sweeper and goalkeeper role into an unholy yet thrilling combination, is our pick for the goalkeeper spot. Manuel Neuer had stiff competition this year, as opposed to last year when he was unquestionable the best goalkeeper in the world. However, the German’s assured performances in goal this calendar year have meant that his club, Bayern Munich romped to a Bundesliga title while narrowly missing out in the Champions League and the DFB Pokal.
The German’s made a relatively high 53 saves this calendar year, with 23 clean sheets in 43 games, the highest of any goalkeeper this year. Neuer’s unquestionable skill was on full display in Bayern’s Champions League encounter against Arsenal on the 21st of October. The German pulled off a stunning point-blank save from a Theo Walcott header, that had many labeling it their ‘save of the season’, with the Arsenal striker even peeling away in celebration before being shocked to a standstill as Neuer clawed the ball away from goal.
It’s for that very reason that Neuer makes the cut; the German can take your breath away with his goalkeeping feats. While some other goalkeepers such as Samir Handanovic, Keylor Navas and Claudio Bravo have had a statistically more successful year in some aspects, Manuel Neuer still retains his crown as the #1 goalkeeper around, as he is the better keeper overall.
Neuer made the cut from a very tough pool of the Top 10 Goalkeepers of the Year.
#2 Defence
The best right back of the calendar year is a fairly obvious choice, with Philipp Lahm’s selection almost a formality. The German is an ever-present in any Team of the Year, as he’s one of the most decorated footballers to have ever played the game.
Lahm’s calendar year has seen him lift his seventh Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, and with amazing stats such as his 90% pass accuracy overall and winning more than half of his duels, it is little wonder that the German heavily contributed to the Bavarians success.
Lahm’s two footedness also means he is one of the most versatile players to have ever played the game, but the king of versatility is the man who occupies the opposite flank, David Alaba, who is our pick for the left back role. “David Alaba is our God. He has played in almost all 10 positions!”, is how his manager Pep Guardiola lauds the Austrian full back.
Alaba is the best left back in the world, with an stunning 92% pass completion rate while winning nearly half his duels. The Austrian has creaated over 20 chances for his teammates, while an impressive scoring record for his national side (4 goals and 3 assists in 8 games) has seen Alaba guide Austria to an hitherto improbable qualification for Euro 2016.
Giorgio Chiellini’s no-nonsense displays at the heart of Juventus’ defence are the reason for which he is our pick for the left sided centre back role. The Italian was his usual tough-tackling self, dominating the ball in the air and on the ground, winning an astonishing 59% of his duels this year.
The Italian’s partnership with Leonardo Bonucci at the heart of Juventus’ defence saw the Bianconeri lift another Scudetto this year, while they made the finals of the Champion League. Chiellini’s street-smart displays saw him named to the Serie A and Champions League Team of the Year. Juventus’ slow start to the 2015/16 season was overcome as Chiellini returned to the side, as he exerted his stellar leadership qualities, dragging his club to 4th in the standings.
“O Montsro” Thiago Silva is our pick to partner Chiellini in central defence. The defender has bounced back from a traumatic 2014 to put in one his his best seasons till date. As Paris St. Germain romp to another Ligue 1 title with a 19 point lead so far, credit must surely go to their captain extraordinaire, who’s overseen the defence keep 11 clean sheets in 18 games, letting in only 9 goals.
The Brazilian’s numbers this calendar year are mind boggling, as he’s won an astonishing 71% of the overall duels he’s faced, while also chipping in with a crucial goal occasionally, most notably scoring against Chelsea when PSG defeated the m in the Champions League this year.
Alaba, Chiellini, Silva , Lahm were picked from a competitive group of the Top 10 Defenders of the Year.
#3 Midfield
Sergio Busquets’ water-carrier role means that he is often underappreciated as those in front of him grab all the headlines. However, his Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique, is under no illusions to the midfielder’s importance, saying “He is a unique player. He is the most complete and, for me, best midfielder in the world without a doubt.”
Barcelona’s metronome is only 27-years-old and continues to improve. He is a vital cog at the heart of Barcelona’s midfield, as the Blaugrana’s win percentage falls to 66% without him as opposed to 80% when he takes the pitch for his side. Busquets appeared 52 times as Barcelona picked up 5 trophies in 2015, while he was also named in the Champions League Team of the Year.
Manchester City have never been shy of spending money, and it stands to reason that the most expensive signing in their history, Kevin de Bruyne would be one of the world’s best. The Belgian wizard was stunning for Wolfsburg in the earlier half of the year, scoring the decisive goal as his side won the DFB Pokal and the Supercup later.
De Bruyne was the second-most creative player in Europe when he left for Manchester City, and has carried that form into this season, comfortably being City’s best player with 5 goals and 8 assists in just 14 games. Manuel Pelligrini admitted that spending £54 million on the Belgian was a gamble, but De Bruyne’s displays means that he is worth every penny.
Another record signing, Mesut Ozil’s £42.5 million price tag appeared to have weighed heavily on his shoulders last year, but the German has emerged from his cocoon this year. Ozil is the most creative player in Europe this year, notching up a staggering 21 assists in the calendar year, with 16 in the league already this season.
The serial assist king created a new record of seven consecutive assists, and it is this unparalleled vision that guided Arsenal to a second consecutive FA Cup win this year. With the German continuing his stunning vein of form, Arsenal, who top the Premier League at the halfway point, might deliver Ozil a long-awaited league title.
Busquets, De Bruyne, Ozil were chosen from a decorated group of the Top 10 Midfielders of the Year.
#4 Attack
It is incredibly rare for all the attackers of the same team to make it to a cumulative list. However, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr. are utterly unique, rewriting the record books as they racked up an incredibe 137 goals in the calendar year, a staggering 76% of the 180 goals Barcelona scored this year, which is itself the most scored by a club in a year.
The argument for the trio to be included in unison was neatly summed up by Squawka’s tweet :
The crown jewl of Barcelona’s attacking triumvirate, Lionel Messi is a guaranteed inclusion in any Team of the Year list, but the Argentine striker has had an incredible calendar year. Despite missing two months of this year due to injury, Messi has racked up 51 goals this year for club and country, while also picking up 26 assist, thus being involved in an incredible 77 goals this year, the most of any player.
Messi continues to produce jaw-dropping moments, such as an equisite nutmeg on James Milner when Barcelona took on Man City in the Champions league, that had his former manager Pep Guardiola laughing in the stands at Messi’s impudence.
While Messi does cast a very large shadow over the footballing landscape, Neymar Jr. has managed to carve out his own footballing legacy. The Brazilian forward has enjoyed a breakout season, scoring 41 times for Barcelona while also assisting 16 goals in a mere 53 appearances.
Neymar flourished in Messi’s 2 month absence and saw the tributes pour in. His manager Luis Enrique described him thus : “He’s electric. When he runs into the area, either they commit a penalty or he scores.” Neymar has eve crossed club rivalries, as his incredible volleyed goal against Villareal had Gerard Pique purring, saying “I have no idea how he did it. If I tried that, I would fall over.”
However, the success of the MSN trio should be perhaps credited to the man who stitches them together, Luis Suarez. “We all know our roles,” is how Suarez voices his team-ethic. “I don’t dribble round three or four players like Neymar does.”
Suarez’ constant harrowing of defenders allows his fellow teammates to thrive, but that hasn’t hindered the Uruguayan from scoring at an incredible rate. The 28-year-old has scored 48 goals and assisted 22 goals for Barcelona this year, while becoming the all-time top scorer in just his first Club World Cup tournament.
Messi, Neymar, Suarez were chosen from the Top 10 Forwards of the Year.
Here’s the complete lineup :
#5 Substitutes and Manager
Let’s address the elephant in the room first – despite an incredible year statistically, Cristiano Ronaldo could only make the substitutes this year. The Ballon d’Or nominee made it to the much-respected France Football Team of the Year in lieu of Luis Suarez, but we’ve decided to relegate him to the substitute’s bench for 1 major reason : Cristiano Ronaldo is a bit of a flat-track bully.
Another surprise omission is that of Robert Lewandowski, in the central striker role. The Polish striker struck 49 times for club and country, including finishing the Euro qualifiers with a record 13 goals. Other highlights include a ‘5 goals in 9 minutes’ blitz against Wolfsburg. The Pole was a very close second to Luis Suarez, only missing out due to Suarez’s team-ethic as a part of the MSN triumvirate.
Ivan Rakitic is the creative midfielder to make the bench, as even though the Croatian international enjoyed a trophy laden year at the heart of Barcelona’s midfield, he was statistically inferior to both Kevin de Bruyne and Mesut Ozil. Xavi’s natural successor will not mind however, as he is accustomed to others hogging the limelight while he goes about his business with quiet assurance.
Arturo Vidal could not displace Sergio Busquets as our pick for the best defensive midfielder, despite enjoying major success for club and country. The Chilean was instrumental as Juventus picked up another Scudetto, while also being pivotal as Chile won their first Copa America in 99 years. A €37 million move to Bayern Munich was ample reward for his performance, where he is sure to win another trophy next year.
Hector Bellerin is the fullback that makes the bench, the Arsenal right-back had a stunning breakthrough year, keeping French international Mathieu Debuchy out of the Gunners’ lineup with a string of excellent performances. Quite possibly one of the fastest 3 footballers on the planet, Bellerin’s callow years have not prevented him from being touted as a future ‘best right back in the world’.
Diego Godin’s performances for Atletico Madrid in this calendar year have seen the central defender make it to the France Football Team of the Year. However, Thiago Silva and Giorgio Chiellini’s statistical superiority have seen the Uruguayan narrowly miss out. Incredibly, Godin has won every aerial duel he has been involved in this season, aiding Atletico conceded just 8 goals in 16 league games.
La Liga Champions. Copa del Rey Champions. UEFA Champions League Champions. UEFA Super Cup Champions. Club World Cup Champions. It’s not a surprise that Luis Enrique is the manager of the year, even though he had plenty of competition from those in the Top 10 Managers of the Year.
The tactical tweak to move Luis Suarez into the centre has paid off astoundingly while his insistence on giving Ivan Rakitic a prime role in Barcelona’s midfield have made Barcelona the most successful club this year.
