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All Time Soccer/Football Draft and Tourney (1 Viewer)

jonessed said:
Kind of surprised someone didn't pick him up earlier, but there is a lot of offensive talent still floating around.  He can slot right in for Pele as a late sub or if he gets injured.  He's not Pele obviously but he has a similar skillset and playing style.

Joseph Kevin Keegan

Kevin Keegan was quite simply THE footballing superstar of the Seventies. He has been described as "arguably the first superstar English player to attract the modern media spotlight".[2] He began his playing career at S####horpe United in 1968, before moving to Liverpool in 1971. At Liverpool, Keegan won three First Division titles, the UEFA Cup twice, the FA Cup and the European Cup. He also gained his first England cap in 1972, and moved to German club Hamburg in the summer of 1977. At Hamburg he was named European Footballer of the Year in 1978 and 1979, won the Bundesliga title in 1978–79, and reached the European Cup final in 1980.

Fast, skillful and courageous, he was a handful for opposition defenders and was widely regarded as one of the finest forwards in the land. Despite standing at just 5ft 8ins tall, he was surprisingly adept in aerial combat.

£500,000 was a record fee for a British footbal!er and Keegan was the most expensive player in the Bundesliga. He soon stamped his authority on the Bundesliga, winning the championship in his second season at Hamburg SV and and won incredibly two consecutive European Footballer of the Year awards, after being the runner-up his last season at Liverpool. In his last season Keegan featured in the European Cup final against Nottingham Forest but lost 1-0. After staying three years in Germany the 29-year-old Keegan was on his way home. Liverpool had first option on him but he moved to Southampton for £420,000. In Keegan's second season at the Dell he was the first division's top-scorer with 26 goals in 41 games and voted Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.


Liverpool


Hamburg


England

Individual[edit]





gone

 
Helmut Rahn, known as Der Boss (The Boss), (16 August 1929 in Essen – 14 August 2003) was a German football player. He became a legend for having scored the winning goal in the final game of the 1954 FIFA World Cup (West Germany 3 – Hungary 2).


Statistics[SIZE=small][[/SIZE]edit]


  • 40 National team matches; 21 goals for Germany
  • 1 B-National team match; 2 goals
  • Bundesliga

    19 matches; 7 goals, Meidericher SV

  • Oberliga West

    201 matches; 88 goals, Rot-Weiss Essen


    29 matches; 11 goals, 1. FC Köln

  • Final round for the German Championship

    7 matches; 3 goals, 1. FC Köln

  • Westpokal

    2 matches; 2 goals, 1. FC Köln


Honors[SIZE=small][[/SIZE]edit]



Club[SIZE=small][[/SIZE]edit]



International[SIZE=small][[/SIZE]edit]



Individual[SIZE=small][[/SIZE]edit]




and the bizarre... Rahn is allegedly the cousin of the grandfather of Kevin-Prince Boateng of the Ghana national football team.[4]

 
You cant conduct an all time draft without this player. He was the star of the great Uruguayan teams who won three consecutive world titles in 1924, 1928 and 1930 (the first World Cup). He will compete at RB and RW and allow Bergomi to slide over to the center of defense when needed.

18 José Leandro Andrade FB, Uruguay and Nacional/Penarol

Jose Leandro Andrade was the Pele of his time. Until today, the star of the 1930 FIFA World Cup remains a great football idol in his home country, Uruguay. Andrade was the star of the first ever World Cup tournament and, even earlier, the hero of the “Urus” at the Olympic gold medal victories in 1924 and 1928.

After his appearances in the Olympics in Paris and Amsterdam Andrade was celebrated in Europe as the “footballer with the golden feet”. In England, the home of football, the black midfield star was called the “greatest of all great Uruguayans” after his Olympic feats. The International Olympic Committee, IOC, even awarded him the “Copa Olimpica”, the Olympic Cup.

As an eyewitness, the legendary German international Richard Hofmann described Andrade, who came from the poorest class in his country and privately was considered a very restless customer: “Uruguay then was the best team in the world. Their star was Andrade. He was a football artist who could simply do anything with the ball. He was a tall guy with elastic movements, who always preferred the direct, elegant game without physical contact and was always ahead with his thoughts by several moves. Andrade was a noticeably fair player. He never reverted to the theatrical interludes of his team-mates, who pinched or rolled on the pitch after fouls in order to achieve an advantage with the referees. Even during the match Andrade always beamed friendly smiles”.

A Dutch journalist enthused after Uruguay’s Olympic victory: “Andrade was such a great player and his colleagues were such aces that you felt sorry to leave the stadium.” On the road to the Olympic gold medal, Andrade suffered a bad injury which later turned out to be far-reaching. In the semi-final match against Italy Andrade crashed into the goalpost during a defensive action and sustained a major eye injury.

In 1930, the Uruguayan became the undisputed hero of the first FIFA World Cup™ tournament in which he scored one goal in four matches and was elected to the All-Star team as right half-back. And all that despite him being older and less fit than when enjoying his two Olympic triumphs. At that time, the piano tuner, born on October 1, 1901, had already played with Penarol Montevideo, Missiones, Reformes, Beljavista and Nacional Montevideo and worked as a civil servant. He had gained three South American titles (1922, 1923, 1926), and won four national championships with Nacional. Andrade played until he was 36 years old and earned 43 caps (33 of those A internationals). After a contract with Atalanta AFA Buenos Aires (1936) in Argentina, the ball virtuoso made guest appearances at Bella Vista and Montevideo Wanderers FC (1937).

Andrade, the natural talent, the phenomenon, was revered by the South Americans as “La Maravilla Negra”, the “Black Wonder”. But after the successes the Andrade monument began to crumble. While co-player and captain Jose Nasazzi advanced to the office of CEO of the Montevideo Casino after his career, forward Pedro Cea progressed from ice cream seller to radio reporter, and attacker Hector Scarone became a coach, Andrade’s road led downwards. The eye injury sustained in 1928 became worse. In later age Andrade returned to the starting point of his career. He left Nacional and re-joined Penarol, where he had been rejected and put off by functionaries, apparently for racist reasons, at an early age.

At the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when Uruguay sensationally won their second title, Jose Leandro Andrade was present as a guest. But in the Uruguayan playing kit on the pitch, there was another Andrade. In his own position, Jose Leandro watched his nephew Victor Rodriguez, who had adopted Andrade as his second family name out of reverence to his uncle.

The German journalist Fritz Hack who lives in South America, needed six days to find the “Black Wonder” in Montevideo in the autumn of 1956. “Friends helped me. But what I found was horrible”, Hack reported. The once famous and celebrated Andrade lived in a dilapidated basement flat in “Calle Perazza”. “In a spartanly furnished room I found Andrade, a total alcoholic and blind in one eye, a consequence of the injury. He could no longer follow my questions, which were answered by his beautiful wife, the sister of one of the former Olympic champions”.

The FIFA World Cup and two-time Olympic champion died hardly a year later. Jose Leandro Andrade was found dead on October 4, 1957, three days after his 56th birthday. The former civil servant owned just an old bed, a cupboard and a few medals in a shoe box. But in the memory of millions of football fans in his home country the name Andrade is still steadfastly linked with the golden time of Uruguay’s national team and the first FIFA World Cup.
 

 
18.4 - "The Iron Curtian" - Rinat Dasayev - USSR - Backup Keeper, because why not?

Rinat Fayzrakhmanovich Dasayev (Russian: Ринат Файзрахманович Дасаев, Tatar: Rinat Fäyzeraxman ulı Dasayev; born June 13, 1957) is a Russian former football goalkeeper, who played in three World Cups with the Soviet national team. He is considered the second best Russian goalkeeper ever behind Lev Yashin,[2] and one of the best in the world in the 1980s. He was awarded the title of the World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award in 1988 by the IFFHS. In 2004, he was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.

Dasayev, nicknamed "The Iron Curtain" and "The Cat", was a goalkeeper for the Russian football club Spartak Moscow during most of the 1980s. He won the Soviet championship in 1979 and 1987 and was named Best Soviet Goalkeeper by Ogonyok (Огонëк) magazine in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988. In 1982 he was named Soviet Footballer of the Year. Dasayev played for the Soviet national team at the 1980 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He appeared in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Euro 88 (where the Soviet Union lost the finall). In total, he was capped 91 times from 1979 to 1990, being the second-most capped player ever for the Soviet Union.

 
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18.x Willi Schulz - CB - Germany

Steely German defense in full effect. Perfect guy to come on and lock things down.

"Being a conservative sweeper with no urge to join the attack of his teams, Schulz focused on marshalling his defense. He was noted for his calmness even under pressure, his positional play, his strength at man-to-man duels, his solid passing game, aerial ability and a special expertise at sliding tackling. For these traits as well as his consistency at the top level, Schulz was revered by West German national team coach Helmut Schön, who preferred Schulz at the sweeper position to the younger and more adventurous Franz Beckenbauer, who had to play in midfield instead.

Schulz started out as a right half back in the late 1950s. With the change from the WM system to the 4–2–4, Schulz was converted from half back to stopper by the mid-1960s. During the 1966 World Cup, Schulz acted as the sweeper of the West German national team, a role he had taken over from Klaus-Dieter Sieloff only shortly before the tournament. At that tournament, Schulz was rated as one of the best defenders. During the next four years, Schulz remained the standard sweeper of West Germany. During this time, Schulz was acknowledged as one of the best central defenders in global football. In November 1968, he was part of the FIFA XI that faced Brazil in Rio de Janeiro."

 
Last edited by a moderator:
18.x Jozsef Bozsik

Backup playmaker/mid

“Cucu” Jozsef Bozsik is regarded as the greatest deep-lying playmaker in history of European football and was the best midfielder in the World during the mid-50s, was one of World-Class players but was overshadowed by the gifted attackers “The Magic Magyars” The Hungary Golden team. He was known for his flawless technique, flair, tactical nous, passing accuracy in both short and long range with the right moment, reliable ball possession with very difficult to lose the ball and control the game with ease, although he suffered from a lack of pace. He was an extremely intelligent player and was often used as a deep lying playmaker where his tackling ability was also helpful. He holds the record most Caps and most consecutive years of Caps for Hungary national team.

 
You cant conduct an all time draft without this player. He was the star of the great Uruguayan teams who won three consecutive world titles in 1924, 1928 and 1930 (the first World Cup). He will compete at RB and RW and allow Bergomi to slide over to the center of defense when needed.

18 José Leandro Andrade FB, Uruguay and Nacional/Penarol

Jose Leandro Andrade was the Pele of his time. Until today, the star of the 1930 FIFA World Cup remains a great football idol in his home country, Uruguay. Andrade was the star of the first ever World Cup tournament and, even earlier, the hero of the “Urus” at the Olympic gold medal victories in 1924 and 1928.

After his appearances in the Olympics in Paris and Amsterdam Andrade was celebrated in Europe as the “footballer with the golden feet”. In England, the home of football, the black midfield star was called the “greatest of all great Uruguayans” after his Olympic feats. The International Olympic Committee, IOC, even awarded him the “Copa Olimpica”, the Olympic Cup.

As an eyewitness, the legendary German international Richard Hofmann described Andrade, who came from the poorest class in his country and privately was considered a very restless customer: “Uruguay then was the best team in the world. Their star was Andrade. He was a football artist who could simply do anything with the ball. He was a tall guy with elastic movements, who always preferred the direct, elegant game without physical contact and was always ahead with his thoughts by several moves. Andrade was a noticeably fair player. He never reverted to the theatrical interludes of his team-mates, who pinched or rolled on the pitch after fouls in order to achieve an advantage with the referees. Even during the match Andrade always beamed friendly smiles”.

A Dutch journalist enthused after Uruguay’s Olympic victory: “Andrade was such a great player and his colleagues were such aces that you felt sorry to leave the stadium.” On the road to the Olympic gold medal, Andrade suffered a bad injury which later turned out to be far-reaching. In the semi-final match against Italy Andrade crashed into the goalpost during a defensive action and sustained a major eye injury.

In 1930, the Uruguayan became the undisputed hero of the first FIFA World Cup™ tournament in which he scored one goal in four matches and was elected to the All-Star team as right half-back. And all that despite him being older and less fit than when enjoying his two Olympic triumphs. At that time, the piano tuner, born on October 1, 1901, had already played with Penarol Montevideo, Missiones, Reformes, Beljavista and Nacional Montevideo and worked as a civil servant. He had gained three South American titles (1922, 1923, 1926), and won four national championships with Nacional. Andrade played until he was 36 years old and earned 43 caps (33 of those A internationals). After a contract with Atalanta AFA Buenos Aires (1936) in Argentina, the ball virtuoso made guest appearances at Bella Vista and Montevideo Wanderers FC (1937).

Andrade, the natural talent, the phenomenon, was revered by the South Americans as “La Maravilla Negra”, the “Black Wonder”. But after the successes the Andrade monument began to crumble. While co-player and captain Jose Nasazzi advanced to the office of CEO of the Montevideo Casino after his career, forward Pedro Cea progressed from ice cream seller to radio reporter, and attacker Hector Scarone became a coach, Andrade’s road led downwards. The eye injury sustained in 1928 became worse. In later age Andrade returned to the starting point of his career. He left Nacional and re-joined Penarol, where he had been rejected and put off by functionaries, apparently for racist reasons, at an early age.

At the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when Uruguay sensationally won their second title, Jose Leandro Andrade was present as a guest. But in the Uruguayan playing kit on the pitch, there was another Andrade. In his own position, Jose Leandro watched his nephew Victor Rodriguez, who had adopted Andrade as his second family name out of reverence to his uncle.

The German journalist Fritz Hack who lives in South America, needed six days to find the “Black Wonder” in Montevideo in the autumn of 1956. “Friends helped me. But what I found was horrible”, Hack reported. The once famous and celebrated Andrade lived in a dilapidated basement flat in “Calle Perazza”. “In a spartanly furnished room I found Andrade, a total alcoholic and blind in one eye, a consequence of the injury. He could no longer follow my questions, which were answered by his beautiful wife, the sister of one of the former Olympic champions”.

The FIFA World Cup and two-time Olympic champion died hardly a year later. Jose Leandro Andrade was found dead on October 4, 1957, three days after his 56th birthday. The former civil servant owned just an old bed, a cupboard and a few medals in a shoe box. But in the memory of millions of football fans in his home country the name Andrade is still steadfastly linked with the golden time of Uruguay’s national team and the first FIFA World Cup.
 
 So sad.  They treated them like gods on the pitch, & then throw-away trash when they retired or were injured, especially if black South Americans.  Disposable heroes.  Was it crazylegs Garrincha(?) that suffered a similar plight?

 
So feel free to check out the test friendly thread.  It ended up being a hyper competitive game where Man U was in front for much of the match.  Barca ends up winning on a late goal.  Consider whether I have the balance right.  Man U largely rolled luckier, but still lost.  

 
18.1 Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Manager, Ukraine

Led Dynamo Kyiv to eight Soviet Top League titles, six Soviet Cups, five Ukrainian Premier League titles and three Ukrainian Cups.

More importantly, he was way ahead of his time both in terms of tactics and training and had a significant influence on the way the game is played today. He'll get everything he can out of my team.

 
18.xx - GK Thibaut Courtois, Belgium, Chelsea


Personal information


Full name


Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois[1]


Date of birth


11 May 1992 (age 23)


Place of birth


Bree, Belgium


Height


1.99 m (6 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[2]

Playing position


Goalkeeper


Club information


Current team


Chelsea


Number


13


Youth career


1997–1999


Bilzen V.V.


1999–2009


Genk


Senior career*


Years


Team


Apps†


(Gls)†


2009–2011


Genk


41


(0)


2011–


Chelsea


53


(0)


2011–2014


→ Atlético Madrid (loan)


111


(0)


National team‡

2009–2010


Belgium U18


4


(0)


2011–


Belgium


34


(0)

Pretty self-explanatory. One of the best goalies in the world today and an absolute freaking giant (6'6 and 1/2) in net. 

 
Since I was out of town when my picks yesterday came up, here's the deets on them:

Winger/midfield Park Ji-sung, South Korea, Manchester United

Fills a defensive need for me on the wings and possibly at CM. This is a total "team" selection since he fits a need. Plus, read Pirlo's description on him below in bold. :lmao:  


Personal information


Full name


Park Ji-sung[1]


Date of birth


25 February 1981 (age 35)


Place of birth


GoheungJeollanam-doSouth Korea


Height


1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]

Playing position


Midfielder


Club information


Current team


Manchester United (global ambassador)


Youth career


2000


Myongji University


Senior career*


Years


Team


Apps†


(Gls)†


2000–2003


Kyoto Purple Sanga


76


(11)


2003–2005


PSV Eindhoven


65


(13)


2005–2012


Manchester United


134


(19)


2012–2014


Queens Park Rangers


20


(0)


2013–2014


→ PSV Eindhoven (loan)


23


(2)


Total


 


318


(45)


National team


2000


South Korea U20


2


(0)


1999–2004


South Korea U23


23


(3)


2000–2011


South Korea


100


(13)

Park received much acclaim at Manchester United for his work rate and energy which saw him deployed all over the midfield, including in the middle of the pitch and on both wings, where he operates as a "defensive winger".[74] He was also known as something of a "big game player", as he was often used by Alex Ferguson in big league games or European games where there was an extra emphasis on defensive work.[75]

In his 2013 autobiography, 'I Think Therefore, I Play', Andrea Pirlo wrote that Park, who was deployed to man-mark him in matches for both PSV and Manchester United in the Champions League, was the one player that he could not get the better of. Pirlo wrote of Park, "The midfielder must have been the first nuclear-powered South Korean in history, in the sense that he rushed about the pitch at the speed of an electron."[76]

=========================================================

With this next pick, I needed a big CB to come in and spell Blanc and Terry now and then. He's one of the better ones in the world today, and it finally gives me an Italian.

CB Leonardo Bonucci, Italy, Juventus


Personal information


Full name


Leonardo Bonucci[1]


Date of birth


1 May 1987 (age 28)


Place of birth


Viterbo, Italy


Height


1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]

Playing position


Centre back


Club information


Current team


Juventus


Number


19


Youth career


2004–2005


Viterbese


2005–2007


Internazionale


Senior career*


Years


Team


Apps†


(Gls)†


2005–2009


Internazionale


1


(0)


2007–2009


Treviso (loan)


40


(4)


2009


→ Pisa (loan)


18


(1)


2009–2010


Bari


38


(1)


2010–


Juventus


195


(11)


National team‡

2010–


Italy


55


(3)

A former midfielder who is usually deployed as ball-playing centre back in a three-man defence[61][62] (although he is also capable of playing in a four-man defence),[63] he is known for his technique, passing range, and his ability to launch an attack with long passes.[61][64] A tall and strong defender, with good anticipation, solid tackling, and an ability to read the game, he also excels in the air, and frequently poses a threat from set pieces.[63][65][66][67] Although he was once criticised for being inconsistent and prone to errors or lapses in concentration in his youth,[63][68] he showed notable improvements during the 2014–15 season, and established himself as one of the best defenders in Italy and in Europe, also drawing praise from manager Pep Guardiola, who described Bonucci as one of his "favourite ever players".[61][63][69][70][71] His unique playing style has led Giovanni Galli to compare him to former sweeper Gaetano Scirea.[61][72] In 2012, The Guardian named him the 88th Best Player in the World.[73] In 2016, his defensive attributes, as well as his skill on the ball, vision, and accurate passing, moved La Repubblica to dub him as “Beckenbonucci”, a reference to former German sweeper Franz Beckenbauer.[74]

 
round 18

Back in the day when I used to play FIFA manager mode (or was it even called that yet?) or jsut career mode?)) I'd ALWAYS buy RVP and this guy. Every.single.time. and they were money, especially this cat. So imagine my heart fluttering when Liverpool acquire him from that other Madrid team. 

One of the most complete forwards I've ever seen. 

Lethal

My Link
































 
Jesus, it's like watching footy porn with the balls he's getting from Stevie, Alonso and Mach

That sounded better in my head :mellow:

 
(It's 12:01 AM EST, so I should be clear to pick)

Last position player before my Shtickadium, so I may as well make it a good one. In fact, might as well make it the best player in Japanese history. 80 goals in 84 international caps, 202 goals in 254 Japanese league games from 1967-1984.

19.xx - ST Kunishige Kamamoto, Japan


Personal information


Full name


Kunishige Kamamoto


Date of birth


April 15, 1944 (age 72)


Place of birth


KyotoJapan


Height


1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)


Playing position


Striker


Youth career


1960–1962


Yamashiro H.S.


1963–1966


Waseda University


Senior career*


Years


Team


Apps†


(Gls)†


1967–1984


Yanmar Diesel


251


(202)


National team


1964–1977


Japan


84[1][2]

(80[1])


Teams managed


1978–1984


Yanmar Diesel


1991–1994


Gamba Osaka


2009


Fujieda MYFC


* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Kunishige Kamamoto was the greatest striker produced by Japanese football in the entire 20th century, and his name was known throughout the world. With seven goals (in six games) as a forward with the Japanese national team at the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968, he both took the title as the tournament's top scorer and contributed to Japan's success in achieving third place and the bronze medal.

His record of 75 goals in "A" matches (76 matches) throughout his 14-year career with the Japanese national team, from 1964 to 1977, remains unbeaten to this date. In domestic football, he scored 202 goals (in 251 games) in 17 seasons (1967-83) with Yanmar Diesel in the Japan Soccer League (JSL), and a total of 60 goals (in 59 games) in the Emperor's Cup between 1964 and 1984 (with Waseda University and Yanmar Diesel). Such prolific figures helped him achieve winners' medals four times in the JSL and seven times in the Emperor's Cup.

Despite remaining amateur, Kamamoto also managed to score goals in matches against top-class professional opposition such as Palmeiras (Brazil), Arsenal (England), Borussia Monchengladbach (then West Germany), and Benfica (Portugal). Having played against him, global superstars such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, and Wolfgang Overath were all quick to offer their high praise for his performances.

Further evidence of the regard in which he was held overseas came in his selection for a World Select XI in a UNICEF charity match (to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Barcelona FC's foundation) in 1980 at the relatively advanced age of 36, and in the fact that two real stars of the world game, Pele and Overath, presented him with flowers at his retirement game in Tokyo in August 1984.

The year after "Mexico", Kamamoto spent time sidelined in hospital with hepatitis, which ultimately served as a fatal blow to the hopes of the JFA and of Dettmar Cramer to build on this Olympic bronze medal and take Japan to the World Cup. Following his recovery, Kamamoto did return to the national team from 1970, but some of the momentum of the "Mexico generation" had been lost, and without proper preparations to bring through the next generation of players, Japanese football entered a lengthy period of stagnation.

However, even throughout the 1970s, Kamamoto lost none of his desire for goals and hatred for losing. On the contrary, he even managed to refine his goalscoring technique even further, and a Kamamoto goal was always something that brought much pleasure to Japanese football fans.

In 1977, I worked with Kamamoto as his book, "Kunishige Kamamoto - Striker Techniques and Strategies", was published by Kodansha. Though this was the year that he finally retired from the Japanese national team, his playing career in the JSL was still going strong.

The video recorder had not yet entered people's homes by this point, but I decided that I wanted to make a visual record of Kamamoto's playing style. I used a 25 frames-per-second, motor drive camera to take a huge succession of photographs, and recorded a commentary to describe his own, individual technique.

Around the same time, I looked back on negatives of similar photographs taken by two cameramen to record all of his matches throughout an entire year. It was astonishing to see just how this player's approach to the ball, steps, impact, and follow-through when shooting were always exactly the same. His technique and posture when heading was similar - always stable and beautiful - from his vision to ready himself for the moment the crosser played the ball, to his determination of the ball's point of fall, his steps, his jump, and finally his contact with the ball in the air.

His body was unusually well-built for a Japanese, he had developed his own precise techniques for shooting and heading, and he knew how to use all of this to help his team, but the area in which Kamamoto had the most self-confidence of all was his ability to shoot and simply kick the ball. Having played alongside men such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Bernd Schuster in the World Select XI in Barcelona, Kamamoto said "seeing players like these showed me just how good the world's best footballers really were. Having said that, I still thought that I could shoot and kick the ball at least as well as any of them".

Since his retirement, Japan is still yet to produce a taller striker than Kunishige Kamamoto. This may make it seem as if Kamamoto was something of a freak of nature within Japanese football, but if we look back at the technical history of the sport within Japan - and at the succession of strikers from Shiro Teshima, the small centre-forward at the 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games; to Taizo Kawamoto (another centre-forward), one of the heroes of the dramatic victory at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936; and Hirokazu Ninomiya, the centre-forward at the 1st Asian Games in 1951 - we can see that Kamamoto was undoubtedly a player that had developed in the wake of the general improvement in Japanese football throughout this time.

 
19. Arrigio Saachi, Manager, Milan and Italy

Arrigio Saachi is the legendary Italian Manager who took an ailing Milan side and helped it become arguably the greatest in modern football history. During his four years at the helm of Milan, he won eight titles, including a Scudetto, back-to-back European Cups in (1989 and 1990) and two Intercontinental Cups. He remains the last Manager to win back-to-back European championships.  

Speaking in 2012, Xavi paid homage: "We are incredibly proud when they compare us with Sacchi's Milan. That was a side which made history in football."

Blowing away the conventional wisdoms of Italian football was never going to be achieved through #####-footing around. Arrigio  Sacchi did not just rip up the rulebook – he had the good grace to write an updated version. Sacchi was a visionary. His methods weren't just seen as unusual, but erring on the side of madness.


In appointing Sacchi manager in 1987, Silvio Berlusconi opted for an inexperienced coach with a distinctly un-Italian love of attacking football. Winning in itself was not enough for Sacchi, the way a match was won was just as important.  At that time, Milan were in a rut. The Totonero match-fixing scandal of 1980 had relegated them to Serie B, the club's own ineptitude repeating that relegation in 1982 after re-promotion. They had failed to finish in Serie A's top five in any of the past six seasons. Four years later, they had won consecutive European Cups. A club had been reborn, a legacy established.

Sacchi was hugely influenced by the work of Rinus Michels and Holland’s Total Football – the basis behind Barcelona’s Cantera and first team success.  When with the ball, Milan were hugely exciting. Sacchi preferred to build with short, quick passes, creating space which was then exploited to the maximum. In Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, the Rossoneri had a strikeforce capable of scoring every type of goal. Frank Rijkaard pulled the strings behind them, the third member of the magnificent Dutch trio arriving after the 1988 Scudetto. Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Donadoni played supporting roles.

There is a strange dichotomy to Milan's reputation under Sacchi. They were renowned as an exciting, entertaining team, yet it was their work without the ball that is most famous. As soon as they lost possession, Sacchi demanded that his players press as a unit, operating with an extremely high defensive line. In contrast to other Italian teams, Milan defended using a zonal marking system and aimed to regularly play an offside trap.

There is a misconception that a pressing style, particularly in the present day, demands huge physical fitness. That was rejected by Sacchi: "Pressing is not about running and it's not about working hard, it's about controlling space." Force the opposition to pass where you want them to. Control was the key to success.

It was spectacularly effective. In Sacchi's first season, Milan scored more top-flight goals than they had for eight seasons. The next year, they scored 61 times, a 15-year high. A backline of Mauro Tassotti, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini formed perhaps the greatest defence in club football history, each comfortable on the ball and capable of astoundingly consistent positional discipline. Milan conceded 14 times in the 1987/88 league season to clinch their first Scudetto in almost a decade. In 10 knockout European Cup matches from the quarter-finals onwards in 1989 and 1990, they allowed only three goals.

It's important to note just how difficult Serie A was to win during Sacchi's time in Milan, arguably the toughest domestic competition in the history of the game. Diego Maradona and Careca at Napoli, Zbigniew Boniek and Rudi Voller at Roma, Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli at Sampdoria, Enzo Scifo and Giuseppe Bergomi at Internazionale, Roberto Baggio at Fiorentina, Michael Laudrup at Juventus. After Milan won the league, city rivals Inter signed both Andreas Brehme and Lothar Matthaus to try and bridge the gap.

It was the first of Milan's European Cup victories, in May 1989, that best stands the test of time. Following 11 consecutive finals won by a single-goal margin at most, Sacchi's team swept aside Steaua Bucharest at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium with style, winning 4-0. Steaua had not lost a domestic game for three years, and the final was expected to be tight. No team has ever won the European Cup by a greater margin. Sacchi and his team were kings.

In fact, Milan's semi-final victory over Real Madrid was their iconic performance. Madrid were about to secure the fourth of five straight La Liga titles, and had gone 27 league games without defeat. Having been unfortunate to only draw the away leg in Spain 1-1, the Rossoneri crushed Real 5-0 in the home leg, with five different goalscorers. It was a defining night not just for Milan, but for Italian football.

Hallmarks of Sacchi's work can be found in Pep Guardiola's Bayern and Barcelona, Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund, Jose Mourinho's Porto. Speaking in 2012, Xavi paid homage: "We are incredibly proud when they compare us with Sacchi's Milan. That was a side which made history in football." 

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20 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Winger/Forward, Gabon and Borussia Dortmund

Well, he is the fastest player in the world right now and he’s bagging goals in bunches for Dortmund  (~40 this season alone). He provides pace down the flank in the event I want to shake things up. And representing the great Republic of Gabon, he is the 12th different nationality represented on my team.

 
When I decided to punt my stadium after Anfield and Westfalenstadion, I resigned myself to something...meh. Something that either lacked seats or devoted fans. Something that lacked that...special feeling.

Then it hit me. There was one giant stadium still out there. And inside that stadium, are fans. 150,000 fans that literally have no choice but to cheer.

This place is so killer...people have been killed in it. On purpose.

When other teams visit this stadium on their road leg, they shall be welcomed with the following sign:

북한에 오신 것을 환영합니다!

That's right. Opponents...welcome to Hell on Earth.

20.xx - Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, North Korea


Location


PyongyangNorth Korea


Coordinates


39°2′58.47″N 125°46′30.79″E[SIZE=small]Coordinates: [/SIZE]39°2′58.47″N 125°46′30.79″E


Owner


DPR Korea


Capacity


150,000[1]

Field size


Main pitch- 22,500 m²
Total floor space- over 207,000 m²


Opened


May 1, 1989


Tenants


Parades/shows celebrating Kim Il-sung andNorth Korea.
Arirang Festival
North Korea national football team (some games)
North Korea women's national football team(some games)

 
round 18

Back in the day when I used to play FIFA manager mode (or was it even called that yet?) or jsut career mode?)) I'd ALWAYS buy RVP and this guy. Every.single.time. and they were money, especially this cat. So imagine my heart fluttering when Liverpool acquire him from that other Madrid team. 

One of the most complete forwards I've ever seen. 

Lethal

My Link

:goodposting:   / @The Z Machine

 
19.x

Manuel Amoros

Manuel Amoros was a versatile full-back who was able to play both left and right-side without a significant difference due to him being great with both feet. He was an extraordinary wing-back in the world during 1980s with his fast, excellent, and intelligent movement. Amoros played his first World Cup as a starter in 1982 in spite of his age (20 year old only). He often went forward to play like winger and his elegant style led him to be viewed as a popular defender, especially after his performance in match against Brazil in World Cup 1986 and he was voted as the best right-back of tournament by international press. Amoros was one of the most successful French players during his time, won top trophies both in club and international competitions. He finished 4th for European footballer of the year in 1986 and also finished 12th in 1987.

 
20.x

Backup goal keeper:

Ricardo Zamora 

“El Divino” Ricardo Zamora was an all-time greatest legend among goalkeepers before World War II had even happened, and still being among the best footballer ever of his country. Zamora, was noted for wearing a cloth cap and a white polo-neck jumper on the field, a look later copied by several of his contemporaries. He claimed it was to protect him from both the sun and his opponents. He was also noted for his bravery. Zamora was also the subject of controversy throughout his career. He allegedly enjoyed drinking Cognac and smoking up to three packs of cigarettes a day, was arrested for his violent behavior in Olympic Game 1926. The award for goalkeeper who have gotten the fewest conceding goal in La Liga, The Ricardo Zamora trophy, is named in his honor. Additionally, He played for Catalan XI and helped them winning the Copa Princep De Asturies 3 times. Zamora won 20 clean sheets for his nation. IFFHS’s poll result shows him as World’s fifth greatest goalkeeper of the century. 

 
18.xx  Chris Waddle LMF/RMF England

Waddle is the type of Fancy Dan that my defense is designed to crush but there may come a time in the tournament where we need a magician in a mullet.  Waddle is left footed but was just as effective as a inverted winger or whatever they called them in the 80s.  His flexibility and creativity should help if the team shifts to a wider midfield.

Waddle was one of the first English players to play on the continent and a quarter century later, is still among the most successful.  That says more about England than Waddle.  He left White Hart Lane in 1989 for Marseilles where he won three consecutive French Division 1 titles and was runner up in the European Cup. 

He'll be #11 in our rotation for penalties

Appreciation article from ThreeMatchBan

And he has a song too

 
round 18

Back in the day when I used to play FIFA manager mode (or was it even called that yet?) or jsut career mode?)) I'd ALWAYS buy RVP and this guy. Every.single.time. and they were money, especially this cat. So imagine my heart fluttering when Liverpool acquire him from that other Madrid team. 

One of the most complete forwards I've ever seen. 

Lethal

My Link





PS, he's won almost every trophy ever made in the history of the trophy and I say this with 0% hyperbole 

 
19.xx Bob Crompton RB  England

Crompton played over 500 games for Blackburn Rovers between 1896-1920 and was one of the stars of the early game.  He was one of the first soccer players to own a motor car.  Some guy on Big Soccer says he's the 6th best right back of all-time which is good enough for me. 

I'm drafting him because my mind's eye wants to see Crompton (the guy on the left) mark Ronaldinho.

 
When I decided to punt my stadium after Anfield and Westfalenstadion, I resigned myself to something...meh. Something that either lacked seats or devoted fans. Something that lacked that...special feeling.

Then it hit me. There was one giant stadium still out there. And inside that stadium, are fans. 150,000 fans that literally have no choice but to cheer.

This place is so killer...people have been killed in it. On purpose.

When other teams visit this stadium on their road leg, they shall be welcomed with the following sign:

북한에 오신 것을 환영합니다!

That's right. Opponents...welcome to Hell on Earth.

20.xx - Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, North Korea


Location


PyongyangNorth Korea


Coordinates


39°2′58.47″N 125°46′30.79″E[SIZE=small]Coordinates: [/SIZE]39°2′58.47″N 125°46′30.79″E


Owner


DPR Korea


Capacity


150,000[1]

Field size


Main pitch- 22,500 m²
Total floor space- over 207,000 m²


Opened


May 1, 1989


Tenants


Parades/shows celebrating Kim Il-sung andNorth Korea.
Arirang Festival
North Korea national football team (some games)
North Korea women's national football team(some games)
Hahaha that was actually my pick. Crap

 
20.xx Estadio Hernando Siles - La Paz, Bolivia

Estadio Hernando Siles is a sports stadium in La Paz, Bolivia. It is the country's largest sports complex with a capacity of 41,143 seats. It is named after Hernando Siles Reyes, the 31st President of Bolivia (1926–1930). The stadium is located in the Miraflores borough of La Paz, at an altitude of 3,637 metres (11,932 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest professional stadiums in the world. The Stadium was opened in 1931 with a match between The Strongest and its classic rival, Universitario, with The Strongest winning 4–1. It is the home ground of three major Bolivian league football clubs, Club Bolivar, The Strongest and La Paz F.C. as well as several smaller top sides: Universitario de La Paz, Chaco Petrolero and Mariscal Braun. The stadium also host lower league clubs: Fraternidad Tigres and Academia de Balompié Boliviano.

A major home field advantage because dice roll differently than at sea level.  There is no better place to fade into Bolivian.

 
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20.xx Estadio Hernando Siles - La Paz, Bolivia

Estadio Hernando Siles is a sports stadium in La Paz, Bolivia. It is the country's largest sports complex with a capacity of 41,143 seats. It is named after Hernando Siles Reyes, the 31st President of Bolivia (1926–1930). The stadium is located in the Miraflores borough of La Paz, at an altitude of 3,637 metres (11,932 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest professional stadiums in the world. The Stadium was opened in 1931 with a match between The Strongest and its classic rival, Universitario, with The Strongest winning 4–1. It is the home ground of three major Bolivian league football clubs, Club Bolivar, The Strongest and La Paz F.C. as well as several smaller top sides: Universitario de La Paz, Chaco Petrolero and Mariscal Braun. The stadium also host lower league clubs: Fraternidad Tigres and Academia de Balompié Boliviano.

A major home field advantage because dice roll differently than at sea level.  There is no better place to fade into Bolivian.
I was typing up this pick at the same time. Sniped twice now

 
Brad Friedel, GK, USA

Frankie Hejduk, Guardian of Morale and Fitness/RWB, USA

Christian Pulisic, RM/RW, USA

Bringing Pulisic along just to show him what it's about for 2020.

 
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