‘Cafu embodies a player who has talent and combined it with incredible willpower and physical strength.’ Football’s Greatest: Cafu, player
Brazil v Italy World Cup Final 17th July 1994: his first of three consecutive World Cup final appearances. ibid.
This time his destination was Italy and A S Roma. ibid.
‘He could defend, he could attack, he could do anything.’ ibid. Ronaldhino
Two years later Cafu and A C Milan were given the chance of redemption when they met Liverpool once again in the Champions League final. ibid.
Some of the world’s best strikers have come from Spain. None more so than David Villa. Football’s Greatest: David Villa
‘Winning the World Cup for your country is as good as it gets.’ ibid. Villa
He joined Liverpool in 1980 for £300,000, a world-record fee for a teenager at the time. Football’s Greatest: Ian Rush
Rush’s 30 goals in the 1981/82 season propelled Liverpool to the First Division title and League Cup glory. ibid.
‘We felt we could beat anyone in the world.’ ibid.
In the 1960s Milan won the European Cup twice. Football’s Greatest Teams: A C Milan, Sky Sports 2011
In 1987 Berlusconi appointed Arrigo Sacchi as manager. ibid.
Dutchman Ruud Gullit was a major part of Sacchi’s revolution … Gullit was joined by his Dutch international teammate Marco van Basten transferred from Ajax … Frank Rijkaard was the next to arrive in Milan. ibid.
Galli, Tassotti, Costacurta, Baresi, Maldini, Donadoni, Rijkaard, Ancelotti, Colombia, Gullit, Van Basten. ibid.
At last Milan were once again champions of Europe. ibid.
Between 1971 and 1973 Ajax of Amsterdam won the European Cup three years in a row. They triumphed with a revolutionary tactical system where players in positions were fluidly interchangable: it was free, it was flowing and it was christened Total Football. Football’s Greatest Teams: Ajax
It was one of the finest teams ever assembled. ibid.
Stuy, Suurbier, Hulshoff, Vasovic, Krol, Neeskens, Haan, Muhren, Swart, Keizer, Cruyff. ibid.
For many he is football’s greatest ever player, and Pele reached that pinnacle while spending most of his career at a smallish club from Sao Paulo state in south-east Brazil. Football’s Greatest Teams: Santos
They toured the world leaving fans everywhere mesmerized. ibid.
Gilmar, Lima, Mauro, Formiga, Dalmo, Mengalvio, Zito, Dorval, Coutinho, Pele, Pepe. ibid.
There’s is a simple motto: More than a Club. And since 2005 Barcelona have indeed proved to be the incarnation of a philosophy: a world-class academy produced world-class players and a world-beating team … culminating in three Champions League trophies in five years. Football’s Greatest Teams: Barcelona
Ronaldinho: the Brazilian immediately endeared himself to the Camp Nou faithful. ibid.
But it was Lionel Messi, a young Argentinian nurtured by the club since arriving as a 13-year-old in 2000, who surpassed everyone else. ibid.
2009: winning all six available trophies. ibid.
Valdes, Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Villa, Messi, Pedro. ibid.
In eight years from May 2005 to 2013 Barcelona won an incredible 20 trophies. ibid.
The white shirt of Real Madrid worn by some of the game’s most magical names representing one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in the world. Football’s Greatest Teams: Real Madrid
Champions of Europe for five consecutive years. ibid.
The acquisition of one particular player – Alfredo di Stefano. ibid.
‘Puskas came to Madrid aged 31.’ ibid.
Dominguez, Marquitos, Santamaria, Pachin, Vidal, Zarrago, di Stefano, Canario, del Sol, Puskas, Gento. ibid.
Real Madrid were the world’s first super-club. ibid.
1996-2003: Illgner, Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Redondo, McManaman, Seedorf, Raul, Morientes, Anelka. ibid.
When Toshack was sacked the team sat eighth in the league. ibid.
Real Madrid’s latest signing was unveilled: Zinedine Zidane. ibid.
Casillas, Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Makelele, Figo, Zidane, Solari, Raul, Ronaldo. ibid.
Already recognised as kings of their domestic game, Portuguese giants Benfica arrived on the global stage in 1961 when they became only the second team to win the European Cup. The following year they successfully defended the trophy, and over the course the decade they lifted eight Portuguese titles and three Portuguese Cups. Football’s Greatest Teams: Benfica
The jewel in the Benfica crown was Eusabio … The Black Panther as he came to be called broke all club goal-scoring records over the next 15 years. ibid.
A fortress when opponents seldom prospered. Further afield the mid-’70s saw Bayern Munich win the European Cup three years in succession. Football’s Greatest Teams: Bayern Munich
The emergence of Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer. ibid.
It was a dream that became a reality. Roman Abramovitch and his billions transformed Chelsea: marquee names were lured to west London in pursuit of major trophies, yet one prize eluded them. Until at last and against all the odds Chelsea were crowned champions of Europe. Football’s Greatest Teams: Chelsea
Ruud Gullit, Roberto di Matteo, Marcel Desailly, Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola … ibid.
Abamovitch brought the hottest property in world football to Stamford Bridge: Jose Mourinho. ibid.
Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Makelele, Lampard, J Cole, Robben, Duff, Drogba. ibid.
In 1999 something truly unique was achieved. A treble of domestic league, FA Cup and Champions League triumphs. Football’s Greatest Teams: Manchester United
There was also a Frenchman, an inspiration, a catalyst: Eric Cantona. ibid.
In 1995 the kids would get their chance. ibid.
Schmeichel, Neville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Cole, Yorke. ibid.
By the mid-1970s Juventus had established themselves as a powerhouse in Italian football … And saw some undeniably great players deliver every European trophy. Football’s Greatest Teams: Juventus
Italy: Zoff, Scirea, Gentile, Bergomi, Collovati, Cabrini, Oriali, Tardelli, Conti, Rossi, Graziani. ibid.
Zoff, Scirea, Gentile, Brio, Cabrini, Bonini, Tardelli, Platini, Bettega, Rossi, Boniek. ibid.
38 matches: 26 wins, 12 draws, 0 defeats. Arsene Wenger’s football dream team remained undefeated as they stormed to the premier league title. Football’s Greatest Teams: Arsenal
In 1977 following a five-year absence Nottingham Forest were promoted back into the top flight of English football. Within three short years they were league winners, cup winners and European champions. The extraordinary managerial partnership of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor had build a side to conquer all before them. Football’s Greatest Teams: Nottingham Forest
Shilton, Anderson, Lloyd, Burns, Barrett, O’Neill, Gemmill, McGovern, Robertson, Woodcock, Withe. ibid.
The flame flickered all too briefly. It was a tale of glory and of heartbreak. As war engulfed their homeland Red Star Belgrade’s football lit up Europe. A team of Croats and Serbs and Montenegrans, Macedonians and Bosnians defeated all-comers. Football’s Greatest Teams: Red Star Belgrade
Stojanovic, Belodedici, Marovic, Najdoski, Sabanadzovic, Jugovic, Mihajlovic, Prosinecki, Binic, Savicevic, Pancev. ibid.