My Team : Episode-I

As this is my first article, I wanted it to be about the players that I like and who have some influence and impact over the football planet. I will be making three episodes of this story. This first episode has those players included who have either retired in the recent past or they are on the verge of getting retired in near future.

The reason to make this article is that I want people to keep these gems in mind for times to come. All three episodes will have the players who were second to none with an exceptional class. Some of the players would be the ones who you really have forgotten. That is the main purpose, something like "Remember the Titans!"

This first episode is called "Rise of the Fallen". Some players in this slide-show will bring frightening memories and others will bring some joyful ones. Yet, some of the players you really would not want to be included in this slideshow but that's why it is "My Team."

This story/article will help those people who are new to football planet and want to know about some legends and exceptional players alike.

The formation will be 4-4-2 as the slide image shows. So here we begin with the goalie...

GK : Goal-Keeper

I have some unforgettable memories watching this "tall-rigid-tree!" I can still recollect very, very well of what he did in Champions League Final 1995 against Milan. Milan who won 4-0 against Cruijff's Barcelona just a year ago in 1994 Final, couldn't even manage to score one single goal against this goalie in 1995 Final.

Boban, Massaro, and Donadoni were plucking out their hair with their hands at their failure to score. They thought the only way to score against this guy is to shoot him first! Again in 1996 this man was in Final with Ajax against Juventus, and this time they lost on penalties.

He repeated and revitalized the history at Manchester United by achieving the same feat that he attained at Ajax "15 YEAR AGO". He won Champions League by showing the heroics in penalty showdown against Chelsea in 2008, last year. Yet he was in Champions League Final in 2009 again, which they eventually lost to the team who were playing like they were in 2015, Barcelona.

He has ragged the EPL strike force with his insane clean-sheet record last season. The great achievements that he has enjoyed with Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United—with a slight slump at Fulham—makes him the goalie of My Team.

Just when in future, you guys would be speaking high about Kahn, Buffon, Casillas, Valdes, Reina, Frey... I just want you guys never to forget mentioning his name in that league-of-extra-ordinary-goalies!

This is Edwin Van der Sar.

RB : Right-Back

Cafu. This guy has played four consecutive World Cups as a Right-Back! Did you get what I want to say? Let me elaborate: FOUR WORLD CUPS AS A 'RIGHT-BACK'. This says it all.

I mean playing four World Cups on the trot as a RIGHT BACK is completely insane filled with high esteem, motivation, and vigor. You really can't go wrong with this guy. He has two World-Cup wins with three World Cup Final appearances and his league career has been illustrious as well with successful spell at AS Roma and AC Milan to be specific.

LB : Left-Back

Today's youngsters know him as a best center-back defender while only a few know that he started and excelled as a left-back in the beginning. And I would keep him as Left-Back in my team. He was really sublime playing at that position.

Some people's name is all what you need to recognize their work. Maldini is one of them, you just name him and people will say: 'Who? That Best Defender we have had in our generation?" He has left one of the strongest and legendary legacy at Milan and rightly served by them as they retire No. 3 shirt for his unmatched contribution to San Siro.

RCB : Right-Center-Back

He was tall, strong and one of the toughest defenders that I have seen. Physical attributes made him one of the fierce defenders. He was UEFA Champions League Best Defender back to back for two years in line for 1999-2000. This tells it all about this one of the frightening defenders, Jaap Stam.

With the passage of time, he began to grow some gruel facial features along with that goatee on his chin. I could see the opposition whispering: "Dude! Look at his face! May be he belongs with some Dutch-Mafia! Think twice when you are up against him! You really can't get pass him through for the first time to poach the goal! Wish you best of luck mate!"

LCB : Left-Center-Back

What Nemanja Vidic is today, Sami Hyypia has been that thing for last decade.

Completely dominant in air, a very good game-reading, well-timed tackles, strong in set-pieces, nice header skills and being my favorite makes him in this list. This is Sami Hyypia. The best defensive signing ever for Liverpool and its my personal opinion being a Liverpool Fan.

LM : Left-Midfielder (Left Winger)

Yeah! Do you remember that FA Cup Final goal? Do you remember that insane celebration? This picture is all about that finest moment!

He is one of those Manchester United players who I really adore and respect. Yes, I know I am a Liverpool fan and I am not SUPPOSED to adore Manchester United players! But if a human EARNS respect for what he does something exceptional than I have to give him that respect. He really deserves it and Giggs is one of that Human-Clan!

The number he wears on his back is the number he has won the Premier League titles in his playing career.

RM : Right-Midfielder (Right Winger)

Please allow me to introduce you to my No.7 in this team—Luis Figo. If I never watched him playing football then may be I wouldn't play it myself. He has been my inspiration. He was a true world-class player. I always become speechless when I try to gather some words to praise this genius. I have huge respect for this man.

I feel a bit sad and gloomy while recollecting of how he was treated by the Barca fans at his transfer to Real Madrid. That was really painful. All I want to say to the fans is some players don't play for the CLUBS, they play for FOOTBALL. Some players fall in to the category of the ones who play BEYOND any discrimination of any rivalries. This doesn't mean that I don't believe in any kind of rivalries, but what my point is that some players are HIGHER than any rivalries. The same thing I want to say to my Liverpool mates on the recent transfer of Michael Owen. That's another part of discussion but I hope that you get my point. (Not everyone in football is Francesco Totti.)

RCM : Right-Center-Midfield

I know that you know all the reasons of why he is in my team.

BUT I WANT TO DISCUSS SOMETHING OVER HERE...

I have many friends who I once asked about who is their favorite player? They said Zidane. Then after World Cup 2006, I asked the same guys and they had a huge list of some prominent players of modern era and almost every one had excluded this name - Zidane. I asked where is Zidane? They uttered these very words: "Man! Didn't you see of what he did in World Cup Final?" And I was left wondering about how these guys could forget this man's contribution to football planet just because of a low-tempered head-butt? How these guys could forget that this very man gave them World Cup triumph along with Euro trophy? How could these guys forget about his contribution to the world of club football? Juventus? Real Madrid?

It was like he never played there! His moves and skills and vision were completely out of world! They came from nowhere and pierced right into the heart of the viewers and the football youngsters seeking the stardom.

I want you guys to keep these things in mind when you discuss him next time before making any judgment about him.

LCM : Left-Center-Midfield

He is my No. 10. He is the play-maker of this team. He is a Danish Legend. He is the player who had threatening class of technique with passing. He is Michael Laudrup.

He has big hands in rejuvenating the career of some strikers with his acute, sublime, effective, and terrific passing (assists). The strikers of Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid would always be in debt of the passes he used to provide them.

He had unselfish attitude that he showed over many occasions like he would be in a position to score an easy goal but if he saw any other player closer then he would pass the ball to that player instead of scoring himself. This doesn't mean that he couldn't score, he has some famous long-range goals in his bags.

This player would give you any pass that exist in this world. Short, high, aerial, through pass, aerial through pass, deep passes, crosses anything! The most famous thing that I remember about his passes was that all the threatening passes he provided were defense-splitting. He used to cut the opposition's defense like a knife cutting through a cake.

This man led Danish side to Euro success with the single-handed dominance of his contribution to national side!

"You just had to run! He would give you a weighted, divine, and elegant pass out of no-where!"

ST : Striker (Left)

Here is Gabriel Batistuta 'Bati-Gol'.

He would score from anywhere. He could score in the box, out of box, long range, and headers. He was one of the most prolific strikers and he is one of the names well forgotten. So I wanted to raise this fallen beast and make people remember of this titan with his inclusion in this article.

ST : Striker (Right)

He was the nightmare of defenders and goal-keepers alike. A goal scoring machine no matter where he played! Be it Ajax, Barca, Inter, Real Madrid! He has scored everywhere.

At international stages, you all know about his world cup goal scoring records.

Don't forget this juggernaut when he won't be playing around. El Phenomeno.

Super-Sub

I want you guys not to forget this fallen genius as well. Why? That is because he is in this list. Pavel Nedved.

He was a superb mid-fielder with a complete control over his long range shots and well composed in front of the goal. He was a loyal, elegant and magnificent player.

Honorary Mention

In my personal opinion, the greatest international player ever to grace English Premier League.

Dennis Bergkamp. Period.

Manager

When you guys would be talking about some great managers then I want you guys to say his name also. He is Ottmar Hitzfeld. The feat of 18 Major titles speaks itself for this man.

He came to Borussia Dortmund which finished 10th in the league. After taking the reign, the club finished 2nd. Isn't it a huge difference?

He led the team to UEFA Cup Finals but lost to Juventus eventually. IRONICALLY, the same teams were in UEFA Champions League Final 1997 in their next European head-to-head battle and this time Hitzfeld owned them with his management which was shown with the final score 3-1.

After successful and prominent Dortmund Campaign, he took the control of Bavarian Giants, Bayern Munich. You guys remember that Manchester United won the Champions League in 1999 under Fergie, but it should be considered that the team which was the second best (Runners Up), Bayern Munich, was being managed by Ottmar Hitzfeld. Finally, he won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2001 that made him the only second manager to attain the feat of winning Champions League Final with two different teams. (First manager to do that was the legend in himself, Ernst Happel).

He was really a magnificent and tactical manager. His dominance with German clubs speaks of his excellence and high-class management. So, this name should never be forgotten as well.

Hey Wait!

Hey Wait! You are seriously forgetting something. The name of the person who made this all.

Of course, don't ever forget my name. Vampy Archer. Yeah, take it as a joke. Lol.

Cheers.

-Vamp