Bleacher Report - Articles by Amin Malik

Kaka to Manchester City: Potential Ramifications

Amin Malik — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:04:58 -0500

As the football world wets its collective pants over the proposed transfer of Kaka to Manchester City for the ice cold (even for the sub-zero climate of the world's current economy) sum of €110 million euros, this relatively continent writer has instead elected to take a look at the fallout a potential Kaka switch to Manchester would ignite.

If Man City gets its man, the initial fanfare and hype will eventually subside into questions that Mark Hughes may find himself unable to answer such as how to fit Kaka into the formation or perhaps more importantly how to build the formation to fit around Kaka? Manchester City have shipped thirty goals in twenty games and signing a third Brazilian number 10 isn't any sort of solution for their defensive shortcomings.

At the end of the day though, the Eastlands is welcoming the arrival of a man who only the season before last was being heralded as the best in the world so Blues fans are definitely coming out on top. Man City's owners however, might have the millions lost come back and bite them in the same manner the financial ruin vampire has bitten a certain Roman Abramovich.

At the other end of the spectrum is Italian super-club AC Milan who are losing possibly the greatest player to wear their kit this decade. However, the €110 million euros should soften the blow and also bring in some new blood to rejuvenate a Milan side that is currently captained by a 40 year old man.

Also, look for everyone's favorite bucktoothed Brazilian Gaucho to once again start showing off a bit of that Barcelona form now that Kaka has left for England. The rejuvenation of Ronaldinho may yet turn out to be the biggest positive that Milan fans can take away from this whole Kaka fiasco.

At long last let's take a look at the man himself. If the deal does go through, Kaka will stand to make a million dollars biweekly (95 times as much as the incoming U.S. President Barack Obama) to kick a ball around.

Kaka is reportedly demanding an escape clause in his contract that will allow him to leave if the Blues haven't qualified for the Champions League by 2010 so he need not worry about languishing at a dead end club for the rest of his career just in case you were worried about the so much-more-handsome and-talented-than-the-rest-of-us bi-weekly millionaire.

If all goes according to plan (and these things very rarely do), the greatest transfer in football history will go through by the end of the month and when it does, I for one can't wait to see what happens afterwards.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy out for the Season: Real Madrid's Season to Follow?

Amin Malik — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:49:44 -0500

Reports out of Madrid today are confirming that Dutch hitman Ruud Van Nistelrooy will require knee surgery that will sideline him for six to nine months, ending his season. This will come as a huge blow to Real Madrid and I think it could spell the end of any hopes they had of any major silverware this season.

This news could not have come at a worse time for a Madrid side that crashed out of the Copa Del Rey on Tuesday after losing, 6-6, on aggregate away goals to lowly Real Union. Bernd Schuster must be feeling the heat a little despite recent assurances that he will have the chance to bring in reinforcements during the January transfer window.

The problem however is that these reinforcements should've been brought in over the summer instead of all the wasted time Madrid spent twisting their hair around their fingers over Cristiano Ronaldo. A last-ditch effort to sign David Villa was rejected by Valencia and as a result Los Blancos are currently lacking in world-beating strikers of the calibre of Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

The strikers Real Madrid do have read like a Goldilocks and the Three Bears story. Schuster (he of the gold locks) comes across three strikers: Raul (who is too old to make an impact every match and is better left rotated like Del Piero at Juventus), Higuain (who is too young to handle the pressure of stepping into Van Nistelrooy's Golden Boots) and Saviola (who is just right but unfortunately cannot get a game at Real Madrid to save John Terry from falling in the rain).

So what is Bernd Schuster to do as he sits there in his hypothetical blonde pigtails and frills? Some might suggest changing up to a 4-5-1 but none of Madrid's healthy strikers possess the ability to hold their own up front as solitary target men so I do not think Schuster is going down that Yellow Brick Road (I'm just full of the fairy tale references today aren't I?).

The more likely option is Schuster will wait until January to bring in a new striker. The most likely man to replace Van Nistelrooy will probably be Manchester United's super-sub Carlos Tevez though you can't help but wonder the wisdom of bringing in a £30 million man during the winter transfer window.

The difficulties another pricey winter acquisition named Nicolas Anelka found slotting in at Chelsea last year are a prime example of the pressure that comes with being asked to come in as an expensive signing without having had much training or preseason experience with your new teammates.

In the meantime however, Madrid will have to compete on both the European and domestic fronts and, frankly, I don't see them winning either competition without Van Nistelrooy's goals fueling their engine. Robinho's departure to Manchester City already weakened their shot at a La Liga three-peat and, in my humble opinion, Van Nistelrooy's absence will have effectively killed it off.

As it stands, their leaky squeaky defence currently resembles four men who've never seen each other before and are now being asked to stop some of the world's best strike-forces more than it resembles a Champions League winning unit and without Ruud Van Nistelrooy their forward line doesn't look like the Champions League winning type, either.

Javier Mascherano to Captain Argentina: Diego Maradona's Inaugural Mistake?

Amin Malik — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:24:10 -0500

When Diego Maradona announced his choice for captain of Argentina today I must admit I was more than a little skeptical.

Although Javier Mascherano is, in my opinion, the best defensive midfielder in the world, I do not think he is anymore capable of captaining Argentina than George Bush is at winning a freestyle rap battle, or being president of the United States, for that matter.

Maradona has long been a fervent admirer of Mascherano, at one time even referring to Argentina as a team of "Mascherano and 10 others," so it came as no big surprise when El Diego offered him the captain's armband.

I was, however, taken aback when Mascherano refused to take up the role at first, saying that, "I just don’t feel that I’m right for it. A leader is someone that everyone listens to and that doesn’t happen to me because I don’t talk so much in the dressing room."

What bothers me so much about Mascherano's refusal is that he knows himself better than anyone else could possibly ever know him, and if he knows deep inside himself that he is not cut out for the job then in all likelihood he is right. A reluctant leader is not a very good one, and someone unsure of himself is even worse.

Even if Mascherano had embraced the role with arms wide open, I still would strongly doubt that he has the right temperament for the captaincy.

He showed this last year against Manchester United in one of the biggest games of the year for his club, Liverpool. Mascherano was sent off after 44 minutes for arguing with the referee about an incident that didn't directly concern him at all, and added insult to injury by refusing to leave the field until his manager, Rafa Benitez, was able to calm him down.

Without Mascherano holding down midfield, Liverpool's defense imploded and lost 3-0.

Another fault I find with Maradona's choice has to do with the player from whom he stripped the captaincy. Javier Zanetti is a sterling example of all a captain should be: classy, consistent, and a born leader. Zanetti is a living legend at Serie A champions and the most capped player in Argentina's history.

The only case you can make against Zanetti is his age, but he is one of the most well-conditioned players in Europe and I'd bet on him making the squad for South Africa in 2010.

Mascherano is an integral part of the Argentine squad, possibly more important than Lionel Messi or Sergio Aguero. His bone-cracking tackles and reading of the game are vital for an Argentine side that is currently lacking in truly world class centre backs. He can make a huge contribution towards Argentina's campaign for World Cup 2010 but he should not be the one leading them out onto the pitch.

It is my belief that Diego Maradona is the best player there ever was, but he still has a lot to learn as a manager.

Choosing Mascherano for captain is a mistake. Learn from your mistakes, Diego, before it's too late.

The Importance of Being Idle: A Look at the Rotation Policy

Amin Malik — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:24:55 -0500

It seems like a good/bad idea.

It gives everyone a chance to play/doesn't give players a chance to settle in.

It keeps all the players happy/angers players who have been performing well but find themselves kept out of the team due to the policy.

It is the rotation policy, and it is one of the most opinion polarising policies in coaching today.

The rotation policy is a method of team selection where the starting 11 are switched up from game to game. Rotation policies differ from manager to manager. Some switch players regardless of form, some bring into consideration which players would have the most impact against a certain opponent, and some are chosen based on fitness.

The biggest difference between rotation policies however, is how successful they are. The most ardent advocate of the rotation policy is Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. In my opinion, the rotation policy at Liverpool was a complete failure.

Some people point to Liverpool's European success as vindication of Rafa's rotation but I credit Liverpool's Champions League record more towards Benitez's ability to dissect an opponent and find their weakness more than his commitment to keeping players fresh by rotating them.

Liverpool's recent success has only come after Benitez has toned down his rotation policy a bit and has gradually begun fielding players based on form.

With that said, the rotation policy can be a great idea, especially when it is implemented at smaller clubs with less talent in their ranks. The rotation policy excels at these types of clubs because these teams will usually never be more talented than their opposition but they stand a chance if they field a fresher squad than their opponents.

When it's all said and done, the success of the rotation policy depends on the manager. The manager should be very aware of what each player can bring to the team and should also be adept at honing on in opponent's weaknesses, combining both of these qualities to devastating effect.

Also, the squad should have an untouchable key player in each of the four positions (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward). This gives the team a solid spine and creates a continuity in the lineup while also satisfying potential match winners with big egos and keeping them happy and performing.

To sum everything up, the rotation policy when implemented properly can be a useful tool for success but when mishandled can cause a squad to implode.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is the importance and being idle.

Claude Makelele: The Greatest Galactico?

Amin Malik — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:09:31 -0500

Upon Claude Makelele's departure to Chelsea and David Beckham's subsequent arrival in 2003, Zinedine Zidane quipped,"Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?"

It is only fitting that Makelele be thought of as the entire engine for that Real Madrid side because after his departure the Real Madrid vehicle sputtered and stopped, suffering through three championship-barren seasons.

Makelele was the undisputed backbone of a Real Madrid side that won seven titles in three years, including La Liga twice and the Champions League once.

Steve McManaman called Makelele "the most important and yet least appreciated midfielder at Real" while Fernando Hierro echoed him, saying: "he's been the best player in the team for years but people just don't notice him".

Makelele's role at Real Madrid was invaluable yet inconspicuous. He sat in front of the back four, intercepting passes and hassling the opposition's midfielders. Although he was criticized because it seemed he only passed backwards or sideways, many failed to realize that Makelele was the starting point for many Real Madrid attacks.

Makelele's subtle brilliance paved the way for more heralded names like Zidane and Figo to work their magic up front which made a winning recipe for Real Madrid of which a pinch of Makelele was the key ingredient.

It began to unravel for Real Madrid when Makelele asked club president Florentino Perez for a pay raise. Perez rejected his request, adding insult to injury by claiming that Makelele would "not be missed" and heaping scorn upon his "lack of talent". Obviously unhappy, Makelele handed in a transfer request and was quickly snapped up by Chelsea.

Chelsea's manager at the time, Claudio Ranieri, claimed Makelele would become the "battery" of the side. His observation proved correct as Makelele was one of the masterminds behind Chelsea's first ever Premiership title (although they were managed by Jose Mourinho, not Rainieri at the time)

The position of defensive midfield is now colloquially known as "the Makelele role" and this is a fitting tribute to a man who revolutionised football and is arguably the greatest Galactico of all time.

Arsenal: Past And Present

Amin Malik — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:39:15 -0500

Let me start by saying that Arsene Wenger is the greatest judge of talent currently in the game.

I am saying this as a Chelsea fan who greatly admires the Professor's ability to take talented young players and turn them into legends.

Looking at the list of Arsenal proteges, I found it interesting that several of the players in Arsenal's current squad greatly resemble some of the past Arsenal legends.

In this article I'd like to share with you some comparisons I made:

Robin Van Persie: A highly technical Dutchman who is most comfortably playing in the hole behind the main striker. Both van Persie and his corresponding legend are dedicated trainers, working at their technique religiously during practice. Robin is following in the footsteps of the Dutch Master Dennis Bergkamp.

Theo Walcott: Walcott's three main assets are his pace, ball control, and finishing abilities. This young Englishman also wears the number 14, the same as his predecessor and Arsenal's all time leading scorer, Thierry Henry. Only time will tell though if Walcott ever scales the height that Henry did at Arsenal.

Emmanuel Eboue: This raiding right back is almost a carbon copy of former Arsenal right back Lauren. Both players can play as right backs or right midfielders but while Lauren was more prone to sit back and defend, Eboue likes to get forward and join the attack.

Cesc Fabregas: The heartbeat for this Arsenal side, Fabregas gets the job done in a different style than his legend. While Patrick Vieira was a box-to-box midfielder, tackling an opponent in his own six-yard box one second and leading an Arsenal fast-break the other, Fabregas is more of a midfield maestro, controlling the game and making intelligent passes in a central midfield role.

Gael Clichy: Arsenal legend Ashley Cole was allowed to transfer to Chelsea and the emerging Gael Clichy was a big reason why. After Cole's departure, the Frenchman has blossomed into possibly the best left-back in the entire Premiership and one of Arsenal's key players.

Emmanuel Adebayor: A tall stature, impressive aerial ability, and impressive ball control for a man of his size brings back memories of Highbury legend Nwanko Kanu. Adebayor himself was a fan of Kanu and upon his arrival at Arsenal was given the nickname "Baby Kanu".

All of these players (with the exception of Adebayor) had the privilege of playing alongside their respective legends and I am absolutely positive that this was an important part of their Arsenal footballing education and instrumental in making them the players that they are today.

If you have any other possible comparisons, whether it be at Arsenal or anywhere else, please leave a comment.

Chelsea FC the Belle of the Ball?

Amin Malik — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:30:31 -0500

Is Chelsea the most attractive side in the Premiership right now?

While this title has usually been reserved for Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side, one cannot help but wonder whether there's a new belle of the ball after Chelsea, under Luiz Scolari, have blown away their opponents this season with a dazzling brand of Joga Bonito.

Roman Abramovich has spent more than $945 million in pursuit of beautiful football and it seems that in Big Phil the Russian oligarch has found the leprechaun to lead him towards the end of the rainbow.

Saturday's 5-0 win over Roy Keane's Sunderland saw intricate passing, flowing movement, flashes of skill on the ball, and a general dedication to scoring long after the game had been won. This made for a very entertaining display.

A year ago Jose Mourinho, the most successful manager in Chelsea's history, was given the sack. The reasons given were a rocky relationship with Roman Abramovich which stemmed partly from Mourinho's pragmatic and "boring" approach to the game.

Mourinho's successor Avram Grant similarly failed to execute Abramovich's vision of beautiful football and soon found himself unemployed as well.

Luiz Scolari was brought in over the summer to add a little Brazilian flair to a Chelsea squad that seemed to be lacking flair of any nationality. Scolari quickly signalled his intentions with the $12 million signing of Deco from Barcelona.

The Portuguese play-maker has played the Justin Timberlake role for the Blues, this season bringing sexy back in a way that Ruud Gullit himself would tip his hat to.

Perhaps the biggest changes Scolari has implemented are a shorter passing game and a dedication to attacking football that has brought out the best in players like Lampard, Anelka, and Malouda.

Lampard is currently topping the Actim Index rating system and earning every cent of his new $236,295 weekly contract while Malouda is menacing Premiership right backs with the pace and skill that saw him named 2006/2007 French Player of the Year.

Nicolas Anelka, meanwhile, is shaking off his journeyman tag and is putting in quality performances for Chelsea, including a hat-trick against Sunderland last Saturday.

Chelsea are looking to displace Arsenal as the most attractive team in the Premiership and judging by Saturday's results, Chelsea have already done so.

Arsene Wenger's side slumped to a 2-1 defeat at newcomers Stoke City while struggling to find a rhythm in stark contrast to Chelsea's stunning victory at Sunderland.

It may be too early to tell, but if early season results are anything to go by, Chelsea may have taken Arsenal's "best in show" blue ribbon and are now the new belle of the ball.

Adriano: Portrait of a Fallen Emperor

Amin Malik — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:40:19 -0400

"Du sublime au ridicule il n'y a qu'un pas", there is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Napoleon Bonaparte made this observation after being forced to retreat from Moscow in 1812. These words also ring true for another fallen Emperor, Adriano Leite Ribeiro, who was being touted as the best striker in the world only a few years ago but is now facing expulsion from his own club Inter Milan.

Adriano first exploded onto the scene during the 2002-03 season, scoring 18 goals in 26 appearances. The 21-year-old was a remarkable prospect, displaying deft touch, powerful shooting, and classic Brazilian dribbling skills coupled with a powerful frame and pace in abundance.

In short, the kid looked good.

At first, Adriano lived up to the hype, quickly assimilating himself into the Inter first team and making himself a key player, if not their most indispensable. At the peak of his powers, Adriano scored an impressive 40 goals between July 11th, 2004 and June 25th, 2005.

Heading into the 2006 World Cup, Adriano looked set to lead the star studded Brazil front-line to glory—but he flopped.

Excessive partying and a lackadaisical approach to training soon caught up with Adriano, leading to sub-par performances and widespread criticism. The crisis soon reached its climax though, when Adriano was dropped from the Brazil squad and was frozen out of the Inter squad.

A loan move to Brazil with Sao Paulo also started off badly, with Adriano arriving late to training sessions, headbutting an opponent, and arguing with a photographer. He gradually started returning to form, scoring 14 goals in 20 matches before being recalled to Inter under Jose Mourinho.

It looked as though Mourinho's strict guidance was having a positive effect on Adriano at first, with The Emperor making strong showings in Serie A and the Champions League. Recently, however, Adriano was sent home from training after showing up late after a night out on the town with Brazil teammate and fellow fallen star Ronaldinho. This incident has triggered reports of a January exit from the San Siro for Adriano.

Adriano is one of the most talented strikers of his generation and now has only two options—to ride off into the sunset and fade into the background, or to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and come back with a bang.

Only time will tell what becomes of Adriano Leite Ribeiro, but like Napoleon Bonaparte so eloquently put it, "Glory is fleeting but obscurity is forever."

FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist Summary

Amin Malik — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:31:01 -0400

The 23-man short list for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award was announced yesterday. Here is a brief sentence about why each player was nominated:

Emmanuel Adebayor: The Togo front-man filled the gap left by Thierry Henry's departure admirably, scoring 30 goals in all competitions for Arsenal during the 2007/2008 season.

Sergio Aguero: The stocky Argentine made his mark as one of the rising stars of world football, leading Atletico Madrid into the Promised Land of Champions League football.

Andrei Arshavin: Arshavin exploded onto the scene at Euro 2008 with scintillating man of the match displays against Holland, leading Russia all the way to the semifinals.

Michael Ballack: Chelsea and Germany both came within one game of winning the Premier League and Euro 2008 respectively, and Ballack's renewed brilliance was a big reason why.

Gianluigi Buffon: The Juventus stopper helped the Bianconeri to third place in Serie A and into the Champions League in their first season back in the top flight.

Iker Casillas: Undoubtedly 2007/2008's best goalkeeper, "Saint Iker," was instrumental in the championship successes of both Real Madrid and Spain.

Deco: Despite languishing at Barcelona for the better part of last year, Deco returned in style for Portugal at Euro 2008 and now seems to be finding his feet at Chelsea.

Didier Drogba: EPL runners-up Chelsea's top scorer in the Champion's League last year, a Drogba brace against Liverpool at the Bridge sent the Blues to their first CL final.

Samuel Eto'o: Eto'o looked like exiting Camp Nou over the summer, but his goalscoring record speaks for itself and makes him an indispensable part of the Barcelona front-line.

Cesc Fabregas: Arsenal's crown jewel in midfield, 2007/2008 saw Fabregas assume the role of talisman for Arsenal and that of super-sub for 2008 European Champions Spain.

Steven Gerrard: Stevie G tallied 20 goals and 19 assists from midfield for the Reds while forming a dynamic duo with newcomer Fernando Torres.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Inter won their third successive Scudetto in 2007/2008 and their Swedish superstar's scoring was vital. He also impressed at Euro 2008 scoring twice.

Andres Iniesta: In a season full of disappointment for Barcelona, Iniesta was a bright spot, with his live-wire displays from midfield making him one of the Blaugrana's best.

Kaka: The reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, Kaka's injury-riddled 2007/2008 campaign still saw him finish the season as Milan's top scorer with 17 goals.

Frank Lampard: Despite playing his lowest number of games in a season since 1997, Lamps became the eighth Chelsea player to score a century and scored the match-winner against Liverpool in the CL semifinal and the equalizer against Man United in the final.

Lionel Messi: The mercurial maestro showed why he is considered the heir to Maradona's throne with a great 2007-2008 where he tallied 16 goals and 26 assists.

Franck Ribery: After costing Bayern Munich a club record $33 million, Ribery justified his hefty price tag by leading the Bavarian giants to a German Cup and Bundesliga double.

Cristiano Ronaldo: The odds-on favorite for the 2007/2008 award, the Portuguese wing wizard scored an extremely impressive 42 goals on the way to leading Manchester United to an historic Premier League and Champions League double.

John Terry: A heartbreaking penalty miss for Chelsea in Moscow takes away little from a season which saw John Terry captain the Blues to their first Champions League final.

Fernando Torres: A sensational season saw El Nino set the record as the most prolific newcomer to the Premier League with a 24-goal haul, and in June Torres scored the goal that gifted Spain their first major title in 44 years.

Ruud van Nistelrooy: The goal machine in Real Madrid's La Liga winning vehicle, Ruud scored 20 goals for Los Blancos while also playing a part in Holland's very impressive Euro 2008 where they handily beat both World Cup finalists Italy and France.

David Villa: David Villa's impressive season for both faltering Valencia and European champions Spain ignited a bidding firestorm this summer before he decided to stay at Valencia, who are currently top of the table in Spain after a dismal finish last year.

Xavi: Xavi was one of the cornerstones of Spain's Euro 2008 winning campaign where he was also named best player of the tournament by UEFA.

Keep in mind, folks, that I don't agree with all of the selections; I am merely stating why they were nominated.

If you have any thoughts on this short list, please make yourself heard on the comments section below.

The Shining Lights Of the Dark Continent: An All African XI

Amin Malik — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:25:12 -0400

Africa is a continent of millions of football junkies and indeed some of the finest footballers that the world has to offer hail from the Cradle Of Civilization. In my debut article I'd like to open a discussion on an African All XI:

Goalkeeper: Essam El-Hadary (Egypt/FC Sion): The Pharoahs number one cuts an imposing figure for the The Pharoahs and has been instrumental in the Egyptian national team taking home the African Cup of Nations title back to back. At club level he was very successful with Al-Ahly of Egypt winning 21 titles before becoming only the second player in history to invoke the Webster's Clause and moving to FC Sion of Switzerland.

Centerback: Kolo Toure (Cote d'Ivoire/Arsenal): Originally an attacking midfielder, Arsene Wenger converted him into a centreback and Kolo Habib Toure has never looked back since, even scoring the goal that sent Arsenal into its first ever Champions League final in 2006. He is currently the longest serving Gunner and vice captain of both Arsenal and Les Elephants.

Centerback: John Mensah (Ghana/Lyon): One of the best defenders in Ligue 1 and a rock at the heart of Ghana's backline, John Mensah is one of the most physically talented defenders in the world. After a journeyman career in Italy, Mensah fulfilled his potential at Rennes before moving onto Champions League Football with Lyon.

Right Back: Emmanuel Eboue (Cote d'Ivoire/Arsenal): This Ivorian international can be found raiding Arsenal's right side as either a solid full back or a marauding right midfielder, both to devastating effect. There have been questions raised about Eboue's lack of end product but there can be no doubts as to his dynamism and energy.

Left Back: Taye Taiwo (Nigeria/Marseille): Known as the "Nigerian Roberto Carlos", this Lagos Native possesses pace in abundance and a rocket of a left foot that has been clocked in at over 130 km/h (82 mph). Taiwo was voted the 2006 Young African Player of the Year and has attracted the attention of various British clubs.

Defensive Midfielder: Seydou Keita (Mali/Barcelona): Keita moved to Barcelona last summer and quickly displaced another impressive African midfielder in Yaya Toure and with his skills it isnt' difficult to see why. Keita provides a blend of technical skill with hard tackling football in the middle of the park which has led to Barcelona placing a $115 buyout clause in his contract.

Center Midfield: Michael Essien (Ghana/Chelsea): The most expensive African footballer of all time when he cost Chelsea $43 million from Lyon in 2005, Essien has justified that hefty fee by blossoming into one of the world's best midfielders. He has been referred to as "the very model of a modern midfield general".

Right Midfield: Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt/Al-Ahly): More than likely the best player currently plying his trade on the African continent, Aboutrika has been dubbed the "Egyptian Zinedine Zidane". His skills were on display at the 2006 FIFA World Club Championship where he led his Al-Ahly side to the bronze medal while also grabbing top scorer.

Left Midfield: Salomon Kalou (Cote d'Ivoire/Chelsea): One of the lesser names at Chelsea, Kalou is nevertheless an impressive player, whether it be cutting infield from the left or as an out and out striker. The starstruck young man brought a camera to his first Chelsea training session but is quickly establishing himself as a target for the paparazzi with some quality performances for the Blues.

Striker: Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona): This Indomitable Lion has been breaking records ever since he first debuted in 1997. He was the youngest player at the 1998 World Cup at 17 and 3 months, is the leading all-time goalscorer in the history of the African Cup of Nations and has made the most appearances in La Liga of any African.

Striker: Didier Drogba (Cote d'Ivoire/Chelsea): At his best Drogba is a nightmare for opposing backlines, terrorizing them with his physical strength and finishing ability. In 2006 he led Les Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire to their first World Cup ever, scoring their first ever goal in the competition along the way.

So there you have it, that is my choice for the All-African XI. I'd love to hear your thoughts or your own XI so please comment below