Creating Real Madrid's Best XI of Spanish Players Since 2000
Real Madrid had five players in the last Spain squad, more than any other club. That's an indication both of the strength at Zinedine Zidane's disposal and a reminder of how Los Blancos attract the top talent, both from home and abroad.
Madrid have always had a proud history of Spanish players, but in recent years, that hasn't been quite as apparent as previously.
Building on the success of our Real Madrid XI based on one player per nation, what kind of side can we create using only Spaniards? The players must be recognised by FIFA as Spanish, have represented Real since 2000/01 and are judged on what they gave to Madrid on the pitch, not elsewhere in their career.
GK: Iker Casillas
The easiest choice of all; Iker Casillas ruled between the posts for Madrid for most of his long career with the club, breaking through as a teenager and winning everything he could along the way. At his peak, he was one of, if not the, best in the world, with reflexes and an ability to make improbable saves the envy of 'keepers everywhere.
It didn't end on tremendous terms, as Casillas' decline meant he lost his place and was ushered out of the club, but there's no doubt he gave everything to the Madrid cause.
RB: Michel Salgado
Younger fans, or those who have only tuned in to Real Madrid over the past few years, might wonder where the excellent Dani Carvajal is, but before him came another Spanish right-back: Michel Salgado, who was signed from Celta Vigo and represented Spain more than 50 times in his career.
Salgado was tremendously aggressive with his defensive work but also more than happy to surge forward, take on players and look to get involved in the final third. It took time for that side of his game to become established, but at one point, there was a great rivalry to watch between he and Carles Puyol, Barcelona's right-back at the time, as they both sought to become complete offensive right-backs for their respective teams.
CBs: Fernando Hierro and Sergio Ramos
Central defence is where Real Madrid have most options to choose from for this side, and at least two who just miss out—Aitor Karanka and Ivan Helguera—could have big cases made for their inclusions.
Fernando Hierro captains this side, though, a stalwart of Madrid and Spain and a fantastic footballer, capable of playing in midfield thanks to his positional work and technical ability but most at home at centre-back. Hierro added plenty of goals to the team from set pieces and penalties too.
Sergio Ramos has the capacity to be the best all-around centre-back in the world, but he'll never reach that level unless he finds more consistency. The past two years have seen his defensive levels drop alarmingly, but he remains critical to the team for his goals, his aerial power, his authority on the pitch and more besides.
They'd have been a well-matched duo, and not many forwards would fancy taking them on.
LB: Nacho
If centre-back is the area of most options, left-back has the fewest—a group of out-of-position options for the most part, as Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Marcelo have dominated the role since the turn of the century.
Raul Bravo, Miguel Torres and Alvaro Arbeloa are other considerations, but current squad option Nacho Fernandez has proved his ability to adapt and compete both centrally and on the left over the last two years, so we'll give him the nod.
Surprisingly effective going forward, utterly committed and technically strong, Nacho arguably deserves more game time than he gets.
CMs: Xabi Alonso and Guti
Real Madrid haven't had too many Spanish central midfielders over the last decade or two, so it's a straightforward decision to pair Xabi Alonso with Guti.
Alonso brings the defensive awareness, the physicality in front of the defence and the best range of passing in Europe for a time, while Guti loved to get on the ball repeatedly, drift forward, showcase his close control and create chances for everybody else.
It's not tremendously ideal as a pairing, lacking a real destroyer or athleticism, but the options were few.
WMs: Lucas Vazquez and Jose Antonio Reyes
There are more options for the wide attacking-midfield roles, but many of them are of a similar sort of level: Pedro Munitis, Sergio Canales, Jese Rodriguez and more along the same lines.
We opt for one current option and one title-winner, with the former, Lucas Vazquez, providing driving runs forward, lots of pace and good link play in the final third. Opposite him will be Jose Antonio Reyes, scorer against Mallorca on the final day of the 2006/07 season, helping Real Madrid win La Liga.
Reyes only spent a single campaign on loan at the Santiago Bernabeu, but his impact was impressive. For a time, it looked as though he could fulfil the undoubted potential he had, but it wasn't to be. Still, he brings goals, flair from the flanks and the ability to beat players one-on-one.
SS: Raul Gonzalez
No questioning this name on the teamsheet; our second forward, Raul, is perhaps Real Madrid's greatest club legend and one of the finest footballers to ever come out of Spain.
Over a century of caps at international level, over 300 goals for Los Blancos and three Champions League triumphs show just how important he was, with his combination of creativity, instinctive penalty-box play and tremendous work rate all contributing heavily to the team cause.
Raul wore No. 7 at Madrid and would be the focal point of this side.
CF: Fernando Morientes
Beyond Raul, we have an out-and-out goal-getter in the shape of Fernando Morientes.
Capable of finishing from all angles and with any part of his body, Morientes wasn't always a guaranteed starter but did always bring a massive goal threat, hitting double figures in five of his six full seasons with the club before new names forced him out of the team and he departed for Liverpool.
Morientes and Raul linked up well during their time at Madrid, and our side would be guaranteed to make the net bulge with them in tandem.
Subs: Diego Lopez takes the goalkeeper bench role having offered a good season as Casillas' time in the team came to an end, while Helguera narrowly missed out on the XI at centre-back. Carvajal is our full-back sub, while Albert Celades is the central-midfield alternate. Higher in the midfield line, we have the creativity of Isco and the industry and pace of Jose Callejon. Alvaro Morata has done enough already to be the sub striker.
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