2000-2010: Awards For The Decade

Having reached the end of the 00's decade it seems only right to hand out awards for the football feast we've been treated to over the last 10 years. There have been many highs and many lows experienced by everyone, but that is what makes the sport so loveable, and that is why these awards are here.

Without further ado, I'll get started.. 

Most Improved National Team

Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 23: Branislav Ivanovic of Serbia runs with the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match between Australia and Serbia at Mbombela Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Christof

The award goes to ... Serbia

Other nominees:

Ghana
Germany
Ivory Coast
United States of America 

National Team in Decline Award

Michael Steele/Getty Images

BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 22: Thierry Henry (c)of France lines up during the national anthem alongside Sidney Govou (4th l), Patrice Evra (4th r) and Florent Malouda (3rd r) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between Franc

The award goes to... France

Other nominees:

South Africa
Norway
Denmark
Saudi Arabia 

Most Improved League

Matt Roberts/Getty Images

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Kasey Wehrman of the Jets contests the ball with Robson of the Gold Coast during the round seven A-League match between Gold Coast United and the Newcastle Jets at Skilled Park on September 22, 2010 in Gold Coast, Au

The award goes to... Australian A-League

Other nominees:

Russian Premier League
Major League Soccer
Bundesliga
Primera División de México

A Star Is Born Award

Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Barcelona and Panathinaikos on September 14, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won the match 5-1.

The award goes to... Lionel Messi

Other Nominees:

Cristiano Ronaldo
Kaka
Ronaldinho
Fernando Torres 

Most Shocking Moment Award

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

BERLIN - JULY 09: Fabio Cannavaro (R) of Italy gestures towards Zinedine Zidane #10 (L) of France, whilst Marco Materazzi of Italy lies injured, after being headbutted in the chest by Zinedine Zidane of France during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Fina

The award goes to... Marc Vivien Foe's sudden, sad death at the FIFA Confederations Cup (RIP)

Other Nominees:

Zinedine Zidane's 2006 World Cup Final Head Butt
Liverpool overturn a first half 3-0 deficit against AC Milan to win the Champions League Final
France flop at 2002 FIFA World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo smashes world record transfer fee, moving for £80million ($125million)

Over-Achievers of the Decade

Ben Radford/Getty Images

LISBON, PORTUGAL - JULY 4: Greece celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Euro 2004, Final match between Portugal and Greece at the Luz Stadium on July 4, 2004 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)

The award goes to... Greece 2004 European Championship Winners

Other nominees:

Porto 2004 Champions League Winners
Portsmouth 2008 FA Cup Winners
Turkey 2002 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Internacional 2006 FIFA Club World Cup Champions 

Club of the Decade

Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Lionel Messi, Daniel Alves, Eric Abidal, Andres Iniesta, Pedro Rodriguez, David Villa, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and goalkeeper Victor Valdes pose for a team picture prior to the sta

The award goes to... Barcelona

Other nominees:

Manchester United
AC Milan
Boca Juniors
Real Madrid 

Manager of the Decade

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 21: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho winks after taking to the field before the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 21, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Im

The award goes to... José Mourinho

Other nominees:

Sir Alex Ferguson
Josep Guardiola
Vicente Del Bosque
Marcello Lippi 

Player of the Decade

Michael Steele/Getty Images

STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 13: Zinedine Zidane of France controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Group G match between France and Switzerland at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium on June 13, 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Michael Steel

The award goes to... Zinedine Zidane

Other Nominees:

Luis Figo
Ronaldo
David Beckham
Ronaldinho

Team of the Decade

The awards go to...

• Goal Keeper - Gianluigi Buffon
• Right Back - Cafu
• Left Back - Paolo Maldini
• Centre Back - Fabio Cannavaro
• Centre Back - Carles Puyol
• Right Midfield - David Beckham
• Centre Midfield - Luis Figo
• Centre Midfield - Zinedine Zidane
• Left Midfield - Ronaldinho
• Striker - Lionel Messi
• Striker - Ronaldo

Other nominees:

• Goal Keeper - Iker Casillas, Oliver Kahn, Edwin Van Der Saar
• Right Back - Javier Zanetti, Gary Neville, Michel Salgado
• Left Back - Roberto Carlos, Ashley Cole, Patrice Evra
• Centre Backs - Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Lucio, Alessandro Nesta
• Midfielders - Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo, Claude Makelele, Ryan Giggs, Steven Gerrard
• Strikers - Samuel Eto'o, Andriy Shevchenko, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Kaka, Raul, Thierry Henry

Club To Watch Award

Michael Steele/Getty Images

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MAY 20: Torsten Frings (2ndL) of Werder Bremen looks dejected with team mates during the UEFA Cup Final between Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on May 20, 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Michael St

The award goes to... Werder Bremen

Other nominees:

Arsenal
Rubin Kazan
Real Madrid
CFR Cluj 

Player To Watch Award

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 25: Bojan Krkic of Barcelona in action during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between Barcelona and AC Milan at Camp Nou stadium on August 25, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The award goes to... Bojan

Other nominees:

Jordan Henderson
Neymar
Mario Balotelli
Pato

Nation To Watch Award

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 24: Dejected Winston Reid of New Zealand after a goalless draw and elimination in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group F match between Paraguay and New Zealand at Peter Mokaba Stadium on June 24, 2010 in Polokwane, So

The award goes to... New Zealand

Other nominees:

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Ghana
Mexico
United States of America

Manager To Watch Award

Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Josep Guardiola of Barcelona watches on during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Barcelona and Panathinaikos on September 14, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won the match 5-1. (Photo by Jasp

The award goes to... Josep Guardiola

Other nominees:

Aitor Karanka
Roberto Mancini
Leonardo
Didier Deschamps