UEFA Team of the Year 2011

[ant london]

Manchester City are the most represented Premier League team in the Uefa Team of the Year 2011 nominations.

Uefa announced the 55 candidates in with a chance to feature in the Team of the Year on Monday night, and it was Roberto Mancini's side who were most popular.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was joined by team-mates Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

Rivals Manchester United have four on the list in Nemanja Vidic, Ashley Young, Nani and Chicharito, while former Old Trafford goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is named, although he retired from the game in the summer.

There were plenty of other Premier League names present as Chelsea have Ashley Cole nominated while Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, Gervinho and Robin van Persie were named also.

Unsurprisingly, Barcelona lead the way with eight nominees, which include Victor Valdes, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Eric Abidal, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Lionel Messi and coach Pep Guardiola - all whom contributed to their league and European success last season.

However, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who won the Copa del Rey in the previous campaign, and AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri, who lifted the Serie A title in 2010-11 have been omitted from the candidates.

A maximum of five players have been chosen in each position, as the final line-up will be revealed on January 18, 2012. Fans must vote for a single player in each category.

The 55 players are as follows:

Goalkeepers:
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Edwin van der Sar (Retired)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Victor Valdes (Barcelona)
Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Right-backs:
Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Maxi Pereira (Benfica)

Centre-backs:
Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
Thiago Silva (AC Milan)
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow)
Benedikt Howedes (Schalke)
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
Rolando (Porto)
Adil Rami (Valencia)

Left-backs:
Eric Abidal (Barcelona)
Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Alvaro Pereira (Porto)
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

Right midfielders:
Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel)
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)
Gervinho (Arsenal)
Nani (Manchester United)

Central midfielders:
Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Xavi (Barcelona)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Joao Moutinho (Porto)
Luka Modric (Tottenham)

Attacking midfielders:
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)
David Silva (Manchester City)
Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
Wesley Sneijder (Inter)

Left wingers:
Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Eden Hazard (Lille)
Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
Juan Mata (Chelsea)
Ashley Young (Manchester United)

Forwards:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Hulk (Porto)
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
Edinson Cavani (Naples)
Antonio Di Natale (Udinese)

Coaches:
Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
Andre Villas-Boas (Chelsea)
Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund)
Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
Rudi Garcia (Lille)

[mr_nool]

Absolutely chuffed for Kompany and Hart. For the three other as well, of course, but Kompany and Hart thoroughly deserve to be recognised on an international level. We've known they're world class, it's time the rest of the world did too.

[Dubciteh]

Its a little better than the last list (FIFA i think) but its still some dubious nominations there for eg Abidal

[Mase]

Why are Young and Bale in that list please??

[PeterParker]

Why are Young and Bale in that list please??

I am shocked, this is nothing. Where is the best english defender/right back/defensive mid ? Why he isn't in that list? I though he scored the most important goal in the history of football this weekend at Villa Park.

[Chinners]

These team award things are such bollox, seriously do any of you really care what some panel thinks are the best 11? It just a pat on the back opinion from a bunch of crooks ... this is not football

[aaron bond]

Voting is now open for the UEFA Team of the Year. You can select your preferred 11 and submit here:

http://www.uefa.com/community/news/news ... +team+year

Obviously I had all 5 City players in my 11!

[ronk]

Mascherano nominated for best centre-half in the World this year. Have I missed something.

[Mingchester Mingy]

Absolutely chuffed for Kompany and Hart. For the three other as well, of course, but Kompany and Hart thoroughly deserve to be recognised on an international level. We've known they're world class, it's time the rest of the world did too.

Agreed. Komp is so talented back there and seems to be a really cool class act. Joe, well, he is practically a wall in between the posts for us....Lets get it up for Chelsea ! F*cking hate Chelsea .

[Chinners]

Mascherano nominated for best centre-half in the World this year. Have I missed something.

IOndded you have .... he was hardly likely to get in their midfield

[craigmcfc]

Voting is now open for the UEFA Team of the Year. You can select your preferred 11 and submit here:

http://www.uefa.com/community/news/news ... +team+year

Obviously I had all 5 City players in my 11!

As did I, it might mean absolutely nothing but it still feels good to vote for City players in these things