News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp
Home  » Sports » Real Madrid trio in team of 2002

Real Madrid trio in team of 2002

February 03, 2003 19:56 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

European champions Real Madrid have supplied three players in the latest "team of the year" vote, a poll of almost a million Internet votes carried out by UEFA's official web site.

UEFA.com said on Monday that 900,000 people took part in the poll for the team of 2002, which is strictly unofficial and is not intended to compete with UEFA's own awards.

Frenchman Zinedine Zidane, whose spectacular volley secured the Champions League trophy for Real in last May's final victory over Bayer Leverkusen, received 44 per cent of the votes for the "attacking midfielder" role.

Roberto Carlos, another Real stalwart who capped a dream year by winning the World Cup with Brazil, did even better, securing 54 per cent of the votes for the left back spot.

Ronaldo, whose eight goals helped Brazil to that World Cup triumph before moving from Inter Milan to Spain, was the third Real player to make the line-up.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry was voted as Ronaldo's strike partner as he and fellow-Frenchman Zidane were the only two players to make the team for the second successive season.

Turkey's impressive display in the World Cup was reflected by the presence of goalkeeper Rustu Recber in the team ahead of Germany's Oliver Kahn, and by the selection of Senol Gunes as coach of the notional line-up.

Germany, World Cup runners-up to Brazil, were represented in the selection by midfielder Michael Ballack, who was superb for Bayer Leverkusen last season but missed the World Cup final through suspension.

Irish midfielder Damien Duff was a surprise inclusion, along with Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who made the team on the strength of his terrific form for both Milan clubs.

Team:

Goalkeeper: Rustu Recber (Fenerbahce and Turkey)

Defenders: Carlos Puyol (Barcelona and Spain), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan and Italy), Cristian Chivu (Ajax Amsterdam and Romania), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid and Brazil)

Midfielders: Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan and the Netherlands), Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich and Germany), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid and France), Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers and Ireland)

Forwards: Thierry Henry (Arsenal and France), Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Brazil)

Coach: Senol Gunes (Turkey)

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Paris Olympics 2024

India's Tour Of Australia 2024-25