T.A.M.C. (Them Awards Mad Crucial)

Football is a game of stars. Players come and go with the speed of light. In honor of my coming 19th anniversary of life, I will make a team of the greatest footballers and name some of the best of the last 19 years.

'KEEPER

OLIVER KHAN

• The man deserves the number 1 shirt. It was a tough choice between him and Gigi Buffon but I had to go with the Munich and Germany star. He has won 8 German titles, 1 champions league medal(of had 2 if it wasn't for an absolute miracle in '99), euro'96, a eufa cup, and a world cup runners-up

LEFT BACK

ROBERTO CARLOS

• The man is a legend. He has won the world cup in the yellow of Brazil and the champions league 3 times in the white of Madrid. He could beat you in the attacking third and shut you down in defense. His free kicks were hit with the power of 10 legs. This list would lose credibility of he wasn't on it

CENTER BACK

PAOLO MALDINI

• The man who made defending at art. The best defender from the best defending nation. The Italian has been a staple for AC Milan for 25 years. He has won the champions league 5 times in the fashion capital. Il capitano was a dominating force way back in world cup'94 where Italia finished runners-up

CENTER BACK

MARCEL DESAILLY

• Strong as a rock. Intimidated attackers from the moment he stepped on the pitch. The Ghanian-born French defender won the first ever edition of the Champions League with Mareille and stared in the AC Milan side that dominated the dream team of FC Barcelona in '94. He also won the world cup in '98 at home with France and then euro '00.

RIGHT BACK

CAFU

• This was another difficult one with Lilian Thuram breathing dow his neck. Cafu edges the Frenchmen out because of his accomplishments on the international scene. He has played in 3 world cups and won two of them in '94 and '02 and is the most capped player in Brazil history. On club level he has one every honer in both South American and European football. Winning 2 libertadores and 1 champions league

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER

CLAUDE MAKELELE

• He was so good they named the role after him. He dominated midfields in the new millenium. From box to box he was everywhere. Zidane labled him the driving force behind Real Madrid and he also helped Chelsea claim numerous honors, including 2 EPL titles and a champions league final 2nd place medal. He claimed another 2nd place medal in the '06 world cup with France

LEFT MIDFIELD

RONALDINHO GAUCHO

• A contreversial pick but who can argue his greatness. He had a four year stretch with bothe Barca and Brazil that could not be matched by anyone. He did things on a pitch that players wouldn't dare think of much less do. He has a won both FIFA WPOY and the Ballon D'or. He also has a world cup and champions league medal

RIGHT MIDFIELD

LUIS FIGO

• He may be a traitor but he was a hell of a player. He represents the essence of Portuguese football with his style and flair. He dazzled crowds in the blaugrana of Barca and the white of Madrid. A winner of the '01 FIFA WPOY and '00 ballon d'or

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER

ZINEDINE "ZIZOU" ZIDANE

• Nothing he couldn't do. Pulled strings like no other. He saw moves 10 minutes before they happened. Had a supreme knowledge of the game. Madrid made him the most expensive player in the world until recently. He won the UCL with Madrid and the world cup with france in '98 and a runner-up in '06. One of only 2 players to win WPOY 3 times. He scored possibly the greatest goal ever in the '02 UCL final

STRIKER

Thierry Henry

• The greatest player in EPL history. Henry had it all. He had pace, skill, and the ability to finish. On his day nobody in the world could mark him. He could create a goal from nothing. Has won all that England and Spain can offer and captured the UCL with Barca. He also has a World Cup medal from '98

STRIKER

RONALDO

• Known as " O Fenomeno " ,the phenominon, in his native Brazil. He is the striker of the moder game. Could score a goal if it was 1 v 11. Made the game look too easy. The other football to have one WPOY 3 times, Also the all-time leading scorer in world cup history. He has too many tropheys in his case to list

MANAGER

SIR ALEX FURGUSON

• Simply knows the game. Very rarely has the wrong tactics. Could spot talent better than any other gaffer in the world. Has dominated what some call the greatest league in the world. No other manager is even close to taking his spot on the list

BENCH

• DAVID BECKHAM
• GIANLUIGI BUFFON
• LILIAN THURAM
• ALAN SHEARER
• RIVALDO
• RAUL

FORMATION

KHAN

CAFU---MALDINI---DESAILLY---ROBERTO

MAKELELE

LUIS FIGO-------RONALDINHO

ZIDANE

RONALDO----HENRY

BEST CLUB

MACHESTER UNITED FC & FC BARCELONA

• 2 clubs that have ruled football over the last 19 years. Featured some of the best players in the world and are too difficult to seperate

BEST NATIONAL TEAM

BRAZIL ( Sorry France )

• Tough choice but I had to go with Brazil. They have won 2 world cups and finished runners-up in another. This also goes along with their recent domination of the copa america and the confederations cup

BEST FOOTBALLER

RONALDO ( Sorry Zidane )

• Another tough decision. Ronaldo can do everything. He is a top-ten all time footballer

BEST ATMOSPHERE

OLD TRAFFORD

• Edges out anfield. The "theatre of dreams" provides an atmosphere that gives even television viewers chills. The list of greats that have played there is toooo long

BEST DOMESTIC LEAGUE

SPANISH FIRST DIVISION (LA LIGA)

• The best players in the world have all tried their luck in la liga. The football is smooth and stylish. They also have dominated the champions league

BEST RIVALRY

FC BARCELONA v CF REAL MADRID & MANCHESTER UNITED FC v ARSENAL FC

• El classico has been a top match in the footballing calender for a long time. Featured 7 of the 11 players on the list
• Arsene Weneger v Sir Alex. This fixture was and still is a must watch.

BIGGEST RISE TO FAME

CHELSEA FC

• Went from the desert to a current top 3 club

BEST GAME

LIVERPOOL FC v AC MILAN

• Game that had everything. thrilling comeback by 'pool that will live on for all time.

BEST NON-EURO TEAM

SAO PAOLO FC

• Sao paolo edges Boca Junior because of their domestic league sucess

And there it is. The 19th anniversery edition of T.A.M.C.