FifPro announces reserve Teams of the Year - but Luis Suarez and Arjen Robben won't be laughing while Iker Casillas is somehow named the second best goalkeeper of 2013
The second, third, fourth and fifth string Team of the Year has been announced and unlike the main award, both English and Premier League stars are included
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
FifPro have revealed their reserve XI’s for the team of the year award, which was announced on Monday evening at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, and the list has shown up some interesting – and some astounding – results.
Most prominently is the inclusion of Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who finished as the second choice to Manuel Neuer despite making just three league appearances in 2013. Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil also features in the second XI, as does his replacement at Real Gareth Bale.
Other Premier League stars to have made the second string include Chelsea’s David Luiz, Yaya Toure of Manchester City and striker Robin van Persie, whose goals rocketed Manchester United towards yet another Premier League title and gave Sir Alex Ferguson the perfect send-off into retirement.
Casillas surprisingly beats Gianluigi Buffon, Victor Valdes and Petr Cech to second place, while names such as David De Gea, Hugo Lloris and Roman Weidenfeller missed out completely.
Another surprising decision is not so much the inclusion of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, but the fact he doesn’t feature until the fourth string. Ahead of him, Neymar, Falcao and van Persie make up the second choice attack while Robert Lewandowski, Edinson Cavani and Sergio Aguero feature in the third.
Suarez is joined by Wayne Rooney and everyone’s favourite Mario Balotelli, while the final trio is comprised of Mario Mandzukic, the sought-after Diego Costa and former Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba – despite the Ivorian now playing in the Turkish league for Galatasaray.
Ashley Cole may have been dropped by Jose Mourinho since his return to Stamford Bridge, but the Chelsea left-back has done enough to make the fourth XI, while Arjen Robben – who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final for his side Bayern Munich – has to make do with a place in the same side.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments