Premier League fans
have been treated to dazzling displays
from some of the world's best players
over the last nine months. And with the
season at an end, AFP London Sports
Desk unveils its team of the year:
GOALKEEPER
Asmir Begovic (Stoke/BIH)
The £15 million-rated Bosnian
underlined why the likes of Arsenal and
Liverpool have been linked with a close-
season move for him as he produced a
series of fine performances, played all
38 league games and managed to keep
12 clean-sheets in a struggling side.
DEFENDERS
Pablo Zabaleta (Man City/ARG)
In a season of underachievement at
Eastlands, the Argentina right-back was
one of the few to emerge with any
credit. His muscular approach frustrated
many wingers and he also found time to
charge forward to good effect.
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd/ENG)
The 34-year-old's return to form defied
critics who claimed he no longer had the
pace to play at the highest level. Finally
pain-free thanks to an intricate fitness
programme, the centre-back may have
snubbed an England recall but he was an
assured presence as United romped to
the title.
Jan Vertonghen
(Tottenham/BEL)
Relatively
unheralded
when he arrived
from Ajax last
year, the
versatile Belgian
has emerged as
one of the best
defenders in the league. Capable of
filling in at full-back, he shone brightest
at centre-back and chipped in with six
valuable goals.
Leighton Baines (Everton/ENG)
Long regarded as a key component of
Everton's back-four, the dynamic left-
back enjoyed the best season of his
career and also impressed for England.
Could follow David Moyes to Manchester
United if the departing Toffees boss
gets his way.
MIDFIELDERS
Juan Mata (Chelsea/ESP)
The Spaniard thrived as the Blues played
a more fluid style designed to showcase
Mata's talents. As well as an eye for a
killer pass, Mata, who netted 20 times
this term, also displayed stamina as he
featured in 66 of Chelsea's 69 matches
during a marathon campaign that
brought third place and Europa League
glory.
Michael Carrick (Man Utd/ENG)
After spending much of his time at Old
Trafford as the forgotten man in
United's midfield, Carrick finally took
centre-stage with the kind of influential
displays his admirers have always felt
him capable of. The 31-year-old's
smooth passing and astute reading of
the game were pivotal to United's title
success, especially given the erratic form
of his fellow midfielders.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal/ESP)
While many of Arsene Wenger's recent
overseas signings have failed to adapt
to the Premier League, there was no
questioning the impact of the
diminutive Spaniard following his £15
million move from Malaga.
Whether playing wide or in a more
central role, the 28-year-old was at the
heart of all Arsenal's best moments,
scoring 12 times including a hat-trick at
Reading, as they finished the season
strongly and took fourth place.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham/WAL)
Almost single-handedly kept his team in
the race to qualify for the Champions
League with a series of brilliant displays
and jaw-dropping goals that earned him
both the Players' and Football Writers'
Player of the Year awards.
The Wales winger was granted more
freedom to play in-field by Spurs boss
Andre Villas-Boas and he responded
with 26 goals, many of them long-range
strikes and none more remarkable than
the last-minute winner against West Ham
that illuminated a dank night at Upton
Park in February.
FORWARDS
Michu (Swansea/ESP)
Unquestionably the bargain of the
season, Michu, who cost just £2 million
from Rayo Vallecano, announced his
arrival in the Premier League with two
goals on his debut in a 5-0 win at QPR
and never looked back. The Spaniard
ended the season with 22 goals,
including one at Wembley as Swansea
beat Bradford 5-0 in the League Cup
final to win the first major trophy in
their 100-year history.
Robin van Persie (Man Utd/NED)
After losing the title on goal difference
last season, United boss Alex Ferguson
responded by prising the Dutch star
away from Arsenal just as champions
Manchester City were prepared to
pounce and in the process effectively
regained the Premier League crown
before a ball was even kicked.
The £24 million deal revitalised United as
van Persie scored on his Old Trafford
debut against Fulham, netted a hat-trick
in his third match at Southampton and
went on to finish as the league's top
scorer with 26 goals. No wonder
Ferguson hailed him as the most
significant signing since his swoop for
Eric Cantona.
have been treated to dazzling displays
from some of the world's best players
over the last nine months. And with the
season at an end, AFP London Sports
Desk unveils its team of the year:
GOALKEEPER
Asmir Begovic (Stoke/BIH)
The £15 million-rated Bosnian
underlined why the likes of Arsenal and
Liverpool have been linked with a close-
season move for him as he produced a
series of fine performances, played all
38 league games and managed to keep
12 clean-sheets in a struggling side.
DEFENDERS
Pablo Zabaleta (Man City/ARG)
In a season of underachievement at
Eastlands, the Argentina right-back was
one of the few to emerge with any
credit. His muscular approach frustrated
many wingers and he also found time to
charge forward to good effect.
Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd/ENG)
The 34-year-old's return to form defied
critics who claimed he no longer had the
pace to play at the highest level. Finally
pain-free thanks to an intricate fitness
programme, the centre-back may have
snubbed an England recall but he was an
assured presence as United romped to
the title.
Jan Vertonghen
(Tottenham/BEL)
Relatively
unheralded
when he arrived
from Ajax last
year, the
versatile Belgian
has emerged as
one of the best
defenders in the league. Capable of
filling in at full-back, he shone brightest
at centre-back and chipped in with six
valuable goals.
Leighton Baines (Everton/ENG)
Long regarded as a key component of
Everton's back-four, the dynamic left-
back enjoyed the best season of his
career and also impressed for England.
Could follow David Moyes to Manchester
United if the departing Toffees boss
gets his way.
MIDFIELDERS
Juan Mata (Chelsea/ESP)
The Spaniard thrived as the Blues played
a more fluid style designed to showcase
Mata's talents. As well as an eye for a
killer pass, Mata, who netted 20 times
this term, also displayed stamina as he
featured in 66 of Chelsea's 69 matches
during a marathon campaign that
brought third place and Europa League
glory.
Michael Carrick (Man Utd/ENG)
After spending much of his time at Old
Trafford as the forgotten man in
United's midfield, Carrick finally took
centre-stage with the kind of influential
displays his admirers have always felt
him capable of. The 31-year-old's
smooth passing and astute reading of
the game were pivotal to United's title
success, especially given the erratic form
of his fellow midfielders.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal/ESP)
While many of Arsene Wenger's recent
overseas signings have failed to adapt
to the Premier League, there was no
questioning the impact of the
diminutive Spaniard following his £15
million move from Malaga.
Whether playing wide or in a more
central role, the 28-year-old was at the
heart of all Arsenal's best moments,
scoring 12 times including a hat-trick at
Reading, as they finished the season
strongly and took fourth place.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham/WAL)
Almost single-handedly kept his team in
the race to qualify for the Champions
League with a series of brilliant displays
and jaw-dropping goals that earned him
both the Players' and Football Writers'
Player of the Year awards.
The Wales winger was granted more
freedom to play in-field by Spurs boss
Andre Villas-Boas and he responded
with 26 goals, many of them long-range
strikes and none more remarkable than
the last-minute winner against West Ham
that illuminated a dank night at Upton
Park in February.
FORWARDS
Michu (Swansea/ESP)
Unquestionably the bargain of the
season, Michu, who cost just £2 million
from Rayo Vallecano, announced his
arrival in the Premier League with two
goals on his debut in a 5-0 win at QPR
and never looked back. The Spaniard
ended the season with 22 goals,
including one at Wembley as Swansea
beat Bradford 5-0 in the League Cup
final to win the first major trophy in
their 100-year history.
Robin van Persie (Man Utd/NED)
After losing the title on goal difference
last season, United boss Alex Ferguson
responded by prising the Dutch star
away from Arsenal just as champions
Manchester City were prepared to
pounce and in the process effectively
regained the Premier League crown
before a ball was even kicked.
The £24 million deal revitalised United as
van Persie scored on his Old Trafford
debut against Fulham, netted a hat-trick
in his third match at Southampton and
went on to finish as the league's top
scorer with 26 goals. No wonder
Ferguson hailed him as the most
significant signing since his swoop for
Eric Cantona.
Cyril 21 May, 2013
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