Barça dominate Team of the Year

The uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2009 has been announced, with players from all-conquering European champions FC Barcelona dominating the selection.

Four million votes
More than 4m votes were cast by 320,000 users (a 30% increase on last year), and the resulting dream team features five members of the Barça side that conquered Europe last season, plus another who has joined since. Daniel Alves and Carles Puyol line up at the back, with Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta in midfield behind a front pairing of Lionel Messi and summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimović. For good measure, the man who enjoyed such a memorable debut campaign at the Blaugrana helm, Josep Guardiola, oversees this talented blend.

Spanish flavour
The Spanish flavour continues with Iker Casillas named goalkeeper for the third successive season and Real Madrid CF team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká are deployed in an attack-minded midfield. The Liga monopoly is broken by a pair of English-based players. Manchester United FC's Patrice Evra is at left-back and Team of the Year mainstay John Terry, of Chelsea FC, partners captain Puyol at the heart of the defence. UEFA will present a cheque for €100,000 to one member of the team, to be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Click here to see the star selection and to have your say.

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2009:
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF & Spain); Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea FC & England), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona & Spain), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC & France); Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC/Real Madrid CF & Portugal), Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona & Spain), Kaká (AC Milan/Real Madrid CF), Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona & Spain); Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimović (FC Internazionale Milano/FC Barcelona & Sweden). Josep Guardiola (FC Barcelona)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2008:
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF & Spain); Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF & Spain), John Terry (Chelsea FC & England), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona & Spain), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München & Germany); Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC & Portugal), Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona & Spain), Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal FC & Spain), Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München & France); Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Liverpool FC & Spain). Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United FC)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2007:
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF & Spain); Daniel Alves (Sevilla FC), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan & Italy), John Terry (Chelsea FC & England), Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyonnais/FC Barcelona & France); Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC & Portugal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC & England), Kaká (AC Milan), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan & Netherlands); Zlatan Ibrahimović (FC Internazionale Milano & Sweden), Didier Drogba (Chelsea FC). Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United FC)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2006:
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus & Italy); Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona & Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF & Italy), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona & Spain), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München & Germany); Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC & England), Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal FC & Spain), Kaká (AC Milan), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona); Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC & France), Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona). Frank Rijkaard (FC Barcelona)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2005:
Petr Čech (Chelsea FC & Czech Republic); Cafu (AC Milan), John Terry (Chelsea FC & England), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona & Spain), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan); Luis García (Liverpool FC & Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC & England), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona), Pavel Nedvěd (Juventus & Czech Republic); Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona), Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan & Ukraine). José Mourinho (Chelsea FC)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2004:
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus & Italy); Cafu (AC Milan), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC & Portugal), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan & Italy), Ashley Cole (Arsenal FC & England); Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC & Portugal), Maniche (FC Porto & Portugal), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona), Pavel Nedvěd (Juventus & Czech Republic); Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC & France), Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan & Ukraine). José Mourinho (Chelsea FC)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2003:
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus & Italy); Paulo Ferreira (FC Porto & Portugal), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan & Italy), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid CF); Luís Figo (Real Madrid CF & Portugal), David Beckham (Real Madrid CF & England), Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid CF & France), Pavel Nedvěd (Juventus & Czech Republic); Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC & France), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC & Netherlands). José Mourinho (FC Porto)

uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2002:
Rüstu Reçber (Fenerbahçe SK & Turkey); Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona & Spain), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan & Italy), Cristian Chivu (AFC Ajax & Romania), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid CF); Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan & Netherlands), Michael Ballack (FC Bayern München & Germany), Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid CF & France), Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers FC & Republic of Ireland); Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC & France), Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF). Senol Günes (Turkey)

uefa.com users' Team of 2001:
Santiago Cañizares (Valencia CF & Spain), Cosmin Contra (Deportivo Alavés & Romania), Sami Hyypiä (Liverpool FC & Finland), Patrik Andersson (FC Barcelona & Sweden), Bixente Lizarazu (FC Bayern München & France); David Beckham (Manchester United FC & England), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal FC & France), Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid CF & France), Kily González (Valencia CF); Thierry Henry (Arsenal FC & France), David Trezeguet (Juventus & France). Gérard Houllier (Liverpool FC)

By : www.uefa.com

Guardiola commits future to Barcelona

Josep Guardiola will continue at the helm of FC Barcelona next season after the 39-year-old said he would sign a new deal under a newly elected club president in the summer.

Verbal commitment
The Barcelona coach moved to clear up speculation surrounding his future by offering a verbal commitment to last season's UEFA Champions League winners. "Yesterday I gave my word to the current president [Joan Laporta] that I would continue my work here if that is what the new president wants," he said. "You can know that people want you to continue but a person like me must take into account the pros and cons of the situation. I needed to know that I had the strength and the will of the players and for that reason I asked the club for more time; I'm now confident that I'm strong enough to go on and [at this time] giving my word is enough."

Unprecedented success
Guardiola was promoted to take charge of first-team affairs following the departure of Frank Rijkaard in summer 2008 and few would have predicted the success he went on to enjoy in his maiden campaign leading the club. The Barcelona-born coach guided the Azulgrana to an unprecedented treble of Liga, UFEA Champions League and Copa del Rey triumphs. The trophies have continued to arrive this season with UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup honours gained.

Big effort
With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, officials at the club were keen to keep hold of their coach for the foreseeable future. "I'm thrilled to announce that Pep has the club's guarantee and we have his word that he'll continue," announced outgoing president Laporta. "I'd like to thank the efforts of everyone involved in helping to bring this agreement about."

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Ibrahimović recalled for football Oscars

Zlatan Ibrahimović has been named Player of the Year and Foreign Player of the Year at the Italian Players' Association's 2009 Oscar del Calcio, despite leaving FC Internazionale Milano and Serie A for FC Barcelona in the summer.

Inter dominant
It is the second successive year the Sweden striker had picked up both awards after helping Inter to their fourth consecutive title in June. On a night dominated by the Nerazzurri, José Mourinho won the award for leading coach, Júlio César picked up the best goalkeeper gong and Diego Milito the Fans' Award as most popular player. Ibrahimović, who finished the 2008/09 campaign top scorer in Serie A with 25 goals, paid tribute to his former coach. "I miss Mourinho because anybody would miss a coach like him," the 28-year-old said, adding: "He has a great personality and I don't think he has yet forgiven me for joining Barcelona in the summer!"

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Perfect night for leaders Barça

FC Barcelona assumed a five-point lead at the Liga summit with a 4-0 victory over their Copa del Rey conquerors Sevilla FC that followed a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Club for nearest rivals Real Madrid CF.

Revenge exacted
The titleholders had a score to settle with Sevilla after being knocked out of the cup on away goals by their fellow UEFA Champions League contenders in midweek. They required the intervention of Julien Escudé's 49th-minute own goal to get their noses in front but doubled their advantage with 20 minutes remaining courtesy of Pedro Rodríguez's cool chip. Lionel Messi (85, 90+1) then added further gloss, ensuring his side recorded their 14th win in what remains an unbeaten Liga campaign for the Azulgrana.

Early clincher
Victory for Josep Guardiola's team salted Madrid's wounds after they slipped up earlier in the evening. Los Merengues, unbeaten in the league since a 1-0 loss at Barça in November, were undone in just the third minute, UEFA Europa League group stage top scorer Fernando Llorente heading in Francisco Yeste's deflected corner from close range. Athletic climb to seventh with the win but had their night marred in the fifth minute of added time when Carlos Gurpegi was sent off. CA Osasuna are 12th after beating RCD Espanyol 2-0 in the day's other game, Juanfran's low drive and Walter Pandiani's back-post header securing victory inside the opening nine minutes.

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Around the Leagues

FC Barcelona will be out to restore the natural order in Spain following their Copa del Rey elimination, Olympique de Marseille and Sporting Clube de Portugal pursue fading dreams and two German clubs seek a timely revival. uefa.com previews the action and you can follow the scores throughout the weekend from all the European leagues live on uefa.com's MatchCentre.

Spain: FC Barcelona v Sevilla FC (Saturday, 22.00)
Sevilla will be wary of wounded pride when they travel to Camp Nou for their third meeting with Barcelona in eleven days. Manuel Jiménez's side triumphed on away goals in their Copa del Rey round of 16 tie, Xavi Hernández's strike on Wednesday not enough to overturn a 2-1 first-leg loss as Barça suffered their first knockout round elimination under Josep Guardiola. "The defeat hurt us but it will make us stronger," warned skipper Carles Puyol. "Now, more than ever, we must give everything we've got in the Liga and the UEFA Champions League."

Germany: VfB Stuttgart v VfL Wolfsburg (Saturday, 18.30)
The prevalence of words like "desperation" and "critical" in the lead up to this fixture underlines the falls from grace both teams endured in the first half of the season. Titleholders Wolfsburg approach the Bundesliga resumption eighth, with striker Grafite leading the carrion call when he spoke of his "desperation to show that we can do better". For Stuttgart the "situation is critical" according to coach Christian Gross, whose new side have only goal difference separating them from the relegation zone.

France: FC Girondins de Bordeaux v Olympique de Marseille (Sunday, 21.00)The last time Marseille won at Bordeaux the world was still coming to terms with Elvis Presley's death, but Didier Deschamps knows only victory will do as his OM side attempt to bridge the eleven-point gap to the Ligue 1 leaders. "We meet the best team in France," said Deschamps, whose side lie fourth. "We'll try to control the ball and rely on set-pieces." Fatigue may be an issue after a punishing 3-2 League Cup victory over AS Saint-Etienne on Wednesday – Bordeaux's midweek game was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Portugal: Sporting Clube de Portugal v CD Nacional (Saturday, 22.15)
Sporting's revival under Carlos Carvalhal faces its sternest test this weekend when they come up against the side they share fourth place with, Nacional. Three wins in four league games have hoisted the Lions within 12 points of SC Braga and SL Benfica at the summit, and another would keep faint title hopes alive. Yet it will not be easy. Carvalhal is shorn of Liedson and new signing Florent Sinama Pongolle through injury and while Nacional are not always the "very strong team" he fears, their UEFA Europa League victory over FC Zenit St. Petersburg earlier this season demands respect.

Italy: AC Milan v AC Siena (Sunday, 15.00)
After giving Serie A frontrunners FC Internazionale Milano a real scare a week ago, lowly Siena return to San Siro to face the Rossoneri. Alberto Malesani's charges led 3-2 with two minutes remaining against Inter last Saturday, but still ended up taking nothing from the game and remain at the bottom of the standings. "I'm sure that big disappointment made us even stronger," Malesani said. Second-placed Milan have won seven of their last eight league games and are eight points behind Inter with a game in hand.

England: Everton v Manchester City FC (Saturday, 17.30)
Manchester City's Roberto Mancini bandwagon faces its toughest challenge yet as they make the short trip west to face ever-improving Everton. The Toffees could count themselves unfortunate to take only a point from last week's trip to Arsenal FC as they slowly drag themselves up the Premier League standings. Manchester City have bounded to fourth since Mancini's arrival, winning five in a row, and the Italian says "it's important we continue our run" against a "tough" Everton outfit.

Greece: FC Kavala v Olympiacos FC (Sunday, 18:00)
Ensconced in the familiar surroundings of the Super League summit, with a place in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in the bag, the outlook was rosy for Olympiacos in mid-December. Defeat at Aris Thessaloniki FC in the final game of 2009 broke the reverie and another by AEK Athens FC in their 2010 curtain-raiser leaves Zico's side almost in crisis, a massive five points adrift of new leaders Panathinaikos FC. Not the ideal time for a trip to this season's surprise package, fifth-placed Kavala.

All times local; England and Portugal are one hour behind CET.

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Cup exits for PSG and Liverpool

Juventus claimed a welcome cup win but the misery continues for Liverpool FC, as they and Paris Saint-Germain FC were dumped out of knockout competitions by second-tier opposition.

Late turnaround
Smiles abounded at Anfield as new signing Maxi Rodríguez was paraded ahead of their FA Cup third-round replay with Reading FC, yet few remained at the end of the evening. The Reds were 1-0 up at half-time after Ryan Bertrand diverted Steven Gerrard's cross past his own goalkeeper, but when the Liverpool captain failed to appear for the second period – Fernando Torres having already limped off – the tide turned. Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised in the third minute of added time to force the extra half-hour, where Shane Long's header sent the seven-time FA Cup winners crashing.

Del Piero double
By contrast, Juventus made light work of an SSC Napoli side previously 13 games unbeaten to book a place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. Diego put Ciro Ferrara's men ahead midway through the first half and two late Alessandro Del Piero efforts – the second a penalty after Matteo Contini had been dismissed – secured progress. There were more red cards at Genoa CFC, where an early Gianvito Plasmati double set Catania Calcio on course for a 2-1 victory over the nine-man home side. Mathieu Flamini's sublime, swerving 81st-minute effort spared AC Milan's blushes as they beat third tier Novara Calcio 2-1.

Guingamp joy
Struggling in Ligue 2, French Cup holders EA Guingamp lived up to their giant-killing reputation as Mamadou Sakho's 79th-minute own goal earned the ten-man hosts a 1-0 win against PSG. Elsewhere in the League Cup round of 16 it went pretty much to type as Olympique Lyonnais, FC Lorient, LOSC Lille Métropole, Toulouse FC and Olympique de Marseille prevailed, though OM needed a last-minute Mamadou Niang goal to see off AS Saint-Etienne. There were also two games in Ligue 1, US Boulogne and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard playing out a goalless draw while AS Monaco FC overwhelmed third-placed Montpellier Hérault SC 4-0.

Filipe fillip
In Spain, Josep Guardiola is reflecting on rare disappointment after Xavi Hernández's goal was insufficient to stop FC Barcelona exiting the Copa del Rey round of 16 on away goals to Sevilla FC. CA Osasuna also progress on away goals, and while Real Racing Club scraped past third-tier AD Alcorcón, Getafe CF were far more convincing as they overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a 5-1 victory over Málaga CF. Pushed into a midfield role, Filipe scored one and set up another as RC Deportivo La Coruña recovered from two first-half Nikola Žigić goals to beat Valencia CF 4-3 on aggregate.

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