This midfield would be unstoppable, (unless they get sent off).
Teddy Sheringham’s all-time XI is pretty impressive, even by the standards of ex-footballer’s all-time XI’s.
The former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur forward, opts for a 4-4-2 formation, with Peter Schmeichel in goal, Brazil World Cup winning captain Cafu at right-full, and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini at left-full.
Tony Adams and Jaap Stam make up a brilliant central defensive partnership, while goal machines Ruud van Nistelrooy and Romario start up front.
Sheringham selected the team for FourFourTwo back in 2002, but it has been re-published on the magazine’s website ahead of United’s visit to Spurs this weekend.
Although the XI is stacked with quality in every position, the central midfield duo looks the most formidable.
Former United captain Roy Keane lines up alongside Zinedine Zidane, and it’s safe to say only a red card could’ve stopped these two winning a game for this team.
The current Republic of Ireland assistant manager was sent-off seven times in the Premier League alone, but Sheringham seemed to have considered Keane to be the complete midfield player:
“You need someone in a team to dictate the pace of the play and Roy does that perfectly. He defends – he’s a good tackler and a good header of the ball – and starts attacks, and passes the ball with metronomic accuracy. He works tirelessly and demands so much from his team-mates. When things are tough, like they were when United were 2-0 down in Turin in the 1999 Champions League Semi-Final, Keane gets going. But even when things are going well, he drives the team on.”
While Zidane, sent-off 14 times in his career, was “a real big-game player”, according to Sheringham.
“Unbelievable. The ball just seems to stick to his feet. And for a powerfully built man, over 6ft tall, he moves so gracefully. Zidane passes the ball exactly as you’d like to receive it and scores every kind of goal. He even got two with his head in the 1998 World Cup Final.”
Former World Player of the Year Luis Figo, and United legend Ryan Giggs complete what is a brilliant, well-balanced team, which definitely stands the test of time.
