Football: Teams that have made history

Football, as they say, is a team game. And it indeed is. What makes it a team game is that it does not matter how good a player is, he can very rarely win matches on his own. And even if he does, we must never forget that it was a team effort that let him do it.

It has always fascinated me how can someone make a successful team? By buying indiscriminately? By promoting the youth at their academies? Or is it just plain luck which brings it all together? Success, of course, is a subjective assessment and can mean different things to different fans. So, for simplicity, I would for now define success as the ability to win trophies. And for that very reason, I would not include the Galacticos or The Busby Babes.

The first team that obviously comes to mind is the Real Madrid team in the 1950’s. This was an era where substitutes were not allowed and when the game was tough and physical. This team is credited with unseen tactical innovations and redefining the concept of beautiful football. Coached first by Carniglia and then by Miguel Munoz it generally played a 3-4-3 formation. Di Stefano and Puskas are the most remembered names of the time but there were others too. There was Gento, who is considered to be one of the best wingers in history, and the legendary playmaker Kopa, who was excellent anywhere he played. Santamaria is often considered by many to be the most forgotten legend in this team. With the whole focus on attack, he was the rock in the center of a 3 man defense. 5 European Cups in succession makes this a team that cannot be forgotten ever in the annals of footballing history. What this team showed the world was that success can be bought, and this a philosophy Real Madrid have followed ever since.

No discussion about great teams can ever be complete without the Liverpool team of yore. They dominated the English and the European scene for almost two decades. But their most successful period was between 1976 and 1984. During this time, they won 7 League titles, 4 European Cups, 4 League cups, 5 Charity shields, a UEFA Cup and a European Super Cup. They also won the double in 1977 and 1984. A total of a mid-boggling 22 trophies in eight years is no mean achievement. This was a team managed, for the most part, by the legendary Bob Paisley. He is undoubtedly one of the best managers to have graced the English game. His team was an unbelievable combination of a tough defence and lethal attacking. Hailed as one of the best man-managers in the game, he not only made his players play at their maximum potential, he used mind games very effectively to disrupt his opponents. This was a team that had players like Dalglish, Kennedy, Hansen, Rush, Clemence, Keegan, etc. Paisley is credited with tuning-up the counter attacking style of football. This is apparent from the statistic of Kennedy scoring 20 goals from left back while the center back Hughes got 35. This was a team that really defined the term “team spirit”. It showed us how crowds can lift players to unachievable heights. It showed us how organization and flair can combine to form a deadly combination.

AC Milan, these days, is a shadow of their best. They were good during the 1990s and were impressive under Ancelloti too. But by public consensus, they were at their best when they were under legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi. Sacchi is a legendary name in Italian football. He redefined the way football was played in the country. Berlusconi wanted a team that was successful and beautiful and this team was exactly that. Italy was beginning to dominate the European scene after the decline of Liverpool and Sacchi was the man who got them that dominance. AC Milan, at the time, had one of the best squads in the world with Toldo, Barezi, Maldini, Ancelloti, Donadini, Rijkaard, Salvatori, Simone and Van Basten. Sacchi’s men played dominant and attacking football. They had strength and they used it. Perhaps, the team hit its pinnacle when they steam-rolled Real Madrid 5-0 at the San Siro. They won the league against Maradona’s Napoli twice and won European cups in succession. If there ever was a team that changed the footballing culture of an entire league, it was this team. Built up with a mixture of expensive purchases and home grown talent, it was AC Milan that showed the world how a team should be built.

Just as Milan were starting to fade, there was a revolution underway at Carrington. A group of players was making waves and a couple of years down the line, they came to be known as Fergie’s Fledglings. The Neville brothers, Butt, Beckham, Scholes and Giggs formed the core of a team that dominated English football for a decade. With players like Cantona, Keane, Schmeichel and others supplementing the above mentioned core, this is the best team I have seen play. They won the first treble in the history of the game. Like Liverpool in the previous decade, they were a strong team with great character. The two goals in injury time to defeat Bayern Munich and complete the treble is an event that has made its place in football lore. While most of the talent they had was homegrown, purchases like those of Cantona, Keane, Yorke and Cole made the team what is was.

And finally, I would like to come down to what is arguably the best team in football history. FC Barcelona, since the last 5 years, has shaken up the world. They are a team that have revisited the basics of football, i.e., accurate passing, ball possession and high pressing. The secret of their success lies in the perfect implementation of their style. Of course, such implementation is helped by a generation of players who all came up through the ranks together. Much like Fergie’s Fledlings, Iniesta, Busquets, Messi, Pique and co. have played together for most of their lives and it is apparent in the spirit and passion they display. But this a team that is not dependent solely on homegrown talent. Purchases like those of Sanchez, Villa, Alba, Mascherano, Alves etc. show their pragmatism. But undoubtedly, the biggest reasons for their success are La Masia and Lionel Messi. While there is still scope for this team to improve, it is a mouth-watering prospect to see them reach new heights.

Therefore, we see that in different times, different teams with different styles of play dominated. We find that however many stars a team may have had, the success of a team is always owed to those who assist them, to those who may not be remembered but who are never forgotten. That is what makes football a team game.