Serie A: season review and team of the season

Remember when you thought the football season was over? The football never stops, and more importantly Calcio never stops. This week we’ve got a round up the entire season and team of the season in Serie A, and will then proceed to a round up of “silly season” speculation over the next few weeks – transfers rumours, news and the general myths and stories surrounding Europe’s most chaotic League. So this week, as collective eyes look back over a season that began with Jose Mourinho exiting San Siro, and ended with his successor’s successor lifting the Coppa Italia – it is fair to say that it has been an entertaining year in Italy.

Key moments in Calcio include: Leonardo, ex-Milan player, director and manager taking over the job at Inter Milan weeks after claiming he wasn’t interested in management; Palermo President and professional lunatic Maurizio Zamperini firing Delio Rossi after the Sicillans went down 7-0 at home to Udinese, before rehiring him after 4 weeks; Antonio Cassano leaving Sampdoria after calling president Riccardo Garrone a “sh*tty old man”; and Zlatan Ibrahimovic claiming his eight successive title in 5 countries after leading the Rossoneri to the title. An interesting year, right?

However, in the midst of all the chaos, some football occasionally broke out, and there were some star performers in addition to the melodrama that unfolded around them. Here is (in my humble opinion) the team of the season:

Goalkeeper

Christian Abbiati – AC Milan: Simply magnificent for the Rossoneri this year, provided some truly world class saves and pulled them out of tricky situations many a time this year. Key saves against Brescia and Inter were highlights for 33 year old, as he proved a reassuring presence at the back stabilising Il Diavolo’s title push.

Defenders

Ignazio Abate – AC Milan: Gone from being an occasional winger for Leonardo to a defensive stalwart under Max Allegri, Abate has improved rapidly to the point where he can now push for a National team place. Quick, brave and a great reader of the game, Abate is sure to be in the Milan line up for some time.

Thiago Silva- AC Milan: Notice a pattern developing? Another defender from the side that has conceded only 7 goals in 2011, and arguably the key to Milan’s success this year, the Brazilian has been wonderful for Milan, and is, if not one of, the best defenders in the world at the moment. An amazing reader of the game – supremely intelligent, Thiago Silva is going the right way to filling the boots of Paolo Maldini.

Christian Zapata – Udinese: One of the many stars in the Udine sky, Zapata has been the foundation that Sanchez and Di Natale have been able to flourish on. Strong, quick and a calming presence on the attacking Udinese side, Zapata has been just as vital as any other for the 4^th placed Friuli side.

Frederico Balzaretti – Palermo: The classic attacking full back, Balzaretti has been one constant in a ever changing Palermo side, bombing forward with energy and enthusiasm, while holding the fort for the Sicilians at the back. If the rest of Palermo played as consistently as “Balzu”, then Palermo would be doing very well indeed.

Midfielders

Hernanes – Lazio: “The Prophet” has been fantastic for La Aquile, scoring a record 11 goals – matching Pavel Nedved’s record for a midfielder – and has been the key behind the capital club’s rise from relegation to Europe, driving Edy Reja’s men forward with some astonishing displays, and scoring some important goals with his rocket of a right boot.

Kevin Prince Boateng – AC Milan: One of the more surprising success stories of this season, Boateng signed in odd circumstances from Portsmouth, using Genoa as a mercato medium, if you will. But there has been nothing suspect about the Ghanaian’s performances this season, driving Milan with his grit and aggression, reminiscent of a younger Gennaro Gattuso. Reinvigorated in the attacking midfield slot, Boateng has been an additional creative force and a great link between midfield and attack for the Rossoneri.

Alexis Sanchez – Udinese: Dubbed the new Cristiano Ronaldo by his compatriots, and possessing the frightening ability to zip past the opposition with unerring ease, the Chilean has been a force to be reckoned with for Udinese, contributing 12 goals and 12 assists this season, attracting interest from Inter, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Wherever Sanchez ends up this summer, keep an eye out for him, the South American winger is a touch of class.

Forwards

Samuel Eto’o – Inter Milan: 37 goals in all competitions for the Cameroonian, who has been stunning for the Nerazzurri, and the one true positive for Inter this year, showing his true quality in front of goal, and being the extra leap in class in a poor season for Inter. It’s an endearing quality from the African who has not let the chaos in the blue half of Milan affect his performance.

Edinson Cavani – Napoli: Absolutely astonishing year for El Matador – 26 goals in the league, including three hat tricks and many, many key goals that have been the catalyst that guided the Partonepei to third place. A devastating finisher, and a fantastic opportunist, the South American has proven his quality this year, even helping the team when necessary.

Antonio Di Natale – Udinese: A true leader, and ferociously loyal to his club, “Toto” scored 27 goals this year for his side that helped Udinese to fourth place, whilst serving as an inspiration to the young side around him. A truly great striker, and played with class and integrity all season.

By Sam Lewis