Team of the 2010/2011 Season – Portuguese Primeira Liga Special (Part 1)
The last season saw the emergence of several new players, while many others continued to shine in their positions and some player’s even lost their form. So now Bettor.com creates a team consisting of the best players in every position from the 2010/2011
Season.
Team of the Season formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Helton (Porto)
Undoubtedly the best keeper in Portugal by a long margin last season, Helton combined experience with brilliant shot-stopping to lead Porto to a second quadruple in their history.
The Portista skipper was commanding authority in the penalty box and his efforts to control and organize his defence were admirable. He stamped his mark on games with his miraculous reflexes and played an influential role in the Dragons trophy laden season.
Although the keeper has won almost everything possible with Porto, he is yet to experience silverware with the Brazil National Team due to the spectacular form of Julio Caesar.
After securing the Portuguese Cup, Portuguese Super Cup and Portuguese League, The former Vasco da Gama man added icing to the cake, when he lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy in Dublin on his 33rd birthday.
Left Back: Fabio Coentrao (Benfica)
The best wingback in Portugal if not the world, Fabio Coentrao has been a great success the past year. The 23-year-old starred for the Selecao in last year’s World Cup and made 36 appearances for the Eagles scoring five goals and assisting with two.
With Real Madrid snapping at Benfica’s heels for acquiring his services, it’s no wonder that Coentrao’s talents have been acknowledged by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho.
Such has been his impact that many have compared him to the playing style of Roberto Carlos and with such attention the former Rio Ave player has garnered, it looks like we won’t be seeing his overlapping runs in Portugal’s biggest league next season.
Centre Back: Rolando (Porto)
The 6 ft 2 1⁄2 inch defender formed a wall in the Portista defence and was the bedrock on which Porto’s haul of trophies hinged. The 25-year-old’s aerial and long ball ability was key to the Dragon’s attack. The Portuguese International
also managed to find the back of the net in a crucial game against Sevilla FC.
Although he hasn’t featured on the International stage with the Selecao that much, his performances with his club have not gone unnoticed and now the former Belenenses player is rumoured to be on the radar of Italian giants Roma and Juventus.
Centre Back: Daniel Carriço (Sporting Lisbon)
To be the Captain of Sporting at the age of 22, you need to be a special talent and Daniel Carriço is just that. Omnipresent in the Lions line-up during the course of the season, the Portugal U-21 International even managed to a notch a goal last season.
The only thing he needs to do in order to further his career is to break into the Portugal National Team and given his age, he will do so in the coming years.
Right Back: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)
The Uruguayan was initially a midfielder but after the departure of Nélson Marcos, he started playing at the Right-Back position and made it his own.
He has shined for the Eagles and has managed to notch 5 goals in 101 outings for them.
Pereira was crucial to Uruguay’s run to the World Cup; as he scored a goal in the semi-final loss against the Netherlands and provided defensive cover on the right flank for the Sky Blues.