The 2010/2011 European football season is well and truly over, but which clubs where the standouts during a long campaign.
10. Manchester City
The Sky Blues have invested heavily in their playing squad over the past few seasons and the 2010/11 campaign was finally the term when the team delivered on the money spent. Boss Roberto Mancini took the club’s into the UEFA Champions League and won the FA Cup.
Breaking into England’s top four is no mean feat nowadays, but Mancini’s side did more than that by finishing third ahead of Arsenal. Argentine striker Carlos Tevez led the way in attack, but Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany were outstanding too. Both played their part as the Citizens claimed their first major trophy in 35 years with a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Stoke City thanks to Yaya Toure’s winner.
9. Lille
The small club from the north of France claimed its first piece of major silverware in over 55 years during the 2010/11 season. In fact, Rudi Garcia’s side did the double in France, claiming the Ligue 1 crown along with the Coupe de France.
The 47-year-old manager can claim a lot of the credit for their successes, while talents such as the Senegalese striker Moussa Sow, who ended the Ligue 1 season as topscorer with 25 strikes, made major contributions. Cote d’Ivoire star Gervinho netted 15 goals and provided nine assists, while midfield duo Eden Hazard and Yoann Cabaye were creative influences too, with the former winning the Ligue 1 Player of the Season award. We can’t forget goalkeeper Mickael Landreau either, who held the defence together along with Adil Rami.
8. Schalke 04
The Gelsenkirchen may have had a league campaign to forget which saw Felix Magath sacked but they went on a tremendous UEFA Champions League campaign and clinched the DFB Pokal in superb style with a 5-0 final triumph.
The 2010/11 campaign was to be a season when Schalke would chase their first German league title since 1958, following the signings of Raul and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. However, the Bundesliga campaign was a disaster, but the team went all the way to the semi-finals of the Champions League, knocking out reigning European champions Inter Milan along the way. Schalke managed to lift some silverware too, when they defeated MSV Duisburg 5-0 in the DFB Pokal final.
7. Internazionale
Inter may have experienced a tough period under Rafa Benitez before he was sacked in December but they still won the Club World Cup to become world champions during the same month.
Having won a rare treble under Jose Mourinho during the 2009-10 – the UEFA Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia – it was always going to be difficult to keep up those lofty standards. Benitez’s rein was disappointing, but Leonardo took over and guided the club back into the Scudetto race where they ended up runners-up to rivals AC Milan. However, Leonardo’s crowning glory was winning the 2011 Coppa Italia with a 3-1 final win over Palermo.
6. FC Porto
The Dragons had an incredible 2010-11 season under new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas where they comfortably clinched the Portuguese Liga title along with the Europa League crown.
In fact, Porto went undefeated throughout the whole Portuguese Liga season, winning 27 of 30 games and winning the league by 21 points. It was incredible stuff with Hulk and Radomel Falcao firing them to the title. Incredibly, Hulk won five Player of the Month award during the Liga season. Their Europa League success came after knocking out the likes of Villarreal, Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow and Sevilla.
5. Borussia Dortmund
Jurgen Klopp’s BVB won their first Bundesliga crown in nine years, after running away with the title following a blistering start to the season. They were knocked out early in the Europa League and DFB Pokal, but their Bundesliga campaign was scintillating.
Klopp’s youthful side had several stars including Nuri Sahin, who his since moved to Real Madrid. Dortmund’s defence was the key to their success, conceding on 22 goals in 34 games, with keeper Roman Weidenfeller outstanding, while the backline combo of Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic were brilliant. Lucas Barrios scored the goals, while Mario Gotze hinted he’ll be a star for awhile.
4. AC Milan
The Rossoneri ended their seven-year wait for the Scudetto, cruising to the title this season six points ahead of city rivals Inter.
Max Allegri was the man responsible for Milan’s crown, but defender Thiago Silva was a genuine star, while the strikeforce of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Alexandre Pato produced the goals. Allegri’s side were consistent but did crash out in the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League, while their Coppa Italia campaign ended in the semi-finals, arguably a result of a hangover following their Scudetto celebrations.
3. Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho moved to Madrid after a treble-winning season at Inter, so the expectations were always going to be high, particularly taking over a team containing the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Karim Benzema.
However, Los Merengues couldn’t clinch the Spanish La Liga title, nor the UEFA Champions League crown, with rivals Barcelona getting in their way in both competitions. Real had a stunning La Liga season, claiming 92 points from 38 games. Barca were just too good, as they were in the Champions League semi-finals. But Real Madrid did defeat Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey to clinch their only piece of silverware for the season. Cristiano Ronaldo was a standout with 40 La Liga goals.
2. Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils may not have had their most star-studded line-up in 2010-11 but they still had a wonderful season, winning the Premier League title by some nine points, while they reached the final of the UEFA Champions League too.
United had their troubles throughout the campaign with plenty of early season away draws along with the Wayne Rooney saga, but as a strong club does, they navigated their way through it. The Red Devils finished the Premier League season strong with Javier Hernandez a revelation, while Nemanja Vidic was outstanding throughout in defence. They crashed in the FA Cup semi-finals to city rivals Manchester City, while losing the Champions League final 3-1 to Barcelona was no disgrace.
1. FC Barcelona
The Spanish giants clinched two of the biggest crowns in world football during the 2010-11 season, in the Spanish La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League. They did lose the Copa del Rey to rivals Barcelona, but they were brilliant throughout in all competitions.
Barcelona’s league success were staggering as they thrashed Real Madrid 5-0 early in the campaign to set the tone. The Catalans lost just twice throughout the league season, claiming 96 points, with Lionel Messi outstanding with 31 goals and 18 assists.
Barca also were exceptional in claiming the European title, producing some captivating as they disposed of the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk, before destroying English champions Manchester United 3-1 in the final, prompting the Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson to label them the best side he’s ever faced.