© EuroFootball.com
Official UEFA website announced on Wednesday the selection of the symbolic 2004 team, made up of players competing in Europe.
More than 1.2 million internet users cast their votes in the fourth edition of the elections. The results of the voting reflected a year of surprises because new emerging stars broke into the best eleven players, unlike in 2003.
Although Arsenal and France national team striker Thierry Henry was selected for the team for the fourth time, this time six new players joined him.
Two of the newcomers are players who participated in Porto's Champions League triumph – Maniche and Ricardo Carvalho, and they were joined by Jose Mourinho, selected as the best coach for the second year in a row. The Portuguese quartet is completed by the youngest team member, Manchester United's winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
The title of the best goalkeeper once again went to Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, his teammate Pavel Nedved was selected among the best midfielders. Meanwhile, two players based in Italy are among the best defenders – Milan's Brazilian Cafu and Italian Alessandro Nesta.
The defensive line is completed by Englishman Ashley Cole from Arsenal, the best player in the FIFA World Player of the Year awards, Brazilian Ronaldinho from Barcelona, and the attacking duo consists of the French Thierry Henry from Arsenal, nominated for the best player in the world title, and Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko from Milan.
UEFA.com visitors' team of 2004:
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) Defenders Cafu (Milan) Ricardo Carvalho (Porto/Chelsea) Alessandro Nesta (Milan) Ashley Cole (Arsenal) Midfielders Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) Maniche (Porto) Ronaldinho (Barcelona) Pavel Nedved (Juventus) Forwards Thierry Henry (Arsenal) Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) Coach Jose Mourinho (Porto)
