Real Madrid Team of the Decade

Everywhere you look people seem to be making their team of the decade, and with the decade coming to an end that makes perfect sense. So I listed down my Real madrid team of the last 10 years.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillias

A fairly obvious choice. Any keeper who's being an undisputed starter for the last 10 years will make the team of the decade. Currently captain of both club and country, Casillias has saved the club on countless occasions specially with an awful defense ahead of him during a major part of the middle of the decade. Certainly one of the club's most valuable assets.

Right Back: Sergio Ramos

This was a tough one considering the years of service Michael Solgado has put in and also considering that Ramos only shifted to his right back role in 2007. But if you look at his performances since his move from Sevilla in 2005, one cannot argue that he is fully deserving of a place in the team of the decade. And at only 24 years of age, the vice captain has many years of service still left for the blancos.

Left Back: Roberto Carlos

Argubially the best left back of all time, Roberto Carlos spent a large part of his career in the capital of Spain. Seldom only did he put in a below par performance and never did he come not the pitch and not give his all. Blistering pace and cracking free kicks made him one of the most feared players in the world and was the club's longest serving foreign player of all time when he left in 2007.

Center Back: Fernando Hierro

Left the club in 2003, but was the backbone of the side until he did. The club were at their best at the start of the decade winning the champions league and the league twice, and Hierro was at the back of the defense of that team the entire time. Scored a fair share of goals for the team, both from headers as well as from the penalty spot.

Center Back: Pepe

The Brazilian born Portuguese arrived from FC Porto in the summer of 2007 and has been Mr Consistent ever since. A major factor in fixing the Real Madrid defense, Pepe has been a key to this side ever since he has signed for the team.

Defensive Midfield: Claude Makelele

The best defensive midfielder of all time and probably the decade's biggest mistake was selling him to Chelsea in 2003. The departure of the Frenchman saw the team's move from good to awful virtually overnight and led to a three season trophy less barren run. Sold to help pay the wages for David Beckham, this proved to be one of the worst moves by the team in the recent past - probably only comparable to not fighting hard enough to re sign Samuel Eto'o.

Attacking Midfield: Luis Figo

One of the most controversial signings of the time, we all know about how Real signed him from a arch rivals Barcelona for a world record fee. Comparable in today's day to Lionel Messi joining Madrid or Cristiano Ronaldo going to Barcelona, the Portuguese winger did not disappoint. Pig's heads apart, Figo showed a lot of class and versatility for Madrid where he won 2 league titles and 2 champions leagues before leaving for Inter Milan in 2005.

Attacking Midfield: David Beckham

Came as the final piece of the galactico jigsaw. Jose Angel Sanchez told president Florentino Perez that "United want peanuts for Beckham" when they quoted €25 million for a man who went on to make the club and excess of €400 million in his 4 years at the club. but revenues apart, Beckham always delivered where it mattered the most - on the pitch. And his professionalism when told by Fabio Capello that he would never play for the club again was testament to a wonderful player who later went onto playing a major part in the club's 30th league title.

Attacking Midfield: Zinedine Zidane

No team, be it for the decade or all time, is complete without Zinedine Zidane. The world's most expensive player for 8 years, the Frenchman was a true genius on the pitch. His breathtaking goal in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final was just a piece of what he could do, and he was just superb in his 5 seasons at the Bernabeau.

Forward: Ronaldo

One of the best strikers of the decade. Despite his bad knee keeping him out for many many months, even years actually, the Brazilian still managed an excess of 350 goals in his career. He spent a major part of it at Real Madrid finishing top scorer for the club in all his full seasons at the team. Ronaldo found it hard not to score when he was on the field and his four and a half years at the club will certainly not be forgotten by any fan

Striker: Raul

This was a hard one, and I was almost tending towards Ruud van Nistelrooy over Raul for this one due to his inconsistency between 2005-2007, but the club's all time top scorer cannot not be in this team. A brilliant start to the decade and two consecutive seasons of 18 league goals each sandwiched a large poor run of form and goals for about 3 seasons. But finally the champions league and club's all time top scorer had to make this team

Substitutes:

Fabio Cannavaro
Michel Solgado
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Gonzalo Higuain
Robinho

Player of the decade: Iker Casillias
Signing of the decade: Zinedine Zidane
Worst player of the decade: Pablo Garcia
Worst decision of the decade: Sacking Vincent del Bosque
Manager of the decade: Vincent del Bosque
Rival of the decade: FC Barcelona
Disappointment of the decade: Watching FC Barcelona winning the treble
Achievement of the decade: 9th Champions League and dramatic 30th league title
Idiot of the decade: Ramon Colderon
Professional of the decade: David Beckham
Worst professional of the decade: Antonio Cassano
Moment of the decade: Guard of honor from Barcelona before beating them 4-1