When I decided that this was going to be my final post of the year I thought it would be an easy thing to pull together - just sit down and think of the best bits over the past few seasons. However, I soon had a list of about 25 - and that was just an initial thought. A few days deliberating and I have come to think of the below as my key highlights and Cristiano Ronaldo does not even get a mention! 1&2: The Gerrard Finals (UEFA Champions League Final 2005 & FA Cup Final 2006) I think that these two would be on most peoples lists. Hopefully Gerrard will have one of these matches on the International stage next summer. But in Istanbul in 2005 and in Cardiff in 2006 Gerrard was simply immense. Both matches were brilliant to watch and I distinctly remember both games and how the momentum swung so dramatically. They are two of the best Finals I have ever seen - and on both occasions you could feel the Liverpool skipper grab hold of the games in the second half determined that he would get his hands on the trophies - incredible. 3: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea 2004-2007) From nowhere to beating United at Old Trafford, lifting the UEFA Champions League with Porto and then machine like victory with Chelsea. He was a breath of fresh air to the English game - his charm, passion, confidence and ability meant he became a housewife's favourite and the 'special one' became talk of many a pub table and he delivered trophy after trophy for Chelsea. I hope he comes back to the English game soon, its not the same without Jose around. 4: Fat Ronaldo (2002 FIFA World Cup) I remember being in a bookmakers before this tournament started and looking at the top scorer / champions doubles and I opted for Christian Vieri and Italy at 10/1. A little down the list was Ronaldo and Brazil at 20/1 - at the time it seemed like short odds considering how his career had dipped since the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final and how not much was expected of those in yellow and blue. What followed was a bizarre haircut, the comeback of the toothy grin and the instinct that saw him walk away with the Golden Boot and the winning goals in the Final. Fair play Ronnie.
5: The Untouchables (Arsenal Premier League Champions 2003/2004) When Wenger gets it right he really gets it right. I have been lucky to watch the Gunners on a few occasions over the past few seasons and every time have been blown away by the way they play football. In the 2003/2004 season they were quite literally untouchable and went the whole season undefeated. Looking at the team they had, and the style they played it was even more poetic that they lifted the title. It really was what the beautiful game is all about.
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