Sven on... Zinedine Zidane


The Real Madrid playmaker has for some years been considered as one of the leading players in world football. A rightful heir to Michel Platini's no.10 shirt, Zidane won the Balon d'Or in 1998 and was the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998 and 2000.

Sven says: "Zidane is a player who has everything.

"It's impossible to take the ball from him - he is probably the best player in the world at the moment.

"The first time I heard about him was when he played in France because a friend of mine alerted me to this young midfielder he knew. I saw videos of him and I knew then he was going to be a great player.

"You just see him in any game - for France or for Real Madrid - and he is amazing. Any game. He just seems to have so much time on the ball.

"I haven't seen France play recently but Zidane's role is very similar to that he plays for Real. He should be free to play in the centre of midfield because if you give him the ball he will make things happen."

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1988-92

Cannes

61

6

1992-96

Bordeaux

139

28

1996-01

Juventus

151

24

2001-

Real Madrid

76

19

1994-

France

86

22


Sven on... Thierry Henry


Thierry Henry is Arsenal's goalscorer extraordinaire and after a great year for the Gunners is one of the three nominees for this year's prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year crown.

Sven says: "Henry has got so much pace it is frightening, he really is incredible - he could sell pace he has so much!

"He also scores goals and if you give him half a yard he's gone and you will be in trouble.

"He first really made an impression when he came to Arsenal but I knew of him when he was at Juventus. Looking back it is amazing that they sold him.

"I have seen so many games that he has played well in it is difficult to think of one particular performance of his but the recent game against Inter was a good example of him at his best.

"He scored two goals, showed lots of pace and intelligence - a good performance."

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1994-98

Monaco

110

20

1998-99

Juventus

16

3

1999-

Arsenal

149

92

1997-

France

55

25


Sven on... Luis Figo


Few players make the move from the Nou Camp to the Bernabeu but Portuguese star Luis Figo did just that when he set a new world record back in the summer of 2000. In 2002 he was voted FIFA's World Player of the Year which added to his Balon d'Or crown won in 2000.

Sven says: "A fantastic player - he can cross, dribble and score goals and is one of the best players in the world.

"His ability to hold onto the ball makes him a very useful player but his creativity is remarkable - he makes so much happen for the players around him.

"I first heard about him when he was playing in Portugal [for Sporting] but it was only when he went to Barcelona that he started to show how good he is.

"He scores for Real Madrid but he scores even more for Portugal - maybe because Real have a certain Ronaldo and Raul in the side!"

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1989-95

Sporting CP

137

16

1995-00

Barcelona

172

30

2000-

Real Madrid

108

27

1991-

Portugal

97

30


Sven on... Pavel Nedved


Dynamic Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved made himself known at Euro 96 after which five seasons of consistent brilliance with Lazio earned him a £25.5 million move to Juventus. In Turin he has continued to display his considerable talents.

Sven says: "I know Pavel very well because I had him at Lazio for three and a half years and at that time he played left midfield.

"He is a very complete football player as he is hard working, skilful and technically very competent. He can use both his left and his right foot for everything - he can cross with both, he can shoot with both and he can pass with both.

"He is also a match-winner because he scores so many goals. For a midfield player to score as many goals as he does in Serie A is really quite amazing.

"Now [at Juventus] he plays behind two strikers in the free role, much like Zidane and this has made him an even better player."

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1991-92

Marila Pribram

19

3

1992-96

Sparta Prague

98

23

1996-01

Lazio

137

33

2001-

Juventus

70

16

1994-

Czech Republic

74

17


Sven on... Ruud van Nistelrooy


Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has a simply awesome record at all levels of the game, even managing to replicate his Premiership goalscoring in the harder world of the Champions League.

Sven says: "A classic centre-forward who has everything. He is strong, can keep the ball, he's quick - he is for me the complete centre-forward. It would be nice to see van Nistelrooy and Henry play together!

"The thing with van Nistelrooy is that he can score goals with both his feet as well as his head and this makes him very dangerous - you can never relax!

"I think he will play for Holland at Euro 2004 - how can you leave him out?"

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1993-97

FC Den Bosch

69

17

1997-98

SC Heerenveen

31

13

1998-01

PSV Eindhoven

67

62

2001-

Manchester United

79

57

1998-

Holland

29

14


Sven on... Raul


It is something of a mystery as to why the outstandingly gifted Raul Gonzalez has never been voted Europe's best player for he has consistently shown himself to be one of the continent's finest strikers. Raul is also Spain's record goalscorer of all-time.

Sven says: "He is an artist, more of a rounded footballer than van Nistelrooy. He is quick, can dribble well and is very very clever in the box.

"Many people think he is a centre-forward but he drops very deep at times.

"He is always there and always seems to score. He smells the danger."

Year

Club

Apps.

Goals

1994-

Real Madrid

329

161

1996-

Spain

68

37



Club statistics refer to league appearances only