Milan and European football legend....Clarence Seedorf

With Champions League all the talk this week, famed French sports newspaper L’Equipe has published what it believes to be the all-time European dream team. For us Milan fans, it only reinforces the greatness that our club has achieved over the years.

Only three players still playing were included in the list; Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs and our own very own Clarence Seedorf.

In 2003 Seedorf became the first player in history to win the Champions League with three different clubs after Milan beat Juventus in penalties at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman’s first came 1995 when, ironically, he won it with Ajax after they beat Milan 1-0 in the final. Patrick Kluivert’s solitary strike was enough to prevent Milan from claiming their second back to back European cup success in as many years while his second came three years later when playing for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants defeating Juventus in the final in Amsterdam.

Seedorf has made a total of 75 appearances for Milan in the Champions League and has scored 10 goals.

Of the remaining eight players in the dream team, Milan boast no less than three to make it four in total which in turns makes Milan the best represented club.

Club legends Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini are included in addition to Marco van Basten. One would suspect that Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit would have just missed the grade too.

Marco van Basten, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi...those were the days

Team in full: Maier (Bayern) – Neal (Liverpool), Baresi (AC Milan), Beckenbauer (Bayern), Maldini (AC Milan) – Seedorf (Ajax, AC Milan, Real Madrid) – Messi (Barcelona), Cruyff (Ajax), Giggs (Manchester United) – Di Stefano (Real Madrid), van Basten (AC Milan)

L’Equipe also ranked clubs by their record with Real Madrid first and Milan second which makes sense given Real have won nine to our seven. As Milanisti, however, we like to remind our Spanish rivals that five of our seven have com

e since 1989 whereas five of theirs came over fifty years ago which makes us, arguably, the most successful club in Europe of the modern era.

No other Italian team ranked in the top five.

Our history of success in the Champions League is always nice to remember especially as we wait for the kick-off to yet another great (we hope) night in Europe at the San Siro.

Running away with it....again