SuperLeague 19/20 Team Of The Season

SuperLeague Greece 19/20 Team of the season

As the 2020/21 season comes ever closer, there is still time to take a couple last looks at the previous Superleague Greece season. This time it is a look at the best of the best in 2019/20, the Team of the Season. Despite Olympiakos being crowned champions and the stand outside in the domestic league, with plenty of their players in the Thrylos deserving of a spot in the team of the season, there are plenty of other individuals from other sides that are deserving of a spot. 

The formation I will be using is 4-2-3-1. Now, this Xi is completely my opinion and obviously there will be players that some may feel missed out. If there are any differing opinions for your GRSL team of the season I would love to hear them in the comments. We will also be posting polls, once this blog is out, so you can vote for who you think were the best players in each position this season. With all that being said, let's dive in. 

Jose Sa

Now I feel that goalkeeper was a fairly easy choice, with Barkas, Paschalakis, and even outside shouts like Kristinsson just to name a few, this season has been good for goalkeepers in the SuperLeague. But realistically there is only one choice for goalkeeper in the TOTS, and it's Jose Sa. The Portuguese shot stopper has been nothing short of brilliant for the newly crowned champions, with only 11 goals conceded and a huge clean sheet haul of 22 in 36 league matches. 

With those stats and his performances turning heads from some of Europe's biggest teams to potentially take him away from Piraeus, Sa is a definite for me in goal.  

Omar Elabdellaoui

Here's a position that I think will spark a bit of debate, and despite my eventual pick being the most logical one, there were a few right backs that have impressed elsewhere in Greece. The likes of Bakakis from AEK and Matos of PAOK, have both been solid for their respective sides. But eventually and being as unbiased as possible, I assure you, I gave right back to Omar Elabdellaoui. 

The captain for Olympiakos this season in the absence of Kostas Fortounis, the Norwegian defender was a driving force in the Thrylos back line both in attack and defence, a strong leader on and off the pitch and worked tirelessly for the team in every fixture. He will not only be missed by the champions but a big loss for the league in terms of the quality of players now that he has departed Greece.   

Ruben Semedo

The first of two centre backs that I have chosen is a no brainer for me. Step forward Portuguese metronome Ruben Semedo. 

A class above the rest of the players in his position in the SLGR, Semedo is one of the big reasons Olympiakos has been so solid in defence, with sides struggling to get past the 26 year old and in doing so become an integral cog in the Thrylos spine. 

He has been the reliable presence at the back that Olympiakos have been crying out for the last few seasons and he is an instant addition to this Xi.

Sverrir Ingi Ingason

The second centre back slot was a little hard to fill. While Cisse and Ba have been good for Olympiakos they have not consistently played this season, and I don't think anyone would forgive me for putting this many players from Thrylos in the team of the season. AEK defenders Dmytro Chygrynskyi and Ognjen Vranjes were solid this season along with Panathinaikos player Bart Schenkeveld as well, being the reason both sides had the joint 3rd best defence in the league. 

I turned instead to PAOK for their defensive options and while Fernando Varela is the most honourable mention out of all of these defenders, my choice alongside Semedo is Varela's partner at the back, Sverrir Ingi Ingason. 

Not only was the Icelandic centre back excellent for the Thessaloniki side in his natural role, but he also popped up with four goals during the regular season. With this being his first season in Greece, the 27 year old has already shown his class for the former champions and if his side want to challenge for the title again in 2020/21, Ingason will be vital to their campaign. 

Kostas Tsimikas 

One the left side of defence it was a much easier decision for me. Despite a shout out to Dimitrios Giannoulis, who was excellent last season for PAOK, the left back spot can only be filled by Kostas Tsimikas. 

The 24 year old, who won the fight for a first team spot over fellow talent Leonardo Koutris, took the chances he was given by manager Pedro Martins and the rest is history. There is not much more I can praise Tsimikas for, as I have covered him in a number of blogs before, but there is a reason he was snapped up by Liverpool this summer for £11.75 million, he truly is a talent to behold. 

Josip Misic

The first of the two midfielder's are both positions that I feel like could be heavily debated as there were a number of great performances last season. Andreas Bouchalakis, while unfashionable and gets a lot of criticism, worked tirelessly in the Olympiakos midfield but just missed out for me in the Xi. 

Players like Nenad Krsticic and Konstantinos Galanopoulos for AEK were also solid choices but ultimately, I returned to PAOK and chose Croatian midfielder, Josip Misic. One of the best goals and assist contributions for a player in his position in the League, with 6 goals and 11 assists, the 26 year old was a star for PAOK and kept the team ticking along when Asprómavri needed his creativity most which is why he makes my Xi. 

Mady Camara

Now, the one thing I do feel as though I could arguably change, if I wanted to, was to have the formation 4-3-3 just for pure balance of the team. 

To be completely honest with you, if a certain attacking midfielder who I will be talking about later had not played very well this season, then Brazilian holding midfielder Guilherme would have definitely been in this team of the season. 

But alas I am sticking to my guns. So with all that being said the second player in the midfield two is Mady Camara. I do not think anyone can deny that the Guinean has been spectacular. With some important goals against the likes of AEK, a double against Aris, and a match winner over OFI, as well as contributing to 6 goals in just 9 games over the playoff period. It is no wonder the 23 year old is being scouted by a number of giants in Europe.

Petros Mantalos

Attack midfield was an intriguing position for me to pick the best in Greece last season although it was not nearly as hard a choice as the others. 

My instant choice for CAM is unsurprisingly Petros Mantalos. AEK's captain has more than lived up the armband and has been the beating heart of the attack for his side this season, racking up an impressive 6 goals and 11 assists. 

Now 28 and at his peak, AEK fans should feel confident that they are getting the very best of the Greek International.    

Mathieu Valbuena

Left wing was one of the easiest of the positions to pick from, and that is simply because of the season Mathieu Valbuena has had. 

Once again, I have spoken a fair few times about the French veteran but his numbers speak for themselves. 7 goals and topping the charts with 13 assists in 26 games. 

A leader on the pitch and a tireless runner and hard worker on the pitch which would make anyone shocked to realise that he is going on to 36 years old this month. Need I say more?  

Dimitrios Limnios

Maybe the hardest decision for me to pick. Initially I had chosen with AEK and Croatian Forward Marko Livaja as his numbers over the entire season had been very solid, however I feel as though this would be a little bit of an injustice, as Livaja does not play on the right wing. 

Anastasios Chatzigiovanis from Panathinaikos, was also a big shout for this Xi with the Panathinaikos player scoring important goals for the Prasini. I have to also give credit to Aris winger Bruno Gama who was the top scorer for the Thessaloniki side. But after much deliberation, I eventually settled with PAOK's young winger, Dimitrios Limnios. 

After his first two seasons at PAOK being more of an intermittent role, the Greek international was finally given more of a run out for the former champions playing all but one game this season, scoring 4 and assisting 7 and looked like a real talent with every passing match. If PAOK can keep him this summer they have a real gem for the future. 

Youssef El Arabi

There are a number of striker performances that should be given recognition for their goal scoring this season. Forwards such as Federico Macheda of Panathinaikos, Giorgios Manousos of Atromitos, Nelson Olivera from AEK and even a rather left field shout in the form of Asteras Tripolis player, Jeronimo Barrales, have all had very good seasons up front for their clubs. 

There is no striker, however that has managed to eclipse the goal scoring and performances then Olympiakos striker Youssef El Arabi. 20 goals in the league this season, top scorer of the GRSL, and even providing 8 assists in that time, the Moroccan is one of the biggest reason Thrylos stormed to the title in the fashion they did this campaign and he was a guaranteed choice for my Xi. 

Pedro Martins 

To finish, I will be taking a quick look at my Greek SuperLeague, the manager of the season. While coaches such as Giorgios Donis, who has done wonders with Panathinaikos despite their financial difficulties, Giorgios Simos, who guided OFI to a spot in the playoffs and European football next season for the Cretan side, have to be given credit for their work, e there was only one choice for my manager of the season and that is Pedro Martins. 

Having built on what he developed with Olympiakos during 18/19, 19/20 saw all of his and the backroom staff's hard work reap the rewards. The style of attacking exciting football the fans have been looking for in the last few years, the talented players he has developed, the old guard he has breathed new life into, as though they were back in their prime. 

The Portuguese coach should be given huge credit for putting the Piraeus side back at the top of Greek football this season.  

Hellas Football

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