Muscat captains Team of the Decade that includes Thompson, Broich and Berisha but not Del Piero

Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat was voted captain in the Professional Footballers Australia's A-League Team Of The Decade, which also included current stars Archie Thompson, Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha, but ex-Sydney FC marquee Alessandro Del Piero was selected on the bench.

A-League Major Semi Final - Sydney FC v Victory

Kevin Muscat (R) and Archie Thompson were both selected in the PFA Team of the Decade for their performances with Melbourne Victory. (AAP) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

The PFA announced what it says are the competition's most influential players over the last 10 years on Monday.

The team, all of whom were eligible by virtue of spending at least two seasons in the A-League, was voted on by over 400 former and current A-League players.

The starting XI includes two-time player of the year Broich, along with fellow Johnny Warren Medal winners Shane Smeltz and Carlos Hernandez, as well as all-time leading scorer Thompson.
As voted by the players, the PFA A-League Team of the Decade is:

Goalkeeper: Eugene Galekovic

Defenders: Cassio, Kevin Muscat (C), Patrick Zwaanswijk, Ivan Franjic

Midfielders: Matt McKay, Carlos Hernandez, Thomas Broich

Forwards: Archie Thompson, Besart Berisha, Shane Smeltz

Substitutes: Michael Theo (GK), Adama Traore, Mark Milligan, Steve Corica, Alessandro Del Piero

Coach: Ange Postecoglou

Referee: Strebre Delovski
Muscat was rewarded for his career as a fierce defender by receiving more votes than any other player and being named the team's skipper.

His former mentor, two-time championship-winning coach and Australia boss Ange Postecoglou, was voted coach of the decade.

"To be nominated by my peers, both past and present, is extremely humbling and something that I take great pride in," Muscat said.

"I would like to thank Melbourne Victory for giving me the opportunity to return to Australia back in 2005. I have nothing but respect for everyone who has been associated with the club and I look forward to what the future holds."

PFA chief executive Adam Vivian hailed the team and said all of them had made an enormous contribution to the success of the A-League.

"To have won 25 A-League championships between them highlights just how big their contribution has been, and the impact they have made," he said.

"They, and their peers, have worked tirelessly over the past 10 seasons to build a competition that offered very few guarantees into one that is now one of the biggest success stories of Australian sport for the past 10 years."

Selected by the PFA's A-League members past and present, players were asked to vote for their starting 11 in a 4-3-3 formation, along with five substitutes, a coach and referee of the decade.


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2 min read
Published 27 April 2015 7:50pm
Updated 28 April 2015 8:59am
Source: SBS

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