Football, as they say, is a team game. And it indeed is. What makes it a team game is that it does not matter how good a player is, he can very rarely win matches on his own. And even if he does, we must never forget that it was a team effort that let him do it.
It has always fascinated me how can someone make a successful team? By buying indiscriminately? By promoting the youth at their academies? Or is it just plain luck which brings it all together? Success, of course, is a subjective assessment and can mean different things to different fans. So, for simplicity, I would for now define success as the ability to win trophies. And for that very reason, I would not include the Galacticos or The Busby Babes.
The first team that obviously comes to mind is the Real Madrid team in the 1950’s. This was an era where substitutes were not allowed and when the game was tough and physical. This team is credited with unseen tactical innovations and redefining the concept of beautiful football. Coached first by Carniglia and then by Miguel Munoz it generally played a 3-4-3 formation. Di Stefano and Puskas are the most remembered names of the time but there were others too. There was Gento, who is considered to be one of the best wingers in history, and the legendary playmaker Kopa, who was excellent anywhere he played. Santamaria is often considered by many to be the most forgotten legend in this team. With the whole focus on attack, he was the rock in the center of a 3 man defense. 5 European Cups in succession makes this a team that cannot be forgotten ever in the annals of footballing history. What this team showed the world was that success can be bought, and this a philosophy Real Madrid have followed ever since.
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