₦airaland Forum

Who did 2013 belong to?
ESPN FC Staff

December 24, 2013
For the first time ever, ESPN FC is looking to recognize the most influential person in the sport and we're looking for our readers to be a part of the process.

Our "2013 belongs to...." award will acknowledge the player or coach who ultimately had the biggest impact this year. A panel of our writers and editors will vote on the award recipient, but we also want to hear from you: our readers' poll is worth 33 percent of the final vote tally.

Voting ends on Dec. 30 at noon ET/1700 GMT.

Fans could be the ultimate tiebreaker and have a huge influence.

Poll: 2013 belongs to?

Here are the candidates for the award (in alphabetical order):

Gareth Bale: Can a player be underrated when he comes with a 100 million pound price tag? For some reason or another, the towering Welsh winger isn’t mentioned in the same circles as some of the players mentioned here despite putting up very strong stats. Prior to his move to Real Madrid, many wondered if Bale could excel in the very technical La Liga, but he’s thrived thus far with seven goals and six assists in eight league appearances. Pair that with his dominance in the Premier League (21 goals and 4 assists in the 2012-2013 season) and you have a world-class player.

Jupp Heynckes: After settling for second-best in every competition in 2012, Heynckes refused to allow Bayern Munich to suffer the same fate in 2013. When it was a announced that Pep Guardiola would replace the 68-year-old, there was a danger that Bayern would take their foot off the pedal for the rest of the season, but the opposite happened under the Heynckes' helm. Bayern went undefeated in league play and rolled past European giant Barcelona before defeating rival Dortmund in the Champions League final.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Although not short-listed for the Ballon d’Or or the World Player of the Year awards, Ibrahimovic in 2013 was arguably just as good as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery. While the towering Swede's 2012-13 season was average, his 2013-14 season has been otherworldly (32 goals for club and country).

Stephen Keshi: Off the shoulders of a disappointing 2010 World Cup, Nigeria turned to one of their legends to help turn around the program. Keshi came in with a strict approach that initially turned off some of the team’s European-based stars, but eventually they began to buy in, and this year it culminated with the Super Eagles winning their first African Cup of Nations since 1994. Nigeria also qualified for the World Cup.

Jurgen Klinsmann: Led the United States to the greatest calendar year in its history, with big results against. Italy, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mexico – all of this coming after a controversial article claimed that the former Germany boss had lost his team in Honduras. Now, with a contract extension until 2018, Klinsmann aims to bring the U.S. to new heights -- starting with next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Lionel Messi: Even in what would be considered by many to be a "down" year, the Argentine magician poured in 45 goals in 46 appearances for club and country and won another La Liga trophy with Barcelona (his sixth Spanish league win). Injuries appear to be the only thing slowing down Messi, but he is still a legitimate contender to win a fifth consecutive Ballon d’Or in January.

Neymar: The Brazilian superstar has had his share of warranted critics over his frequent diving, but there’s no disputing his top-class performances this year. Despite making a huge jump in leagues from the Brasileiro to La Liga, Neymar has six goals and eight assists in an adjustment year at Barcelona, often playing without Lionel Messi. Add in Neymar’s stellar performances in the Confederations Cup – his four goals and two assists helped Brazil win the tournament – and Neymar was definitely a highlight of 2013.

Franck Ribery: Poor Ribery – up until Nov. 19, the diminutive Frenchman appeared to have the Ballon d’Or and World Player of the Year award wrapped up. He may not be the dominant scorer that Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic and Messi are, but Ribery is the ultimate cerebral player – the glue of arguably the greatest Bayern Munich side of all time and an inspiration behind their quadruple-winning season in 2013.

Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese’s astonishing hat trick against Sweden in a 4-2 win in the World Cup qualifying playoffs was arguably one of the greatest singular performances by a player in the sport’s history. Pair that with scoring 65 goals in 69 appearances for club and country, and Ronaldo is the likely favorite to win both the Ballon d’Or and the World Player of the Year award (FIFA certainly helped his case by extending the voting deadline after his memorable performance).

Luis Suarez: If this award were given during the first six months of 2013, there’s no way the controversial Suarez would be mentioned. He topped off his controversial time in England by biting Branislav Ivanovic, and there were plenty of Prem fans who wouldn't have minded seeing the Liverpool forward depart. What a difference a few months make: Suarez is now the favorite to win the Prem’s player of the year award after scoring 19 goals in just 12 appearances so far this season.

Jarus: Interestingly, we only hear this from the Igbos. Yorubas are unanomous Awo did well for them; northerners also agreed that Sarduana was teh best thing to have happened to them. And these are verifiable acts: the legacies of these men are still in the regions till today.

DanNafada: Hi saintneo.
While it is obvious the North lags behind the South in education, to say that 90% of us are ignorant and wallowing in abject poverty is extremely far from the truth.
Therein lies the problem. You have worked in the North for at least a year and still have that impression of us. What say, then, the person who hates us because he thinks we are Leeches and has never been up North?
More of you guys need to open your eyes.

tomber: Nice one.
But this same man went about forcing kings to take up his religion. Many king became Muslims cause they will not be given staf as Christians or traditional worshippers. And if paradventure they did become king as non Muslim they suffered from serious antagonism. this happened especially in d middle belt.
NB. Hitler was very charismatic and eloquent that many thought he was d Messiah of his nation.

BlueMurder: Your post reeks of arrogance and the typical southern superiority complex. Your claim that you served in Sokoto implies that you are a graduate. Can you please substantiate your claim that 90% of Northerners are wallowing in abject poverty and ignorance?

DanNafada: 1. For those of you who think the real Sardauna was, in truth against the South and Northern minority Christians:
He was the Premier of the Northern region and his allegiance was to his people firstly. As was that of Zik to the Igbos and Awolowo to the Yorubas. That being said, despite the quote from The Parrot, he did NOT marginalise Northern Christians and indeed his main legacy was uniting Northern Nigeria despite tribe and creed.

2. For those who curse the grandchildren of the people that killed Sardauna:
Shame. It is great injustice to visit the crime of any individual onto their descendants.

3. For those who never thought an "Aboki" could be so articulate:
When I did my Youth Service in Ogun state the first thing I noticed was the complete ignorance on the North and Northerners. A good many people came up to me expressing surprise about my English and the fact that I was a medical doctor. The majority of those who had a strong opinion on the North were those that had never crossed the Niger. Almost certainly that is still the case, despite the internet bringing us closer and closer together.

The majority of Nairalanders are Southerners that, as far as Northerners are concerned, are blissful in their ignorance. That ignorance does not change the facts about our education and our elite in Nigeria and abroad, that we already know and are proud of.

DanNafada: 1. For those of you who think the real Sardauna was, in truth against the South and Northern minority Christians:
He was the Premier of the Northern region and his allegiance was to his people firstly. As was that of Zik to the Igbos and Awolowo to the Yorubas. That being said, despite the quote from The Parrot, he did NOT marginalise Northern Christians and indeed his main legacy was uniting Northern Nigeria despite tribe and creed.

2. For those who curse the grandchildren of the people that killed Sardauna:
Shame. It is great injustice to visit the crime of any individual onto their descendants.

3. For those who never thought an "Aboki" could be so articulate:
When I did my Youth Service in Ogun state the first thing I noticed was the complete ignorance on the North and Northerners. A good many people came up to me expressing surprise about my English and the fact that I was a medical doctor. The majority of those who had a strong opinion on the North were those that had never crossed the Niger. Almost certainly that is still the case, despite the internet bringing us closer and closer together.

The majority of Nairalanders are Southerners that, as far as Northerners are concerned, are blissful in their ignorance. That ignorance does not change the facts about our education and our elite in Nigeria and abroad, that we already know and are proud of.

Nafeesa AA: SIR AHMADU BELLO'S (Sardauna) XMAS MESSAGE TO NORTHERN CHRISTIANS IN
1959
We are people of many different races, tribes and religions, who are knit together by common history, common interests and common ideals. Our diversity may be great but the things that unite us are stronger than the things that divide us. On an occasion like this, I always remind people about our firmly rooted policy on religious tolerance. Families of all creeds and colour can rely on these assurances. We have no intention of favouring one religion at the expense of another. Subject to overriding need to preserve law and order, it is our determination that everyone should have absolute liberty to practise his beliefs. It is befitting on this momentous day, on behalf of my ministers and myself, to send a special word of gratitude to all Christian missions. Let me conclude this with a personal message. I extend my greetings to all our people who are christians on this great feast day. Let us forget the difference in our religion and remember the common brotherhood before God, by dedicating ourselves afresh to the great tasks which lie before us.
Courtesy of Olatoye DS.

”The new nation called Nigeria should be an
estate of our great grand father, Othman
Danfodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a
change of power. We must use the
minorities in the North as willing tools and
the South as conquered territories and
never allow them to rule over us or have
control over their future. ” (Sir Ahmadu
Bello October 12, 1960)

zoeee: I dont agree with #2

Seun: Source?

sincerenigerian: 2/10. Flat! Lame! Incoherent! Filled with innuendo..........

Lacking in substance.


Otuoke fvctard doesn't want to be blamed for not being able to fix problems because those problems he met existed before he came into office. He doesn't think the problems past leaders couldn't fix should be blamed on his administration. He doesn't think he should be blamed for not being able to fix problems because past leaders failed to fix the same problems facing the nation. The fvctard thinks he should pass the problems to someone else.

Wsdm: Can you see how some people have descend? A very serious allegations have been raised by a high profile man to the president. Instead of the president going to court to challenge this man, he is resulting to gutter response. You expect us that by Jonathan replying these grievous allegations, he has absorbed himself of all guilt and who's letter is better is the issue? What a country!