Saturday 25 October 2014 09:55, UK
Swansea's Wayne Routledge sat down with The Fantasy Football Club to pick his #One2Eleven of the best players he’s played alongside
The former Crystal Palace, Spurs, QPR, Newcastle and England U21 international winger has lined-up alongside some greats in his time, here's his 4-3-2-1 formation #One2Eleven...
GOALKEEPER – Joe Hart: I remembered him coming in to the England youth set-up - I think Stuart Pearce brought him in - and you could see from early sessions that he was a big presence, not only in the changing rom, but also on the field.
RIGHT BACK – Micah Richards: He's a very good character to have around the changing room, especially outside because he's a really funny character. On the pitch he's an absolute beast of a footballer; he's a man mountain. He's very fast, very strong and very intimidating on the field.
CENTRE BACK – Ledley King: Probably one of the most gifted players I've played with. Technically he's left and right footed, strong, fast, could read the game and he would take care of the boys when they came in to Spurs. I think I saw Thierry Henry do an interview and say he's the hardest player he's played against and when you've got someone like that saying it, that stands up for everyone.
CENTRE BACK – Ashley Williams: Captain of Wales, captain of Swansea now - he's a great leader. He's very intense on the pitch and never leaves anything on there. He's a great character to be around and loves his music, before games he has his headphones on and is very quiet but very methodical and you can see he's totally focused.
LEFT BACK – Leighton Baines: I don't think he gets as much credit as he should at times. He's had to wait a long time for his chance at England as well. He's an incredible talent with a left foot like a wand. He's a specialist at set-pieces and I couldn't leave him out of my team.
MIDFIELD – Leon Britton: I never realised how good he was until I came here and played with him and I think that's the case with a lot of players. I came here and it was the first year in the Premier League and I remember him asking a few questions about it and I said: 'just take it normally and take it in your stride.' He did that and he rarely looks out of place, he rarely gives the ball away, he's always in a position to affect the game and he can help out, not only offensively but he knows his defensive duties as well.
LEFT MIDFIELD – Hatem Ben Arfa: It was between him and Adel Taarabt - both are magically gifted players. He has the ability to change the game with a touch across or a dribble. He can shoot and he's got everything you need from a footballer in that position.
RIGHT MIDFIELD – Gareth Bale: Wondrously talented as you see now at Real Madrid. He came to Tottenham when I was there and I think they bought him for £10million as a left-back. To see how he's gone on from there as a very shy boy to how he is now is just incredible. The momentum he's built, the confidence he has and you see when he plays he thinks he can do everything and it shows because when he picks the ball up he can do anything.
TOP OF THE DIMAOND – Robbie Keane: Records and caps for Ireland, his games played, his scoring ratio, his assists - he's just a great player. He's sees things that other players don't see on the field. He's always laughing and joking and it didn't matter if you were a kid or an older more experienced pro he'd treat you exactly the same.
FORWARD – Wayne Rooney: I played with him through the England set-up, to see what he's become from where he was, just like Gareth Bale, he's a worldwide superstar. Eye for goal, loves to shoot - right foot, left foot didn't matter - he's a character off the field as well.
STRIKER – Jermain Defoe: Every team needs someone who's going to score the goals and I think he's the best finisher without a doubt that I've played with. People might say it's selfish, but he just didn't care as long as he had the ball and he got on the score sheet and that's really what you want from a striker. Off the field he's a Mummy's boy, he probably won't like me saying that...
