The Head Coach of SoCal NPSL side Temecula FC, Austin Levins, checks in with us this week to set up a traditional 4-4-2 and fill it in with quality players. But he had to follow the rules…

1. You have to pick a formation and fill it with players who have been active in your lifetime and
2. You have to plug yourself in to the lineup and tell us where and why you play in that spot.

I’ve gone for a traditional 4-4-2 formation. Players picked on a blend of technical ability and warrior mentality / mindset.

Austin Levins (right) had the good fortune of meeting with one of the finest defenders to ever play the game, Irish International, Paul McGrath.

*(GK) Coach Austin Levins
I was a GK so the XI starts with me. In Ireland we have a sport called Gaelic football. It involves a lot of ball / hand / foot co-ordination so it was a reasonably easy transition to becoming a GK in soccer. Reading the game as a GK is probably the best preparation to becoming a Coach!!!

(RB) Dennis Irwin
Without a doubt, one of the best RBs in the history of the EPL. Mr. Consistency for club and country and took mean Free-kicks and Peno's too! Dennis is a first-choice selection for any true Irish man!

(CB) Paul McGrath
Irish international who played for Man Utd and Aston Villa. Fans in the US would remember him best for absolutely owning Robert Baggio in USA 94 when Ireland beat Italy at Giants Stadium in the World Cup. My all-time hero as a player who I’ve been fortunate to meet and play against in a Charity game!

(CB) Paolo Maldini
Anyone not picking this guy in a World XI clearly doesn’t know of him. A sublime player in his days with AC Milan and Italy. He goes in at CB but could be LB also based on his career.

(LB) Roberto Carlos
One of the best players ever in this position, his ability to get forward up the pitch was terrifying to the opposition. Free-Kick master who scared GKs just by standing over the ball before the ref’s whistle.

(RM) Christiano Ronaldo
The no.7 shirt is iconic at Man Utd and those that wear the number either crash and burn or become legends. Ronaldo’s dedication to fitness and technique is unrivalled in my opinion and he serves as an inspiration to youth players for his application to being a pro player.

(CM) Roy Keane
Ask anyone who knows me, who would be the first player I’d pick in a XI and this will be the answer. Keane embodied every bit of the Irish warrior spirit on- and off- the field. Controversial in his comments but could never be questioned about his playing style. A box-to-box midfielder who I’ve watched outclass some of the best players to ever play the game, in head-to-head clashes.

(CM) Zinadine Zidane
‘Zizou’ is the King of playmakers for me. His technical ability is matched by his genius. The guy had everything a Coach could want, superb vision, technique, creativity, ball-mastery, passing and just elegance with a ball at his foot.

(LM) Ryan Giggs
‘Giggsy’ was the best LM in the EPL for over a decade. 672 appearances at the top level of the game speaks for itself. Pace, ball-control and skills that left defenders bodies twisted in knots. On receiving a Player of the Year Award the presenter said “He’s the type of player who makes you walk quicker to the stadium to see him play”.

(ST) Marco Van Basten
Along with my choice of 8, Van Basten was one of the most technically ‘complete’ Strikers to ever play the game. If a youth player wants to make it at the top level, they should watch MVB. His goals were technique and execution of skill at its best. His heading ability should be taught to every youth player. His reading of the game and ability to break down the tightest defences was spectacular.

(ST) Ruud Van Nistlerooy
Apologies to Dennis Bergkamp on this one as I’m torn between the two but I have to go with RVN for his ability to poach goals from nowhere. If your team is in need of a goal, Ruud consistently delivered. A GK’s nightmare, if you analysed his goal-scoring ‘map’ the 18yard box would be a Red-Zone!

On the Bench:
Edwin Van Der Saar
Paul Scholes
Dennis Bergkamp
Andres Iniesta
Edgar Davids
Jaap Stam
Sergio Ramos