Lyon dominate select XI

Wednesday 28 December, 2005

Eight Lyon players have been named in L’Equipe newspaper’s Ligue 1 Team of 2005.

Not surprisingly Grégory Coupet was judged to have been the best goalkeeper in France over the past 12 months, while Anthony Réveillère, Cris and Eric Abidal make up three quarters of the back four.

Lens captain Vitorino Hilton partners fellow Brazilian Cris at centre-back.

In midfield, three more Lyon players - Juninho, Mahamadou Diarra and Florent Malouda – were picked alongside Marseille sensation Franck Ribéry, while John Carew is partnered by Paris Saint-Germain ace Pedro Pauleta in attack.

Current Lyon boss Gérard Houllier was edged out by former Lyon boss Paul Le Guen, who was rewarded for guiding the club to their fourth consecutive title in May.

Team of the Year: Coupet; Réveillère, Cris, Hilton, Abidal; Ribéry, Juninho, M. Diarra, Malouda; Pauleta, Carew

Coach of the Year: Paul Le Guen