It’s a question every football fan has surely wrangled with at some point: could a football team ever be filled with players whose initials also represented their position?
Alright, maybe not every football fan, but surely a handful.
With that in mind, the following proves the impossible can indeed be done. From Gabor Kiraly to Claude Makelele, ladies and gentlemen, your Initial XI.
Gabor Kiraly
Left-back
Leighton Baines
Centre-back
Carlos Bocanegra
Centre-back
Chris Baird
Right-back
Rainer Bonhof
No matter, as former Germany international footballer and 1974 World Cup-winner Rainer Bonhof comes into the side. Nice to have a bit of tournament experience in the team, eh?
Central midfield
Claude Makelele
Central midfield
Claudio Marchisio
Attacking midfield
Aaron Mooy
A key cog in the midfield of a Huddersfield side who look as though they might have secured their place in the Premier League next season, Aaron Mooy is the next man in.
Attacking midfield
Anthony Martial
Forward
Fred
Striker
Svetoslav Todorov
Instead, former Bulgaria striker Svetoslav Todorov joins the team, having scored heavily for Portsmouth and FC Litex Lovetch, as well as appearing for West Ham, Charlton and Wigan.
In this team, the name on the back of the shirt is just as important as the badge on the front.
