Ronaldinho heads Europe's elite in UEFA team of year

World player of the year Ronaldinho, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Milan's Andriy Shevchenko were named in UEFA's team of the year yesterday, with Chelsea's Jose Mourinho named as coach.

European champions Liverpool also supplied Luis Garcia in the team voted for by 1.5 million users of uefa.com.

Milan, who Liverpool beat on penalties to lift the Champions League trophy, have two other players in the team, full-backs Cafu and Paolo Maldini, while Ronaldinho's Barcelona team-mates Carles Puyol and Samuel Eto'o are also included.

"The voting recognised both the two best teams in Europe last season... Liverpool and Milan, as well as the two clubs that have shone in their domestic leagues in the past 12 months, Chelsea and Barcelona," said David Farrelly, uefa.com's editor-in-chief.

Five of the names also appeared in the 2004 team while there are five appearing for the first time.

Mourinho was named coach of the side for the third successive year while two of the London club's players, centre back John Terry and goalkeeper Petr Cech make the side.

Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved is included for the third year running but there was no place for Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who narrowly missed out after being in every previous line-up since the vote's inception in 2001.

UEFA Team Of The Year

1. Petr Cech (Chelsea)
2. Cafu (Milan)
3. John Terry (Chelsea)
4. Carles Puyol (Barcelona)
5. Paolo Maldini (Milan)
6. Luis Garcia (Liverpool)

7. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
8. Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
9. Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
10. Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona)
11. Andriy Shevchenko (Milan)
Coach: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)