The Top 10 – Panini FOOT 2005-2006

Assou-Ekotto, a left back, possessed good speed and stamina, allowing him to track back quickly and recover defensively. He was adept at intercepting passes, making timely challenges, and providing defensive cover for his teammates. His defensive contributions were crucial in helping his team maintain solidity at the back.

In possession, Assou-Ekotto showcased decent technical skills. He was comfortable on the ball and had the ability to make accurate passes, both short and long, to initiate attacking moves from the left flank.

Overall, Benoît Assou-Ekotto’s playing style in the 2005/06 season reflected his defensive solidity, physicality, and reliable performances as a left-back. He featured 35 times and earned a move to Tottenham Hotspur the following season, where he played the best football of his career, playing 7 seasons at the English club.

Not an amazing rookie sticker but I thought he deserved to get a mention.

Mathieu Debuchy is known for his versatility and defensive prowess. Primarily a right-back, Debuchy is renowned for his strong physical presence, exceptional stamina, and defensive intelligence.

Offensively, Debuchy offers a significant attacking threat from the right-back position. He has good pace and stamina, allowing him to make overlapping runs and provide width in the attacking third. He possesses accurate crossing ability and has a knack for delivering dangerous crosses into the box, making him a valuable asset in set-piece situations as well.

Furthermore, Debuchy displays good technical skills, including precise passing and ball control. He is comfortable in possession and can contribute to the team’s buildup play, often initiating attacks from deep positions.

The 2005/06 season was a breakout season for Debuchy, featuring 27 times in the league. After 10 years in the French top flight, he earned a move to Newcastle United and then to Arsenal. Along the way, Dechuby has picked up 27 caps for the French National Team.

A solid right back and a solid rookie sticker.

Perrin was a composed and intelligent defender who excelled in reading the game and positioning himself effectively. He had a good sense of anticipation, which allowed him to intercept passes and make timely tackles to break up opposition attacks.

One of Perrin’s notable strengths was his ability to defend in one-on-one situations. He possessed good speed and agility, which helped him stay tight to his opponents and make crucial challenges. He was also strong in the air and displayed excellent timing and jumping ability when contesting aerial duels.

Perrin was a vocal presence on the pitch and often assumed the role of a leader, organising and directing the defensive line. His experience and composure under pressure were valuable assets, especially during crucial moments in matches.

During the 2005/06 season, Perrin was still relatively early in his career, but he demonstrated great potential and consistent performances. His defensive contributions helped Saint-Étienne maintain a solid defensive record, playing 26 league matches.

Perrin is a 1-club player! His contributions and consistent performances over the years have solidified his status as a club legend. For this reason, I think, this is a great and rare rookie sticker.

Abou Diaby played primarily as a central midfielder. Throughout his career, Diaby showcased immense talent and potential, but unfortunately, he was plagued by injuries that hampered his progress and limited his playing time.

Diaby possessed excellent physical attributes, combining strength, athleticism, and agility. Standing tall, he had a commanding presence on the field, which allowed him to dominate aerial duels and provide an imposing presence in midfield, being dubbed the next Patrick Vieira.

One of Diaby’s standout qualities was his dribbling ability. Despite his tall frame, he possessed remarkable close control and quick feet, which enabled him to navigate through tight spaces and beat opponents with ease. His technical skills and ball control made him a formidable force when advancing with the ball from midfield.

In terms of his playing style, Diaby was known for his elegant and graceful movement on the pitch. He had a smooth and fluid playing style, gliding effortlessly across the field. Diaby’s ability to carry the ball forward and initiate attacks was one of his strengths, often driving forward with purpose and creating openings for his teammates.

During the 2005/06 season, Diaby was a rising star at Auxerre. His performances earned him recognition as one of the most promising young talents in French football. He earned a move to Arsenal the following season.

Unfortunately, injuries plagued Diaby’s career, limiting his appearances and hindering his development. Despite these setbacks, he remained highly regarded for his technical ability and the impact he could have on the game when fit.

For most Arsenal fans Diaby’s rookie sticker will be one for the collection. A huge what if ????

Briand’s playing style is characterized by his speed, agility, and intelligent movement off the ball. He possesses excellent acceleration and quickness, which allows him to make darting runs behind the opposition’s defensive line and create space for himself and his teammates. His ability to time his runs and find gaps in the defence makes him a constant threat in the attacking third.

In addition to his physical attributes, Briand is also known for his technical abilities. He has good ball control and dribbling skills, which enable him to navigate through tight spaces and take on defenders in one-on-one situations. His close control and quick changes of direction make it difficult for defenders to dispossess him.

During the 2005/06 season, Briand was an emerging talent in French football. He played for Rennes in Ligue 1 and made a significant impact with his performances. Briand’s versatility allowed him to be deployed in various attacking positions, showcasing his ability to adapt to different roles and make a positive impact on the team’s performance.

Following 8 seasons at Rennes, Briand earned a move to Lyon, where he played 4 successful seasons. He also played for Hannover, Guingamp and finished off his career at Bordeaux.

Briand remains a popular figure in France, even capping the National Team 5 times. The athletic forward may prove to be a collectors item for supporters of the Ligue 1.

One of Mirallas’ notable traits is his speed and agility. He possesses excellent acceleration and quickness, allowing him to make powerful runs down the flanks and beat defenders in one-on-one situations. His pace and ability to change direction swiftly make him a dangerous threat on the counterattack.

Technical proficiency is another aspect of Mirallas’ game. He has good ball control and dribbling skills, which enable him to navigate through tight spaces and take on defenders with confidence. His close control allows him to maintain possession even under pressure, making him difficult to dispossess.

Mirallas also possesses a good sense of positioning and an eye for goal. He has the ability to find space in the final third and make intelligent runs into scoring positions. His finishing skills are commendable, as he is capable of scoring goals from various angles and distances. Mirallas’ shot power and accuracy contribute to his effectiveness in front of goal.

While Mirallas only 15 times during the 2005/06 season, he continued to develop his skills and progress as a player in subsequent years. In 2010 he moved to Olympiacos, where he found his scoring touch, bagging 34 goals in 2 seasons. These performances earned him a move to Everton, where he played his best football.

Kevin tallied an impressive 60 caps for Belgium, scoring 10. He has been a very reliable winger throughout his career and is a rookie sticker worth collecting, especially for toons!

Menez is known for his technical ability, flair, and agility on the pitch. He possesses excellent close control, quick feet, and the ability to execute intricate dribbling moves to bypass defenders. His skillful ball control allows him to maintain possession even in tight spaces and under pressure.

One of Menez’s standout qualities is his creativity and vision. He has a keen eye for a killer pass and is capable of delivering precise through balls to set up his teammates in goal-scoring positions. His playmaking ability and awareness make him a valuable asset in the attacking third.

Additionally, Menez’s versatility is another notable aspect of his playing style. He is capable of playing in multiple positions in the attacking third, including as a forward, winger, or attacking midfielder. His adaptability allows him to contribute to the team’s attacking play from different areas of the pitch.

During the 2005/06 season, Menez showcased glimpses of his technical ability, creativity, and goal-scoring instincts, which would become more prominent in the following years as he developed as a player. The following season he earned a move to Monaco before moving to some of the biggest teams in Europe, including: AS Roma, AC Milan and PSG

Maybe his career didn’t match the potential he had, but he has still had a very impressive career, showing real moments of quality.

During the 2005/06 season, Nasri was a rising star playing for Marseille in Ligue 1. Despite being just 18 years old, he showcased exceptional maturity and composure on the pitch. Nasri primarily operated as an attacking midfielder, but he was also comfortable playing on the wings or in a deeper central midfield role.

Nasri’s dribbling ability was one of his standout qualities. He possessed excellent close control and agility, which enabled him to navigate through tight spaces and take on multiple defenders with ease. His quick changes of direction and sudden bursts of acceleration often left opponents trailing behind.

In addition to his dribbling skills, Nasri possessed exceptional vision and passing ability. He had a keen eye for a killer through ball and was capable of splitting defences with his accurate and incisive passes. Nasri’s creativity and ability to unlock tight defensive lines made him a valuable asset in the final third. He had a knack for finding pockets of space and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

He played for big clubs such as: Arsenal, Manchester City and Sevilla. He maybe peaked a little early and started to decline at Manchester City, where his playing time wained. His best football probably came at Arsenal, but he left on unsavoury terms and is a source of hatred from their Arsenal faithful.

In his prime, Nasri was one of the world’s best playmakers. Definitely a rookie sticker worth considering

Lichtsteiner’s playing style can be characterised by his strong defensive abilities and his contributions in attack. Defensively, he was known for his tenacity, physicality, and excellent positional sense. He was an aggressive and combative defender who excelled in one-on-one situations, often using his strength and anticipation to win duels and regain possession for his team.

In addition to his defensive qualities, Lichtsteiner was also an energetic and hardworking player. He possessed exceptional stamina, which allowed him to constantly contribute both offensively and defensively throughout the match.

Offensively, Lichtsteiner was known for his overlapping runs and his ability to provide width and attacking options down the right flank. He had good speed and acceleration, which allowed him to make overlapping runs and join the attack effectively.

While Lichtsteiner’s 2005/06 season was early in his career, it was a crucial period in his development as a player. During that season, he showcased his defensive prowess, work rate, and offensive capabilities, which would continue to evolve and improve over the years. His performances in that season helped establish him as a promising talent and set the foundation for his successful career in the years to come.

Stephan played for: Lazio, Juventus and Arsenal in his illustrious career. Juventus was by far his most successful team, winning 7 Serie A titles in as many seasons.

With his legendary status at Juventus and over 100 caps for Switzerland, this rookie sticker is worth going for.

Blaise Matuidi is the best rookie sticker in Panini FOOT 2005-2006.

Matuidi’s playing style can be described as dynamic, energetic, and combative. He was renowned for his relentless running and constant presence on the pitch, covering a significant amount of ground during matches. His exceptional stamina allowed him to maintain a high intensity level throughout the game, making him an invaluable asset in both defensive and offensive phases.

Defensively, Matuidi was a tenacious midfielder who excelled at winning back possession. He possessed excellent tackling ability, often timing his challenges to perfection and displaying great determination to regain the ball.

He had good technical skills, particularly in terms of ball control and short passing. Matuidi’s ability to quickly transition from defence to attack allowed him to launch counter-attacks and initiate fast-paced transitions, catching opponents off guard. H

While the 2005/06 season was early in Matuidi’s career, it played a significant role in his development as a player. It provided him with valuable experience and helped shape his playing style and mentality. As his career progressed, Matuidi played a critical role in the successes of PSG and Juventus.

To top it off, he won the 2018 World Cup for France and was capped 84 times. A super rookie sticker and a legend of the game.