The Top 10 – Panini German Football Bundesliga 2005-2006

Alexander Meier was known for his height and aerial ability, Meier had a distinctive playing style that made him a prominent figure on the pitch.

Meier stood at an impressive 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall, which gave him a significant advantage in aerial duels. His height allowed him to win headers against opponents, making him a valuable target for crosses and set-pieces. Not only could he score goals with his head, but he could also provide assists by flicking the ball on to his teammates in dangerous positions.

Apart from his aerial prowess, Meier was a technically gifted player. He possessed excellent ball control, enabling him to receive passes under pressure and maintain possession. His skill with the ball at his feet allowed him to take on defenders and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

In terms of his positioning and movement, Meier had a good sense of where to be on the pitch to maximize his goal-scoring opportunities. He had a knack for finding space in the penalty area and making well-timed runs to receive crosses or through balls. His intelligent movement off the ball often caught defenders off guard, allowing him to get into scoring positions.

Racking up a whopping 336 appearance for Eintracht Frankfurt and scoring over a 100 goals, this rookie sticker is an interesting choice. He definitely left a mark on German football.

Ali Karimi, also known as the “Asian Maradona,” is an Iranian former professional football player. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest Iranian footballers of his generation. Known for his exceptional technical skills, dribbling ability, and creativity, Karimi left a lasting impact on Iranian football.

Karimi was a versatile attacking midfielder who could play in various positions across the midfield. He had the ability to glide past defenders with ease, using his agility, quick turns, and sudden changes of direction to create space for himself and his teammates. One of Karimi’s greatest assets was his creativity. He had a keen vision for the game and possessed the ability to unlock defences with his precise passing and through balls.

During the 2005/06 season, Karimi played his first season in Europe for Bayern Munich. Over 2 seasons Karimi played 33 times for Bayern but eventually moved to Qatar and then back to his home country, Iran.

Overall, Ali Karimi was a player with exceptional technical skills, remarkable dribbling ability, and great creativity. Throughout his career, he showcased his talent both domestically and internationally, leaving a lasting legacy as one of Iran’s greatest footballers.

Heiko Westermann is a former German professional footballer who primarily played as a central defender. Known for his physicality, defensive solidity, and leadership qualities, Westermann had a successful career at both club and international level.

Westermann’s playing style was characterised by his strong aerial presence and ability to win aerial duels. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall, he used his height and strength to dominate in aerial battles, making him a reliable defender in set-piece situations.

In addition to his physical attributes, Westermann was known for his disciplined positioning and reading of the game. He had a good sense of anticipation, allowing him to intercept passes and make timely tackles.

During the 2005/06 season, Westermann played for Arminia Bielefeld in the German Bundesliga. His performances earned him a move to Schalke in 2007, and then on to Hamburger SV in 2010. He racked up over 400 appearances in German football, also getting 27 caps for the National team.

Overall, Heiko Westermann was a physical and disciplined defender who excelled in aerial duels and possessed good technical skills. Throughout his career, he showcased his defensive abilities and played a significant role in various clubs he represented.

Mohamed Zidan is an Egyptian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was known for his speed, agility, incredible tricks and technical skills, which made him a dynamic and versatile attacker.

Zidan’s had quick acceleration and agility, which allowed him to evade defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities. He had excellent dribbling skills and close ball control, enabling him to navigate through tight spaces and take on opponents in one-on-one situations – which he did at every opportunity. Zidan possessed good balance and body control, which helped him maintain control of the ball even under pressure.

As a forward, Zidan had a powerful shot. He was capable of scoring goals from various positions and angles. His ability to shoot accurately with both feet made him unpredictable for opposing goalkeepers.

Zidan’s career saw him play for big teams such as: Werder Bremen, Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV. He also was capped 44 times for Egypt

In summary, Mohamed Zidan was a skillful and agile forward. His speed, technical ability, unpredictability made him a formidable attacking threat.

I tend to like rookie stickers like this. He wasn’t a prolific player, but an excitement machine!

Aaron Hunt primarily played as an attacking midfielder or winger. He was known for his technical skills, creativity, and versatility on the field.

Hunt possessed excellent ball control and dribbling ability, allowing him to navigate through tight spaces and take on opponents with ease. He had a low center of gravity and quick feet, which helped him maintain close control of the ball even under pressure.

One of Hunt’s notable attributes was his passing range and vision. He had the ability to play accurate short passes to retain possession and initiate attacking moves, as well as deliver long balls to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.

In terms of shooting, Hunt had a powerful and accurate shot from both inside and outside the box. Additionally, Hunt was known for his set-piece prowess, particularly his ability to deliver precise crosses and take free kicks.

Hunt’s performances during the 2005/06 season reflected his technical skills, creativity, and ability to influence games. His contributions played a significant role for Werder Bremen in the 10 seasons he played there, featuring 215 times. In 2015 he moved to Hamburger SV, and finished his career there in 2021.

Aaron Hunt was a technically gifted player with excellent dribbling ability, passing range, and shooting prowess. He was unlucky to only have 3 caps for Germany – he just happend to be behind players like Ballack and Schweinsteiger. Nonetheless, I think he has made his mark on German football.

Roman Weidenfeller spent the majority of his professional career at Borussia Dortmund. Known for his agility, shot-stopping abilities, and leadership qualities, Weidenfeller was a highly respected figure in German football.

Weidenfeller’s had excellent reflexes, positioning, and command of his penalty area. He had a strong presence between the posts and was fearless when it came to making saves. His quick reactions allowed him to make acrobatic saves, often denying opponents with spectacular stops.

One of Weidenfeller’s notable strengths was his ability to read the game and anticipate the actions of the opposing attackers. He had a keen understanding of positioning and would often be in the right place at the right time to make crucial saves. His agility and coordination enabled him to cover his goal effectively, making it difficult for opponents to find the back of the net.

Weidenfeller was a key figure for Borussia Dortmund, playing 349 league matches from 2002 to 2018. His performances were instrumental in the team’s successes they had in that period – notably under Jurgen Klopp. He displayed consistency and reliability throughout the season, making crucial saves to keep his team in matches.

Weidenfeller’s leadership qualities were also evident during the 2005/06 season, playing 26 times. Throughout his career, he captained the team on numerous occasions, displaying his ability to organise and communicate with his teammates effectively.

Roman Weidenfeller was an agile and commanding goalkeeper known for his shot-stopping abilities, excellent positioning, and leadership qualities. He goes down as a BVB legend, and anyone that is a BVB legend is a player worth considering. I think a very underated rookie sticker for one of the great characters in football.

Gonzalo Castro played as a midfielder and enjoyed a successful career, most notably with Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Castro was known for his versatility, technical skills, and intelligent play.

In terms of playing style, Castro was a well-rounded midfielder with the ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. He possessed excellent passing range and accuracy, often initiating attacking moves and setting up goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Defensively, Castro was disciplined and hardworking. He showcased good tactical awareness and positioning, which allowed him to intercept passes and break up opposition attacks. He was not afraid to engage in physical battles and was committed to winning back possession for his team. Castro’s work rate and tenacity made him an asset in both defensive and transitional phases of the game.

Castro spent majority of his career at Leverkusen, playing 286 times from 2004 to 2015. He then earned a move to Borussia Dortmund and played there for 3 seasons before then moving onto Stuttgart. After another 3 seasons he moved Arminia Bielefeld where he retired after 1 year.

Overall, Gonzalo Castro was a versatile and gifted midfielder with a strong work ethic. His intelligent play, passing ability, and defensive contributions made him a valuable asset for his teams.

Somewhat of an unsung hero, I think this is a nice rookie sticker.

Philipp Lahm is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation. Lahm spent the majority of his career at Bayern Munich, where he established himself as a key figure for both club and country. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, versatility, and leadership qualities, Lahm was a vital component of successful teams.

Lahm’s playing style was characterised by intelligence, tactical astuteness, and technical proficiency. As a right-back, he possessed exceptional defensive abilities. He had excellent positioning, anticipation, and reading of the game, allowing him to make crucial interceptions, tackles, and blocks. Lahm was a tenacious and disciplined defender who rarely got caught out of position.

Lahm’s passing ability was exceptional, both in short and long-range passes. He had a remarkable vision and accuracy, enabling him to initiate attacks from deep positions and provide key assists for his teammates. Lahm’s decision-making and composure on the ball were outstanding, allowing him to distribute the ball effectively and maintain possession under pressure.

The 2005/06 season was a significant one for Philipp Lahm as it was his first season in Bayern’s first team. He continued to establish himself as one of the best full-backs in the Bundesliga and ended his career as probably the best ever German fullback.

Technically his second year sticker, but Lahm is so good he ranks at 3!

Per Mertesacker was known for his commanding presence in central defense. Standing at 6’6″ tall, Mertesacker possessed excellent aerial ability and physicality, which made him a formidable presence in both defensive and offensive set-pieces.

Mertesacker’s playing style was characterised by his defensive intelligence, positioning, and anticipation. He was an astute reader of the game, often anticipating the movements of opposition attackers and intercepting passes. Often criticised for his speed, I think this was unjust – he was deceptively quick with his long strides. Of course he wasn’t going to be as quick as a winger being 6’6”, but his reading of the game made up for this.

The 2005/06 season was a significant one for Mertesacker. He was an integral part of the Hannover 96 squad in the Bundesliga. His performances caught the attention of top clubs, leading to his transfer to Werder Bremen the following season. His consistent displays and leadership qualities earned him the captain’s armband at Werder Bremen, where he continued to excel as a central defender.

In 2011 he earned a move to Arsenal, where he featured 156 times in the league whilst becoming the captain in 2016. He retired from football in 2018 but remained at Arsenal. He currently occupies the Head of Youth Development at the club and has a great reputation in the position.

Per Mertesacker was a commanding central defender known for his aerial ability, defensive intelligence, and composure on the ball. His dominance in the air, combined with his excellent reading of the game, made him a formidable presence in defence.

In addition to his impressive club career, he played for Germany over 100 times, winning the 2014 World Cup! A very popular figure both in Germany and England, I think this is a great rookie sticker.

Lukas Podolski is the best rookie sticker in the Panini German Football Bundesliga 2005-2006 set.

Lukas Podolski is known for his powerful left foot, versatility, and goal-scoring ability. He primarily played as a forward or winger and was an icon with his strong shooting technique and accurate long-range strikes.

Podolski had explosive pace, physicality, and excellent ball control. He possessed the ability to take on defenders with his quick bursts of acceleration and had a knack for finding space in the attacking third. His direct style of play often saw him driving towards the goal or delivering dangerous crosses into the box.

One of Podolski’s standout attributes was his exceptional left foot. He had the ability to strike the ball with great power and precision from various positions on the pitch. His long-range shooting ability was particularly impressive, and he often unleashed powerful shots from outside the penalty area.

Podolski started his career like a house on fire, scoring 51 league goals in 3 seasons for 1. FC Köln. As a young and promising talent, he made a significant impact by showcasing his goal-scoring prowess and attacking skills. It wasn’t long before Bayern came knocking and he signed in the 2006/07 season.

Following his 3 seasons at Bayern he moved back to Köln, and then onto Arsenal in 2012 – where he quickly became a fan favourite. Following Arsenal he has become a bit of a nomad, playing for the likes of: Inter, Galatasaray, Antalyaspor, Vissel Kobe and Górnik Zabrze – where he is currently playing.

Given Podolski’s meteoric rise at the beginning of his career, some may consider his career a little underwhelming. I think with 140 caps for Germany and an World Cup under his belt, thats no career to scoff at! It probably fairly obvious that I think this is a great rookie sticker as he’s taken the number spot!

Watch Podolski’s incredible volley for Arsenal!