REAL ZARAGOZA Team of the Decade: 2000 - 2010

Continuing about Pablo Aimar.. and here's another team that had Aimar play, where the players included in the ranks of the best players in a decade.

this is REAL ZARAGOZA Team of the Decade: 2000 - 2010

GK: CESAR LAINEZ

During the last decade there have only been two noteworthy goalkeepers at La Romareda. While Cesar Sanchez is undoubtedly a solid enough goalkeeper, the guy is far too error prone, and so the position goes to a local hero in Cesar Lainez. Commanding and with stunning reflexes, Lainez made his way through the ranks to debut in the first team during the 2001/2002 season. Although that year Zaragoza were relegated, Lainez played a pivotal role in helping the club win immediate promotion back to La Primera, before leading them to a comfortable mid-table position and a historic Copa del Rey win over Real Madrid in 2003/2004.

LB: JAVIER PAREDES

Perhaps my difficult choice. There havn't been a great number of left-backs at the club during the decade, so the position goes to the dependable Javier Paredes. Known as 'El Jabalí', Spanish for wild boar, Paredes brings pace and power to the table. Always gives 100% to the cause and has been a loyal servant to the club, helping Zaragoza back to the top flight after relegation in 2008.

RB: CARLOS DIOGO

What a character. As hard as nails and as crazy a footballer as you'll find, Diogo is also an extremely useful right-back. While he scores extra points for a bizarre punch up with Luis Fabiano in 2007, Diogo is a monster of a man who offers just as much in attack as he does in defence. Defensive positioning was never his strong point, but he more than made up for it with his last-ditch tackling and whole-hearted approach to defending. He's also capable of racing down the wing to send over wicked crosses for his frontmen. Full of energy and full of fight, there's no such thing as a lost cause for Carlos Diogo.

CB: GERARD PIQUE

Unfortunately for Real Zaragoza, Gerard Pique only ever enjoyed one season in Aragon, but what a season it was for the young defender. Having only played for the reserves at Manchester United, he was sent to Zaragoza on loan during the whole 2006/2007 season to gain first team experience. Displaying the class that has made him one of the worlds best now at Barca, 'Piquenbauer' formed a formidable pairing with Gabby Milito which lead Real Zaragoza to 6th place in the league. He was also used a defensive midfielder in his time at La Romereda, which also shows the versatility of the man. He returned to Manchester in 2007 and the Zaragoza defence has never been the same since.

CB: GABRIEL MILITO

A rock of a defender that spent four incredible seasons at Real Zargoza from 2003 to 2007. Milito was nothing short of an icon during his time at the club, winning the Copa del Rey in his first season and generally offering much the same as Carlos Puyol does at Barcelona. A clever defender and dominating in the air, Gabriel Milito reads the game perfectly, while also wearing his heart on his sleeve with a full-on, committed approach to defending. The fans still chant his name which shows just how they rate the man they call 'The Marshal'.

CM: ALBERTO ZAPATER

Another local boy, Alberto Zapater was the architype combative midfielder, who shielded his back four as if his life depended on it. With a strong range of passes and an eye for a goal or two, Zapater spent five successful years at Zaragoza, helping the club to UEFA Cup qualification in 2006/2007 and was instrumental as they made an immediate return to La Liga after relegation in 2008. Once famously labelled 'The Bull' by Diego Maradona, Zaragoza still miss his huge presence in the middle of the park.

CM: PABLO AIMAR

What Zapater offers in defensive stability, Pablo Aimar offers in creativity. Signed for a then club record 12 million euros in 2006, Aimar was sensational during his first season at the club. Scoring four and with 6 assists, the little Argentine lit up La Romereda with his brand of attacking flair that provided the perfect platform for Zaragozas strikers to feed off. A crowd pleaser who was unfortunate to miss most of Zaragozas relegation season through injury. How they missed him.

CM: CANI

With his first touch in a Zaragoza shirt, Cani nutmegged Michael Reiziger of Barcelona and so started a career that was characterised by attacking verve and stunning technical ability. Able to play behind the front two, or on either wing, Cani enjoyed his best season in 2005/2006 when he provided the highest number of assists in La Liga. An exciting talent, capable of troubling the best of defences.

RM: SERGIO GARCIA

Having just failed to make his name at the Camp Nou, after scoring close to a 1000 goals in the junior teams, Sergio Garcia rocked up at Real Zaragoza in 2005 eager to prove he had what it took to succeed in the top flight. Three years later he was part of the Spain Euro 2008 Championship winning squad. Sergio Garcia was electric during his time at the club, reeking havoc down the right and through the centre with his searing pace, trickery and neat finishing. The perfect foil for Diego Milito and by far the most exciting player I witnessed during my time at Zaragoza.

CF: DIEGO MILITO

They didn't call him the 'Prince of Zaragoza' for nothing. As clinical as they come, Milito joined Real Zaragoza in 2005, and scored a total of 61 goals in 125 matches over the course of his three seasons at the club. Capable of scoring with either foot and strong in the air, Milito was considered one of the most lethal marksmen in the country during his time in Spain and narrowly missed out on the 'Pichichi' trophy in 2006/2007. The only thing the Argentine lacked was raw pace, but he more than made up for it with his exquisitely timed runs. Fantastic striker.

CF. DAVID VILLA

Raised at Sporting Gijon, and having scored bagfuls of goals in 'La Segunda', it was at Real Zaragoza where David Villa really made a name for himself in the top flight. Full of promise, the young striker arrived at the club in 2003 and went on to score 38 goals in 96 appearances, earning his first cap for Spain in the process. Part of Zaragozas Spanish Supercup winning team of 2004, Villa exhibited the sort of form that would eventually lead him to be considered one of the top strikers in world football. (www.forzafutbol.com)