That is without question the selective experience of a single individual, and I definitely read more about Inter than about Milan (and still harbour a grudge for Ambrosini et al acting like idiots when they paraded the cup around down, especially because some of the worst stuff took place within sight of our flat). One thing this exchange has definitely done is to make me more likely to look out for Seedorf stories in the future. He’s always been a bit of an enigma to me (and I say that as an Oranje supporter for more than 30 years, more than as an Inter simpatizzante).

We once had a thread on One Touch Football about “real football heroes” (meaning guys one respected even more as people than as players), and I think my nominations were Zanetti, Thuram and Socrates. Given what I know about you, I’d be willing to give Seedorf a serious look just on the basis of your support, and the entire subject would be an interesting one for future discussions here.

Surely the only current Serie A player worthy of a nomination for president of everything is Javier Zanetti.

Given the rest of the list, I will be shocked if Kuper picks Seedorf (though a case can be made).

As for Boban, I’m fully willing to believe that he’s no longer very entertaining - romanticism gets old very fast. But I remember that Croatia team of ‘98 was the second football team I ever loved (the first being Italy, at the same tournament — no, I have no excuse.) and he remains a beacon in my hazy, semi-conscious memories of the time, much like Davor Suker.

The Dutch candidate - I speak with limited knowledge, and possibly through red-and-black tinted glasses, but I’ve always thought Clarence Seedorf to be an intelligent, well-spoken, politically aware sort of man. He does a good deal of developmental work for Surinamese football and footballers, too, from what I know. Thin credentials, but surely one to watch for the future? Oh, or: what about Ruud Gullit? Although he appears to have come a long way from his Mandela-idolising days.

Agree fully about Socrates and Thuram - if they aren’t in the political football XI the only thing to do will be to get up a team of our own, make them leaders, and watch them walk all over Kuper’s team, Diego or no Diego.

You obviously don’t get to see him, Roswitha, but I find Boban to be a rather jaded pundit. In addition to tending to think that the Milan teams he played on were the ne plus ultra of football as art (which is a defensible position, but severely limiting when it is applied as the only yardstick by which to judge current players), he very much sees the world through Rossonero glasses, which is not particularly appreciated in the ursus household.

And agreed, Diego as a captain is a joke. Socrates is the man here, with “our” man Lilian Thuram as number two.

Kuper is going to have to add a Dutchman isn’t he? My guess is that the choice will be Cruyff, but if he does do that it can only be in the most selfish sense of the “personal is political”. Even Cruyff’s support for the Elefant Blau bloc that brought Laporta to power at Barca was motivated at least as much for what he thought was good for him as it was by any sense of the greater good of the club.

Also, clutching my face in horror a little at the exercise itself. Diego — yeah, right, because a man who thinks the Chavez government is a viable substitute for *anything* is going to make such a fabulous politician.

How’s Gianni Rivera doing in his anti-Berlu parlimentarian role these days? I know the government’s fallen/fallng, but — anyone? Ursus?

Lucarelli would have been a shoo-in before he went to Dontesk and still may make it. DiCanio has always denied being political; that’s his story and he’s sticking to it.