UEFA Champions League 2015 Team of the Tournament
CB Emir Spahic, Bayer Leverkusen
Spahic’s Leverkusen career ended in disgrace after he head-butted a member of Leverkusen’s security team, but the 34-year-old did have a quietly excellent Champions League run in 2014-2015 with the numbers to back it up. Despite playing only eight games, Spahic was fourth among all defenders in interceptions, fifth in clearances, and fourth in duels won (Marcelo, above, was second in this category).
The former Bosnia and Herzegovina captain was a rock at the heart of Leverkusen’s defense and a big reason why “Werkself” were able to make it to the “Round of 16” before losing to Atletico. Spahic reads the game as well as any defender, and he was among the best in the tournament at quickly getting rid of danger before the pressure led to a goal. With Spahic and keeper Bernd Leno, Leverkusen allowed the third-least goals per game in the tournament.
In fact, they typified Spahic’s defensive style as a whole, as they had the most tackles and most fouls per game of any team in the tournament, as per WhoScored.com.
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