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Championship team of the decade

Sun Dec 22, 2019 8:03 am

Seven of the fifty one players nominated are or were Cardiff City players.

David Marshall (2000-) Cardiff, Hull, Wigan. 273/0. Promotion (2012-13)
Scotland international Marshall has spent just two seasons outside the Championship this decade. He was an ever-present as Cardiff won the 2012-13 title, keeping 18 clean sheets, and made the play-offs twice more with the Bluebirds.

Tom Heaton (2005-) Cardiff, Bristol City, Burnley. 164/0. Promotion (2013-14, 2015-16), team of the season (2015-16)

Another goalkeeper with England honours this decade, Heaton was a crucial part of Sean Dyche's Burnley side that won two Championship promotions in three seasons. He kept 20 clean sheets in 2015-16 and was named in the team of the season.

Mark Hudson (2000-18) Cardiff, Huddersfield. 226/15. Promotion (2012-13, 2016-17), team of the season (2012-13)

Towering defender Hudson was Cardiff's player of the year in their 2012-13 Championship title-winning season and helped Huddersfield achieve an unlikely promotion to the Premier League four seasons later.

Matthew Connolly (2005-) QPR, Reading, Cardiff, Watford. 195/10. Promotion (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2017-18)

Four Championship clubs, five promotions. Connolly was central to QPR and Cardiff lifting the title in 2010-11 and 2012-13. The centre-back played a smaller role in successes at Reading and Watford.

Sol Bamba (2006-) Leicester, Leeds, Cardiff. 176/14. Promotion (2017-18), team of the season (2017-18)

The man Neil Warnock said was a better defender than Virgil van Dijk. Ivory Coast player Bamba was an ever-present in 2017-18 as the Bluebirds won promotion.

Peter Whittingham (2003-18) Cardiff. 273/59. Promotion (2012-13), team of the season (2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13)

Attacking midfielder Whittingham was one of the league's outstanding players in the first half of the decade, a consistent scorer as Cardiff were champions in 2012-13. That year was the third time he made the team of the season.

Ross McCormack (2004-) Cardiff, Leeds, Fulham, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest. 284/99. Team of the season (2013-14, 2015-16)

McCormack's goal record saw Fulham spend £11m on him in 2014 and Aston Villa pay £12m for his services two years later - both while in the second tier. Made the team of the season twice, including in 2013-14 when he scored 28 league goals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50823353