Which top league can field the best out-of-contract XI?

Premier League – Managed by Rafael Benitez

Vorm

Valencia Cahill Kompany Monreal

Diame Herrera Gunnarsson

Sturridge Giroud Welbeck

Subs: Adrian, Simpson, Jagielka, Moreno, Nasri, Mata, Llorente

Granted, a goalkeeper and defence comprised entirely of 30-somethings would need plenty of protection from a midfield made up of players aged 29 to 31. But if anyone is capable of organising such a side, it is the similarly expiring (contract-wise) Rafael Benitez.

And just look at that attack; it has absolutely everything. With those trophy-laden bench options, they’d give anyone a decent game.

La Liga – Managed by Imanol Alguacil

Alvarez

Antonito Ruiz Godin Ramalho Luis

Susaeta Cazorla Iturraspe Portillo

Aduriz

Subs: Remiro, Mercado, Vermaelen, Jason, Flamini, Radoja, Di Santo

Talk about building a side around a strong spine. Sergio Alvarez is a Celta Vigo veteran goalkeeper, Diego Godin has been one of the world’s leading centre-halves over the last decade, Santi Cazorla is a beautiful man and Aritz Aduriz will be winning headers well into his 80s. With Victor Ruiz, Filipe Luis, Markel Susaeta and Ander Iturraspe members of a fine supporting cast, they might not even have to call on Thomas Vermaelen, Mathieu Flamini and Franco di Santo from the bench until the final few minutes.

Serie A – Managed by Claudio Ranieri

Padelli

Abata Zapata Andreolli Pasqual

Lazovic Bertolacci De Rossi Padoin

Palacio Pandev

With a combined 2,934 Serie A career appearances between them – as well as 391 games managed in Italy’s top division by Claudio Ranieri – and an average age of just over 33, this is clearly a side blessed with experience and nous. The youngest player is Andrea Bertolacci, who turned 28 in January. The oldest player is Rodrigo Palacio, who started his professional career in 2002 and had an off-centre rat-tail as recently as last May. Act your age, pal.

Subs: Ichazo, Srna, Silvestre, Acquah, Veloso, Biabiany, Ciofani

Bundesliga – Managed by Ralf Rangnick

Sahin-Radlinger

Rafinha Baak Mayer Stafylidis

Robben Koo Gentner Ribery

Kruse Drmic

Subs: Rensing, Sorg, Felipe, Aogo, Prib, Szalai, Pizarro

Serie A has competition for the weakest available side. Rafinha, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are marquee names, but they have combined for just 51 of a possible 99 Bundesliga appearances this season, betraying their respective waning influences. Renato Sanches has played about as often for Bayern Munich as Rafinha or Robben.

The rest of the side is made up largely of fringe journeymen from Hannover, Hertha, Gladbach and Augsburg, with former South Korea captain Koo Ja-cheol, two-time Bundesliga champion Christian Gentner and World Cup goalscorer Josip Drmic adding a little lustre. Tottenham and Inter Milan are both reportedly interested in Bundesliga’s March Player of the Month Max Kruse, whose three-year Werden Bremen stay is coming to an end.

Ligue Un – Managed by Bruno Genesio

Tatarusanu

Alves Subotic Djilobodji Moubandje

Cavalerin Rabiot Kemen

Ben Arfa

Balotelli

Subs: Hassen, Kwateng, Yambere, Tabanou, Walter, Durmaz, Alioui

This is more bloody like it. A defence featuring Dani Alves, former Jurgen Klopp favourite Neven Subotic – who’s somehow still only 30 – and Chelsea legend Papy Djilobdji, supported by Europe’s most-coveted free agent in Adrien Rabiot, with the unpredictable forward line of Hatem Ben Arfa and Mario Balotelli. Glorious.

Rest of the world – Managed by whoever fancies it

Ochoa

Petrov Belyaev Schwaab Mohammadi

Herrera Dzagoev Samaris

Romero El Arabi Brahimi

Subs: Lindner, Semenov, Benito, Kabore, Pereyra, Gonzalez, Mbokani

Football Manager legend after Football Manager legend, from the unbeatable Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege) to midfield dynamo Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow). With Porto pair Hector Herrera and Yacine Brahimi in tow, and the unstoppable Dieumerci Mbokani in reserve, we have a late challenger to this completely non-existent and utterly meaningless crown.

Matt Stead