If there was a single game in the past 12 months that showed the value of 2003 European Player of the Year Pavel Nedved, it was the final of the Champions League.
The Juventus midfielder was suspended for the match against AC Milan at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in May and, without their Czech livewire, Juve were unable to get even close to their best.
Lacking Nedved's pace, aggression, running, passing and devastating shooting from distance, Juve were predictable and dull as they lost to Milan on penalties after the disappointing final ended goalless following extra time.
It was not only Juve fans who felt robbed by the absence of Nedved. Neutrals watching the final on television around the world knew that it would have been a different, and better, game with the 31-year-old Czech bursting down the left.
Nedved went into the second leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid on a yellow card and, after an unnecessary foul on Steve McManaman eight minutes from the end of the game, he was booked and suspended for the final.
Just minutes before the booking he had shown his value yet again with a supremely confident finish, latching on to a pass from Gianluca Zambrotta and firing in Juve's third goal, which proved decisive as they won 3-1 and 4-3 on aggregate.
Nedved's goals against Deportivo Coruna, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real had played a major role in Juve's progress to the final.
But, while his Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, he had already been the toast of Turin for helping Juve to a second successive Serie A title.
NEDVED'S NIGHT
It was the 3-0 home victory over closest challengers Inter in March that turned the season in Juve's direction on Nedved's night.
The Czech international ripped Inter apart, scoring one spectacular goal and creating the other two as Lippi's team outclassed Inter and began their title push in earnest.
With nine goals from midfield, Nedved was exactly what challengers AC Milan and Inter lacked, a player who can break from deep and score goals while, at the same time, doing all the graft expected of a modern midfielder.
He may not have all the tricks and touches of some of the previous European Player of the Year winners but he is the complete modern midfielder, combining work-rate with flair, aggression with skill and always willing to adapt to the needs of the team.
Nedved was also fundamental to his country's successful qualification campaign for the finals of the European Championship in Portugal next year as they extended their unbeaten run to 17 games.
The midfielder moved to Juventus from Lazio in the close season of 2001 and was given the job of replacing Zinedine Zidane after the Frenchman had moved to Real Madrid.
After Juve took the 2002 title on the final day of the season, few doubted the Czech midfielder had fulfilled his task.
Nedved had tasted success before his move to Turin, winning the Serie A title in 2000 with Lazio under Sven-Goran Eriksson and also clinching the last European Cup Winners' Cup in 1999 and two Italian Cups while with the Rome club.
Born in the town of Cheb, Nedved began his career with Dukla Prague before switching to Sparta Prague where he made his name winning three national titles. He is married to Ivana and the couple have two children.
