It has been another big year for the world's most followed sport.
While there may not have been a big international football tournament in the Northern Hemisphere summer for us to really care about - to be honest, no one really cares about the Confederations Cup which for the record, was won by Brazil at home against current Euro and world champions, Spain - there was still plenty of football to keep us interested.
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| Bosnia made their first ever World Cup Finals |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden just missed on a spot in the World Cup Finals after an epic playoff tie against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, while Gareth Bale's Wales were well off the pace behind a resurgent Belgium who look set to be considered favourites at next year's tournament thanks to their talented team based in the Premier League.
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| Belgium - dark horses at the 2014 World Cup? |
Also something that appears to be endemic in football at the moment in England is the race of be first to sack the manager.
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| AVB has been the highest profile sacking in the new EPL season |
As more money pours into the world's most followed league, one wonders if the Premier League - and to a certain extent, the Championship - has become so far apart from reality and closer to video games, while clubs set such high expectations and demand them fulfilled in short times.
Moreover, the mid-season drop-in-form appears to be taboo with boards now refusing to acknowledge that even the best do go on losing runs in the middle of the season whether it's through injury, etc. Goodness, had Sir Alex Ferguson got into management in this age, he'd have never survived.
Which is just as well for David Moyes, his successor, who is right in the middle of a tough patch of trying to rejuvenate a Manchester United side, champions the season before, but now an aging wreck in midfield and defence. Thankfully, Manchester United's board still have faith unlike some other clubs in blue and white.
It wasn't quite a vintage Premier League season with United winning fairly comfortably but it was probably an apt ending for a great managerial career that spanned 27 years.
Elsewhere in Europe, Barcelona, Juventus, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich were comfortably crowned champions in the summer - their muscle evident throughout the season as they streaked clear from the rest in a fairly quiet season.
The Champions League Final provided some much needed thrills as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund played out the first all-German final - at Wembley Stadium of all places, with Jupp Heyneckes getting the perfect farewell into retirement thanks to Arjen Robben.
German football's rise has been evident this year with the Bundesliga finally usurping Serie A as the third best league in Europe and of course this Final, as well as scoring the coup of the century - getting super coach Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich.
German football fans will be hoping this is a good sign going into 2014 and World Cup year.
So here's a look back at the best of football this season!
Story of the year
Sir Alex Ferguson announces his retirement
Game of the year
Sweden v Portugal, Solna
Goal of the year
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden v England
Other great Premier League goals!
Player of the year
I'm gonna go a bit left field here from the usual (and boring) choices of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi and pick...
Gareth Bale
Why not? He was unanimously PFA Player of the Year and earned himself a record transfer move to Real Madrid where he has finally found his feet amongst illustrious company including Mssrs Ronaldo.
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