Fantasy Football Global All-Stars

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Hard to believe, but it's 20 years since the English Premier League came into existence. For those old enough to remember the old First Division, it stirs memories of leaden football played under leaden skies by men called Gary, Gazza and Gordon. The stadiums were cold and decrepit, and the half-time pies are best left unremembered.

When the inaugural Premier League season began in August 1992, Leeds United were the reigning English champions and the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea were struggling to avoid relegation. There were few foreign stars visible among the 400-plus players contained within the squads - just 11, in fact, including two future greats of the Premier League: Manchester United's Danish goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, and French genius, Eric Cantona, who would shortly leave Leeds to join Schmeichel at United.

Wind forward to 2012 and marvel at how English football has changed.

Stadiums are clean and welcoming, meat pies are warm and edible and there are now nearly 300 foreign players in the Premier League, the most popular and profitable of its kind in the world.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Premier League we've compiled a side featuring current stars born in cities served by Brussels Airlines - a sort of Globetrotters First XI. So enjoy our star-studded fantasy team and learn something new about some of our destinations.

Tim Howard

USA

Born in New Jersey, Howard came to prominence with the MetroStars (now called the New York Red Bulls) before joining Manchester United in 2003. He signed for Everton in 2007, the same year he became first-choice goalkeeper for the USA's national team.

Top Team The New York Red Bulls, home to the great Thierry Henry.

Vincent Kompany

Belgium

Last season the big Brussels defender captained Manchester City to their first league title in 44 years, and established himself as one of best players in the world. Capped nearly 50 times by Belgium, Kompany began his career with Anderlecht. 

Top Team Anderlecht, the reigning Belgian champions.

Tomas Rosický

Czech Republic

The Prague-born midfielder joined Arsenal in 2006 and enjoyed his best season in 2011-12 having recovered from a longstanding knee injury. A regular in the Czech national side since 2000, Rosický starred for them in the 2012 Euros.

Top Team Rosický's old club, Sparta Prague, is the most successful in Czech history.

Patrice Evra

France

Born in Dakar, Senegal, but raised in France, the left-back has played nearly 50 times for Les Bleus and featured in the recent European Championships. Evra joined Manchester United from Monaco in 2006 and has won four league titles with the Red Devils.

Top Team Dakar's Union Sportive Ouakam were the Senegalese champions in 2011.

Mahamadou Diarra

Mali

After spells with Lyon, Real Madrid and Monaco, the 31-year-old Diarra joined Fulham in January 2012 and helped the London club finish ninth in the Premier League. Diarra is the captain of Mali.

Top Team In Stade Malien and Djoliba AC Bamako boasts the two best teams in the Malian Premier Division.

Robert Huth

Germany

The East Berliner has spent all his professional career in England; first with Chelsea, then Middlesbrough and now Stoke City. A strong tackling centre-back, Huth has also been capped 19 times by his country.

Top Team Surprisingly, Berlin has no club in the German Bundesliga since Hertha BSC were relegated to the second division.

Alex Song

Cameroon

The midfielder is one of Arsenal's longest-serving players, joining the Gunners from Bastia in 2005. Song represented France at Under-16 level but has gone on to establish himself as a regular in the Cameroon side. 

Top Team Union Douala is the city's top club and has won four domestic league titles.

Nani

Portugal

Born in Cape Verde, Nani was raised in Lisbon and got his break with Sporting Lisbon. He joined Manchester United in 2007 and won the Champions League title the following year. The winger helped Portugal reach the semi-final of the 2012 Euros.

Top Team Sporting Lisbon is one of Portugal's top clubs having won the domestic title 18 times.

Eden Hazard

Belgium

Forgive us if we indulge ourselves by selecting two Belgians in our All-Stars XI - how could we leave out Eden Hazard after his high-profile summer transfer from Lille to Chelsea? Much is expected of the gifted 21-year-old winger, born 60km south of Brussels in Louvière, but will he deliver?

Top Team In 2009 the Louvièroise club was merged with RACS Couillet to form FC Charleroi.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Togo

The Lomé-born striker scored nearly 50 goals for Arsenal before moving to Manchester City in 2009 and then joining Spurs two years later. He scored 17 goals for Tottenham last season and continues to find the net for Togo.

Top Team Based in Lomé, Dynamic Togolais have won two league titles and three Togo Cups in the last decade.

Samir Nasri

France

Born in Marseille, Nasri played for the city's side before moving to Arsenal in 2008 where he spent three years. Joining Manchester City in 2011, Nasri was a member of the squad that won the 2011-12 Premier League title.

Top Team Marseille is one of France's leading sides and the winners of the Champions League in 1993.

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