"National teams" from historical/nonexistent countries

[Elninho]

I was just thinking it might be a fun exercise to name some "national teams" that might have existed had various historical nations maintained their borders to the present day... some including parts of other countries, and others perhaps being only part of a present-day country. Ignore all political/cultural considerations, simply include all modern-day players born and/or declaring nationality within the historical borders. Also, no comparing countries to one another, because 1) they overlap, with some even containing others, and 2) the Roman Empire wins that one with only the Spanish empire even close.

A few ideas (and I'll try to come up with something for some of them this weekend) - I'm trying to only pick ones that might be interesting, excluding any that would be virtually identical to an existing modern national team:

1) Macedonian empire at greatest extent (323 BC)
As an example, the starting XI might include: Seitaridis, Rezaei, Emre, Karimi, Nihat, Mido... essentially a selection from Greece, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Israel, I don't think other modern-day countries within Alexander's empire have players who could break into even a 23-man squad.

2) Roman Empire at greatest extent (AD 117)

3) Umayyad Caliphate at greatest extent (c. 750)

4) Holy Roman Empire at end of Charlemagne's reign (814)

5) Mongol empire at death of Kublai Khan (1294)

6) Aztec empire at time of Spanish conquest (1519)
(Yes, I realize that this is smaller than Mexico.)

7) Inca empire at time of Spanish conquest (1532)

8) Ottoman Empire at greatest extent (1683)

9) Spanish empire at greatest extent (1778-1800)

10) Gran Colombia at independence (1819)

11) Confederate States of America (1861-1865)
(Like the Aztec empire and Mexico, this is a subset of the US!)

12) British empire in 1900

13) Austro-Hungarian Empire at start of WWI (1914)

14) USSR at dissolution (modern CIS)

15) Yugoslavia 1945-1992



Any other ideas? Lineups/rosters?

[Natrium]

4) Holy Roman Empire at end of Charlemagne's reign (814)

Carolus Magnus was the ruler of Frankish Empire, the Holy Roman Empire didn't came into existance until the 10th century.

[Caesar]

The Roman Empire team would kick some serious ass.

[Shen-O]

The Spanish Empire's team at its greatest extent would possess the best skill and still lose.

[Ombak]

Portuguese Empire team? We get to add Eusebio to any particular Brazil team, if we can fit him in.

[Shen-O]

Pfft, he wouldn't make the XI.

[Alex_K]

Carolus Magnus was the ruler of Frankish Empire, the Holy Roman Empire didn't came into existance until the 10th century.

I t should also be added that both empires consisted of different terretories, as the Roman Empire (later Holy Roman) developed out of East Francia.

[johan neeskens]

I'd go for King Philip the second's Spanish team (16th century) as that would include a pick of players in the Netherlands as well as parts of France and Italy I think. As our Dutch national anthem goes: 'The King of Spain I have always honoured'. The Dutch'd have pretend the irony wasn't there while singing it, of course.

[nicephoras]

I'd go for King Philip the second's Spanish team (16th century) as that would include a pick of players in the Netherlands as well as parts of France and Italy I think. As our Dutch national anthem goes: 'The King of Spain I have always honoured'. The Dutch'd have pretend the irony wasn't there while singing it, of course.

Why not extend it to Charles V? (Or I, depending on where you are.) At least he was effectively Dutch. And you'd get any Austrian players, quite a few southern German players and, depending on your definition of "territory", almost all of Italy's.
Besides, given that the Dutch rebellion started in Philip's reign, you'd mostly get his Belgians, not his Dutch.

[ElverGun]

The Spanish Empire's team at its greatest extent would possess the best skill and still lose.
:D
LOL
:D

[wufc]

Much of the Confederate states are not known for anything soccer although they have hotbeds of Texas, Florida, and the soccer-rich history of St. Louis, Missouri. I had some time so I actually made a 23 man team. These are all current players and I'm sure I left out some important names but others can help me on this.

G Matt Reis (Georgia)
G Matt Pickens (Missouri)
G Jay Nolly (Florida)
D Cory Gibbs (Florida)
D Eddie Pope (North Carolina)
D Wade Barrett (Virginia)
D Jose Burciaga Jr. (Texas)
D Steve Jolley (Virginia)
D Eddie Robinson (Florida)
D Wade Barrett (Virginia)
D Frankie Simek (Missouri)
D Nelson Akwari (Texas)
M Clint Dempsey (Texas)
M Ricardo Clark (Georgia)
M Justin Mapp (Mississippi)
M Brad Davis (Missouri)
M Chris Klein (Missouri)
M Steve Ralston (Missouri)
M Pat Noonan (Missouri)
M Richard Mulrooney (Tennessee)
F Eddie Johnson (Florida)
F Josh Wolff (Georgia)
F Taylor Twellman (Missouri)
F Clint Mathis (Georgia)

[johan neeskens]

Why not extend it to Charles V? (Or I, depending on where you are.) At least he was effectively Dutch. And you'd get any Austrian players, quite a few southern German players and, depending on your definition of "territory", almost all of Italy's.
Besides, given that the Dutch rebellion started in Philip's reign, you'd mostly get his Belgians, not his Dutch.

So Philip would have to make do with rebellious Dutch players - it's not like he'd be the first manager to deal with that problem!

[nicephoras]

So Philip would have to make do with rebellious Dutch players - it's not like he'd be the first manager to deal with that problem!

No, but generally the players didn't shoot the coaches.

[johan neeskens]

No, but generally the players didn't shoot the coaches.

William of Orange was too much of a gentleman to shoot Philip. He'd sing this praises to the media and then kick him when no-one was watching.

[arigato]

Incan empire, Mayan empire, Aztec empire. And of course the French empire at the height of its glory.

[nicephoras]

William of Orange was too much of a gentleman to shoot Philip. He'd sing this praises to the media and then kick him when no-one was watching.

Ahh, but William of Orange was hardly the only Dutch leader at the time. :)

[johan neeskens]

Ahh, but William of Orange was hardly the only Dutch leader at the time. :)

He was the only successful leader though! He was the Cruyff of that side.

[minorthreat]

The Persian Empire squad would dominate, of course, as Iran inve...

*duck*

[guado]

Incan empire, Mayan empire, Aztec empire. And of course the French empire at the height of its glory.

well, the mayan empire isn't exactly soccer-rich.

and the aztec empire is smaller than mexico.

the inca empire wouldn't be that great either.

the french empire is another story.

[Anthony]

Carolus Magnus was the ruler of Frankish Empire, the Holy Roman Empire didn't came into existance until the 10th century.

Actually, on Christmas Day 800, he was crowned Imperator Romanorum -- Emperor of the Romans, Western clerics deciding that the Roman throne (at Constantinople) was vacant (it was not, but the occupant, Empress Irene, was in conflict with the Western chruch and, worse, a woman).

Charlemagne did not use the title, but rather "Romanum gubernans Imperium," one that was a bit vague as to whether he was claiming to be Emperor or or just ruling the Empire. His wife having just died, it was possible he wanted to marry Irene and reunify the Eastern and Western Empires. Irene was supposedly very interested.

Although the term did not come into use until much later, he is usually seen as the first Holy Roman Emperor.