It was the most controversial BBC Sports Personality of the Year.  Not because of the winner, with cycling’s Mark Cavendish always among the favourites to lift the prestigious prize, but because there were no women on the shortlist.

But there were also eyebrows raised at the event, held at MediaCity in Salford for the first time, by the fact that there were no footballers in the final 10.

Here, M.E.N. Sport’s football reporters look back at 2011 and selects the footballing superstars who made the greatest impact as United and City turned
Manchester into the undisputed capital of football.

David Silva

City legends have been waxing lyrical about the impact David Silva has had on Roberto Mancini’s team.

The silky-skilled Spaniard has been outstanding, showing great vision, sublime touches and chipping in with vital goals.

He stamped his class on the City line-up, has adapted brilliantly to the Premier League and possesses the ability to turn a game at the drop of a hat.

He has excelled both home and away, influencing games and bringing out the best in those around him.

Some of his goals have been out of the top drawer, his passing has opened up the tightest of defences and the best is probably yet to come from this very naturally gifted City star.

Silva has also shown great pace, tremendous awareness and a willingness to adhere to Mancini’s tactical instructions.

Most importantly, he’s won the respect of team-mates and rivals with his refreshing style.

Neil Barker

Wayne Rooney

The England striker has scored 30 goals in 47 games in all competitions for United, including three hat-tricks – but with Rooney the statistics can never tell the full story.

His stunning derby-winning overhead kick against City in February was arguably the goal of 2011, while his brilliant curling effort against Barcelona was the highlight of an otherwise miserable Champions League final for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

There have been the black marks as well – his foul-mouthed rant in front of television cameras at Upton Park and his petulant kick out against Montenegro’s Miodrag Dzudovic, which will see him sit out the first two games of Euro 2012 for England.

But the truth is that Rooney is compulsive viewing and remains English football’s greatest asset. The tantalising prospect is that at 26 he still hasn’t reached his peak.

James Robson

Mario Balotelli

If the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award has got anything to do with personality then there can be only one winner – Mario Balotelli.

During 18 months in England, he has personally escorted a truanting child back to school, been summoned to give evidence at a Mafia trial and seen the bathroom of his Cheshire mansion set ablaze following a firework display!

Even a simple tap-in against Norwich got the Balotelli treatment when he nonchalantly nudged the ball over the line with his shoulder.

But behind a list of misadventures even Dennis the Menace would be proud of, is a wonderfully talented footballer. He may be an innovator in attracting attention to himself but he’s also a master of overshadowing his own achievements.

A disciplined, if unspectacular, display against Stoke in the FA Cup final was forgotten as soon as he uttered an expletive in an TV interview on the pitch during the celebrations.

After he had helped destroy United at Old Trafford, the post-match reaction was not centred on his two goals but on the unanswerable question ‘Why Always Mario?’

If the award is about talent, achievement and personality, then it really is always Mario.

Rob Dawson

Paul Scholes

He’s the antithesis of the public’s perception of a Premier League footballer.

Unassuming, publicity shy, strong-willed, dedicated family man plus one of the greatest footballers of his generation – that’s why Paul Scholes deserves this nomination.

The ‘Ginger Magician’ conjured up top drawer performance after top drawer performance for United and England before announcing his retirement from football in May.

The Salford-born midfielder’s contribution to United’s record-breaking 19th Premier League title may not have been as dynamic as previous seasons.

However, he more than earned a 10th Premier League winners medal on his way to finishing his career with 676 appearances for the champions.

And there isn’t one player or fan who wishes Scholes, one of the original ‘Fergie Fledglings’, wasn’t still plying his trade at Old Trafford this season.

Trevor Baxter

Dimitar Berbatov

He hit a hat-trick on Boxing Day as United moved level on points with City at the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win over 10-man Wigan.

Critics of the £30m Bulgarian say he only produces against weaker opposition, but maybe that’s because he only gets selected to play against lesser teams as boss Sir Alex Ferguson rotates his squad.

The fact is those three goals – including the second which outlined his undoubted ability – have dramatically reduced the goal difference between City and United at the top of the table.

I was one of the 27 sports editors who collectively selected the 10-strong shortlist for the awards and Berbatov was on my list having finished joint top scorer in the Premier League to help United to a record 19th title in 2011. His sublime skills are unique. Although he appears not to be breaking sweat it’s all upstairs with Berbatov – an intelligent player who gives Fergie an excellent tactical alternative.

Peter Spencer 

Vincent Kompany

In an age when footballers are labelled – often unfairly – with tags like ‘pampered’, ‘arrogant’ and ‘out-of-touch’, it would have been nice to redress the balance.

And City captain Vincent Kompany is an outstanding example of an old-fashioned football role model, in the Bobby Moore, Billy Wright, or Dave Watson mould.

Tough, uncompromising and committed on the field, as well as being extremely talented, Kompany is equally intelligent, passionate and decent off it.

He is Belgian but has embraced the country in which he now makes a living, a stark contrast to the whingers and whiners who too often make their voices heard.

In short, you would be perfectly happy if your kids were to use him as an example of how to behave, and how to play, on the pitch and off it.

Add to that the fact that he is the driving force behind the best team in Britain right now, and Kompany would have been a fitting, if surprise, candidate for Sports Personality of the Year.

Stuart Brennan