The footballing calendar year is coming to a close and a whole host of memories will be locked in our brains forever. But which footballing moments from 2014 will we remember in years to come? Here’s a countdown of our top ten.

10. Sherwood loans out his gilet

At the end of a gruelling 2013/14 season for Spurs, interim manager Tim Sherwood decided to let one of their fans have a go in the dug-out. Sherwood split opinion during his eventful six months in charge at White Hart Lane but this moment will remain ingrained in our memories as a rare moment of “just good banter” as Sherwood put it as he gave “expert” fan Danny Grimsdale a chance to voice his thoughts.

9. Moyes runs out of time

David Moyes looked a forlorn figure on the touchline for the majority of his reign at Manchester United, no more so than at former club Everton when United were lacklustre in a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park and Moyes was out of a job. Tellingly, a whole host of candidates were then linked with the position and United shares on the stock exchange rose by 6.5% – relief all round at Old Trafford after a disastrous year.

8. Suarez, the good

After a brilliant season for Liverpool, guiding them to the brink of the Premier League title, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was inundated with plaudits, awards and adulation in May 2014. His goal against England to knock Roy Hogdson’s side out of the World Cup in Brazil was nothing short of exquisite. Not to mention the terror he caused English defences all season…

7. Suarez, the bad

…but any review of Luis Suarez’s 2014 has to include that moment. When Suarez decided Giorgio Chiellini merited a nibble on the shoulder during the group match between Uruguay and Italy, English fans were outraged. Less so back home and in Spain as a move to the Nou Camp ensued. In England, even scousers shook their heads with disapproval.

6. Suarez, the upset

Steve Gerrard’s slip (wait for it) had already allowed Manchester City to steal to initiative in a thrilling title race but Liverpool’s capitulation at Selhurst Park stole the headlines. Suarez could not hide his anguish as two Dwight Gayle goals put the trophy out of sight and Gerrard boldly shooed the SkySports cameras away from the talisman’s tantrum.

5. Arsenal end their nine-year wait

Aaron Ramsey capped off a solid season for Arsene Wenger’s side as they beat Hull in extra time to clinch to FA Cup at Wembley. They did finish fourth too, a position once claimed by Wenger as deserving of a trophy itself. But the Gooners were content with cup glory for a few months until they lost away at Stoke. Again.

4. Bale force wind

Welsh wizard Gareth Bale repaid some of his £86m price tag with a vital header in extra time of the Champions League final, as Real Madrid defeated neighbours Atletico in Lisbon. The game ended 4-1 but it was Bale’s goal in the 109th minute that proved crucial in allowing Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria to steal the headlines. Bale became the 20th Brit to score in the final and the first Welshman.

3. Caught at slip

Any review of 2014 has to include the moment Steven Gerrard will never want to see again. The Liverpool captain enjoyed a revival in the 2013/14 season but when Mamadou Sakho passed him the ball on the halfway line at Anfield, no one, least of all Gerrard expected what happened next. Demba Ba was of course on hand to capitalise on the slip and send Chelsea into a 1-0 lead, which was doubled by Willian at the end. That Premier League winner’s medal was out of Stevie’s clutches again.

2. Gotze-ya!

The most important goal of 2014 was undoubtedly scored by 22-year-old Mario Gotze. When he collected Andre Schurlle’s pass on his chest and volleyed home to seal Germany’s 1-0 win over Argentina in July, nobody could say the Germans didn’t deserve the lift the World Cup. Young Gotze will go down in World Cup folklore, but the victory was a true team effort.

1. Seventh hell for Brazil

We will all remember this for a long time. Germany peaked as Brazil were without their two best players in Neymar and Thiago Silva and within 26 minutes it was 5-0 to the visitors, as the host nation’s defence crumbled. The final result of 7-1 was actually kind on Brazil but it brought a nation to tears and the world to a stop.

BBC Sport’s Steve Wilson describes witnessing history at Belo Hoirzonte.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30555828