The past year has been a good one for football and this year promises to be historic with the World Cup finally coming to Africa.

For me the highlight of 2009 must be Barcelona. They thrilled people all over the world with their play and just look at what they won – six trophies including the two most important – the Champions League and, of course, the La Liga, beating out their rivals Real Madrid.

Everyone wants to play beautiful football. But only some teams can do so and no team played the 'beautiful game' in 2009 like Barcelona did.

They were remarkable. And what was even more special for Barca was that they had seven or so players who came up through their youth system and they picked a young manager to take over from Dutchman Frank Rijkaard.

Many clubs, especially the really big ones – and you don't get bigger than Barca – look to bring in the big-name managers and I have to admire Barca for the fact that they stayed with one of their own, their legendary former midfielder Josep Guardiola.

And Guardiola is not even 40 years old!

But he knows the system and Barca play within a system. Also he was responsible for bringing along many of the young players as he was the club's youth coach for quite a while so he knew Messi when he was a young teenager. Barca decided not to go for a big name and it paid off. I wish more clubs would do that but today everyone wants instant success which is a shame. But with all the money in the game these days I suppose it is only natural.

But a big name and a lot of money doesn't necessarily buy success. You just have to look at a number of big clubs around Europe to see that.

The way Barca play is simple – I just wish everyone could do it. One or two touches and pass and move. You never see the players just standing around.

Another crowning glory for Barca this year was the fact that Messi was named FIFA Player of the Year. As I said in a previous column, it was obvious that Messi would win the award.

A player like Messi only comes along once every 10 or 20 years. He is like Pele, Maradona, George Best or Johan Cruyff, another Barca legend. You just have to sit back and admire this little genius.

He is a magician and he plays with obvious joy. The game needs players like Messi. He is one of those rare players that God blessed with stunning ability. And then he worked extremely hard to make himself the best.

This coming year will be a big one with South Africa hosting the World Cup. I am always excited when the World Cup rolls around but this coming year I am more excited than normal – if that is possible.

It is great that Africa will finally host a World Cup and I feel that South Africa will be up for the challenge. And I know the England team will be happy that for once the World Cup will be played in cool temperatures!

I also have high hopes that an African team will go far next summer – perhaps Ivory Coast or Ghana.

I am also hoping that next year will bring about some financial stability for my team West Ham. While I am so proud of the youth system West Ham have – and one which I went through – I do feel we need some experienced players that our young guys can look up to. I would advise the club to go to Holland, Spain or Argentina and try and find a Tevez. But we need to be financially stable to do that – in fact I would buy the club if I had the money!

But I am very happy with our manager Zola. He is a class act and I hope he can rescue us like he did last year.

Another thing that would be nice in 2010 would be if some team like Spurs or Aston Villa could break into the big four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. But I would only want that team to be able to carry their weight in the Champions League because I always want the English clubs to do well.

Spurs and Villa have had a good first half of the season but the tricky part is the second half – how well can they finish?

Villa need a dominant midfielder who can grab the team by the scruff of the neck while I feel Spurs need some work in defence. They seem to have a number of injuries cropping up there.

My thought also go out at this time of year for those friends who have passed away. You are in my thoughts and I will miss you.