Greatest midfielders in history

Source: newtelegraphonline.com
Greatest midfielders in history
Midfielders are the players who are the engine of the team. The link between defense and attack, they can split an opposition defense with one pass or make a crucial tackle to deny a scoring chance for their opponents. There have been some truly amazing midfielders who have graced the beautiful game.

Lothar Matthaus

The first and only German player to ever win the FIFA World Player of the Year, Lothar Matthaus, is one of the greatest ever midfielders to ever grace the game. Supremely successful at both club and country level, Matthaus was capable of playing both as a central midfielder and as a sweeper. The legendary German played in five FIFA World Cups and holds the record for the most World Cup matches played by a single player.

Xavi

Considered by many as the greatest Spanish player ever, Xavi Hernandez, is truly one of the best midfielders to ever play the game. Having won all the major trophies club and international competition has to offer, Xavi, has carved a unique place for himself in the pantheon of footballing greats. The Spaniard’s vision, pinpoint accurate passing and world class ball control allowed him to dictate the flow of play while rarely relinquishing possession.

Luis Suarez

One of the best players to have ever played, Luis Suarez is an elegant player who dictates and controls proceedings as a central midfielder for Barcelona. The Spaniard was the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or and he was widely considered to be the best Spanish player in the 1960s. Nicknamed El Arquitecto (The Architect) he was noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot. He also had a keen eye for goal and he was an integral part of the 1964 Euro winning Spanish squad.

Andres Iniesta

The diminutive Spaniard has been astonishing the footballing world since 2005 and there are no signs of him slowing down. A true gem in the crown of the Barcelona midfield, Iniesta, almost has a telepathic understanding of his team mates’ positions. Always setting up goals or scoring crucial ones. Iniesta is truly a big match player, much like other Barcelona youth products such as Guardiola and Xavi. Iniesta relies on exceptional creative passing, intuition and inventiveness to control the midfield and dictate the ebb and flow of play. He has won 29 trophies in his stellar career making him the most successful and decorated Spanish player of all time.

Paul Scholes

Scholes was highly regarded for his technical skills, renowned for his accurate passing, intelligent movement and powerful shooting from long range. Paul Scholes is quite simply the greatest midfielder of the Premier League era and one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He won an astonishing 25 trophies with Manchester United which included 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League titles.

Paul Breitner

Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder, Paul Breitner is one of the most decorated German footballers of all time. Capable of playing in a number of different positions, Breitner was best known for his amazing partnership with Karl-Heinz Rummenige at Bayern Munich. The German midfielder was an integral part of the West Germany squad which won the 1974 World Cup, even scoring in the final. He also scored in the 1982 World Cup final making him one of only four players (Zidane, Pele, Vava) to have scored in two World Cup finals.

Roy Keane

No prizes for guessing which category Roy Keane goes under. Roy Keane was one of the most inspirational captains the game has ever seen. Composed on the ball but completely different off it, Keane is credited for instilling the never say die attitude in Manchester United’s squad. Seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League title with Manchester United undoubtedly made him a Manchester United and Premier League legend.

Didi

Pele, Garrincha and co get all the credits for Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup triumphs, but the engine of the team who gave Pele and Garrincha the freedom to terrorise defences was a midfielder who went by the name Waldyr Periera also known as Didi. Didi, had excellent passing range, technique and stamina but what he is really renowned for, is his unique and excellent free-kicks. A dead-ball specialist he is credited with inventing the folha seca (dry leaf) free-kicks which has later extensively been used by free-kick maestros like Cristiano Ronaldo and Juninho.

Patrick Vieira

A dynamic midfield player whose ability to bring the ball from defence to attack was a marvel to behold, Patrick Vieira was the captain of the incredible Arsenal “invincibles” side. Vieira led his team by example and he was a player whose quality of tackling, passing energy and determination made him a natural fit to the League and an easy player for the Arsenal fans to fall for. The facts of Vieira’s career speak for themselves; at the time of his retirement he had amassed 107 caps for France (including the ’98 World Cup and 2000 Euros), featured in six seasons in a row in the PFA team of the year at Arsenal, won three Premier Leagues and four FA Cups.