Also a legend at AC Milan, he made 412 appearances for the Rossoneri, winning four scudetti (1955, 1957, 1959, 1962) in a great era for the club. Markers must, however, avoid keeping too tight on opponents or risk disrupting the defensive organization. The influence of this team extends far beyond the talent of Di Stefano, Ferenc … One of the first predecessors of the libero role in Italy was used in the so–called ' vianema' system, a predecessor to catenaccio, which was used by Salernitana during the 1940s. ", "Mezzo secolo senza Vittorio Pozzo, il mitico (e discusso) c.t. The versatile full-back jumped at the chance to join Barcelona, where he spent two seasons, until moving back to Italy to play for AC Milan. Maldini represented the Rossoneri in 25 seasons and amassed a crazy 902 appearances in that time. The more common attributes of full-backs, however, include: Full-backs rarely score goals, as they often have to stay back to cover for the centre-backs during corner kicks and free kicks, when the centre backs usually go forward to attempt to score from headers. Fulvio Collovati was part of the squeaky tight defence that was the foundation for Italy to win the World Cup in 1982. In all, he featured 50 times for the Azzurri, scoring three times. Successful use of wing-backs is one of the main prerequisites for the 3–5–2 and 5–3–2 formations to function effectively. In this case, other defenders or midfielders will temporarily move into the centre-back positions. Many of the game's eminent attacking full-backs are excellent dribblers in their own right and occasionally deputize as attacking wingers. It would be wrong, however, to merely consider midfielders as the offspring of the libero. Antonio Cabrini was a left-back for Juventus predominantly, making almost 300 appearances with other spells in his career with Bologna, Atalanta and Cremonese. [10][13][14][15][16][17] In Italian football, the libero was usually assigned the number six shirt. [60] It can also be occupied by wingers and side midfielders in a three centre-back formation, as seen by ex-Chelsea and current Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte. A quick passing movement like a pair of one-two passes will leave the channel behind the defending full-back open. In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary roles are to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. Gianluca Zambrotta has been a superb full-back his entire career, amassing a total of 98 international caps and counting. Franz Beckenbauer is probably Germany's most popular soccer player, coach and manager ever, known as the "Kaiser". As such, this position is one of the most physically demanding in modern football. Caroline Knop, Junior, Florida. Player intelligence. [35] Some sweepers move forward into midfield, and distribute the ball up-field, while others intercept passes and get the ball off the opposition without needing to hurl themselves into tackles. There are two main defensive strategies used by centre-backs: the zonal defence, where each centre-back covers a specific area of the pitch; and man-to-man marking, where each centre-back has the job of tracking a particular opposition player. At the start of the 2017 season, it looked like Tiffany … Although along with the aforementioned defenders, he was able to form one of the greatest defences in the history of football, so he deserves to be up on this list. He left in 2002 for the Rossoneri, who paid a whopping £27 million, but undoubtedly he has made that price seem a bargain by becoming the stalwart of the defence over 10 seasons and counting. Armando Picchi was subsequently also a leading exponent of the more traditional variant of this role in Helenio Herrera's Grande Inter side of the 1960s.[10][18][32][33][34]. Henias Recommended for you [27] Prior to Viani, Ottavio Barbieri is also thought by some pundits to have introduced the sweeper role to Italian football during his time as Genoa's manager. His big move to Juventus came in 1999 for €15 million and he made the most appearances for a club there in his career with 294 appearances. The rods are removeable when you remove the players... the goal-box and the legs still are foldable. In 1965, he debuted in the German Bundesliga and became famous in the role of the team's sweeper. "Judges have a blindspot when destroyers like Vidic play a blinder", "Giorgio Chiellini: 'I have a strong temperament but off the pitch I am more serene, "DIZIONARIO DI ITALIANO DALLA A ALLA Z: Battitore", "L'evoluzione del libero: da Picchi a Baresi", "What Nereo Rocco would say about AC Milan and the Azzurri", "La Storia del Calcio: Il calcio dalle origini a oggi", "Gli eroi in bianconero: Giorgio MASTROPASQUA", "Nereo Rocco, l'inventore del catenaccio che diventò Paròn d'Europa", "Gipo Viani, l'inventore del "Vianema" che amava il vizio e scoprì Rivera", "Piccola Storia della Tattica: la nascita del catenaccio, il Vianema e Nereo Rocco, l'Inter di Foni e di Herrera (IV parte)", "Il volo di Bonucci e la classifica degli 8 migliori difensori italiani di sempre", "C'era una volta il Football - Parola e quella rovesciata IMMORTALE", "Blog: La "Parola" a quella rovesciata: chi era costui? It’s the top half on the mental column that matter- you want him to just be a well rounded monster, if you’re in a top league probably looking for all 13s/14s at minimum, being well rounded is the key mentally. The only rotation in which a libero would not be on the floor would be when one of the two players it replaces is serving. A ball playing CB shares many of the characteristics of a stopper, but also possesses great passing ability and ball control. At 29-years-old, Zambrotta did not have too many years left in his prime. In the sport of association football, each of the 11 players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play.A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield, and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. The system originated from an idea that one of the club's players – Antonio Valese – posed to his manager Giuseppe Viani. Unlike the verrou, his system was not as flexible, and was a development of the WM rather than the 2–3–5, but it also featured one of the half-backs dropping deep; this allowed the defensive centre-half to sweep in behind the full-backs. LIBERO The libero possesses the defensive qualities of the defensive sweeper but where he distinguishes himself is that he is also responsible for bringing the ball out of the defensive third, and linking up with the midfield and attack as a quasi-box to box midfielder. Like Viani, he was influenced by Rappan's verrou, and made several alterations to the English WM system or "sistema", which led to his system being described as mezzosistema. More Beckenbauer than Picchi, and a lot less dynamic than Hulshoff, there was still the genes of a libero running through his play. Il Zio (Uncle), as he was affectionately known, was part of the Italy squad that won the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Real Madrid 1955-60. He scored a crucial equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Romania in Euro 2008 to ensure qualification from the group in what would be a disappointing tournament for the Azzurri. He was a one-club man his entire career with the Nerazzurri, featuring 629 times and scoring a remarkable 75 goals from left-back. He never settled at one club in his career, playing over 100 games for Milan (where he won his only scudetto) and also Inter, before spells with Udinese, Roma and Genoa. [5][6], Austrian manager Karl Rappan is thought to be a pioneer of this role, when he incorporated it into his catenaccio or verrou (also "doorbolt/chain" in French) system with Swiss club Servette during the 1930s, deciding to move one player from midfield to a position behind the defensive line, as a "last man" who would protect the back-line and start attacks again. Facchetti won four scudetti and two European Cups with Inter to become one of their all-time greatest players. Defence has been the cornerstone of their success over the country's illustrious history in the sport. Along with his World Cup, he won many domestic honours with the Old Lady, including seven scudetti, two Coppa Italia, one UEFA Cup, one Cup Winners' Cup and a Champions League to complete his set. In the Class of 2022, there have been some liberos and defensive specialists who have proven they could take on that challenge. Italy is a country that values defenders above any other nation that has ever played association football. Giuseppe Bergomi is legend at Inter Milan. [11] The current Italian term for this position, libero, which is thought to have been coined by Gianni Brera, originated from the original Italian description for this role libero da impegni di marcatura (i.e., "free from man-marking tasks");[5][6][12] it was also known as the "battitore libero" ("free hitter," in Italian, i.e. Additionally, attacking full-backs help to pin both opposition full-backs and wingers deeper in their own half with aggressive attacking intent. Providing a passing option down the flank; for instance, by creating opportunities for sequences like one-two passing moves. Libero Home: a real and nevertheless reasonable priced Libero for all those, who didn´t need the whole mobility of the Libero Classic or Libero Sport. He moved on to Real Madrid in 1996, winning La Liga in 1997 and the Champions League again in 1998. And he did, of course, borrow the title of a famous philosophical treatise for his autobiography, I Think Therefore I Football. Along with Fabio Cannavaro, he is the greatest defender of his generation and the perfect compliment to his aforementioned Azzurri captain. The 4–2–3–1, 4–3–3, and 4–4–2 formations all use two centre-backs. He made 330 appearances for Inter and in the process claimed three scudetti and and back-to-back European Cups in 1964 and 1965. In 2006, Zambrotta won the World Cup under Marcelo Lippi's tutelage and was given the ultimatum to stick it out with Juventus or move for the sake of his career. Born and bred in Munich, he joined Bayern Munich at the age of 14. But his achievements for the Rossoneri make him one of the great Italian defenders with 583 appearances. He started his career with Como, who perhaps have the most beautiful ground to play football in, before moving to the opposite end of the country with Bari. This vulnerability is a reason why wingers considered to be dangerous are double-marked by both the full-back and the winger. Guarnieri played just 21 times for the Azzurri but was a key part of the Euro 68-winning side, featuring as a starter in both the original final and the replay against Yugoslavia where Italy triumphed 1-0 in the replay. Tragically, he died at age 36 in a car accident, but his legend lives on. These positions describe both the player's main role and their area of operation on the pitch. Jumping into high school and being asked to take on powerful hitters that are four years older is quite a challenge. Two years later, he was part of the Italy side that was blown away by that Brazil side in 1970's World Cup final. A healthy work rate and team responsibility. Maintaining tactical discipline by ensuring other teammates do not overrun the defensive line and inadvertently play an opponent onside. Follow me on Twitter @jackalexandros and @FRcalcioJack. Then, at Euro 2000 Italy, he reached the final against France, only to lose in extra time thanks to, firstly a stoppage time equaliser by Sylvain Wiltord and then a golden goal by David Trezeguet in extra time. Football is a game played by two teams of 11 players, each of them assigned an area of the field to operate in known as football Positions. che cambiò il calcio italiano: Ritiri e regista", "Storie di schemi: l'evoluzione della tattica", "BBC Football - Positions guide: Sweeper", "Remembering Scirea, Juve's sweeper supreme", Czechoslovakia World Cup Hero Jan Popluhar Dies Aged 75, "Gioco Corto: la Ternana di Corrado Viciani", "La Grecia nel mito del calcio. Otherwise. Pace and stamina to handle the demands of covering large distances up and down the flank and outrunning opponents. The later 3–2–5 style involved a third dedicated defender, causing the left and right full-backs to occupy wider positions. [56] Wingerless formations, such as the diamond 4–4–2 formation, demand the full-back to cover considerable ground up and down the flank. It is a blemish, but Maldini has perhaps the most glittering club career of all time. The official 2020-21 Volleyball Roster for the University of Texas Longhorns For example, the catenaccio system of play, used in Italian football in the 1960s, often employed a predominantly defensive sweeper who mainly "roamed" around the back line; according to Schianchi, Ivano Blason is considered to be the first true libero in Italy, who – under manager Alfredo Foni with Inter and subsequently Nereo Rocco with Padova – would serve as the last man in his team, positioned deep behind the defensive line, and clearing balls away from the penalty area. At Milan, he picked up his first legitimate trophy at club level since the 2003 scudetto with Juve after his triumphs in 2005 and 2006 were annulled. Unfortunately for Bergomi, his time with Inter coincided with one of the less successful eras in its history, as he only won one scudetto in 1989, but did manage to win three UEFA cups in 1991, 1994 and 1998. Sleeves must be the same color as the body of the uniform top. His career is winding down but Zambrotta has proved to be ever-dependable at both left-back and right-back and the best of his kind in the last decade. There is one full-back on each side of the field except in defences with fewer than four players, where there may be no full-backs and instead only centre-backs. Andy Gray with Jim Drewett. Nesta begun his career with Lazio and was their great hope, making 261 appearances in nine seasons, famously winning their second ever scudetto in 2000. They can, however, be used in formations with only two centre-backs, such as in Jürgen Klopp's 4-3-3 system that he uses at Liverpool, in which the wingbacks play high up the field to compensate for a lack of width in attack. His trophy cabinet is bulging with seven Scudetti, one Coppa Italia and five European Cups. In wingerless formations, full-backs need to cover the roles of both wingers and full-backs, although defensive work may be shared with one of the central midfielders. Tiffany Clark | 5-11 | Sophomore | Wisconsin. As is common for defenders, full-backs need to decide during the flow of play whether to stick close to a winger or maintain a suitable distance. Cesare Maldini might not have been as great as his son, Paolo, but he certainly became known as one of the country's finest defenders in his time. Flat Back Four: The Tactical Game. In the modern game, most teams employ two or three centre-backs in front of the goalkeeper. If the sweeper does move up the field to distribute the ball, they will need to make a speedy recovery and run back into their position. Brazilian defenders David Luiz, Alex, and Naldo have been known for using the cannonball free-kick method, which relies more on power than placement. In the modern game, full-backs have taken on a more attacking role than was the case traditionally, often overlapping with wingers down the flank. With 314 appearances for Milan, the 35-year-old seemingly has a few years left in him yet and will want to add to the two scudetti and two Champions League triumphs he has notably won in his time with the Diavoli. His best personal moment in his international career came in 1966, when he scored his only ever goal for the Azzurri past one of the greatest goalkeepers ever in Lev Yashin of the Soviet Union. He never quite made his name with the Italian national side, having just seven caps. A centre-back (also known as a central defender or centre-half, as the modern role of the centre-back arose from the centre-half position) defends in the area directly in front of the goal and tries to prevent opposing players, particularly centre-forwards, from scoring. 3 shirt. Good off-the-ball ability to create attacking opportunities for his team by running into empty channels. Andrea Schianchi of La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that this modification was designed to help smaller teams in Italy, as the man–to–man system often put players directly against one another, favouring the larger and wealthier teams with stronger individual players. Some centre-backs have also been known for their direct free kicks and powerful shots from distance. Alessandro Costacurta would have been among the greatest ever for a country if he had not been unfortunate enough to play in the same era as Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, who took his spotlight somewhat. Libero is by no means a new term and is often confined to football nostalgia, synonymous with players like Franz Beckenbauer and Ronald Koeman. The Azzurri won the World Cup in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 with finals appearances in 1970 and 1994. Here’s a look […] Aside from the aforementioned Blason and Picchi, earlier proponents also included Alexandru Apolzan, Velibor Vasović, and Ján Popluhár. He won six scudetti, two Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and the Champions League during the greatest period in the Old Lady's history. We provide exclusive analysis and live match performance reports of soccer players and teams, from a database of over 225.000 players, 14.000 teams, playing a total of more then 520.000 matches. [35][36][37][38][39][40][41] Giorgio Mastropasqua was known for revolutionising the role of the libero in Italy during the 1970s; under his Ternana manager Corrado Viciani, he served as one of the first modern exponents of the position in the country, due to his unique technical characteristics, namely a player who was not only tasked with defending and protecting the back-line, but also advancing out of the defence into midfield and starting attacking plays with their passing after winning back the ball. Some of the responsibilities of modern full-backs include: Due to the physical and technical demands of their playing position, successful full-backs need a wide range of attributes, which make them suited for adaptation to other roles on the pitch. Born and bred in Munich, he joined Bayern Munich at the age of 14. The Libero family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1911 and 1920. Dribbling ability. The centre-back and full-back positions are essential in most modern formations. Sadly, Facchetti passed away in 2006 and as a sign of respect Inter retired the No. A position pretty much invented in the 70s by Franz Beckenbauer, the Libero is a central defender who is free to roam wherever he wants, often as the pinpoint passer who starts attacks and continues up the field, controlling the play from behind the midfielders. [47][48], Some goalkeepers, who are comfortable leaving their goalmouth to intercept and clear through balls, and who generally participate more in play, such as Ederson, René Higuita, Manuel Neuer, Edwin van der Sar, Fabien Barthez, Marc-André ter Stegen, Bernd Leno and Hugo Lloris, among others, have been referred to as sweeper-keepers. A defensive midfielder may be fielded to cover the advances of wing-backs. The most Libero families were found in the USA in 1920. Alessandro Nesta is a hybrid of a typical Italian defender mixed with the great elegance of some of Brazil's greatest centre-backs. Throw-ins are often assigned to full-backs. Top 5 World Football Coaches Who Never Played Professionally 0 of 6 It's nonsense, and that's why we're bringing you the top five world football managers who never played professionally. Marking and tackling abilities and a sense of anticipation. [44][45][46] For Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, Brazilian international Lúcio adopted the sweeper role too, but was also not afraid to travel long distances with the ball, often ending up in the opposition's final third.