There was a time when most defensive midfielders had been merely anticipated to win the ball again and provides it to one in every of their extra technical team-mates.
Typically, that is still the case. However through the years, the place has developed: lately, a DM is usually a workforce’s creator from deep – the participant tasked with turning defence into assault.
A lot is determined by the coach, after all: in actual fact, the kind of defensive midfielder utilized by a supervisor or the tasks given to that participant can reveal a lot about how progressive a workforce is and the fashion of soccer or beliefs of the person within the dugout.
From old-school destroyers to extra modern-day deep-lying playmakers, here’s a take a look at a few of the greatest defensive midfielders within the historical past of the sport…
*Observe: Present gamers beneath the age of 25 on the time of writing haven’t been thought of for this listing
33. Paul Ince
Paul Ince in motion for England towards Chile in February 1998. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Nicknamed “the Guv’nor”, Paul Ince is likely one of the greatest defensive midfielders in Premier League historical past and in addition impressed in Serie A with Inter.
The previous West Ham, Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder was a tireless and tenacious performer who gained over 50 caps for England between 1992 and 2000.
32. Clodoaldo
Brazil’s Clodoaldo and England’s Bobby Charlton compete for the ball on the 1970 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Clodoaldo performed as a defensive midfielder within the excellent Brazil workforce which gained the 1970 World Cup and is considered one in every of his nation’s greatest ever in that place.
Capped 38 occasions by Brazil, he memorably began the transfer for Brazil’s fourth aim towards Italy within the 1970 remaining as he dribbled previous a number of opponents within the build-up.
31. Dave Mackay
Tottenham’s Dave Mackay grabs Leeds United’s Billy Bremner by the shirt throughout a match at White Hart Lane in August 1966. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
One of many greatest-ever gamers produced by Scotland and a legend at Tottenham, Dave Mackay was the engine in Spurs’ double-winning workforce of 1960/61.
A troublesome-tackling midfielder who additionally possessed good method, Mackay was described by George Finest as “the toughest man I’ve ever performed towards – and positively the bravest”. A Scottish champion with Hearts earlier than shifting south, he additionally led Derby County to a First Division title after hanging up his boots.
30. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick celebrates after scoring for Manchester United towards West Ham in Might 2008. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Probably the most underrated gamers in Premier League historical past, Michael Carrick by no means acquired the popularity that his abilities deserved from England, both.
An clever defensive midfielder with wonderful imaginative and prescient and passing, Carrick spent 12 years at Manchester United and gained an array of silverware in that point – together with the Champions League in 2008. He was capped 34 occasions at worldwide stage.
29. Gilberto Silva
Gilberto Silva celebrates Brazil’s World Cup win in 2002. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Gilberto Silva was Brazil’s defensive midfielder for his or her 2002 World Cup win and a key participant in Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04.
Also known as “the invisible wall” in Brazil, Silva would frequently go unnoticed as he shadowed his opponents, pushing them again, and broke up assaults along with his intelligent positioning and athleticism. He was capped 89 occasions by Brazil and in addition gained the Copa America in 2007.
28. Daniele De Rossi
Roma’s Daniele De Rossi dives in to dam a shot from Inter’s Yuto Nagatomo in 2011. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Daniele De Rossi spent virtually his complete profession at Roma, taking part in over 600 video games for the Giallorossi earlier than a brief spell at Boca juniors previous to his retirement in 2020.
Italy’s second-highest midfield scorer ever with 21 targets from his 117 caps, De Rossi was a part of the Azzurri squad which gained the 2006 World Cup, however acquired a four-match ban for elbowing the USA’s Brian McBride and solely returned as an alternative within the remaining. A defensive midfielder who might create from deep, he’s thought of one in every of Italy’s best-ever gamers.
27. Zito
Zito celebrates after scoring for Brazil within the 1962 World Cup remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
An clever defensive midfielder who had meant to turn into a schoolteacher earlier than pursuing a profession in soccer, Zito revamped 700 appearances for Santos and gained 52 caps for Brazil.
Zito helped Santos declare two Copa Libertadores titles in 1962 and 1963 and was additionally a two-time World Cup winner with Brazil, scoring within the 1962 remaining towards Czechoslovakia.
26. Marco Tardelli
Italy’s Marco Tardelli competes for the ball with West Germany’s Paul Breitner within the 1982 World Cup remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Marco Tardelli was a tough-tackling, tenacious and hard-working midfielder who spent a decade at Juventus and gained 81 caps for Italy between 1976 and 1986.
Tardelli is greatest remembered for his celebration after scoring for Italy of their 1982 World Cup remaining win over West Germany, when he ran in the direction of the bench along with his fists clenched and tears in his eyes, shouting “gol, gol”. The picture is taken into account one of the crucial iconic in World Cup historical past.
25. Nobby Stiles
Nobby Stiles activates the ball within the 1966 World Cup remaining for England towards West Germany. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Nobby Stiles performed a giant half in England’s 1966 World Cup win, impressively man-marking Eusebio within the semi-final towards Portugal and excelling once more within the remaining because the Three Lions overcame West Germany.
The “Toothless Tiger” stored issues easy, however was efficient. “My job was to win it, give it to Bobby [Charlton] and let him get on with it,” he as soon as mentioned. It labored for England and in addition at Manchester United, the place he gained two First Division titles and the European Cup in 1968.
24. Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano in motion for Argentina towards Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 2014 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Javier Mascherano performed as a defensive midfielder for Argentina and gained near 150 caps for the Albiceleste between 2003 and 2018.
Deployed as a centre-back at Barcelona because of the presence of Sergio Busquets, he tailored brilliantly and revamped 300 appearances in seven-and-a-half seasons at Camp Nou. Top-of-the-line midfielders of his technology, he helped Argentina to the World Cup remaining in 2014 and gained two Olympic gold medals – in 2004 and 2008.
23. Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness in motion for Liverpool towards West Ham in 1981. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Graeme Souness was a tenacious and tough-tackling midfielder who is taken into account one in every of Scotland’s greatest-ever gamers.
Souness is greatest remembered for his seven-year spell at Liverpool, the place he gained 5 First Division titles and three European Cups. He additionally spent two years at Sampdoria and completed his profession as player-manager at Rangers.
22. Dunga
Dunga gestures throughout Brazil’s recreation towards Chile on the 1998 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Dunga didn’t please everybody in his homeland, the place he was thought of probably the most “un-Brazilian” of gamers and roundly blamed for the nation’s flop on the 1990 World Cup.
However the former Fiorentina favorite was an efficient defensive midfielder who captained Brazil to the 1994 World Cup and to the ultimate once more 4 years later. He picked up 91 caps in all and in addition gained the Copa America twice – in 1989 and 1997.
21. Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone in motion for Argentina towards Romania on the 1994 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Fiercely aggressive, aggressive and stuffed with power, Diego Simeone was the most effective midfielders of his technology.
Often deployed as a defensive midfielder, Simeone as soon as described his taking part in fashion as like “holding a knife between his tooth” and that has been extra lately mirrored in his teaching profession. He gained over 100 caps for Argentina and performed for a few of Europe’s largest golf equipment – together with Inter, Lazio and Atletico Madrid.
20. Casemiro
Casemiro celebrates after scoring for Actual Madrid towards Juventus within the 2017 Champions League remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Top-of-the-line of his technology, Casemiro was on the base of Actual Madrid’s midfield for his or her three consecutive Champions League triumphs between 2016 and 2018.
Bodily sturdy and athletic, Casemiro can also be tactically clever and was praised by former coach Zinedine Zidane for his capability to assume a number of strikes forward. He was additionally a part of the Brazil workforce which gained the Copa America in 2019.
19. Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps in motion for France towards Spain at Euro 96. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Though he was as soon as disparagingly described as a “water-carrier” by France team-mate Eric Cantona, Didier Deschamps is likely one of the biggest defensive midfielders of all time.
Deschamps excelled in profitable the ball again and feeding it to the extra technical team-mates round him. A Champions League winner with each Marseille and Juventus, he captained France to victory on the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. As coach, he led Les Bleus to their second World Cup crown in 2018.
18. Obdulio Varela
Uruguay captain Obdulio Varela receives the World Cup trophy from Jules Rimet after the nation’s shock win over Brazil within the remaining on the Maracana. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Obdulio Varela captained Uruguay to World Cup glory in 1950, when La Celeste surprised hosts Brazil with victory within the decisive match on the Maracana.
A traditional holding midfielder or centre-back, Varela was a tenacious participant and an inspirational chief. His rousing speech at half-time and funky response after Brazil’s aim are credited with serving to Uruguay win the match. He additionally performed on the 1954 World Cup however was injured in a quarter-final win over England. With out him, Uruguay misplaced to Hungary after further time. The South People had been by no means crushed in a World Cup match by which he performed.
17. Xabi Alonso
Spain’s Xabi Alonso competes for the ball with Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim Ateef in a pleasant forward of the 2010 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Xabi Alonso determined at a younger age that he needed to play as a defensive midfielder, however the Basque ended up being far more than that.
A deep-lying playmaker with a beautiful vary of passing, Alonso was additionally a troublesome tackler and a vastly clever reader of the sport. He gained the Champions League with each Liverpool and Actual Madrid and was a part of all three of Spain’s event triumphs between 2008 and 2012.
16. Fernando Redondo
Fernando Redondo in motion for Argentina towards Romania on the 1994 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Fernando Redondo was capped solely 29 occasions by Argentina, however the trendy defensive midfielder is taken into account one of many nation’s greatest ever in that place and was named in an all-time AFA XI in 2015.
Redondo refused a call-up to the 1990 World Cup to be able to consider his research and the midfielder missed out on the 1998 World Cup by Daniel Passarella after refusing to chop his lengthy hair. A two-time Champions League winner at Actual Madrid, followers protested his sale to AC Milan in 2000 and a critical damage early on at AC Milan lower brief his profession.
15. Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola celebrates a aim for Spain towards Yugoslavia in December 1996. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Pep Guardiola was not blessed with tempo or a robust physique, however is likely one of the most clever footballers to have performed the sport – since proven by his brilliance as a coach.
Guardiola was the pivot in Johan Cruyff’s nice Barça aspect and performed with a maturity past his years within the workforce which gained 4 La Liga titles in a row and the membership’s maiden European Cup in 1992. A playmaker who initiated assaults from deep, every thing went via him. Additionally a key participant for Spain, he was capped 47 occasions, however was restricted by accidents for membership and nation later in his profession.
14. Edgar Davids
Edgar Davids in motion for the Netherlands towards Sweden at Euro 2004. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Edgar Davids was nicknamed “Pitbull” by his former coach Louis van Gaal at Ajax and the moniker summed up his fashion of play.
The Suriname-born Dutch midfielder was hard-working, tenacious, bodily highly effective and fiercely aggressive. Additionally inventive and technically proficient from his road soccer background, Davids was the most effective midfielders of his technology and performed for a few of Europe’s largest golf equipment – together with Ajax, Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Ajax and Tottenham.
13. Gennaro Gattuso
Italy’s Gennaro Gattuso slides in to win the ball forward of France’s Florent Malouda within the 2006 World Cup remaining. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Gennaro Gattuso was the defensive midfielder in Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning workforce and in addition picked up an array of silverware in over a decade at AC Milan.
A troublesome-tackling and aggressive participant, Gattuso shaped a memorable partnership with Andrea Pirlo in central midfield for Milan and Italy. Though extra of a destroyer than a playmaker, his method improved over time and he’s thought of the most effective defensive midfielders ever.
12. N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante in motion for France towards Croatia within the 2018 World Cup remaining towards Croatia. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
N’Golo Kante took the “Makelele function” to new ranges, popping up all around the pitch to make interceptions and win the ball again along with his high-energy shows for membership and nation.
Born in Paris to Malian mother and father, Kante was a World Cup winner with France in 2018 and helped each Leicester and Chelsea to Premier League titles. One of many biggest defensive midfielders of all time, he has additionally been efficient as a ball-carrier in a extra superior function.
11. Falcao
Brazil’s Falcao kicks the ball away from Argentina’s Diego Maradona on the 1982 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
As soon as the highest-paid footballer on the planet and a legend at each Internacional and Roma, Falcao was a classy deep-lying playmaker who is taken into account the most effective defensive midfielders of all time.
Each tenacious and inventive and blessed with wonderful imaginative and prescient, Falcao was a key a part of Brazil’s memorable workforce on the 1982 World Cup and was named by Pele as one of many biggest 125 dwelling footballers in 2004.
10. Jose Andrade
Jose Andrade (prime left) with Uruguay’s Olympic workforce in 1928. (Picture credit score: ullstein bild/ullstein bild by way of Getty Photographs)
Jose Leandro Andrade performed as a defensive midfielder or wing-half with Uruguay between 1923 and 1930 and was the most effective gamers on the planet in his period.
Nicknamed The Black Marvel or The Black Pearl , Andrade was instrumental as Uruguay gained two Olympics gold medals in soccer, three South American Championships and the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
9. Johan Neeskens
Johan Neeskens in motion for Barcelona within the 1977/78 season. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Johan Neeskens was a World Cup runner-up with the Netherlands in 1974 and 1978 and a part of the good Ajax aspect which gained three European Cups in a row within the early Nineteen Seventies.
A midfielder identified for his tireless working, good method and eye for aim, Neeskens might play in a defensive function or as a box-to-box participant. He constructed up an incredible understanding with Johan Cruyff and performed with the Dutch legend at Ajax and Barcelona, in addition to within the nationwide workforce.
8. Rodri
Rodri celebrates along with his Participant of the Event trophy after serving to Spain win Euro 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
The excellent Spanish midfielder of his technology, Rodri helped La Roja win Euro 2024 and was additionally named Participant of the Event.
Bodily sturdy and technically adept, Rodri excels as a deep-lying playmaker. He was additionally a part of the Spain aspect which gained the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and featured prominently as Manchester Metropolis claimed a treble in 2022/23, scoring the one aim because the Sky Blues beat Inter within the remaining. On track to be an all-time nice.
7. Claude Makelele
Chelsea’s Claude Makelele seems to get away from Manchester United’s Diego Forlan in a Premier League recreation in November 2003. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Claude Makelele was so profitable within the defensive midfield place at Chelsea beneath Jose Mourinho that the function ended up being named after him.
“The Makelele function” was widespread parlance amongst pundits and followers for a interval within the 2000s and the French midfielder was the very best round for a lot of that point. Regardless of his small stature, Makelele thrived in breaking apart assaults as a defensive defend in entrance of the centre-backs. His Actual Madrid exit noticed a interval of decline begin on the Spanish aspect, however Chelsea benefited from his abilities as a substitute. Makelele gained 71 caps for France and was a World Cup finalist in 2006.
6. Jozsef Bozsik
Hungary legend Jozsef Bozsik circa 1956. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
One of many biggest Hungarian gamers of all time, Jozsef Bozsik was a half-back and deep-lying creator for the Mighty Magyars who gained 101 caps between 1972 and 1962.
A key member of the workforce which reached the World Cup remaining in 1954 and gained Olympic gold two years earlier, Bozsik was identified for his aptitude, his passing accuracy and his creativity as he initiated assaults from deep.
5. Roy Keane
Roy Keane in motion for Manchester United towards Juventus within the Champions League in April 1999. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Roy Keane was Manchester United’s captain and midfield anchor for a lot of a vastly profitable interval beneath Sir Alex Ferguson.
A fiercely aggressive and bodily sturdy defensive midfielder, Keane was additionally a wonderful passer and chipped in along with his justifiable share of targets as properly. The Irishman all the time gave completely every thing and demanded the identical from these round him.
4. Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira on the ball for Arsenal towards West Ham in Might 1998. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Certainly one of Arsenal’s greatest-ever gamers, Patrick Vieira was a bodily sturdy defensive midfielder who drove ahead and in addition scored targets.
A 3-time Premier League winner with the Gunners in 9 years on the north London membership, Vieira was additionally a part of the France squads which gained the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
3. Sergio Busquets
Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets on the ball and surrounded by three Athletic Membership gamers in a La Liga recreation at Camp Nou in February 2011. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Sergio Busquets was promoted to Barcelona’s first workforce as a youngster and displaced Yaya Toure within the beginning XI, happening to type one of many biggest midfields within the historical past of soccer alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
An clever pivot with fast ft to beat the press and sidestep opponents, Busquets used his tactical consciousness and wonderful positioning to make interceptions and provoke assaults from deep. Top-of-the-line ever.
2. Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard in motion for the Netherlands in a pleasant match in Might 1988. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Probably the most elegant midfielders of his technology, Frank Rijkaard was a key member of the Dutch aspect which gained Euro 88 and featured in three European Cup victories – two with AC Milan and one other at Ajax.
Bodily sturdy and athletic, Rijkaard was additionally a technically gifted passer and creator, permitting him to function as a deep-lying playmaker. He scored the winner for Milan within the 1990 European Cup remaining towards Benfica.
1. Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthaus on the ball for West Germany within the 1990 World Cup remaining towards Argentina. (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Lothar Matthaus was the lynchpin for West Germany of their 1990 World Cup win and is likely one of the biggest midfielders of all time.
Additionally a World Cup finalist in 1982 and 1986, Matthaus would drive his groups ahead from deep and in addition had a fierce shot. He dropped again to play as a sweeper afterward and represented Bayern Munich, Inter and Borussia Monchengladbach in an extended and profitable membership profession. Described by Diego Maradona because the Argentine’s “hardest opponent”, Matthaus gained 150 caps for his nation.
