Items20The creator’s order
  1. 1Franz BeckenbauerFranz BeckenbauerBorn 11 Sept 1945Beckenbauer made the libero an attacking starting point rather than a defender who merely swept up danger. UEFA recalls his long passes with the outside of the foot and Bayern's arrangement, which let him advance while Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck supplied cover. Watch the moment he steps beyond a…0i
  2. 2Gaetano ScireaGaetano ScireaBorn 25 May 1953Scirea offered a different Italian version of the attacking sweeper: controlled defending followed by a willingness to join the next phase. Marco Tardelli recalled Scirea supplying the pass for his goal in the 1982 World Cup final, an example that places a defender within an advanced move rather…0i
  3. 3Ronald KoemanRonald KoemanBorn 21 Mar 1963Koeman was a defender whose distribution could alter the direction of a move before the opposition had reset. UEFA describes him as an exceptional ball-playing defender, while his free-kicks and penalties made his attacking contribution unusually visible. For this list, follow the earlier work: how…0i
  4. 4Fernando HierroFernando HierroHierro began in midfield before becoming a central defender, a background visible in the way he could settle the ball and choose a route forward. Real Madrid specifically credits his ability to play out from the back alongside the defensive partnership he formed with Manolo Sanchís. He is useful…0i
  5. 5Gerard PiquéGerard PiquéBorn 2 Feb 1987Piqué helped Barcelona keep possession under pressure by treating the first pass as part of the team's wider passing structure. His size and defensive positioning mattered as much as his comfort on the ball: a centre-back who receives a risky pass must still protect the space behind him. Watch how…0i
  6. 6Sergio RamosSergio RamosBorn 30 Mar 1986Ramos's attacking reputation often centres on goals, but Real Madrid also used him to begin moves securely. UEFA's 2016/17 technical report records his repeated simple forward passes to Toni Kroos and links to Marcelo in the Champions League final. That pattern is worth studying: choosing the right…0i
  7. 7Leonardo BonucciLeonardo BonucciBorn 1 May 1987Bonucci could bypass a crowded midfield with a lofted pass from Juventus's back line. UEFA's technical account of the 2017 Champions League final identifies one such long ball as the start of a carefully worked move. The useful comparison is with a short-passing centre-back: Bonucci's route could…0i
  8. 8Mats HummelsMats HummelsBorn 16 Dec 1988Hummels shows how carrying a few unchallenged metres can make the next pass dangerous. In Dortmund's 2024 Champions League final, UEFA's observers noted him advancing before threading a pass beyond Real Madrid's high line for Karim Adeyemi. The pass mattered because he recognised when no one had…0i
  9. 9Thiago SilvaThiago SilvaBorn 22 Sept 1984Silva brought patience to the first phase, using his reading of pressure to keep Chelsea able to play instead of hurriedly surrendering possession. The club's tactical review highlights his composure and passing under pressure, while his defensive judgement kept that control credible. Watch the…0i
  10. 10David AlabaDavid AlabaBorn 24 Jun 1992Alaba's experience at left-back and in midfield gave him several pictures of the same attacking lane when he moved into central defence. He told UEFA that the position let him set the pace and influence build-up more often because he had so much of the ball. His case is about the defender choosing…0i