WANT TO IMPROVE AS A SOCCER DEFENDER? LOOK TO EMULATE THESE MODERN GREATS
Arguably the most underrated position on a pitch, alongside a goalkeeper (who is also a defender), the traditional defender is the shield of the team – the resistance that bars spears from piercing the hearts of eleven. As the outfield player in the team, the defender’s primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposing team from scoring goals.
Quality defenders need to possess great positional intelligence, instinctive agility, focused passing skills, and innate heading ability to get the best out of rival wingers and forwards. As the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson once said: “Attacks win you games, defense wins you titles.”
If you want to learn and improve as a defender, there are some serious players from the modern era to take inspiration from.
3 PROFESSIONAL SOCCER DEFENDERS TO WATCH TO IMPROVE YOUR DEFENSIVE SKILLS
- Sergio Ramos – Spain
A master of the dark arts, there is no denying Sergio Ramos’ position on the all-time greats list. While Ramos is not everybody’s favorite footballer – a harsh bull to go against, he is undoubtedly one of the best defenders of all time, let alone in the 21st century. Having originated as a pacy right-back at Sevilla, Ramos developed into a mature stopper and efficient leader, commanding Real Madrid to four Champions League titles in five years.
The Spanish international has been a pillar for the national side for more than a decade, as UEFA Euro 2020 marked the first tournament he missed since Euro 2004 – ending a featuring streak of ten consecutive tournaments. With two European Championships (2008 and 2012) and the 2010 FIFA World Cup under his belt, Ramos has conquered the biggest titles of all, along with the hoards of domestic and continental championships accumulated with Real Madrid over the course of 16 seasons.
Notorious for his straightforward no-nonsense defending and equally deceptive style of play, Ramos is a teaser and winner on-field. His composure and physicality do not only help him defend like a maestro but also allow him to bang in goals like a proper forward.
- Philipp Lahm – Germany
Considered to be one of the greatest full-backs of all time, Lahm’s legacy will forever be remembered for his tactical intelligence, innate versatility, and brilliant positioning. His small stature allowed him to utilize his agility immaculately to read the game and lead his Bayern Munich and Germany teammates to an era of unprecedented success in the 2010s.
As captain and leader, Lahm was inspirational, to say the least. The diminutive right-back joined Bayern as an 11-year-old, made his Bayern debut aged 19 in the 2002/03 season, and announced his presence on the world stage a few years later during the 2006 FIFA World Cup on home soil. Two decades down the lane, he has emerged as a giant of German football.
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His career highlight is undoubtedly captaining Germany to the World Cup glory in 2014, as he excelled throughout the tournament with his strong leadership skills and brilliant intelligence. Lahm’s solid defensive skills coupled with tactical versatility allowed his managers to utilize him in a variety of positions on the field – from his traditional right-back role to further up ahead in midfield.
- Fabio Cannavaro – Italy
The only defender to have conquered the Ballon d’Or podium in the 21st century, Fabio Cannavaro was a force to be reckoned with during his prime playing days. The 5 ft 9 in center-back is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of all time due to his ability to be a graceful bully in matches, as he tackled his opponents with utmost precision and ruggedness.
Termed as ‘Il Muro di Berlino’ i.e. the Berlin Wall, Cannavaro masterfully marshaled Italy to the 2006 FIFA World Cup title by putting in over-the-top performances, restricting just two goals between Gianluigi Buffon’s posts throughout the tournament and eventually winning world football’s highest personal accolade – the Ballon d’Or – later that season.
His ability to crunch in tackles with pinpoint precision coupled with his agile style of play allowed him to sweep attackers off their feet, leaving them in their wake. Cannavaro had already made his name with Parma in the late 90s before playing for some of the biggest teams in Europe.
According to statistics provided by sports betting companies, Fabio Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, and Phillip Lahm were three of the most marketable athletes in the world in their prime – with all three having led their respective nations to World Cup glory in 2006, 2010, and 2014 respectively. With the aforementioned resource, one can gain a deeper understanding of markets and how things work inherently. Players can also benefit from bonuses and rewards such as free bets, cashback, loyalty points, and other schemes.
By studying and emulating the mentioned players, one can learn a whole textbook of defensive skills and take their game to the next level. It is their perseverance, concentration and risk-taking ability that makes them stand out as the cream of the crop.
