10 Greatest Midfielders In Football History: 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier
10 Greatest Midfielders In Football History: 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier
Midfielders In Football 

A match on the soccer pitch is travel by these gems. Midfielders square measure the players WHO square measure the engine of the team. The link between defense and attack, they will split AN opposition defense with one pass or build a vital tackle to deny a grading probability for his or her opponents.

Some wonderful midfielders have graced the gorgeous game and to choose the most effective ten out of the long list is not any simple task. while not abundant flurry allow us to check out the highest ten midfielders within the history of the sport

Note: solely central midfielders are enclosed, players WHO exclusively vie as wingers and assaultive midfielders haven't been thought-about.

#10 Apostle Vieira

A dynamic eye player whose ability to bring the ball from defense to attack was a marvel to lay eyes on, Apostle Vieira was the captain of the unbelievable Arsenal “invincibles” facet. Vieira LED his team by example and he was a player whose quality of braving, passing energy and determination created him a natural appropriate the League and a simple player for the Arsenal fans to fall for.

The ability to frequently beat individuals with the ball, particularly within the middle, could be a rare one, however to Vieira this looked as if it would return naturally. a mix of height and strength side to technique and disposition LED to him speedily changing into an important cog at intervals Arsenal’s gameplan. 

The facts of Vieira’s career represent themselves; at the time of his retirement he had congregate 107 caps for France (including the ’98 World Cup and 2000 Euros), featured in six seasons in an exceedingly row within the PFA team of the year at Arsenal, won 3 Premier Leagues and 4 solfa syllable Cups.

#9 Didi

Pele, Garrincha, and co get all the credits for Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup triumphs, however, the engine of the team WHO gave Pele and Garrincha the liberty to terrorize defenses was a midfielder WHO glided by the name Waldyr Periera conjointly referred to as Didi.

Didi had glorious passing vary, technique and stamina however what he's very celebrated for is his distinctive and glorious free-kicks. A dead-ball specialist he's attributable to inventing the Folha Seca (dry leaf) free-kicks that has later extensively been utilized by free-kick maestros like Cristiano Ronaldo and Juninho. 

The legendary Didi’s best moment was once he was awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Player of the tournament) for his gorgeous performances within the 1958 World Cup. He retired when the 1962 World Cup wherever all over again he vies a prima role in Brazil’s spectacular triumph.

#8 Roy Keane 

Old Trafford has witnessed several spectacular people donning the Manchester United captain’s armband throughout its 113-year history and has conjointly witnessed quite a few normal players being entrusted with this armband. No prizes for the shot that class Roy Keane goes underneath.

Roy Keane was one in every of the foremost sacred captains the sport has ever seen. Composed on the ball however utterly completely different off it, Keane is attributable for ingraining the ne'er say die angle in Manchester United’s squad. 

Roy Keane was familiar with his hot temper and he spoke regarding however he tried to keep up some semblance of management thereon within the later stages of his career.

“I’d return to at least one firm conclusion, that was to remain on the pitch for ninety minutes in each game. In alternative words, to curb the reckless, intemperate streak in my nature that LED to sendings-off and injuries.” 

7 Premier League titles, four solfa syllable Cups and one Champions League title with Manchester United beyond question created him a Manchester United and Premier League legend.

#7 Jose Pirri

Bought from a city in 1964, Pirri’s transfer publicized in an exceedingly new era of success for all whites. the $64000 Madrid legend painted the club he loved for fifteen long years winning varied trophies in his long and successful career.

Pirri vies for Madrid from 1964-1979 and he was even their club captain for four years. The Spaniard is documented for his leadership skills, doggedness, and vehemence. However, his best plus was his stamina, permitting him to contribute frequently to each attack and defense while not relenting.

Pirri was conjointly a sensible passer and scored an interesting quantity goals for a defensive player grading 123 league goals. The Spanish defensive midfielder had excellent positioning and braving skills and he was one in every of the most effective at calling it off plays and initiating attacks.

The Madrid legend won AN astonishing ten La Liga titles, four Spanish Cups and also the 1966 European Champion Clubs' Cup with Los Blancos. when retiring Pirri completed his studies to qualify as a medico and joined Madrid's medical workers.

#6 Paul Breitner

Former Real Madrid and Bayern urban center midfielder, Paul Breitner is one in every of the foremost embellished German footballers of all time. Capable of taking part in in an exceedingly range of various positions, Breitner was best familiar for his wonderful partnership with Karl-Heinz Rummenige at Bayern urban center.

The German midfielder was AN integral a part of the European country squad that won the 1974 World Cup, even grading within the final. He conjointly scored within the 1982 World Cup final creating him one in every of solely four players (Zidane, Pele, Vava) to own scored in 2 World Cup finals.

Breitner was conjointly supremely successful at club level, fixing cogent performances from the center of the sector, wherever he settled the flow of play along with his glorious distribution and positioning skills.

Winner of multiple Bundesliga, La Liga titles alongside the globe Cup and also the European Cup, Breitner is beyond question one in every of the best German players of all time.


#5 Paul Scholes

 he was capable of taking part in any eye position, typically alternating between defensive, offensive, and playmaking roles, as a result of his stamina, vision, and work-rate, also like his ability to form assaultive runs.

Widely regarded by his peers united of the foremost effective among the world, Scholes has received praise from players like Zidane, King of nice United Kingdom Davids, Guardiola and even Xavi UN agency known as Scholes as “the best central midfielder he has seen among the last 15-20 years”. one in every of the foremost effective players Manchester United have ever had, Scholes was capable of propulsion the strings in eye and management the flow of the sport effortlessly.

Also read: ten best midfielders in Europe (2015/16 season)

Paul Scholes is kind of simply the only midfielder of the Premier League era and one in every one of the only midfielders of all time. He won associate astonishing twenty-five trophies with Manchester United also as eleven Premier League titles and a handful of Champions League titles.

#4 Andres Iniesta

The diminutive Spaniard has been astonishing the footballing world since 2005 and there do not appear to be any signs of his speed down. a real gem among the crown of the port eye, Iniesta nearly choices a mystical understanding of his teammates’ positions. continuously putting in place goals or grading crucial ones, Iniesta is de facto a large match player, very like totally different port youth products like Guardiola and Xavi.

Iniesta depends on exceptional artistic passing, intuition and creative thinking to manage the eye and dictate the ebb and flow of play. He has won twenty-nine trophies in his stellar career creating him the foremost lucky and embellished Spanish player of all time.

The port legend has won varied individual accolades in his career. Iniesta won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2012 and was conjointly chosen as a result of the only Player of the 2011-12 Champions League. He was rival to Lionel Messi for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or and achieved third place in 2012. 

The Spaniard is barely one in every of 3 port players to receive a recognition at the Bernabeu showing however appreciated his distinctive qualities unit of activity. a beautiful dribbler and an excellent passer, Iniesta is one in every of the foremost effective midfielders to own ever contend the gorgeous game.

#3 Luis Suarez

One of the foremost effective players to own ever contend, Luis Suarez was a chic player UN agency settled and controlled proceedings as a central midfielder for a port. The Spaniard was the primary Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or and he was wide thought-about to be the foremost effective Spanish player among the nineteen Sixties.
A versatile player, Suarez excelled in his role as a deep-lying playmaker, grading and serving to varied vital goals for a port. Luis Suarez won an attempt at l.  a. Ligas, an attempt of Copa Del Reys and an attempt of honest Cups in his six-year spell at the port.

In 1961, he created a move to place to rest metropolis that created him the world’s costliest jock of that point. a real Spanish legend, Suarez was one in every of the primary international Spanish superstars.

#2 Xavi

Considered by several to be the only Spanish player ever, Xavi Hernandez is de facto one in every of the foremost effective midfielders to ever play the sport. 

Having won all the foremost trophies club and international competition needs to offer, Xavi has graven a singular place for himself among the pantheon of footballing greats. The Spaniard’s vision, pinpoint correct passing and world category ball management allowed him to dictate the flow of play whereas seldom relinquishing possession.

His ability to manage some matches has earned him the name, "The Puppet Master". The port legend was conjointly familiar for his wondrous positioning and talent to decide on the proper pass once that created him integral to each port and also the Spanish national aspect.

Pulling the strings in the eye, Xavi was the lynchpin in life Guardiola’s all-conquering port team and Spain’s tourney and cheat unit of activity winning squad. Having created over one hundred and eighty assists in his stellar career, Xavi is unquestionably one in every of football’s nonpareil greats.

#1 Lothar Matthaus

The first and completely German player to ever win the FIFA world player of the year, Lothar Matthaus is one in every of the only ever midfielders to ever grace the sport. Supremely lucky at each club and country level, Matthaus was capable of taking part in each as a central midfielder and as a sweeper.

The legendary German contend in 5 FIFA tourneys and holds the record for the foremost World Cup matches contend by one player. Matthaus’ impact on the sport and also the respect he had from his rivals was best epitomized by Diego Maradona’s comments:

"he is that the only rival I've ever had. I suppose that is enough to stipulate him", said Maradona in his book Yo soy el Diego (I am the Diego).

Capable of constructing prospects and breaking opposition’s play with equal ease, Matthaus' perceptive passing, positioning, and powerful shooting created him one in every of the foremost complete midfielders among the history of the sport.