Bettor.com's Football Team of the Decade – Left Back
'Bettor.com's Football Team of the Decade' series continues. Here are the nominees as well as verdict for the 'Left Back' position:
Roberto Carlos:
Defenders hardly get the limelight that goal scorers or attacking players get. But, Roberto Carlos was different to those defenders. With his bursting runs forward accompanied by one of the most thunderous shots any player has ever possessed, Carlos was
a special Brazilian left back.
He was famous for his powerful free kicks and his long run up to it. With his explosive running speed of 34km/h; 0-100 meters 10.6 seconds, ferocious curling banana trajectory shot of 170km/h and hand throwing shot of 36 meters, Roberto Carlos had given
left wing back position a new dimension and dominated that position for many years.
Carlos left Brazil to play for Inter Milan in the 1995/96 season before making a move to Real Madrid, where he spent 11 seasons. During his time in Madrid, Roberto Carlos won 3 Champions League and 4 La Liga titles. His dynamic displays earned him a place
in UEFA Team of the Year in 2002 and 2003.
He played 584 games for Real and scored an astonishing 71 times from the left back spot. Roberto Carlos, only 5ft 6in in height, had lightning pace and could run up and down the left flank all day long.
He amassed a total of 125 appearances for Brazil and scored 11 goals. He was a crucial part of the great Brazilian World Cup winning side of 2002 when they were unstoppable and had the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho all playing together. Roberto
Carlos was a unique footballer who gave full back position a new dimension. He certainly was the top left back in the world at the start of this decade.
Ashley Cole:
Reliability and consistency are the key features of Ashley Cole's make up as a footballer. The current Chelsea man rose to prominence with Arsenal at the turn of the century. He won 2 Premier League titles in 2002 and 2004 with Arsenal. He also won 3 FA
Cups with the gunners in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
The Englishman made a controversial move to Chelsea in 2006, and managed to win his 3rd Premier League title in 2010. During his four seasons at Chelsea, Cole has won 3 more FA Cups, which has made him the player with the most FA Cup medals.
Cole has had to face heartbreak of a Champions League final defeat twice, both with Arsenal in 2006 and Chelsea in 2008.
Ashley Cole was part of the invincible Arsenal team that went unbeaten throughout the 2003/04 Premier League season. His performances earned him a place in UEFA Team of the Year 2004.
Ashley Cole has been a regular England left back for years now, and presently, he is probably the best left back in the world. His form has been superb for the last couple of seasons.
He might not be as good as Roberto Carlos when going forward but his defending is as good as anyone else in the game in his position.
Paulo Maldini:
There is nothing left to say about the Italian legend. He was simply phenomenal. Playing at the top level for 25 years for just one club, AC Milan, is an astonishing achievement to say the least. The AC Milan legend has a remarkable trophy cabinet and has
won it all at club level. He could play both in central defence and at left back with great authority.
He has 5 Champions League medals to his name, more than any other player and as many as Liverpool has won in their entire history and more than what clubs like Barcelona, Inter and Manchester United have won as a team.
He has 7 Seria A titles and was in UEFA Team of the Year in 2003 and 2005. Maldini holds almost all types of appearances' record. He has played more matches for AC Milan than any other player and his 647 and 168 appearances in Seria A and UEFA champions
League respectively are records as well.
He has appeared an astonishing 902 times for AC Milan and scored 33 goals, which included the fastest ever goal in a Champions League final against Liverpool in 2005. He also became the oldest player to score in the competition's final.
Maldini captained the Italian side from 1994 to 2002. He failed to win any major honours with Italy and due to his retirement from the National team, he has not made many appearances at the International stage during the past decade. But, it’s hard to believe
that we will ever again be seeing a player with such legacy, class and leadership qualities. He simply is one in a million kind of a player and will be missed for years to come.
Paulo Maldini has to be our left back for the passing decade.
Verdict: Left Back of the decade - Paulo Maldini
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