Most elegant footballers

[theopeppas]

In your opinion who are some of the most elegant and graceful footballers in the history of the game?

Some names: Rivelino, Francescoli, Beckenbauer, and of course Zidane

I would say Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore, Cruyff and George Best are way ahead
One might add just as great, or even greater players but your key word is elegance.

Would be interesting too, asking the same question per country and era

Theo Peppas

[theopeppas]

I would say Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Bobby Moore and George Best

Theo Peppas

[sublicon]

Ronaldo

[FirstWorldCupChamps]

Many of you are saying Zidane. If you know who is mentor/idol was while he was coming up in his career you will find the name Enzo "The Prince" Francescoli. Zidane credits him with saving his career and even named his son after Enzo (Uruguay Captain). His play was very graceful and he was named The Prince because of his gentleman approach to the game. As a possesion midfielder he would constantly be fouled and would just get up and continue play. Never retaliated, and if anyone knows how Uruguayan players play you know that they like to foul very hard. Just look at who has the most red cards in the history of Italian Soccer (Paolo Montero - Juventus). Anyway wanted to add his name to the list of these great players everyone was mentioning.

[dor02]

He did stay down on the ground in the Denmark vs Uruguay match of Mexico 86. His dribbling was great but when he got fouled, he didn't get up very quicky.

[mariealus]

hes a player that is filled with class honour and a true sense of loyalty...

Madrid fans loved him... and he refused to be payed his wages by the AC Milan board when he was out with his lengthy injuries..

yeah. not just an example of a class footballer, but a great person as well. i think he got a law degree actually.

[Joep]

Maldini and Rafa Marquez are both elegant as f*ck.

I'd agree with these two.

Like Martininho, I love players who can come up front from the back, not in a gung-ho manner, but in a stylish, collected, calm manner, through the centre as if no one can stop them.

Beckenbauer, to me, was the greatest at this.

[theopeppas]

Glenn Hoddle, Jim Baxter, Davie Cooper, Frank LeBoeuf, Ruud Gullit, Jan Molby,
Brian Laudrup, Liam Brady, Laurie Cunningham.


Selections are Ok, though a bit Scot biased..I would agree with Jim Baxter on any list.
Just two notes, my friend. Your nickname leads to an old Chelsea player, Ron Harris. I would expect something else. Your Bard wrote "Scots who hae..." And, do not take the original quote for two teams in the city..from the graetest Scot Manager of all time, Bill Shankly!

Cheers
Theo

[theopeppas]

Glenn Hoddle, Jim Baxter, Davie Cooper, Frank LeBoeuf, Ruud Gullit, Jan Molby,
Brian Laudrup, Liam Brady, Laurie Cunningham.
Shankly said that first! As a Scot quote

[Jc18star]

This whole thread goes to two pages and includes some really obscure names yet fails to mention Rivaldo??????

He is the most elegant Brasilian player of the last 10 years. His speed was average and while being tricky in terms of footskills he was also a class prue dribbler that could slice and dice and had a left foot that could do anything when striking the ball. If he wasn't on form Brasil wouldnt have won in 02 and lacking a player like him is one of the (many) reason Brasil flopped in 06.

[Martininho]

This whole thread goes to two pages and includes some really obscure names yet fails to mention Rivaldo??????

He is the most elegant Brasilian player of the last 10 years. His speed was average and while being tricky in terms of footskills he was also a class prue dribbler that could slice and dice and had a left foot that could do anything when striking the ball. If he wasn't on form Brasil wouldnt have won in 02 and lacking a player like him is one of the (many) reason Brasil flopped in 06.

While I freely admit that this is due to my own lack of forgiveness, I can't erase the image of Rivaldo's shameful act in hitting the deck when a Turkish player passed him the ball on a corner, WC 2002. His comments afterward only served to disgrace him further.

You won't see me list a certain Argentine #10 on any list of admirable players, either, and for similar reasons.

Having listed Zidane above, I acknowledge a certain inconsistency, given how he let his team down at the end. I struggle over Zidane...but also note that he paid a high price for his meltdown, while Rivaldo caused an opponent's improper ejection and suffered only a fine, and Maradona is actually celebrated for his cheating.

Not on my list.

[Jc18star]

While I freely admit that this is due to my own lack of forgiveness, I can't erase the image of Rivaldo's shameful act in hitting the deck when a Turkish player passed him the ball on a corner, WC 2002. His comments afterward only served to disgrace him further.

You won't see me list a certain Argentine #10 on any list of admirable players, either, and for similar reasons.

Having listed Zidane above, I acknowledge a certain inconsistency, given how he let his team down at the end. I struggle over Zidane...but also note that he paid a high price for his meltdown, while Rivaldo caused an opponent's improper ejection and suffered only a fine, and Maradona is actually celebrated for his cheating.

Not on my list.

I understand your point but I base the choice of Rivaldo on the fact that all he has done in the game and the skill I have seen him display overtakes a one time incident. There are many players that cheat, take dives, and so on, as a matter of fact I would say most players do it at some point and the the desire to win sometimes clouds your better judgment Rivaldo just happened to get caught when 1 billion people were watching.

As for Maradona I would put him on the list because his skill level may have been much more advanced than anyone to have ever played the game. A friend of mine met a guy in Florida that played for Milan in the time when Maradona was in Italy and he said it was hard to play agasint him because you could get caught up just watching him play and the marveling at the things he did with a ball and his ability to make top level pro look like people that never kicked a ball before. His charcter flaws will never make he overlook his talent.

Finally I have to also add Roberto Mancini to the list, he was so undervalued because he played at the same time as Baggio but he is often rated by people that played with him as the best player they have played with (including Klinsmann) and also by Paul Ince the most skilled player he ever faced, Ince said he was megged 2 times in 5 mins and all he could do was kick him in the shins after that. Look at his vids on Youtube and you will see what I am talking

[Martininho]

I understand your point but I base the choice of Rivaldo on the fact that all he has done in the game and the skill I have seen him display overtakes a one time incident. There are many players that cheat, take dives, and so on, as a matter of fact I would say most players do it at some point and the the desire to win sometimes clouds your better judgment Rivaldo just happened to get caught when 1 billion people were watching.

While I disagree, your point is well-taken

As for Maradona I would put him on the list because his skill level may have been much more advanced than anyone to have ever played the game. A friend of mine met a guy in Florida that played for Milan in the time when Maradona was in Italy and he said it was hard to play agasint him because you could get caught up just watching him play and the marveling at the things he did with a ball and his ability to make top level pro look like people that never kicked a ball before. His charcter flaws will never make he overlook his talent.

With Maradona, I can appreciate that the same demon that drove him to such mastery is the same one that drove him (drives him) to ruin. Again, it's all the more galling to watch someone with such gifts degrade themselves, on and off the pitch.

Finally I have to also add Roberto Mancini to the list, he was so undervalued because he played at the same time as Baggio but he is often rated by people that played with him as the best player they have played with (including Klinsmann) and also by Paul Ince the most skilled player he ever faced, Ince said he was megged 2 times in 5 mins and all he could do was kick him in the shins after that. Look at his vids on Youtube and you will see what I am talking[/quote]

Thanks, I will check it out. In addition to Baggio's style, I greatly admired the way he put the Italian team on his back and carried them to the final in '94 (by all rights Italy should have lost to Nigeria). It's a shame that so many others only remember the missed penalty (or that, had he scored, Brazil still had another chance to win). While I can never recall Baggio himself offering a word of excuse, I believe he also entered the final with a thigh or groin injury. Nevertheless, he went to the spot and accepted the responsibility afterward. What grit, what class!

[Jc18star]

While I disagree, your point is well-taken



With Maradona, I can appreciate that the same demon that drove him to such mastery is the same one that drove him (drives him) to ruin. Again, it's all the more galling to watch someone with such gifts degrade themselves, on and off the pitch.

Finally I have to also add Roberto Mancini to the list, he was so undervalued because he played at the same time as Baggio but he is often rated by people that played with him as the best player they have played with (including Klinsmann) and also by Paul Ince the most skilled player he ever faced, Ince said he was megged 2 times in 5 mins and all he could do was kick him in the shins after that. Look at his vids on Youtube and you will see what I am talking

Thanks, I will check it out. In addition to Baggio's style, I greatly admired the way he put the Italian team on his back and carried them to the final in '94 (by all rights Italy should have lost to Nigeria). It's a shame that so many others only remember the missed penalty (or that, had he scored, Brazil still had another chance to win). While I can never recall Baggio himself offering a word of excuse, I believe he also entered the final with a thigh or groin injury. Nevertheless, he went to the spot and accepted the responsibility afterward. What grit, what class![/QUOTE]

Baggio is a total class act, one of the true legends of football, and your very right about his injury and the fact that had hee made his pk Brasil still would have had a chance to win. He took it instride and I think the only thing I remeber him saying was, "It wasn't the first penalty I missed but the first one I have hit over the bar, I am not quite sure how it happened".

I agree with your view about Maradona wasting and blowing his talent, I mean he really should have won the 1990 WC and the 1994 EC given his ability but his demons destroyed that chance. I still class him as the best player I have ever seen though.

BTW, thanks for engaging in a proper conversation with me and not acting like some of the other posters on BS.

[Quaresma_7]

wow this actually seems like a civilized unbiased convo...whats it doing on an online forum?

[Joep]

Funny you should ask ;) (sorry, I have been a bit tardy with my response to your response in the Giggs vs Figo topic. I was, although not entirely, joking on the judas part. I hope I get to it tomorrow)

Right. This thread got me thinking. Everyone here credits Beckenbauer. Everyone of us. So why aren't there players like him out there today. Anyways, I wrote this (http://neuroticorange.blogspot.com/2007/03/where-is-franz.html)about it and i had hoped that maybe if any of you would have the time and felt like it, maybe you would have a look at it and answer the question either here or over there.

Anyways, carry on. How about this one: Rosicky? I remember seeing him dribble at Euro 2004 and thinking he was floating. Agree?

[argentine soccer fan]

Silvio Marzolini (the player featured in my avatar) was one of the most elegant defenders ever. One of the best, too.

http://www.diariodelfutbol.com.ar/produccpics/cap3/Mas5.jpg

[condor11]

apart from the guys that have been mentioned


Didi
Pep Guardiola
Enzo Fransescoli

some Peruvians
Cesar Cueto - played for Peru in the 78 and 82 world cups
Julio Melendez - Peruvian legend that played for Boca Juniors back in the days

[Gregoriak]

Funny you should ask ;) (sorry, I have been a bit tardy with my response to your response in the Giggs vs Figo topic. I was, although not entirely, joking on the judas part. I hope I get to it tomorrow)

Right. This thread got me thinking. Everyone here credits Beckenbauer. Everyone of us. So why aren't there players like him out there today. Anyways, I wrote this (http://neuroticorange.blogspot.com/2007/03/where-is-franz.html)about it and i had hoped that maybe if any of you would have the time and felt like it, maybe you would have a look at it and answer the question either here or over there.

Anyways, carry on. How about this one: Rosicky? I remember seeing him dribble at Euro 2004 and thinking he was floating. Agree?


Excellent article on your blog. Might well be a good idea to copy-and-paste it and start a thread in the Beautiful Game forum with the title "Where is Franz?"

Why has the sweeper come out fashion? Because it is a tactically backwards system? No. The sweeper system is by and large not practiced any more because it is too demanding on one player. Today the responsibility is spread between the two center backs. The sweeper role, in its 'libero' guise, is one of the most demanding tasks a player can get assigned for. Theoretically, the sweeper system is the most flexible formation for a team. A good defence built around a talented sweeper can quickly react to what's happening during a match. If the team is under pressure, the sweeper may play behind the full-backs, if attack is needed, he may move in front, utilising the channels opening up in midfield. The sweeper may also decide to form a flat back three with the other central defenders, to orchestrate an off-side trap or have his team move upfield to deny space to the opposition. The problem is, you need to have a damn good player to match those tasks. The system works best when the sweeper is nothing short than phenomenal - quick on his feet and in his head, technically gifted yet fearless, at least useful in the air and good at tackling, someone who not only reads the game perfectly but then knows how to process this information and react accordingly. And he also has to be a leader type ... there have been players who could do all these things, or most of them. Beckenbauer, Baresi, Blind, Sammer. But they don't grow on trees! If you had a player well-versed in the sweeper role who could meet all these demands then a sweeper system could work very well even in our current time.

[zenden]

apart from the guys that have been mentioned


Didi
Pep Guardiola
Enzo Fransescoli

some Peruvians
Cesar Cueto - played for Peru in the 78 and 82 world cups
Julio Melendez - Peruvian legend that played for Boca Juniors back in the days
How could I forget El Principe Francescoli? He was one of my heroes growning up.