Most elegant footballers

[argentine soccer fan]

.
Julio Melendez - Peruvian legend that played for Boca Juniors back in the days

Yes, Julio Melendez was another great elegant player. He was a great ballhandled on defense and always clean. He was only ejected once in his career, during a Boca vs River derby, when he had to push down a River player who was clear on goal. He proceeded to apologize both to the player and to the ref before leaving. Even the River fans gave him a standing ovation.

Melendez and Marzolini played together. What a defense that was for Boca!

If we want to go way back in time, they say that Brazil´s Domingos Da Guia, who also played for Boca, was the most elegant defender of his time.

[el payasо]

Riquelme, Zizu, Platini, Kaka bests ever seen...

[BongartzUndRivera]

I would like to list those who hasn't been mentioned in this post.

Argentina: Enrique Bochini - Idol of Redondo and many other Argentines.

Chile: Elías Figueroa - One of the best ever South American defender.

Peru: Héctor Chumpitaz - The true captain of Peru.

Uruguay: Pedro Rocha - If he had not been injured at the 1st match in WC70, who was at his prime...

BUT, the one that I would like to mention the most is the 1967's European player of the year...

Flórián Albert of Hungary.

[dor02]

Flórián Albert of Hungary.I've seen very little footage of him but I've heard great things about him. Equal leading goalscorer at the 1962 World Cup (I'm sure that he would have got more if the Hungarians didn't lose Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals) and a dominant force in the Hungarian teams of the 60s. I've got to get Hungary vs Brazil from the 1966 World Cup and Hungary vs Bulgaria from Chile 62 on tape or DVD.

[glennaldo_sf]

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

Vinny Jones

[Martininho]

It's great to get feedback from those who's footballing background is Central or South American. Growing up, the little football that was available was strictly European.

Most of us "home-grown" U.S. players/fans never got to see the great players from our own hemisphere, other than the occasional Brazil highlight film.

Much appreciated.

[FWS93]

nobody seems to remember redondo?

i'd say when he is on, riquelme.

nobody should forget Redondo!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNHbTrnM0jk

[kaltz]

Robert Huth ;)

[Lyrikhan]

unless i overlooked it, I'm surprised to not see Henry mentioned anywhere

[nqoe1]

I'ld say Diego Maradona of Argentina, Eric Cantona former Man United player:) :cool:

[Seaside Mafia]

cryuff...I love his style of play

but I think he is more of an explosive footballer

Top 4 most graceful players are as follows: In no particular order

1. Cruyff - just unbelievable balance under pressure

2. Glenn Hoddle - I didn't see anyone mention him earliuer. To me he is the most garceful of all.

3. Redondo - the most graceful defender/sweeper of all time.

4. Matt Le Tissier - the most graceful at scoring great goals and eating pies.

[Gregoriak]

Top 4 most graceful players are as follows: In no particular order

1. Cruyff - just unbelievable balance under pressure

2. Glenn Hoddle - I didn't see anyone mention him earliuer. To me he is the most garceful of all.

3. Redondo - the most graceful defender/sweeper of all time.

4. Matt Le Tissier - the most graceful at scoring great goals and eating pies.

You definitely need to check out more Beckenbauer. There is no way Redondo was the most elegant defender or sweeper of all-time. It's not even a contest.

[Seaside Mafia]

You definitely need to check out more Beckenbauer. There is no way Redondo was the most elegant defender or sweeper of all-time. It's not even a contest.

Beckenbauer was certainly a great player. I only saw him towards the end of his career, when he was having to tug shirts to keep up. Redondo is more my generation - a very classy player. I still remember the time he turned Henning Berg to set up a goal for Raul - I don't think I've ever seen a defender do that before (might have been playing on midfield that day).

[Martininho]

Beckenbauer was certainly a great player. I only saw him towards the end of his career, when he was having to tug shirts to keep up. Redondo is more my generation - a very classy player. I still remember the time he turned Henning Berg to set up a goal for Raul - I don't think I've ever seen a defender do that before (might have been playing on midfield that day).

I need to acquire the DVD for the '74 final to back up the following statement, so at the risk of overstatement...

I've seen the match in its entirety twice; first on film, then on a re-broadcast, many years apart and it has been more than ten years since my last viewing. Neither experience had the benefit of tape/digital playback. It occurred to me, about 60 minutes into the match, that I could not recall a single technical error by Beckenbauer. Help me out here folks, but my recollection is that he played a perfect or near-perfect match on the biggest stage, against a more talented side. Even under such enormous pressure and with the underdog German side down a goal in less than two minutes, the man's composure and self-assurance is almost a physical presence in the viewing room, separated by thousands of miles and decades. Absolutely astounding.

For any young footballer who reads this. I may be incorrect as to the absolute question of Beckenbauer's performance at the '74 final being technically perfect/imperfect. Whether or not I am correct is immaterial. What is important is that anyone who aspires to be a "complete" footballer should make that match a part of their library. Further, if your ego ever begins to get the best of you, plug in that disc to get a dose of humility.

[Seaside Mafia]

I need to acquire the DVD for the '74 final to back up the following statement, so at the risk of overstatement...

I've seen the match in its entirety twice; first on film, then on a re-broadcast, many years apart and it has been more than ten years since my last viewing. Neither experience had the benefit of tape/digital playback. It occurred to me, about 60 minutes into the match, that I could not recall a single technical error by Beckenbauer. Help me out here folks, but my recollection is that he played a perfect or near-perfect match on the biggest stage, against a more talented side. Even under such enormous pressure and with the underdog German side down a goal in less than two minutes, the man's composure and self-assurance is almost a physical presence in the viewing room, separated by thousands of miles and decades. Absolutely astounding.

For any young footballer who reads this. I may be incorrect as to the absolute question of Beckenbauer's performance at the '74 final being technically perfect/imperfect. Whether or not I am correct is immaterial. What is important is that anyone who aspires to be a "complete" footballer should make that match a part of their library. Further, if your ego ever begins to get the best of you, plug in that disc to get a dose of humility.

Hmmmmm - to me there is no question as to who was the greater player. Beckenbauer is one of the Top 10 greatest players in the history of the game - Redondo isn't. Beckenbauer was also a graceful player - very rarely seemd hurried. Same with Redondo - who could also do this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG7ml7U0QVc

My point is simply that with regards to elegance, Redondo is one of my Top 5 most elegant players. In pretty much every other category he is second-best to Beckenbauer.

[Seaside Mafia]

All of the above are certainly legit; I would also add the following (limiting my answers to those whose play I've seen, so players like Garrincha and Meazza remain the stuff of legend):

Beckenbauer (again, and just because), Cruyff, Carlos Alberto, Valderrama, Giacinto Facchetti (I have great affection for those who can "attack from the back"), Baggio, Gullit, Hagi, Platini, Socrates, Zico, Roger Milla, Klinsmann, van Basten, Baresi, Rijkaard, Lillian Thuram, Rio Ferdinand, and of course, Pele who could combine both explosiveness with consummate grace. No doubt I have omitted worthy players that others will add.

I can't believe that you mentioned Rio Ferdinand amidst all of those great names. Like a fart in a spacesuit. He's not "elegant", he's lazy and an utter git.

[Martininho]

I can't believe that you mentioned Rio Ferdinand amidst all of those great names. Like a fart in a spacesuit. He's not "elegant", he's lazy and an utter git.

On the other hand, he has a lovely singing voice.


...after this tournament (WC 2002) Rio Ferdinand can be added to that list (as world class, along w/ Beckham and Owen for England). He has emerged as one of the world's best defenders. - Gary Lineker.

Eriksson said: "He has everything a central defender needs, one of the most elegant you can find. He is quick, a good header, good tackler and has great technique. Sven-Goran Eriksson, June 2006.

But also see -

When I put him on the bench I think he deserved it at that time, but he never complained. "He wasn't playing very well and when he doesn't play very well you ask 'is he injured?' Or, 'is he not concentrating?' Because if he is not injured and he is concentrating, he is one of the best. - Sven-Goran Eriksson, June 2006.

"Ferdinand has too much regard for himself," "He plays as though he is looking at himself in the mirror. It is all very well to be elegant and to look good on the ball but you need to be aggressive and dependable. Ferdinand doesn't generate that sense of security and trust. He has the ability and technique but seems too preoccupied with the way he is looking to be a really solid defender." Franco Baresi

The point is not that Ferdinand is the greatest of all defenders, but this post is about who is the most elegant, and he surely qualifies. Further, the book isn't closed on Ferdinand. As discussed by others above (Baresi, in particular, knows a bit about the art of elegant defending), Ferdinand has the tools to be an all-time great, but must engender the trust of his mates by consistent performance, and the occasional willingness to muscle it up.

[Seaside Mafia]

On the other hand, he has a lovely singing voice.


...after this tournament (WC 2002) Rio Ferdinand can be added to that list (as world class, along w/ Beckham and Owen for England). He has emerged as one of the world's best defenders. - Gary Lineker.

Eriksson said: "He has everything a central defender needs, one of the most elegant you can find. He is quick, a good header, good tackler and has great technique. Sven-Goran Eriksson, June 2006.

But also see -

When I put him on the bench I think he deserved it at that time, but he never complained. "He wasn't playing very well and when he doesn't play very well you ask 'is he injured?' Or, 'is he not concentrating?' Because if he is not injured and he is concentrating, he is one of the best. - Sven-Goran Eriksson, June 2006.

"Ferdinand has too much regard for himself," "He plays as though he is looking at himself in the mirror. It is all very well to be elegant and to look good on the ball but you need to be aggressive and dependable. Ferdinand doesn't generate that sense of security and trust. He has the ability and technique but seems too preoccupied with the way he is looking to be a really solid defender." Franco Baresi

The point is not that Ferdinand is the greatest of all defenders, but this post is about who is the most elegant, and he surely qualifies. Further, the book isn't closed on Ferdinand. As discussed by others above (Baresi, in particular, knows a bit about the art of elegant defending), Ferdinand has the tools to be an all-time great, but must engender the trust of his mates by consistent performance, and the occasional willingness to muscle it up.

Fair point, well made. I suspect that my intense dislike for Ferdinand made me forget the question. Having said that, elegance is not a word I've ever seen used to describe him before. "Languid" yes. "Lazy" yes. "Disloyal greedy piece of shit" (as quoted from the entire Stretford End when he demanded a loyalty bonus having returned from a one year suspension on full pay, after "forgetting" a drugs test. Most definitely. Still, who am I to disagree with Franco Baresi.

[Martininho]

"Disloyal greedy piece of shit" (as quoted from the entire Stretford End when he demanded a loyalty bonus having returned from a one year suspension on full pay, after "forgetting" a drugs test. Most definitely. Still, who am I to disagree with Franco Baresi.

I wasn't aware of that :eek:, thanks. Given that scenario, who am I to dispute the insight and eloquence of Stretford End? ;) Safe to say, you will NOT be seeing his name alongside the other illuminaries again. FFS, If Rivaldo gets kicked for his bad acting at the WC, such a stunt by RF seems to merit a lifetime ban (of course, if he were to give the money back...):D

[zenden]

What about Peter Beardsley?