Bremner wasn't elegant. He was rather thuggish. I wouldn't consider Maradona and Chilavert to be elegant because of their build. If you look at the most elegant footballers, most of them were rather slender (eg. Beckenbauer, Platini and Antognoni). Most of the others are good choices.
I personally think Maradona was one of the most elegant ever, though I understand why most posters won't rate him.
You never are more impressed than when you are young, growing up. So for me, the elegant players who first stood out were: Dominique Rocheteau: watching him on the outside, the long hair..I thought wow, this guys a rock star. I only saw Best in the NASL, so this was like my George Best. Uli Hoeness: For me, Beckenbauer was imperial, majestic. Hoeness-before he wrecked his knee-he was an elegant footballer. Zico: What's there to say that hasn't been said?
Well said. Repped. Even his name screams...excuse me, exudes...elegance. Not for nothing is he called "Der Kaiser". But, could he play a piano?
Funny, there is a line at the beginning of Goodfellas, where Henry describes the local boss Paulie by saying: Paulie might have moved slow-but it was only because Paulie didn't have to move for anybody! That was El Pibe Valderama during the end of his MLS career. And there was something so elegant in that economy of energy. I always enjoyed watching him in person for all of the subtle things that you miss on TV. Hmm...There's and interesting idea for a thread: players whose true value isn't captured on TV.
The more devastating he was I don't see him as 'elegant'. As a matter of fact he was even awkward, with those short legs and proeminent chest. Like Garrincha with his twisted ones. Zico is another example: he played like a rooster, and his 'gallinaceous' way of running and treating the ball was sort of weird to me. Eusébio in spite of his great ball control ran towards the goal like a crazy cow. Elegant were Beckenbauer, Didi, Di Stéfano, Zito, Ardiles, Carlos Alberto, Redondo, Falcão, Maldini, Zidane - true ballet primadonas. Those played for the picture. Pelé must have played elegant just for Santos' rooters: when he played against my team, I found all that very, very ugly ...
When Fabregas is on form (which, sadly, has not been 100% the case for a while), he turns in some very elegant stuff
Though he is not the usual choice, Robinho should get a mention in the mix of the current players. I'm not a fan of his demeanor, but some of the moves and passes he pulls off are just effortless and a joy to watch.
Some more... Ilie Romania Denilson Brazil Robinho Brazil Juninho Brazil Tostao Brazil Al-Owairan Saudi Arabia Duff Rep. of Ireland Milla Cameroon Haji Morocco Gullit Holland Gascoigne England Beckenbauer Germany Schifo Belgium Kempes Argentina Cubillas Peru Solano Peru Recoba Uruguay Etcheverry Bolivia Moscoso Chile
[/QUOTE]Bremner wasn't elegant. He was rather thuggish.[/QUOTE]i agree with that statement. if anything, the men he played with in midfield for club and country were more elegant. Johnny Giles and Jim Baxter. Baxter especially was very elegant.
He seemed pretty smooth on the ball to me, though I'm not sure what is defined as elegant here. Lothar Mattheus for example had a great first touch and a good dribble, but was too mechanical. Platini, Hagi, Valderrama, etc. did what they did so effortlessly. That's the standard I use.
I can understand Baxter being labelled as elegant but wasn't Giles known to be a thuggish player too?
he was thuggish with a purpose. unlike bremner who was thuggish just to be. anyone with the skill giles had, especially in the era he played in, was gonna get kicked to hell. didn't help he was like 5'5-5'6. so his response to just kick back harder. but on the ball, he was the most skillful player on that leeds team (it would've been eddie grey if it weren't for the fact he was never the same player after 1970)
How about Peter Lorimer? Was he just good at scoring from long-range shots? They made a special about that on the Match of the 70s docos about English football on YouTube. Norman Hunter was thuggish too for Leeds but there were some highlights I saw (some for England) where he displayed some decent ball control.
the team was talented. Jack Charlton was a good defender and header of the ball. i think Norman Hunter came to leeds as an inside forward, but became a defender. Lorimer was the "other" winger at leeds, but i always fancied him as an attacking midfielder of sorts. plus, unlike Grey, he wasn't injured a whole lot. but i think we're off topic, lol so, add the name of Jim Baxter to the "elegant footballer" list
haven't read any other posts, but one of the few guys around today who oozes elegance is Berbatov, without a doubt.