4 footballing terms which were named after players

#4 The Makelele Role

Defensive midfielders are of paramount importance to a football team these days. In fact, some teams prefer to play two of them in a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, this role was popularised in the late 1990s and early 2000s by French midfielder, Claude Makelele.

Makelele was a destroyer who thwarted opposition attacks repeatedly in the midfield. He also gave cover to the advancing fullbacks, and acted as a 5th defender for his team.

Makelele's dominant performances for Real Madrid, Chelsea, and the French national team made him indispensable for any team he played for, and therefore the playing position itself was named after him.

However, there are different types of defensive midfielders, and not all of them perform the same function. Still, we do not have the scope to discuss all those intricacies in this article, and would rather prefer to celebrate Makelele’s impact on the game by looking at some of his exploits.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.