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Football is all about scoring goals. It is no wonder then that attacking midfielders and strikers usually steal all the glory. However, one of the unsung heroes in any team is the defensive midfielder.
A defensive midfielder does the dirty work in the middle of the park. He is able to break up opposition play, set up new attacks and control the rhythm of play in any game. A defensive midfielder should not only be very skilled, but he should also be physically fit and be able to position himself in the right areas.
The five best defensive midfielders of all time
An integral part of many all conquering sides, defensive midfielders rarely get the credit they deserve. Without much ado, let us take a look at the five best defensive midfielders of all time.
#5 Claude Makelele
One of the best defensive midfielders in recent times, Claude Makelele was one of the most important members of the all-conquering Real Madrid and Chelsea sides in the early 2000s.
Blessed with great positioning skills, excellent tackling skills and ball-winning ability, Makelele was usually the player who enabled more creative players like Zinedine Zidane and Frank Lampard to play with freedom and express themselves.
In fact, Claude Makelele's importance to the Real Madrid team could be gauged by Fernando Hierro's quotes on the Frenchman:
"I think Claude has this kind of gift – he's been the best player in the team for years, but people just don't notice him, don't notice what he does. But you ask anyone at Real Madrid during the years we were talking about, and they will tell you he was the best player at Real. We all knew, the players all knew he was the most important."
A true Real Madrid and Chelsea legend, Makelele revolutionised the role of a defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
#4 Didier Deschamps
The captain of France's glorious 1998 World Cup-winning team and the current manager of the French national team, Didier Deschamps was a no nonsense tough-tackling defensive midfielder who played his role to perfection.
Contemptuously nicknamed the 'water carrier' by Eric Cantona, Deschamps often set up France's attacks by winning the ball back and passing it to the attack-minded players.
The legendary Frenchman had a storied club career as well. Initially making a name for himself at Marseille, where he won the UEFA Champions League, Deschamps is best remembered for his time at Juventus, where he won a Champions League title and three Serie A titles.
A hard-working and tenacious midfielder, Deschamps is undoubtedly one of the greatest defensive midfielders of all time.
#3 Roy Keane
One of the greatest midfielders to have graced the Premier League, Manchester United legend Roy Keane made the defensive midfielder position his own during his highly successful stint at Old Trafford.
Renowned for his tough tackles, aggression and his ability to win the ball back from the opposition, Roy Keane was one of the most important players for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Often leading from the front, Roy Keane won an incredible seven Premier League titles at Manchester United and was named in the PFA team of the year on five different occasions.
Keane was a true leader on the pitch, and his tackling, determination and talent inspired Manchester United to become one of the most successful teams of all time.
#2 Sergio Busquets
The all-conquering Barcelona and Spain side had Xavi and Iniesta taking all the plaudits for their efforts in midfield. However, the player who was most vital for tiki-taka to work was Sergio Busquets.
The Spaniard did all the dirty work in the middle of the park, which enabled the likes of Barcelona and Spain to play beautiful football and provided the talented attacking players the freedom to express themselves.
A true legend of the game, Busquets not only excels in positioning skills and winning the ball back, but he also excels in starting his team's attacks with his simple yet incisive passing.
While Busquets has not been at his best for Barcelona in the last two seasons, the 8-time La Liga winner, 3-time Champions League winner, FIFA World Cup winner and Euro Championship winner has already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest midfielders to have ever played for Barcelona and Spain.
The importance of Busquets to the team was best summed up by Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos:
"There are a number of players I like, but the one we perhaps need is Busquets."
#1 Lothar Matthaus
The only German to win both the Ballon d'Or award and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, Lothar Matthaus is arguably the greatest defensive midfielder of all time.
A true Bayern Munich and German legend, Lothar Matthaus dominated his opponents at the centre of the park and was known for his excellent tactical awareness and intelligence.
Highly successful with both club and country, Lothar Matthaus played in an incredible five FIFA World Cups, which showed his longevity at the top of the game. The respect Matthaus had in the game could be seen from the fact that Diego Maradona called the German midfielder his 'greatest ever rival'.
A true legend of the game and one of the most complete footballers to have ever graced the pitch, Lothar Matthaus will forever be remembered as one of Germany's greatest players.
