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Full-backs don't often grab the headlines with their performances on football pitches. However, their role is as important as anyone else on the pitch or even more.
The role of full-backs has evolved over time. Traditionally their role was to stop the opposition from attacking in wide areas and support the central defenders.
However, managers around the world look for more in their full-backs than just their defending skills now. An integral part of their game is to support the team's attacking play.
Who can forget the duo of Roberto Carlos and Cafu from Brazil? Both possessed incredible speed and could turn defense into attack in the blink of an eye. Carlos added to his game with his long-range shooting.
The concept of attacking full-backs date way back
Back in1950s, it was Hungary that used the attacking full-back concept under their manager, Gustav Sebes. The coach used Jeno Buzanszky and Mihaly Lantos as his overlapping full-backs. Their job was to support the attacking play led by the famous Ferenc Puskas.
The English game had to wait until the arrival of Arsene Wenger to learn about the 'overlapping fullback' concept. A young Ashley Cole perfected Wenger's idea as Arsenal went on to dominate Premier League football over the next few years.
With time, managers around the world are becoming more and more reliant on their full-backs. In the list below we will rank five of the best full-back pairs operating in football at the moment:
#5 Chelsea: Ben Chilwell and Reece James
The Chilwell-James duo are relatively new to the Premier League scene but have done enough to grab attention with their performances down the flanks. Their performances in the Champions League last season were particularly exceptional.
They are an emerging duo and still have years left in them to write their names in history books.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel prefers to have attack-minded full-backs in his team to support his 3-4-3 formation. That allows the midfielders to play more centrally while the full-backs can venture out to overlap with the inverted wingers.
Down the flanks, James provides both pace and attacking threat to Tuchel's team. James is always looking to get into position to cross the ball inside the box. He possesses amazing pace and can take on defenders at will. He also has the ability to wriggle his way out of trouble.
James has the ability to generate significant outswinging curls in his crosses that can provide the strikers lurking between the goalkeeper and the last line of defenders.
His partner on the other flank, Chillwell, serves as the perfect foil. Chillwell can assist in attack when needed and can quickly track back when needed. Both England internationals are equally adept at dealing with opponents inside their own half and are only expected to get better with time.
#4 Bayern Munich: Benjamin Pavard and Alphonso Davies
Another relatively young pair on the list are Bayern's full-back duo of Benjamin Pavard and Alphonso Davies. Bayern Munich, under their recently-deprated manager Hansi Flick, used the 3-1-4-2 formation to allow the young full-back duo to play free-flowing attacking football.
Canada international Davies has completed the highest number of dribbles (49) in the Bayern Munich team since the arrival of Flick. Even in their first match of the season against Borussia Monchengladbach, Davies recorded an impressive nine dribbles in addition to a total of 113 touches.
Pavard, on the other hand, often tucks into the defense when Davies goes out on attack, thus keeping the team shape intact and protecting them from counter-attacking threats.
The Frenchman is good at covering the ground, thus leaving no empty spaces for the opponents to capitalize on. He is also good at holding the ball and winning aerial balls which gives solidity to the Bayern Munich defense.
#3 Atalanta: Hans Hateboer and Robin Gosens
Atalanta's recent rise in both Serie A and the Champions League has largely been due to the contributions of their full-back duo. The club managed to reach the last 16 stages of the Champions League last season and will be taking part in the competition again in 2021-22.
A whole lot of credit for that goes to Hans Hateboer and Robin Gosens. Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is yet another man opting for an unusual 3-4-1-2 formation.
It often turns 3-5-2 when Atalanta go out on attack. With Atalanta playing more centrally, the full-backs advance high up the pitch to make themselves available to receive the ball and cross it into the penalty area.
Gosens, Atalanta's number 8 participated in 50 per cent of Germany's goals at the European Championships earlier in the summer. The 27-year-old provides pace in Atalanta's attack and is good at tracking back.
His partner Hateboer, on the other hand, works more on giving defensive solidity to the team but is equally capable of going out on the attack.
Under Gasperini, the two full-backs have been assigned the roles of auxiliary wingers, often driving into the opposition penalty box looking for goal scoring opportunities. This has resulted in them getting involved in a combined tally 76 goals so far for the club.
#2 Juventus: Juan Cuadrado and Alex Sandro
Both Juan Cuadrado and Alex Sandro have been long-time servants at Juventus and have done great service to the club.
Former Chelsea man Cuadrado started off as a winger but has taken to the full-back's role as easily as a duck takes to the water. At the end of the 2020-21 season, Cuadrado averaged 4.17 recoveries per 90 minutes.
In addition, he possesses great speed, pace and dribbling abilities. He completed 45 successful dribbles for Juventus last season at an average of 1.50 per match.
His partner Sandro has a certain flair and skill going forward. In 233 appearances for Juventus so far, Sandro has registered 42 goal contributions which goes well in suggesting how good he is at going forward.
Sandro also attempted 55 dribbles for Juventus last last season at an average of 0.82 per game.
His attacking skills are complimented by his prowess in defense. Sandro attempted 53 tackles last season at an average of 2.04 and made 45 interceptions.
Cuadrado and Sandro are expected to remain integral to Juventus' hopes of regaining supremacy in Serie A this season.
#1 Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson
When Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool, the duo of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were unknown to the footballing world. Credit goes to the German manager for their rapid emergence.
Not only did Klopp give them first-team opportunities but turned them into one of the world's best full-back duos.
Klopp promoted Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool's academy back in 2016 and bought Robertson from Hull City the following year. Obviously both were going to be key to his gegenpressing tactical philosophy.
Initially, Klopp had used an aging James Milner in the full-back's role but didn't get the pace he wanted from the veteran.
But the emergence of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson changed the equation for Liverpool. Both full-backs now play an integral role in Klopp's high-pressing system. When the duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah tuck inside to link up with Roberto Firmino, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold provide width to the team.
The full-backs are efficient at counter-pressing too, winning the ball high up the pitch and causing panic among their opponents.
Despite their exploits in attack, both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are also equally determined to contribute in defense.
So far Alexander-Arnold has completed 216 tackles at a 63 per cent success rate in the Premier League. Meanwhile Robertson, on the other hand, has surpassed him by completing 315 tackles at a rate of 65 per cent since making his debut in the top-flight.
The full-backs have also made an impressive 1901 combined recoveries and played influential roles in the Reds' defense, having conceded just 33 goals in the season they won the Premier League.
With age on their side, both Liverpool full-backs will continue to be the main men in the future.
