'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Football fans may consider themselves extremely lucky to have watched the evolution of football over the years.
The sport has been in a state of constant evolution over the past several decades. With the introduction of new rules and guidelines, teams and players have had to adapt and improvise in order to compete at the highest level.
We have witnessed some of the greatest talents of all time during our generation. The likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have written their names in the history books for years to come.
Fans have also seen their fair share of talent who always seem to go under the radar. These are world-class players who have enjoyed great success during their careers. But they never seem to be in the discussion of being in a league of their own.
Let's take a look at the the five most underrated footballers of all time.
#5. Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football.
Ronald Koeman has been in the headlines recently for his sacking as manager at FC Barcelona. However, many fail to realize that Koeman enjoyed an incredible career as a player. Representing teams like Ajax, Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven, Koeman had a star-studded career.
Koeman has a stunning goalscoring record to his name, despite predominantly playing as a defender. He scored 217 goals in 617 appearances in club football. He was a starter for all the teams he played for and also represented the Dutch national team regularly.
Koeman won many league titles during his career. He won the Eredvisie with Ajax and also went on to win it thrice with PSV Eindhoven. He also won four La Liga titles with Barcelona, as well as the UEFA Euro 1988 with the Netherlands.
Koeman will be fondly remembered by Dutch football fans for a long time.
#4. Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is one of the most decorated Danish footballers of all time.
Laudup featured for Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Ajax during his career, winning several trophies. He operated as an attacking midfielder and could deputize in attack as well.
The Dane was highly regarded for his speed, creativity and versatility in midfield. He is famed for his vision in attack and was often seen splitting defenses with his intricate passes.
Laudrup won league titles in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. He even won La Liga with both Barcelona and Real Madrid, becoming one of a select few to achieve this feat.
Laudrup went on to become a manager, even managing Swansea City in the Premier League for two years. He will go down in history as one of the best-ever Danish football players.
#3. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick will be remembered as one of the Premier League's elite midfielders.
Carrick spent the entirety of his career in England, with his most memorable stint coming at Manchester United. Carrick started out with West Ham United, where he spent five years before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2004.
Carrick spent two years with Spurs before joining Manchester United in 2006, where he went on to become a club legend. Carrick operated as a deep-lying midfielder and was extremely versatile.
He displayed an extraordinary work-rate on the field. He was always one of the first names on the team sheet during his time with the club. Carrick went on to win five Premier League titles with United as well as one UEFA Champions League title.
Carrick has ventured into the managerial side of the sport, most notably managing Manchester United recently as interim coach.
#2. Lucio
Lucio is certainly one of the most underrated footballers of all time.
The Brazilian enjoyed a long and successful career, representing several top clubs and winning a multitude of trophies. Lucio was a centre-back by trade and was an extremely reliable player.
Lucio played for several clubs during his career, including Bayern Munich, Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen. He won three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich as well as Serie A with Inter Milan. He also won the UEFA Champions League with the Nerazzuri in 2010.
Lucio enjoyed great success on the international stage as well. He won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and also won the FIFA Confederations Cup twice.
He will be remembered as an extremely adept defender who was excellent in the air. His man-marking ability and intelligent reading of the game made him one of the standout defenders of his generation.
#1. Denis Irwin
Denis Irwin is one of the most decorated footballers in Manchester United history.
Irwin started his career with Leeds United before moving to Oldham Athletic in 1986. He spent four years there before joining Manchester United. Irwin had an incredibly successful stint with United, where he spent 12 long years.
Operating primarily as a left-back, Irwin was one of the most reliable players on the team. Regarded widely as a "no-nonsense" defender, Irwin enjoyed vast success with the Red Devils.
In his 12 years with the club, Irwin won seven Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League title. He also won two FA Cups. Sir Alex Ferguson has described him as "pound for pound, the best signing of his career."
Irwin was a key member of the Manchester United side that dominated the Premier League stage for a long time. He will forever be regarded as a club legend.
